Read Online Rocky Mountain Angel by Vivian Arend - Free Book Online Page A

make the suggestion in front of Ben. Now he was forced to wait for the man to get around to fixing the problem so that his ma wouldn’t take the brunt of his father’s complaining.
    Allison looked a little flustered. “Do we knock?”
    He laughed. “She’d have my ears if we get all formal on her.”
    Gabe opened the door and leaned his head in. “Ma, we’re here.”
    They stepped into the entranceway. The long line of hooks on the wall was so familiar, the worn linoleum underfoot. Inside was his mother’s domain, as much as it could be, and everything sparkled. Scrubbed and cleaned within an inch of its life. Dana Coleman didn’t tolerate her bit of the world to be messy.
    He was hanging up Allison’s coat when his ma came into view.
    She wiped her hands on a towel, gaze skimming over him to land on Allison. She pulled to a stop, her polite visitor’s smile leaping into place. “Allison Parker. You have grown up now, haven’t you?”
    “Mrs. Coleman.” Allison held out a hand and his ma shook it firmly, her gaze darting over Allison’s shoulder to meet his own. She raised both eyebrows high, as if asking what the heck was going on.
    Gabe’s unease shifted into something far different. “You need help with anything, Ma?”
    She shook her head and led them into the house. “No, I’ve got a pot of tea on, and some fresh-baked cookies. Everything is in the back, though. Just let me grab it and bring it out here.”
    “Don’t make more work for yourself. I don’t mind sitting in the kitchen.” Allison followed hard on Dana’s heels.
    “She’s right, the kitchen is nice. Smells like heaven.”
    His ma paused in the doorway, obviously fighting her compulsion to seat guests in the living room. She frowned at him, and he smiled, ready to reassure her.
    Allison’s gasp distracted them both, as did her long awww as she pressed past Dana and headed straight for the box tucked up against the wall.
    “Looks like we’re sitting in the kitchen, Ma.”
    “Looks like it.” Dana smiled but her questioning gaze continued to bounce between him and Allison.
    The woman had apparently forgotten to feel shy around his mother. All her attention was focused on the swirling mass of furry kittens tucked inside the cardboard shelter. “They’re adorable. Can I touch them?”
    “Ma?”
    Dana bustled about, setting another cup on the table and pulling out a few more baked goodies. “Go ahead. The mother died, and I found the little things just yesterday. Almost starved. They seem to have recovered nicely, though.”
    Allison needed no additional coaxing. She dropped to the floor and crossed her legs. In no time flat she had one of the dark brown bodies cradled against her cheek. “Oh, she’s so soft. How old are they?”
    “Just over a month I guess. They were nearly weaned, from what I can tell.”
    Gabe pulled out a chair and sat, smiling as Allison plopped one kitten into the hollow of her lap and picked up another. Watching her tenderly handle the tiny creatures made something inside of him happy.
    He was glad she could find stuff to enjoy.
    “Is tea good? Or you want some coffee?” Dana asked.
    His ma held out the cookies and he willingly accepted a couple. “Tea is fine.”
    He let her fuss for another minute since Allison was still distracted with the kittens. Distracted, but obviously watching enough that when Dana sat, Allison gently returned the tiny furballs to the box.
    She rose and slipped to the sink to wash her hands. “They’re beautiful.”
    Dana nodded. “That batch are pretty little things. I’m tempted to keep one of them in the house, but inside is not the place for barn cats.”
    “My mom always says the same.”
    Allison paused at the edge of the counter. Gabe answered her dilemma before her hesitation became any clearer. He pulled out the chair beside him and patted the seat.
    He’d managed to twist the sturdy wooden thing to be right in line with his so when she sat, his arm along the