Love Means_. Freedom - Andrew Grey Read Online Free PDF Page B

stream down her face, but she kept stroking the horse as she looked at her mom and then back at Stone. "Daddy used to say that." Her voice was so soft.

    She talked. Holy shit!!! Stone didn't know what to do, so he kept walking the pony. "What else did your daddy say?" No response. "Did he have a name for you? My mom used to call me Fidget because I couldn't sit still."

    Her eyes got wide and then she smiled. "Daddy called me Ice Cream Girl."
    Stone glanced around the ring as Eli and Joey walked their horses. Joey's had a small boy sitting in front, with Robbie holding him. All the riders were smiling. Stone continued walking and saw Joey lead his horse in before helping the little boy and then Robbie off the horse. Eli then led in his horse. After one final lap, Stone led Mercury toward the rail. After Stone tied off Mercury's lead, Sherry's mother walked by, but Sherry held out her arms to Stone and he lifted her off the pony, smiling when she put her arms around her neck.
    "Did you have a nice ride, honey?"

    Those big eyes looked at her mom and then at Stone before nodding. Stone put her down and she took her mother's hand. "We'll see the pony again next week." As they began to walk away, Sherry tugged her hand away and walked slowly to Stone before hugging his legs. "Thank you, Stoney." She looked up at him, eyes bright and shining.
    He patted her blonde hair lightly, and then she turned back to her mom, taking the shocked woman's hand. A tear ran down her cheek as she lifted her little girl off her feet, hugging her tight. "Thank you, whatever you did or said. Thank you." Her hand cradled the blonde head as she walked to the car. Stone walked on air as he finished the last of his chores and was still riding high as he walked toward the house for dinner.
    Stone slipped off his boots and padded into the kitchen. Adelle smiled at him and handed him a warm mug. Geoff came in from the other room. "Could I talk to you?"
    "Give the boy a minute, Mr. Geoff, he just got in," Adelle admonished lightly, and Geoff grinned back at her.
"Come to my office, then." Geoff turned and walked back through the doorway, shaking his head.
    Stone couldn't help wondering what Geoff wanted, so he set the mug on the table and followed, figuring he'd better not tempt fate too much. He liked it here, but he'd sworn to himself he wouldn't get too comfortable. This could all end as fast as it started. Stone rapped lightly on the doorframe and stepped inside. It appeared that Geoff was already engrossed in something.
    "You wanted to see me?"
"Yeah." Geoff set down the papers, and Stone watched nervously, wondering.... "Sit down."
    Geoff didn't seem angry, which was good. "I heard what you did for Sherry. She and her mother stopped by before leaving, and the woman couldn't stop singing your praises."

    "I just told her that her mother was pretty and that she was pretty, too, because she looked like her." Stone smiled.

    Geoff looked confused. "The Biddles adopted Sherry when she was a baby. She isn't their biological daughter and doesn't look at all like her mother."

    "That may be, but Sherry said her daddy used to say the same thing. In fact that was the first thing she said." Stone couldn't hide the pleasure that his innocent and accidental mistake had helped the little girl. But Stone's smile didn't last long as Geoff's expression changed. "I also understand that you had a problem with another client."

    Stone looked down at the floor. "Yes, sir." He was in for it now. No matter what happened back home, he always got blamed, and it was the same thing here. "I'll get my things and go."
    Stone stood up and walked out of the office, heading for the stairs. Maybe this was for the best.
If he moved on, he wouldn't have a chance to miss this when they asked him to leave later.
"Stone." He heard Geoff's voice and turned, already halfway up the stairs. "Instead of jumping to conclusions, why don't you tell me about it."
    Slowly, he walked back down the