Love Everlastin' Book 3 Read Online Free PDF

the
foundation of his certainty that the purveyor of
his...magical...journey into that other world, had not been the
house. Perhaps it was because the absurdity of a house arguing with
him was more than he could accept. A spirit, yes. He'd had his
share of conversing with the departed.
    And what had she meant when
she'd accused him of using Rose to withdraw from the
world?
    He was in the process of
releasing a long sigh when an extraneous ripple of sorrow passed
through his awareness. His spine stiffened as his psychic radar
instinctively activated. Before he could withdraw its probe and
abandon further knowledge of the unwitting sender, he knew the
source and location.
    "Damn," he
grumbled.
    Standing, he irritably
flexed his broad shoulders. He considered ignoring the psychic
pull, then, begrudgingly, he stalked from his room. Halfway down
the hall, he stopped at a door to his right, and lightly rapped on
the dark wood. When no answer came, he opened the door just enough
to peer inside. Across the room, a young boy was sitting
crosslegged atop the bedcovers, and sobbing.
    "May I come in?"
    The boy glanced up, swiped
his arm beneath his nose then adamantly shook his head.
    Winston lightly frowned.
"I'm afraid I'm lost in this big house. Can you tell me where to
find the kitchen?"
    For several seconds the boy
watched him through an unreadable expression. Then he lifted his
right arm and pointed, a gesture that brought a genuine smile to
Winston's mouth. Stepping beyond the threshold, Winston secured the
quilt about his shoulders and approached the foot of the
bed.
    "A point isn't much help,
lad."
    "Alby," the boy
sniffed.
    "Alby, is it? That's a fine
name. I'm Winston."
    The boy cocked his head and
it struck Winston that Alby's eyes held wisdom far beyond his age.
To pass the awkward moment, Winston glanced at the fireplace. A low
fire burned in the hearth, sufficiently warming the room. He
cleared his throat and swung his gaze back to Alby, who was still
watching him, only now there was blatant curiosity behind his blue
eyes.
    "Mind if I sit?" Winston
asked, pointing to the foot of the bed.
    "Go ahead."
    Winston seated himself to
the left of the boy, but he found himself at a loss for words until
he noticed a carved wooden horse, about two inches tall, on its
side on the quilt between them. Picking it up, he studied the
intricate workmanship then arched a brow in the boy's direction. "A
fine piece," he casually remarked.
    "Lachlan made it for
me."
    Alby's despondent tone
brought a frown to Winston's brow. "He did a fine job."
    Reaching beneath his pillow,
Alby removed three other carvings. A rearing bear, a lion and a
monkey. He passed them to Winston, who carefully studied each one
before setting them on the bed. "Is it Lachlan you're crying
for?"
    Alby's lower lip jutted out.
"'Cause I cry, don't mean I'm a baby!"
    "O' course no', Alby. But it
is a wee early to be so sad, don't you think?"
    "Not sad."
    "No?" Winston chuckled. "Ma
mistake, then."
    "You're forgiven," the
three-year-old quipped, and Winston laughed outright. "What's so
funny?"
    Winston had to think through
his words before replying, "I wasn't laughing at you."
    "Nobody here but us," Alby
said sagely, his eyes narrowed on Winston.
    "When you're right, you're
right. So tell me, did you have a nightmare?"
    "Don't be silly."
    The reply further unnerved
Winston and he thoughtfully stroked his stubbled chin. "So you were
just having yourself a wee cry, then?"
    "My toys stopped playing,"
Alby informed, poking them with the tip of an isolated finger. "I
don't like it when they stop being fun."
    Baffled, Winston eyed the
carvings.
    "Maybe 'cause I told Lion he
couldn't roar so loud." His lower lip again jutted out and his chin
quivered. "Now they're all mad at me."
    "The lion...roared?" Picking
up the piece, Winston carefully looked it over. "Mmmm. Lions can be
loud, all right. He probably would have awakened the whole
household if you hadn't quieted him down."
    "You