Read Online Summer Winds by Austin, Andrews & Austin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Austin, Andrews & Austin
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horses, who probably would have colicked on old roofing nails, if I hadn’t noticed. Half the time she’s off barbecuing down by the pond with Perry, for God’s sake!”
“What’s wrong with Perry that he’s doing that?”
“She’s so damned charming—and damned-near useless.”
“You look more alive than I’ve seen you in years.” Donnetta ignored my lamentation as her dark eyes drilled into mine. “I haven’t seen you get this excited about anything, well, in forever.”
“What I’m excited about is that I have this, this kid—”
“She’s not really a kid, is she? Didn’t you say she was twenty-eight?”
“Acts eighteen.”
“Maybe you’re treating her like she’s eighteen, which could be the problem, as I see it.” I was drawn up short by that remark. “Boys around here say she’s a grown woman. Spiffo, anyway.”
“Spiffo would sleep with a goat and you know it.”
“It’s genetic. That’s how I ended up with Buddy, it was the beard. You ever spend time talking to her?” Donnetta pressed on.
“My recommendation here at the café-shrink is that you take a hiatus from work and go have a little fun.”
“And leave her to manage things?” My voice rose in shock.
“Go have fun with her . A night out. Get to know her. You probably scare the hell out of her.”
“She scares the hell out of me.” I spoke before I realized what I was saying.
“And why would that be, Ms. Stanwyck?” Donnetta’s gaze bore in on me. She was thinking something she wasn’t saying, and I was glad she wasn’t saying it because I intuitively knew I didn’t want to hear it. “Come on, what’s going on with you?”
“Too many raging hormones, I suspect.”
“Hers or yours?”
“Wish I had that problem. My hormones don’t rage any more, they just bitch.” I finished off the coffee as she slid out of the booth.
“I’ve got the perfect thing.” She scurried over to the cash-register drawer and pulled it open, scrounged around under the money, and came back with two tickets. “River Festival tomorrow night. I bet she’d like to go.” I took the tickets from her and offered to pay for them, but she held her hand up. “Hey, the pleasure’s on me.”
I drove home thinking about a night out at the River Festival.
I’d always avoided it: a place where good old boys let off steam and do things they’ll regret in the morning. Not worth battling mosquito bites and half-drunk guys. I’ll give the tickets to Perry and let him go.
As I pulled into the drive, I glanced over at the south pasture and saw Cash three feet off the ground standing on the top rail of the fence balancing herself like an acrobat.
“Oh, for the love of God,” I said out loud. I wish I had a camera so I could take this to Donnetta . What adult do I know who does this kind of stuff? She’s a freaking kid.
I drove the truck across the open field to within shouting distance of Cash, who waggled her arms wildly to regain her balance as she saw me and flashed a quick smile. When I opened the truck door the tickets went airborne, and I managed to grab them before I got out.
“You’ll break your neck,” I called to her as the wind whistled around us and I hurried toward her to tell her to get off. The old wooden fence made of weathered logs barely supported the winter snow, much less someone her size, and furthermore I didn’t want her to break it down so that it sagged and fell, making it useless as a cattle pen.
“I always wondered how gymnasts kept their balance on the beam. It’s…not…that…easy,” she said, trying not to topple off. Suddenly steadying herself, she threw her head back, struck a pose, and the late-afternoon light caught the sheen in her dark curls. The wind blew them erratically, revealing her exquisitely high cheekbones, and her shirt flapped in the breeze, like a great mainsail.
“And now, ladies and gentlemen, the dismount!” She jumped high into the air and I gasped as she landed
“What’s wrong with Perry that he’s doing that?”
“She’s so damned charming—and damned-near useless.”
“You look more alive than I’ve seen you in years.” Donnetta ignored my lamentation as her dark eyes drilled into mine. “I haven’t seen you get this excited about anything, well, in forever.”
“What I’m excited about is that I have this, this kid—”
“She’s not really a kid, is she? Didn’t you say she was twenty-eight?”
“Acts eighteen.”
“Maybe you’re treating her like she’s eighteen, which could be the problem, as I see it.” I was drawn up short by that remark. “Boys around here say she’s a grown woman. Spiffo, anyway.”
“Spiffo would sleep with a goat and you know it.”
“It’s genetic. That’s how I ended up with Buddy, it was the beard. You ever spend time talking to her?” Donnetta pressed on.
“My recommendation here at the café-shrink is that you take a hiatus from work and go have a little fun.”
“And leave her to manage things?” My voice rose in shock.
“Go have fun with her . A night out. Get to know her. You probably scare the hell out of her.”
“She scares the hell out of me.” I spoke before I realized what I was saying.
“And why would that be, Ms. Stanwyck?” Donnetta’s gaze bore in on me. She was thinking something she wasn’t saying, and I was glad she wasn’t saying it because I intuitively knew I didn’t want to hear it. “Come on, what’s going on with you?”
“Too many raging hormones, I suspect.”
“Hers or yours?”
“Wish I had that problem. My hormones don’t rage any more, they just bitch.” I finished off the coffee as she slid out of the booth.
“I’ve got the perfect thing.” She scurried over to the cash-register drawer and pulled it open, scrounged around under the money, and came back with two tickets. “River Festival tomorrow night. I bet she’d like to go.” I took the tickets from her and offered to pay for them, but she held her hand up. “Hey, the pleasure’s on me.”
I drove home thinking about a night out at the River Festival.
I’d always avoided it: a place where good old boys let off steam and do things they’ll regret in the morning. Not worth battling mosquito bites and half-drunk guys. I’ll give the tickets to Perry and let him go.
As I pulled into the drive, I glanced over at the south pasture and saw Cash three feet off the ground standing on the top rail of the fence balancing herself like an acrobat.
“Oh, for the love of God,” I said out loud. I wish I had a camera so I could take this to Donnetta . What adult do I know who does this kind of stuff? She’s a freaking kid.
I drove the truck across the open field to within shouting distance of Cash, who waggled her arms wildly to regain her balance as she saw me and flashed a quick smile. When I opened the truck door the tickets went airborne, and I managed to grab them before I got out.
“You’ll break your neck,” I called to her as the wind whistled around us and I hurried toward her to tell her to get off. The old wooden fence made of weathered logs barely supported the winter snow, much less someone her size, and furthermore I didn’t want her to break it down so that it sagged and fell, making it useless as a cattle pen.
“I always wondered how gymnasts kept their balance on the beam. It’s…not…that…easy,” she said, trying not to topple off. Suddenly steadying herself, she threw her head back, struck a pose, and the late-afternoon light caught the sheen in her dark curls. The wind blew them erratically, revealing her exquisitely high cheekbones, and her shirt flapped in the breeze, like a great mainsail.
“And now, ladies and gentlemen, the dismount!” She jumped high into the air and I gasped as she landed
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