Between Strangers Read Online Free PDF

“Doesn’t it sound thrilling? Just think of all the places we would see and the terrific experiences we could have. It’s my dream job.”
    More like a nightmare, in his opinion. Week after week turning into month after month of never settling down. Even her big, sad eyes and baby-fine flaxen hair wouldn’t make him consider that a dream. No, indeed. The two of them obviously had nothing in common.
    While most little boys dreamed of travel and adventure, it had always been Lance’s fondest wish to stay in one place—to finally have a real home where he truly belonged. His early childhood years, spent being dragged from one army base to another throughout the world, had caused him to dream notof adventures but of a big family and lots of friends in his very own stable corner of the world.
    Too bad life had made other plans for him up until now.
    Lance was on the verge of getting everything he’d ever dreamed of, but he couldn’t stand seeing Marcy’s hopeful expression. Not when he knew she was headed for a big disappointment. So he turned away from that beautiful face to look for a waitress.
    â€œYou’re not likely to have the chance at that dream if the weather won’t cooperate,” he told Marcy without glancing over at her. “And from the looks of things, it’s only getting worse outside.”
    â€œOh, no,” she said softly.
    Out of the corner of his eye he saw her fussing with the baby’s things. Her jerky movements made her seem like a woman who was lost and didn’t know where to turn first.
    Waving at a waitress passing by, Lance caught her attention and turned back around just as Marcy popped the lid off a small jar of what must be the baby’s food. The baby saw what her mother was doing and reached out with one hand toward the jar.
    â€œOkay,” Marcy murmured absently to her daughter. “Don’t you worry, Angie. It’ll all be okay.” She scooped up a spoonful of the mush and shoveled it toward the baby’s open mouth.
    More of the food ended up on the baby’s face than went in her mouth. Marcy took a few more stabs and Lance was fascinated watching the hit-and-miss process.
    The little girl had a tuft of hair on the top of herhead that was exactly the same color as her mother’s. But within moments the food was all over the baby’s face, dripping off her chin and sticking nastily to that little bit of hair.
    He found himself smiling as Marcy sighed and tsked at her child, urging her not to put her fingers in her mouth. The whole picture tugged on some soft spot inside him.
    Just then a waitress appeared with water and a glass filled with milk. “Sorry it’s taken so long. This place is a madhouse. Everyone’s having to pitch in and do everyone else’s work in the emergency. What can I get you to eat?” She set all the glasses down on the table.
    Marcy began to discuss the food possibilities with the waitress just as the answer hit him. This was the emergency that he’d been saving for. He could give Marcy enough money to get back to her family after the storm and to keep them going for a while. She must have family somewhere. That way he wouldn’t have to worry about leaving her and the baby and heading off to Montana.
    What a great idea, he thought with smug satisfaction. This was one way to put some of the money he’d accumulated over his years on the rodeo circuit to a good use. He would send cash back to an auto salvager in the county where they’d had to leave her broken-down car. Then even that wouldn’t be a worry for her ever again. Good thing he’d thought of it.
    He wanted to make her life easier. That way she might not be so disappointed when she missed her opportunity to travel the world.
    â€œOh, for heaven’s sake. If it isn’t White Eagle Steele.” The waitress had turned away from Marcy and the baby and was standing with pad in hand,