Diamond Read Online Free PDF

father’s grave—and then I drove away. It was a mistake. I don’t often make them. That’s why I came back. Lady, if you’re willing, I’ll take you with me to Nashville. I can guarantee you a record. I can guarantee you a manager. The rest will be up to you. If you want the career, it’s yours.”
    “Diamond.”
    He frowned. His heart sank. He couldn’t have misjudged her so badly. He’d promised her a shot at stardom, and she was already asking for diamonds?
    “My name is Diamond Houston,” she repeated.
    “Hell, I thought you were…” He shrugged. “Never mind. Is that the name you use when you sing at the—”
    She laughed. “I’d hardly assume a stage name for that dump. It’s real. And you may as well meet the rest of us, Mr. Eagle.”
    “Jesse,” he corrected.
    She shrugged. “This is Queen. She’s the oldest. And Lucky is the baby. My father had a propensity for gambling and all that went with it. We know that they’re rather unusual names, but we’ve grown to love them, right girls?”
    They looked at one another and then burst into laughter.
    “I suppose that’s an inside joke,” he drawled.
    “I don’t suppose you were just blowing smoke about Di’s singing?” Queen asked. Anxiety was evident in the taut lines around her mouth.
    Jesse shook his head. “I’ve never been more serious in my life.”
    For one long moment the girls stared at him, and then they stared at Diamond, absorbing the implications of his offer.
    Diamond looked up at the man in their doorway. This had to be a dream—or a nightmare. Yesterday they’d buried Johnny, and today they’d sold their house for more than it was worth while someone offered her a chance at stardom as icing on the cake.
    “Take it, Di,” Lucky said quickly. “Don’t waste luck. Johnny would turn over in his grave.”
    Queen swallowed once. “Go if you want,” she said. “But I’m not following on your coat tail. I’ve always had a yearning to see New Mexico…or maybe Arizona. Somewhere that doesn’t have a permanent pall of black coating the air I breathe.”
    Lucky’s eyes widened. The fear of being on her own was almost overwhelming, but the excitement overshadowed it. “I’ll go west,” she whispered, her fingers curling in her lap at the thought of Vegas…and Reno…and all the shiny places that Johnny had spoken of.
    Jesse felt their fear and, in a way, felt responsible. If he hadn’t come back and been the one to separate them, they might never have done it on their own.
    “Will you wait?” Diamond asked him.
    Jesse nodded. Right then he would have waited forever.
    She disappeared into a room off the hallway.
    Queen walked toward him. When they were inches apart she spoke. Once again the hair crawled on the back of his neck. Jesse realized that these women were capable of eliciting great emotion, even fear.
    “Don’t hurt her,” she said softly, her eyes never wavering from his face. “If you do, somehow I’ll know. And I’ll find you, Jesse Eagle. I’ll find you.”
    The pain was tearing her apart. He could feel it. Without conscious thought his hand cupped her face.
    “You won’t have to look far, lady. I’ll be standing in the shadow of your sister’s glory.”
    He dropped his hand from her face and stepped back, sensing her discomfort. It was obvious that men and touching were not common commodities in this house. He dug through his pocket and then handed her a card.
    “Here,” he said. “This is my private number. And you can write to your sister at this address.”
    She nodded, took the card, and stuffed it in her jeans as Diamond came back into the room.
    Jesse stared. One small bag. The woman was carrying a single, small duffle bag. He’d dated women who carried larger purses. When you didn’t have much, it didn’t take a lot to pack it.
    “I’m ready,” she said, trying not to cry.
    “I’ll wait outside,” he said quietly, suddenly realizing their need for privacy. The sound of one