Montana Mail-Order Wife. Charlotte Douglas. Читать онлайн. Newlib. NEWLIB.NET

Автор: Charlotte Douglas
Издательство: HarperCollins
Серия: Mills & Boon American Romance
Жанр произведения: Контркультура
Год издания: 0
isbn: 9781474022040
Скачать книгу
little fire! It’s dry season, Ursula, and the wind’s blowing! The whole mountain could go up in flames.”

      “No need to panic.” Ursula appeared unruffled by Wade’s outburst. “The Forest Service and volunteers already have everything under control. I’m fixing to feed ’em supper soon as they finish mopping up.”

      Rachel climbed down from the cab. “If you’re expecting a crowd, may I help?”

      She’d taken a chance, asking. She didn’t remember if she could cook, but memories weren’t required to wash dishes.

      Ursula’s smile subtracted years from her weathered face, and she extended a gnarled hand. “You must be Rachel. Thanks for offering.”

      The old woman’s demeanor conveyed not only welcome but acceptance, and as Rachel shook her hand, she experienced again an impression of homecoming.

      Wade pivoted and headed back to his truck. “I’d better see if they need help.”

      “You got more important work—” Ursula jerked her thumb toward the house “—upstairs.”

      Wade turned. “Jordan? Is he hurt?”

      Rachel registered a shock of empathy at the fear and concern on Wade’s face.

      “No,” Ursula said, “but he’s in his room, crying his eyes out, afraid you’ll tan his hide good this time.”

      “You know I’ve never laid a hand on…” He glanced toward the smoking pines. “Jordan started the fire?”

      Feeling like an intruder, Rachel retreated into the shade of the porch, but she couldn’t avoid the argument between Wade and his housekeeper.

      “Don’t be too hard on the boy,” Ursula said. “He was just trying to please you.”

      “By burning down my best timber? I’ll—”

      “Wade Garrett!” Ursula drilled him with a scowl. “For the past twenty years, you’ve been like a son to me, but if you don’t start giving that boy what he needs, I swear, I’ll disown you.”

      Wade yanked off his hat, slapped it against his thigh and pointed at Rachel. “I’ve brought him what he needs. A mother.”

      Rachel flinched as the full impact of mail-order bride status hit her. Wade had treated her with no more respect than some fourth-class package.

      Ursula stepped toward Wade and shook her finger at him. “Sometimes I think you couldn’t pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel—”

      “Tell Jordan I’ll talk to him at supper.” Wade crushed his hat back on and strode to the truck. With a ferocious grinding of gears, he peeled off in a flurry of dust.

      Ursula climbed the porch steps as if her arthritis pained her, and approached Rachel. “Thank God, you’re here, girl. Don’t mind Wade’s rough ways. He’s all heart underneath his bluster. But both Wade and Jordan, they need you more than you could ever imagine.”

      Rachel watched the haze of dust that marked Wade’s progress toward the fire. She didn’t doubt his love for Jordan. In the surprising outburst from the man who had impressed her with his even-tempered nature, she had recognized his frustration over Jordan’s mischief.

      Most telling of all, Wade obviously believed all his boy needed to cure his troubles was a mother.

      Rachel wasn’t so sure. After all, she wasn’t the boy’s mother, but a total stranger. Not the woman his father loved, only someone who had responded to a personal ad. And any skills or experience she might once have used to benefit a troubled boy lay buried deep in her damaged psyche.

      With a sinking sensation that she’d stumbled into more than she could handle, Rachel followed Ursula into the house.

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgEBLAEsAAD/4RY6RXhpZgAATU0AKgAAAAgABwESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEaAAUA AAABAAAAYgEbAAUAAAABAAAAagEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAExAAIAAAAUAAAAcgEyAAIAAAAUAAAAhodp AAQAAAABAAAAnAAAAMgAAAEsAAAAAQAAASwAAAABQWRvYmUgUGhvdG9zaG9wIDcuMAAyMDE0OjEx OjAzIDA4OjUyOjUyAAAAAAOgAQADAAAAAQABAACgAgAEAAAAAQAABuCgAwAEAAAAAQAACgAAAAAA AAAABgEDAAMAAAABAAYAAAEaAAUAAAABAAABFgEbAAUAAAABAAABHgEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAIBAAQA AAABAAABJgICAAQAAAABAAAVDAAAAAAAAABIAAAAAQAAAEgAAAAB/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgEASABI AAD/7QAMQWRvYmVfQ00AAf/uAA5BZG9iZQBkgAAAAAH/2wCEAAwICAgJCAwJCQwRCwoLERUPDAwP FRgTExUTExgRDAwMDAwMEQwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwBDQsLDQ4NEA4OEBQO Dg4UFA4ODg4UEQwMDAwMEREMDAwMDAwRDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDP/AABEI AIAAWAMBIgACEQEDEQH/3QAEAAb/xAE/AAABBQEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAADAAECBAUGBwgJCgsBAAEF AQEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAEAAgMEBQYHCAkKCxAAAQQBAwIEAgUHBggFAwwzAQACEQMEIRIxBUFRYRMi cYEyBhSRobFCIyQVUsFiMzRygtFDByWSU/Dh8WNzNRaisoMmRJNUZEXCo3Q2F9JV4mXys4TD03Xj 80YnlKSFtJXE1OT0pbXF1eX1VmZ2hpamtsbW5vY3R1dnd4eXp7fH1+f3EQACAgECBAQDBAUGBwcG BTUBAAIRAyExEgRBUWFxIhMFMoGRFKGxQiPBUtHwMyRi4XKCkkNTFWNzNPElBhaisoMHJjXC0kST VKMXZEVVNnRl4vKzhMPTdePzRpSkhbSVxNTk9KW1xdXl9VZmdoaWprbG1ub2JzdHV2d3h5ent8f/ 2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AOcopsvuZRUN1ljg1jeJJ8z9FRex7HOY8Q5pLXDwI5R8O12NkstG1wna9jp2 uY/9Hax+0btj63fmLatbZZbZc7r+GX2PNjpbc7Ut9H87Hdu/Q/of+LWnLm8UZV7kOGt+LiPF/gcT Qj8K5yUP9zcwJ3scUwOH/C4Xn2NduAg/CCteikup4P3IrqC/cLOu4TxZo8FlsGN/0v1b/hbFoVX4 oa/1OsYm6zSwsbcNx/e91KjnzmE1U4/87/vWbD8K5yN3y2b/AMLk83kMhyBC2sjp2Ba4lvV8MDzF /wD6QUcX6vVZeRXjY3VsOy607a2AXCTzHuo2p8ec5ev5wfixZPhfOgk/dsoiNSeCVU1MOuXBXMuq K+Ft0fUrqGK6bcih3uDQGCwkuP5rPZ7/AOz9D/CKyfqhn9Qxa78XIx3U3MFlbzvEtcNzXbTXuamH msRlpL8Jf96ujy2QY7MD2eCtHvKhC7F/+LTrjnT9pxfvs/8ASaj/AONj1zvk4v32f+k1MObwV8// ADZ/961Dyuaz6HkCISXYv/xadcMRk4unnZ/6TSQ+94f3/wDmz/71X3TNfy/k/wD/0Obb6ZcATAkS YmB30lblbeisqrZX1LIDarBbW4YWoePz932n+p/23WsEcrSpZuqV3L8O5WQHpI8pf9/xrMf/ABi+ KTsTzCdajixYf+5hFvPt6M/e09RuAsr9EhuCAAzf6w2Nbk+z3q0zpmB1BjSOo3ENqbQP1Tb7GkPa P6V/JXPlsPXVfV2muzHc5ztjg5oHgW/4T+3/AKNQZPhvK448QjLQ9/8A0FmwfG/iEpVxxFa6Y8f/ AHrRycfpmPk23XdQuNlwc239T3NIfPq+37V7N+7d+j+h/gtiXTczoeFnYWU/Pyb24Lprr+yBpIM+ z1ftD3bdztytdb6fj7nbnkDY4i3cIF