Come On Over Read Online Free PDF Page A

as much chance as a one-legged man in a kicking contest.
    â€œSome folks need to argue about everything. It’s just their way. Those two even fought over naming the ranch,” Violet continued. “Edgar claimed he saw a beaver over at Twin Creek reservoir, and Harold swore up and down it was a marmot. They finally flipped a coin.”
    â€œAs fascinating as all this is,” Trent said, grabbing the whiskey and returning it to the cabinet. “I have work to do.”
    Violet didn’t protest being cut off, which was peculiar in itself. Then her faraway gaze drifted to the window over the sink, as if she’d slipped into her own little world. “Always arguing like those two did, no one ever paid them any mind...but that Saturday-night poker game at Len’s they had a terrible falling out. Both of them with full-blown cases of booze blind, they said things they couldn’t take back.” She shook her head, the sadness in her face giving the room a chill. “Stupid old mules. A day later, Harold up and left.”
    He glanced at Shelby. Hugging herself, her expression sympathetic, she stared at Violet.
    When Shelby turned to look at him, he avoided her eyes and took a swig of beer.
    â€œWhat the hell did you do with my whiskey?” Violet had returned to the present with her usual cantankerous disposition, and Trent couldn’t say he was sorry. At least it helped prove to Shelby that Violet was a nightmare.
    â€œ
Your
whiskey?” He put his empty beer bottle in the sink. “The tea party is over, ladies. I’m going back to work.”
    â€œDon’t let us stop you.” Violet pulled her pipe out of her pocket.
    â€œOn, no. Not in here, you don’t. Put that away.”
    Violet huffed in annoyance.
    Shelby cleared her throat. “So, I guess we’re back to where we started.”
    Not from where he stood. Although she claimed to have a deed. And he didn’t peg her for a liar. Obviously there was more to the story. “I’d be happy to give you directions to The Boarding House Inn. It’s on Main Street. You can’t miss it.”
    â€œActually, I’ll be staying here until one of us can prove ownership.”
    â€œAre you kidding me?”
    â€œIt’s the only fair thing to do.”
    Violet chuckled. “Attagirl.”
    Mutt barked from outside the door.
    â€œYou can let him in on your way out,” Trent said to Violet, who gave him the familiar glare, basically telling him to kiss her ass. He grinned. “Thanks for the beans and cornbread.”

3
    S HELBY WATCHED THE interplay between Trent and Violet. Any other time it might have amused her. Neither of them would admit it, but they liked being neighbors. They liked each other. Had it been that way with her great-grandfather and Edgar? Had their friendship been based on harmless banter and a genuine concern for each other...until it hadn’t?
    What had caused the final showdown, she wondered. Violet knew the answer, of that Shelby was quite certain. Just as she was convinced the older woman would never reveal it. Shelby didn’t consider herself the romantic sort, but she couldn’t help wondering if Violet had been the source of the trouble between the two men. Although she would’ve been fairly young.
    Violet still had the pipe in her hand as she walked toward the door. “I reckon I’ll go on home and leave you two to figure out sleeping arrangements.”
    Shelby and Trent looked at each other at the same time. Annoyingly, she felt a blush spread across her cheeks. She was quick to refocus her attention. Which happened to land on his left hand, his ring finger to be exact, and the pale mark that could easily be from a wedding band he’d once worn.
    Violet had mistaken Shelby for his wife. Not ex-wife, and he hadn’t corrected her so they were probably separated. Interesting that Violet didn’t know the woman. Not that it made a