Leave It to Chance Read Online Free PDF Page B

that’s why they couldn’t live together. Her mom’s “concerns” and germ phobias would drive Sierra insane within weeks. She shuddered.
    “Are you cold, dear? I thought it was chilly in here.” Abbey rubbed her arms. “One more thing you wouldn’t need to worry about. My thermostat is set to 72 degrees.”
    “Things are tight at the moment.” That was an understatement. “But I may have gotten a job today.” Please, God! Not that she ever prayed anymore. But desperate measures and all that.
    Her mom whirled from wiping down the counter, anticipation in the widening of her eyes. “Harlow’s Nursery?”
    “No, Garland Treasures.”
    The edges of her mouth flattened out. “What did Harlow’s have to say?”
    Sierra turned down the sizzling meat. “Nothing. I just dropped off my résumé.”
    A disgruntled frown formed on pinched lips. “Garland’s refused to donate to the ladies’ banquet auction last year.”
    “Well, if I’m hired …” She leaned toward her mom with a grin. “As associate manager , I’ll be happy to donate something.”
    Her mom allowed a small smile. “That would be nice, honey.” She rested a finger on Michael’s deficient check and scooted it to the edge of the counter. “What are you going to do about this?”
    Sierra stared at the check. If she didn’t get a chunk of the funds Michael owed them, she and the kids would be packing their lives into boxes with nowhere to go … except her mom’s. One more upheaval for them to deal with. Shoulders set, she grabbed the check and headed for the door. “I’m going to take care of it.” Shrugging into her coat, she turned back. “Do you mind staying?”
    Her mom crossed her arms with a satisfied look. “Oh, no. I’ll take care of dinner. Give him a kick in the pants for me.”
    “Mother!” Sierra couldn’t help but laugh as she picked up her purse. “Oh, and I left a message for Sally to call me back with some details so I can place the ad about the horse. Just let the machine get the phone.”
    Her mom waved her off. “I’ll handle it.”

    Braden hopped off the bus and stood on the sidewalk, waving back to Emmett Peterson behind the darkened window as the yellow bus rumbled away from his stop.
    Emmett had loaned him a new CD by DeathTrain. It was buried in his backpack, beneath the sandwich he hadn’t eaten. He hated crunchy peanut butter.
    Emory ran past him toward the house. “Grandma’s here!”
    Braden kicked a rock off the sidewalk into the grass. His dad had told him not to do that. It could damage the lawn mower.
    He walked into the house and dropped his backpack on the couch, then went over to the kitchen table and helped himself to the cookies that Emory and Trevor had already gotten into.
    “Hi, Braden. Did you have a good day?”
    The cookie was warm and still gooey in the middle. His grandma always put in extra chocolate chips. He shrugged. “It was okay. These are good.”
    She patted him on the head as she set a plate and a glass of milk in front of him.
    The phone rang, and Grandma answered it. He reached for the same cookie as Emory and got to it first. She glared as he stuffed it in his mouth in one bite.
    “Oh, hi, Sally. This is Abbey Lassiter, Sierra’s mom. You called me for Sierra’s number, remember?” Then his grandma laughed.
    He took a drink of milk.
    “Yes, Sierra told me she called you about the horse. Is there any chance we could go see him today?”
    Braden looked at Emory. She grinned back at him. They high-fived. “Yes!”
    “What?” Trevor looked at them. “Why’d you guys do that?”
    Braden whispered. “We’re going to see the horse.”

    Sierra stormed out of Michael’s office and through the parking lot, her thumb pressing the speed dial number on her cell before she’d even unlocked the car door.
    Elise answered on the second ring.
    Sierra threw her purse into the passenger seat and shoved the key into the ignition. “He’s in the Bahamas.” The car idled