Lone Oak Feud (Harlequin Heartwarming) Read Online Free PDF

“See you, kiddo. I had fun playing with you.” She smiled warmly at the boy, giving no obvious sign of being bothered by the scolding.
    She used to burst into tears with the slightest provocation—he’d witnessed it several times from afar. Gone was the girl who wore her heart on her sleeve. In her place was...definitely a woman.
    No. He couldn’t think of her that way. She was simply the nagging inconvenience that had dragged him away from Wichita for a few days.
    Zach walked up the driveway toward the back door, and their eyes locked. For an instant. Sparks of challenge and attraction shot between them. Once she’d passed him on her way to the sidewalk, he turned around to watch her. Then he turned back, reminding himself he didn’t want to think of her that way.
    “Zachary Rundle! What are you doing here?”
    He grinned up at the crotchety old woman, then took the steps in two bounds to deliver a hug. “Grandma.”
    She felt frail in his arms, not quite as strong or full of it as she’d always been. Seeing her get older and weaker was rough, but still, it was always good to be with her again. Whenever he came home, he realized how much he missed her. He couldn’t stand the town, but he loved this old woman.
    When they pulled apart, he could swear he saw a hint of moisture in her eyes, but by the time he did a double take, it was gone. Good. She wasn’t going soft on him. That wouldn’t be his grandma.
    “You didn’t answer my question, mister.”
    He squeezed her shoulders, unable to stop smiling.
    “So this is Owen, huh?” He motioned over his shoulder, then turned to the boy who stood glued to the bottom step, clearly confused.
    “This is Owen. Owen, say hello to your uncle Zach.”
    The child looked down at his feet and didn’t respond.
    “Owen.” Grandma’s voice was sterner.
    He mumbled a “hi” so soft Zach barely heard it. Maybe the kid wasn’t as outgoing as he’d originally thought.
    “I don’t think he’s used to men,” his grandma said quietly.
    “Hey, O.” He paused, wondering what one said to a five-year-old kid. “How you doing?”
    “Fine.”
    He glanced at his grandma, hoping she’d take charge as was her specialty. Nowadays, Zach was comfortable with that for the most part. But when he was a teenager, there’d been plenty of head-butts.
    “Come inside, Owen. You need a bath,” she said.
    “I’m not dirty.” The boy searched his arms and trunk and shrugged his shoulders. The earnest look on his face almost made Zach chuckle.
    “ Now, Owen.”
    Zach was quite familiar with Gram’s don’t-mess-with-me tone, and he waited to see if his nephew had figured out she meant business. Owen plodded up the outside stairs to the back door, shoulders sagging. Either he learned fast or he was used to taking orders from his great-grandma.
    Zach followed them inside to the kitchen.
    “Where’s Josh?”
    “Don’t go jumping into questions until you answer mine. What are you doing in town?”
    “Couldn’t stand being away from you any longer, Granny Dearest.”
    She grabbed a magazine off the ancient white countertop, rolled it up and bopped him on the head. “Don’t you sweet-talk me, Zachary.” She grinned in spite of her tough act.
    “Owen, go get your dirty clothes off. Uncle Zach will be up to run some bath water in a few minutes.”
    The boy flew out of the room, probably glad to get away from the uncle he’d never met before. Zach shrugged. He knew what it was like to have a bunch of new adults forced on you after your parents took off. He distinctly remembered it sucked.
    Zach hefted himself up onto the counter next to the sink. If Owen didn’t want to open up to him, so be it. Zach didn’t consider himself much of a talker, anyway. Besides, he wouldn’t be here for long. Just long enough to get Lindsey off his grandma’s back.
    “Where’s my lazy brother?” Zach said lightly.
    “Zachary. There’s a child in the house. Try to restrain yourself.” Her