Home to You Read Online Free PDF

They’re also on the lookout for a woman for me.”
    Chase shook his head, grinning.
    “Yeah, and they used to question each girl I brought home for Mom to meet. Only after Dad died, that is.”
    Dakota’s dad had died in a granary explosion ten years earlier, leaving his mom and her children dependent on each other. Dakota had done his best by work-Cheryl Wolverton
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    ing odd jobs to help take care of bills, hating to see his mom working in a nursing home cafeteria for a living.
    “The sisters were also a blessing during that time after Dad died,” he added, remembering. “Anyway, it’s been an adventure with them as neighbors.”
    Silence fell.
    Chase shifted on his feet, slipping both hands into his front pockets. His wavy dark hair hung forward over one eyebrow as he bounced on his heels. “So, have you figured out who she is yet?”
    Dakota looked back at her. Very light skin and blond hair, whether it was real or not he wasn’t sure. The woman had a nice figure, not overblown but just right except she was a bit underweight. He would bet she’d clean up pretty and would probably be a knockout.
    Right now though, with her makeup smeared, black eyeliner making her look as if she had twin black eyes, he doubted her own mother could identify her. “Nope.
    I don’t know who she is. But it’s obvious she knows me.” The smell was actually subsiding, or maybe he was just getting used to it, but he realized it wasn’t bothering him as much now as it had a moment ago.
    A knock on the door interrupted them. Mary and Margaret each carried a pot in their hands.
    “That was certainly fast,” Chase murmured.
    Dakota crossed to the door. “Come in, ladies.”
    “Oh, we can’t stay,” Mary’s blue hair was bobbing as she came inside. “But here’s the coffee.”
    “And here’s some soup left over from what we had yesterday. We had thought to bring it over to you today if you wanted it. So, it ended up here anyway.” Margaret gave him a warm smile.

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    Home to You
    Dakota took the time to return her smile and take the coffeepot from Mary. He crossed the wooden floor past the sofa into the dining room. Grabbing a hot pad from the side table, he placed it on the large round wooden table and then set down his load.
    He turned and saw Margaret had followed him, so he did the same with the soup bowl.
    “No hurry in getting these dishes back. You just take care of that woman on your sofa.”
    Dakota glanced behind him at the door to the kitchen and thought about getting cups and bowls but decided that could wait. “Thank you, ma’am,” he murmured.
    “She looks so bad.”
    Dakota turned to see Mary standing near Chase, wringing her hands, staring at the woman on the sofa.
    “When she wakes up you should make sure she bathes. But not here. That wouldn’t be proper. You’ll have to find somewhere else for her to clean up.”
    “I’m sure we’ll think of something,” Dakota reassured Mary.
    “You don’t want your mama’s reputation ruined, or yours, Pastor. Think about that,” Margaret informed him.
    He nodded. “I will.”
    Margaret reached out and patted his arm. “We should go, Mary, so the pastor can get about his work of con-verting this woman.”
    Dakota saw Chase cover a smile with his hand.
    “Thank you both.” Dakota strode back through the living room to the screen door. “I’m sure the woman will appreciate the food—once she’s awake. You’ve saved me a heavy chore of having to cook.”

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    Both ladies beamed at the compliment. Mary actually giggled like a schoolgirl. “If you need anything else,” Mary called as they toddled out onto the wooden porch.
    “I’ll be sure to call,” he affirmed.
    Once they were safely down the stairs, Dakota let the screen door close.
    Chase chuckled.
    “They’re concerned,” Dakota informed him.
    “I noticed.” Glancing around, he noted, “The place sure hasn’t changed much since we were kids.”
    “You don’t