A Long Tall Texan Summer: Tom Walker Read Online Free PDF Page B

always something to do in the anonymity of crowds. Here, he either sat at home with rented movies or fished. Fishing was much preferable.
    "Hi!"
    The bright greeting caught his attention. He turned his head to find Luke and Crissy with tackle boxes and fishing poles.
    "I never expected to find a big city dude in a place like this," Luke murmured dryly. "Bored to death or do you just enjoy eating cheap fish?"
    "This isn't cheap," Tom murmured on a chuckle. "Ten dollars a day and the price of renting the tackle.
    Plus fifty cents a pound for whatever you catch. It adds up."
    "Bobby Turner's no fool," Luke said with a grin. "He figures people will pay to catch clean fish in a good
    location. He does a roaring business."
    Tom, glancing out over the dozens of people
    around the big lake, had to admit that the warm weather
    drew scores of fishermen.
    "Mind if we join you?" Luke asked. "The best spots are already taken."
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    "Is this one of them?" Tom queried.
    "It sure is," Crissy piped up. "I caught a big fish last time, didn't I, Uncle Luke?"

    "She caught a four-pound bass," Luke agreed, settling in. "But I had to land him. She's a bit small yet for
    pulling in fighting fish on a line."
    "It pulled me down," Crissy explained solemnly.
    Then she grinned. "But we ate it for supper. It tasted very good."
    Tom laughed in spite of himself. The child had an incredible variety of facial expressions.
    Crissy looked at him for a long time, her little face studious and quiet. "You have green eyes and dark hair," she noted. "Just like me."
    He nodded. "So I do." He paused, glancing at Luke, who'd gone to the small shed where bait was sold.
    "I guess your dad had green eyes, too, huh?"
    She frowned. "No," she said, shaking her head. "My daddy had red hair."
    Tom's heart jumped up into his throat. The most incredible thoughts were gathering speed in his head.
    He stared down at the child. She had his own olive skin, his eyes, his hair. She was in kindergarten, that would make her at least five years old. He couldn't stop looking at her as a shocking idea took shape in his mind.
    Luke came back with bait. "Go put this on your hook," he told Crissy, "and watch that you don't get it stuck in your finger like poor old Mr. Hull did last time he went with us."
    "Yes, sir," she said at once. "I don't want my finger cut open!"
    She rushed off, a miniature whirlwind in jeans and a short-sleeved cotton shirt.
    "She loves to fish," Luke said. "I had a date, but I broke it" He made a face. "My latest girl doesn't like fishing or any other 'blood sport.'"
    "Fishing is a blood sport?" Tom asked.
    "Sure is," came the reply. "So is eating meat." He grinned sheepishly. "I'm not giving up my cattle, so I
    guess this girl will go the way of the others pretty soon. She's a looker. Pity."
    Tom knelt down beside Luke, glancing warily
    toward the child. "She said her dad was redheaded."
    Luke's indrawn breath was audible, although
    he recovered quickly enough. "Did she? She was barely older than a toddler when he died..."
    "Red is red, whatever age you are," Tom said doggedly. His green eyes met the blue ones of the other man. "She's mine."
    Luke cursed silently. Elysia was going to kill him.
    “She's mine," Tom repeated harshly, his eyes demanding verification.
    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Luke bent his head. "She's yours," he said heavily.
    Tom looked at the little girl again, his face white, his eyes blazing. He'd never thought much about getting
    married, much less about having children, and all at once, he was a father.
    It was a shattering thought.
    "Dear God," he breathed.
    Luke put a hand on his shoulder, noting how the other man tensed at once. He didn't like being touched.
    Luke withdrew the comradely
    gesture. "She thought you were a big city playboy," he explained. "She never considered
    trying to get in touch with you,