Along the Broken Road Read Online Free PDF

the ants. You have a right to defend your property.”
    Every muscle in her body seemed to screech to a halt when he said this. Her jaw cocked, reminding him of a curious bird. “I’m not making excuses.”
    Ian hauled the package to the next anthill and dumped some of it. White powdered the mound. “Well, you do have a right to defend—”
    “Yeah, yeah.” Charlee brushed her hair back with the back of her hand. “So, you want to tackle the hot water?”
    “You’re the boss.”
    “I’m pretty sure it’s the water heater. What I don’t know is if it can be cleaned out or if we’ll need to replace it. Well water here. Hard on the water heaters; fills them with lime.”
    He followed her as she traversed the lawn and across the edge of the big wooden platform in the center of the hub where patio tables and chairs made it almost feel like an outdoor restaurant. Ian stepped up onto the six-inch rise and stopped. “Question?”
    She’d already stepped down, but turned to face him.
    “Did you build this platform here in the center of the cabins? And why? Also, what’s that big rectangle building?”
    Charlee took the ant poison from him. “Give me two seconds and I’ll answer all your questions.”
    He watched her put it in a small building that sat beside the larger one. As she returned, she gestured to the small outbuilding. “All the garden stuff is in there. Lawn mower, weed eater, bug sprays and such. Got it?”
    He nodded.
    “So, this used to be a kids’ camp. Years ago. I even came here one year when I was eight.”
    He tried to imagine her as a child. Bright eyes, long hair, probably into everything.
    “The large building was the main gathering place—you know, if it rained or anything. There’s a full kitchen with an industrial dishwasher, long stainless steel counters, the works. We cook dinners in there, but always bring the food out here and eat alfresco.”
    Ian coughed. “You mean in the nude?”
    Charlee’s perfectly arched brows winged up. “No, alfresco , not au natural . It means outside, in the fresh air, under the stars.”
    “Whew.” A hand went to his heart. “I was worried there for a second. I think seeing the kilt wearer naked would make me lose my appetite.”
    Charlee shook her head, sending curls scattering in the breeze. “So, we eat dinner together. It’s nice. The wooden platform was for the kids’ camp, but we put it to good use. There are four people staying here right now, but it always changes.”
    “So, the people I met earlier?”
    “Yes, King Edward—who, by the way, you’ll be sitting for—Wilma and Wynona—”
    “Sisters, right?”
    “Wilma has the short, spiky, rainbow hair. She’s one of the most brilliant watercolor artists alive. Wynona doesn’t paint, but she decorates sunglasses and glues rhinestones and bobbles to just about anything. So keep your bike covered.” She took her sunglasses off and showed him Wynona’s handiwork. “And she was a dancer. You’ll meet Mr. Gruber in a few minutes. He acts like a cranky old man, but inside he’s soft as mashed potatoes.”
    “Are they always old?”
    She considered this. “No, and don’t let King Edward hear you call him old. He’s only fifty. I guess it may be easier for older artists to have the freedom to come here. Not as encumbered.”
    “And they stay for how long?” Really, Ian just wanted to keep her talking.
    “Up to a month.”
    “So how long has King Edward been here?”
    “A year and a half.”
    “Uh-huh. And the sisters?”
    “Going on two years.”
    “Mr. Gruber?”
    “Almost three.” Charlee started to open the door of the toolshed, but Ian’s hand on it stopped her.
    “How do you do it?”
    She slid the sunglasses to the top of her head, trapping her hair. “I don’t know what you mean.”
    He motioned with a hand. “This is a lot to maintain. How do you keep up with it?”
    She squared her jaw, and some little bits of fire shot from her eyes right into him.