Read Online The Sheik's Ruby by Jennifer Moore - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jennifer Moore
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home thickened her throat. Even though six years had passed since she’d moved to Denver, every time she visited, the happy memories of this place soothed her. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy feeling warm and comforted before the inevitable smothering by her mother began.
Burke parked the pick-up and carried Shelby across the porch and straight upstairs to her room.
Her mom rushed ahead to pull down the sheets while her dad settled Shelby on the bed and then left to check the animals.
Debbie tucked blankets around Shelby. “Do you need anything, dear?”
“No. Thanks, Mom. I’m fine.”
“Honey, you are far from fine.” Her mom fussed over the pillows.
Aside from a few streaks of gray, Debbie Walker’s hair was the same strawberry-blonde as Shelby’s, but her style was a bob, instead of long like her daughter’s. They had the same bright blue eyes, but Shelby’s infectious smile came from her dad. “I’m running downstairs and get a little broth and crackers. I’ll put your cellphone on the night stand. Call me if you need anything.”
Shelby sighed. Her mother was a natural care-giver. She always managed to find someone to nurture, ever since Shelby could remember. Debbie cooked dinner for new mothers and delivered fresh homemade bread to anybody who was sick. She volunteered at the hospital and served on the library board. Burke often said that half of Culver Springs depended on Debbie.
This had frequently been a source of contention between Shelby and her mom. Debbie wanted to take care of Shelby, almost to the point of running her life. Shelby had struggled to be independent. Maybe that was why she had been such a rebellious kid, always getting into mischief, just as a way of showing she was going to making her own choices.
****
Shelby woke to the familiar sights and smells of her childhood bedroom. The sun shone through the sheer lace curtains Debbie made when Shelby was a little girl. With slow moves, she sat upright. Her room had remained untouched while she was gone. Stuffed animals sat on a shelf above her bed. Posters of country western singers and high school dance pictures covered the walls. The dream catcher Lacey’s mom made to keep away Shelby’s nightmares still hung from the headboard. She fingered the faded flower bedspread she’d slept under since she was twelve and wrinkled her nose. The décor could use a little updating . Especially when she saw her old boyfriend, Jake, grinning from so many different photographs. She wanted to wipe that cocky smirk right off his face. Why had she thought that guy with his blond hair flopping into his eyes was so handsome?
“You awake, honey?” Debbie entered, bringing soft-boiled eggs with butter—her classic cure for all ailments. “There’s someone here to see you.”
“Hey, Shels!” Shelby’s younger brother, Chet, bounded into the room. “Dude, can you believe you were totally in an avalanche? I mean, what the…? My own sister: Back Country Disaster Survivor. You know, you could get a reality show.” He plopped down on the bed.
“Chet! Shelby is in no condition to be bounced around!”
“You think sitting on the bed bounces her more than an avalanche ?” Chet turned toward his sister, tipping his head and widening his eyes.
Shelby recognized his look as a you-know-how-mom-is expression
He moved to her desk, lowering his lanky frame into the chair. He grinned, and dimples appeared in his round cheeks. “So, tell me all the deets, sis. What was it like?”
In spite of the bouncing and the jolts of pain in her leg and head, Shelby grinned. Chet’s enthusiasm was contagious. “I’ll tell you about it another time, Chet.” Her gaze slid sideways toward their mom then back to his. Understanding registered in his face. They both knew how sensitive Debbie was, and hearing how her daughter nearly died was something she wouldn’t handle very well.
“No prob, Shels. Great to have you home. Hurry and get
Burke parked the pick-up and carried Shelby across the porch and straight upstairs to her room.
Her mom rushed ahead to pull down the sheets while her dad settled Shelby on the bed and then left to check the animals.
Debbie tucked blankets around Shelby. “Do you need anything, dear?”
“No. Thanks, Mom. I’m fine.”
“Honey, you are far from fine.” Her mom fussed over the pillows.
Aside from a few streaks of gray, Debbie Walker’s hair was the same strawberry-blonde as Shelby’s, but her style was a bob, instead of long like her daughter’s. They had the same bright blue eyes, but Shelby’s infectious smile came from her dad. “I’m running downstairs and get a little broth and crackers. I’ll put your cellphone on the night stand. Call me if you need anything.”
Shelby sighed. Her mother was a natural care-giver. She always managed to find someone to nurture, ever since Shelby could remember. Debbie cooked dinner for new mothers and delivered fresh homemade bread to anybody who was sick. She volunteered at the hospital and served on the library board. Burke often said that half of Culver Springs depended on Debbie.
This had frequently been a source of contention between Shelby and her mom. Debbie wanted to take care of Shelby, almost to the point of running her life. Shelby had struggled to be independent. Maybe that was why she had been such a rebellious kid, always getting into mischief, just as a way of showing she was going to making her own choices.
****
Shelby woke to the familiar sights and smells of her childhood bedroom. The sun shone through the sheer lace curtains Debbie made when Shelby was a little girl. With slow moves, she sat upright. Her room had remained untouched while she was gone. Stuffed animals sat on a shelf above her bed. Posters of country western singers and high school dance pictures covered the walls. The dream catcher Lacey’s mom made to keep away Shelby’s nightmares still hung from the headboard. She fingered the faded flower bedspread she’d slept under since she was twelve and wrinkled her nose. The décor could use a little updating . Especially when she saw her old boyfriend, Jake, grinning from so many different photographs. She wanted to wipe that cocky smirk right off his face. Why had she thought that guy with his blond hair flopping into his eyes was so handsome?
“You awake, honey?” Debbie entered, bringing soft-boiled eggs with butter—her classic cure for all ailments. “There’s someone here to see you.”
“Hey, Shels!” Shelby’s younger brother, Chet, bounded into the room. “Dude, can you believe you were totally in an avalanche? I mean, what the…? My own sister: Back Country Disaster Survivor. You know, you could get a reality show.” He plopped down on the bed.
“Chet! Shelby is in no condition to be bounced around!”
“You think sitting on the bed bounces her more than an avalanche ?” Chet turned toward his sister, tipping his head and widening his eyes.
Shelby recognized his look as a you-know-how-mom-is expression
He moved to her desk, lowering his lanky frame into the chair. He grinned, and dimples appeared in his round cheeks. “So, tell me all the deets, sis. What was it like?”
In spite of the bouncing and the jolts of pain in her leg and head, Shelby grinned. Chet’s enthusiasm was contagious. “I’ll tell you about it another time, Chet.” Her gaze slid sideways toward their mom then back to his. Understanding registered in his face. They both knew how sensitive Debbie was, and hearing how her daughter nearly died was something she wouldn’t handle very well.
“No prob, Shels. Great to have you home. Hurry and get
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