Jesse Read Online Free PDF

I only have one question—what took you so long?”
    Danielle had called every couple of months and sent pictures in between those phone conversations, but it wasn’t the same as visiting. “We were just so busy.” That sounded like a lame excuse, but it was all she had to offer without telling her uncle about the whirlwind romance, the unplanned pregnancy, and the devastating divorce. Their eyes met and she realized she didn’t have to explain anything after all.
    â€œI knew it would take some time before you came on out for a visit. Times are lean and you were so wrapped up in being a new mother that you weren’t thinking about much else, let alone your crusty old uncle.”
    Danielle blinked back tears for the second time in the last half hour. “You are not crusty and I was so busy, I couldn’t see straight. I’m sorry.”
    He just smiled and shook his head. “New parents are supposed to be caught up with their little ones. Don’t you worry none, June bug. I figured I’d see you sooner or later, and until I did, we had our talks on the phone and I had the pictures you sent.”
    Screwing her courage up, she met her uncle’s gaze and confessed, “Buddy left us.”
    He nodded. “Not surprising. That young man’s first love was and will always be the rodeo. She’s a tough mistress.”
    â€œI know.” Her ex was like a shooting star. Blazing hot and glorious while he was in her life. Now that he’d moved on, only a trace of him was left behind—their beautiful daughter. And for that she’d be forever grateful. “It’s hard.”
    While they ate, she wondered where she would go from here. What would lie ahead for her and little Lacy? She had no intention of living off of her uncle; she needed a job. Time to tell him, before he started making his own plans; her uncle had a way of taking over.
    Danielle wiped Lacy’s mouth with a paper napkin. “I’ve really missed you and your pie, Uncle Jimmy.”
    â€œI liked the chocolate best,” Lacy confided as she reached for her milk.
    He was smiling when he said, “Nothing I like better than feeding people who appreciate good food.”
    While he and Lacy chatted, she wracked her brain but couldn’t think of a way to casually ask about finding work. Better just to ask and get right to the heart of the matter. “So, I understand there’s a lot of work in town if you’re a rancher.”
    Jimmy nodded. “We have a number of ranches on the outskirts of town. Beef cattle mostly, but some raise horses too.”
    â€œBut what about other jobs?”
    Looking from Danielle to her daughter, her uncle sighed. “You just arrived.” He frowned at her. “Are you going to be difficult?” She shrugged and he sighed loudly. “Times are a bit lean right now, but I could ask around, introduce you to folks you haven’t seen in a decade.”
    Danielle smiled. “Thanks, Uncle Jimmy.”
    He pushed his chair back to stand. “No arguments now, but you and little June bug are staying with me.”
    â€œJust until we get on our feet.” Danielle hugged her baby girl to her heart.
    â€œWe’ll see,” was her uncle’s cryptic reply. “Come on, ladies, I’ll give you the grand tour of Sullivan’s.”
    While Uncle Jimmy led them through the kitchen to the front of his diner, Danielle wondered if he’d heard the scuttlebutt about her ex and how well he’d been doing since their divorce. With her mind on other things, she didn’t hear Lacy talking until her daughter tugged on her hand.
    â€œMommy!”
    â€œI’m sorry, sweetie, I was letting my mind wander.”
    â€œYou two ladies must be tired. I can show you around later.”
    â€œNo, it’s fine, Uncle Jimmy.” Danielle reached for Lacy’s hand. “We’d love to see the rest of the