Read Online Poughkeepsie Begins (The Poughkeepsie Brotherhood #0.5) by Debra Anastasia - Free Book Online Page B

to look at him, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze. She finished up Summer’s hair, and the girl felt it with excited hands.
    Cole appeared in the doorway, and Wintery was out of Beckett’s lap and into his arms in a heartbeat.
    Summer stood up and danced around. “Look! Candy gave me princess hair!”
    “It’s amazing.” Cole nodded a hello to Candy and walked Wintery into the room.
    “I think your hair always looks like a princess. I love the curls.” Candy smiled at Wintery. Though she was shy, it was clear she wanted the braid as well. Cole sat next to her on the bed.
    “Is it hard to do?” Cole held Wintery’s hand.
    “No. Just takes practice.” Candy gently brushed her next customer’s hair.
    Beckett stood and flipped Summer upside down. “You want to see what yours looks like?”
    She started giggling. “Yes!”
    After they left, Candy explained the braid to Cole. He nodded and paid attention.
    “Do you know how to do a regular braid?” she asked him while she slid the rubber band in place.
    He shook his head. Wintery had the sweetest smile as she left the room, presumably to see her hair too.
    Candy unraveled her hair out of its own braid and ran the girls’ brush through it. She pulled it over her shoulder and showed Cole how to section it and weave it into a braid. He watched, and then she unfurled the braid and gave him the hair to practice.
    Beckett returned just as Candy told Cole he was doing a great job.
    “You think you got it, bro?”
    She’d expected him to make fun of Cole for his turn as hairdresser, but there was only encouragement.
    Blake walked in and looked Candy in the eye as he said hello. “Rick’s on his way in,” he announced.
    She watched all the brothers tense. “We didn’t even go over the project,” she pointed out.
    Beckett offered his hand and pulled her off the bed. “Sorry, pink princess. If it makes you feel better, I got what I wanted from you.”
    “And what was that?” Candy slipped her jacket back on.
    “I knew the girls would love those fancy braids.” He ushered her back downstairs and walked her to her car.
    “I’m happy to help when they need that.” She was charmed by the girls and the adorable connection they had to the brothers. “But we need to get this project done.”
    “It’s awesome that you think that’s going to happen.” Beckett smiled. “Never lose that positive outlook.” He closed the car door for her.
    Her visit had been brief, so the power steering fluid remained warm enough to steer. Beckett waved at her as she backed out of the driveway. She didn’t like the way his charm slid off his face as he turned to go back into the house—like there was a losing battle to be fought inside.

6
    The Ranch
    T WO D AYS I N W ITH T HE C LAN at the ranch, Cole was grateful yet again that he hadn’t asked either of his brothers to go. The sunshine was inescapable, and the boredom was huge. Beckett did badly with free time.
    The ranch really was Rick’s mother’s place. He was a hard man for a reason, and maybe if Cole had cared—which he didn’t—he might have had some sympathy for his foster father after seeing his family dynamics.
    Ethel was a hard woman with biting words. Shortly after their arrival, it became clear that Rick, his wife, and the foster kids were there to “refresh” her old house. Everything would get a fresh coat of paint, and the huge yards were to be raked and weeded. They were essentially the maintenance crew. Ethel always had a criticism for the work being done and took no delight in the children. The fact that the kids were not biologically related to her was a huge failure in her eyes.
    At night the kids went outside to escape the bickering and harsh glances from Ethel. Cole took the time to try to master braiding on Summer or Wintery’s hair—whoever was willing to sit still.
    He definitely had the single braid down, but the French one that Candy had taught him was tough. The girls were sweet, though,