Read Online Misfortune: Christmas With Scrooge by Peggy Ann Craig - Free Book Online Page A

still raining dreadfully hard out there.” And when he
would have barked at her, she added, “You could use the opportunity
to dry your clothing and warm up. We've a wonderfully huge
fireplace—”
    A picture of himself down to his boxers with
only a blanket to separate himself and Laura Witherow had him
interrupting swiftly, “No thanks.”
    “Suit yourself.”
    As promised, she pulled into the driveway of
her family home-turned-shelter only minutes later. He looked up at
the building through the drizzly windshield and gave it more
attention than his previous visit. The home was over-sized for its
structure indicating it must have been built at the turn of the
century along with the neighboring homes. Its red bricks and white
eaves trough desperately needed restoring, in addition to the
shutters that swung from loosened hinges, were also in urgent need
of repair and repainting. The slopping peaks forming the roof
indicated rotting shingles, which evidently were decaying faster
with each passing rain day. More than likely, in its time, the home
had been very beautiful. But time and neglect obviously took its
toll.
    Laura noticed his disapproving frown and knew
he judged her responsible for the deterioration. It hurt to watch
her family home lose its once lustrous appearance, but time and
cost Laura had little of both. Dexter's grimace only reinforced her
guilt, yet at the same time her determination for financial
backing. Whatever it took, she would have his investment before he
left today.
    The rain was still coming down fast, so they
darted quickly through deep puddles left along a jagged pathway
cracked and broken from neglect, until they reached the top of the
verandah and shelter.
    Inside, Laura stripped herself of a wet coat
then turned to retrieve Dexter's. He shook his head and with a
brusque voice demanded, “Where's the phone?”
    She sighed inwardly, but directed, “In the
kitchen.” Then watched as he stomped sopping wet and leaving a
trail of water down the hallway.
    Shaking her head, she removed her own wet
shoes then followed him. At a small round table tucked into the
corner of the room sat Ellie Green and Poppy Ullman helping
themselves to supper.
    Laura smiled apologetically. “Sorry I'm late,
my appointment ran later than I expected. Have the other's
eaten?”
    The girls weren't looking at her but with
inquisitive, admiring glances at her companion. He, on his part,
ignored them as he searched out the phone.
    “Since when did your shelter include good
looking forty-something men, Laura?”
    His back stiffened. Turning heavily on
squelching shoes, he looked across at the young girls under thick
burrowed brows. “Thirty-two. And I'm certainly not staying. If
someone could kindly point out the phone I would be ever so
grateful.” His voice grated on every note, laying on the sarcasm
thick at this last comment.
    “Touchy!” Poppy scoffed with a cocky lift of
her brow.
    “Don't mind him.” Laura reached for the phone
perched on top of the refrigerator and pulled the extension cord
toward him. “He's always like this.”
    Ellie's eyes were huge with interest. “You
know him?”
    “Unfortunately.” Which received a ditto snort
from the object of their discussion.
    “Who is he?” Ellie pushed for further
information.
    Laura paused at this, she had never told
anyone about the incident up in the Hungry Hollow gorge. “Just an
old acquaintance.”
    Thankfully behind her, she heard him hang up
and was able to turn away from the questioning stares of the
teenage girls. Just as quickly, he picked up the receiver once more
and began dialing.
    Laura frowned. “What did they say?”
    “Forty minutes.”
    “Who are you calling now?”
    “Taxi.”
    “I can take you back.”
    He ignored her, speaking into the receiver,
“Could I have a taxi sent—”
    Without thinking, Laura reached over and hung
up on him.
    “What the hell are you doing?”
    Laura frowned at his foul language in front
of the