Maggie's Dad Read Online Free PDF

blames his misery on you.”
    â€œHe’s your worst enemy, so how do you know so much?” she retorted.
    â€œI have spies.” He sighed. “He can’t admit that the worst mistake was his own, that he wouldn’t believe Sally capable of such underhanded lies. It wasn’t until he married her that he realized how she’d conned him.” He shrugged. “She wasn’t a bad woman, really. She was in love and she couldn’t bear losing him, even to you. Love does crazy things to people.”
    â€œShe destroyed my reputation, and your father’s, and made it impossible for me to live here,” Antonia said without pity. “She was my enemy, and he still is. Don’t think I’m harboring any tender feelings for him. I’d cut his throat given the slightest opportunity.”
    His eyebrows levered up. Antonia was a gentle soul herself for the most part, despite an occasional outburst of temper and a keen wit that surprised people. She hadn’t ever seemed vindictive, but she harbored a long-standing grudge against her former best friend, Sally. He couldn’t really blame her.
    He fingered the lighter her father had given him. “How’s Barrie?” he asked with deliberate carelessness.
    â€œFending off suitors,” she said with a grin, her soft gray eyes twinkling. “She was juggling four of them when I left.”
    He laughed coldly. “Why doesn’t that surprise me? One man was never enough for her, even when she was a teenager.”
    She was curious about his antagonism toward Barrie. It seemed out of place. “Why do you hate her so?” she asked bluntly.
    He looked surprised. “I don’t…hate her,” he said. “I’m disappointed at the way she behaves, that’s all.”
    â€œShe isn’t promiscuous,” she said, defending her colleague. “She may act that way, but it’s only an act. Don’t you know that?”
    He looked at the lighter, frowning slightly. “Maybe I know more than you think,” he said curtly. His eyes came up. “Maybe you’re the one wearing blinders.”
    â€œMaybe you’re seeing what you want to see,” she replied gently.
    He pocketed the lighter with a curt gesture. “I’d better go. I’ve got a deal cooking. I don’t want the client to get cold feet.”
    â€œThanks for coming to see Dad. You cheered him up.”
    â€œHe’s my friend.” He smiled. “So are you, even when you stick your nose in where you shouldn’t.”
    â€œBarrie’s my friend.”
    â€œWell, she’s not mine,” he said flatly. “Merry Christmas, Annie.”
    â€œYou, too,” she replied with a warm smile. He was kind, in his way. She liked him, but she felt sorry for Barrie. He was a heartbreaker. And unless she missed her guess, Barrie was in love with him. His feelings were much less readable.
    After he left, she went back to join her father in the kitchen, where he was fixing hot chocolate in a double boiler. He glanced over his shoulder.
    â€œDid he leave?”
    â€œYes. Can I help?”
    He shook his head. He poured hot chocolate into two mugs and nodded for her to take one while he put the boiler in water to soak.
    â€œHe gave me a pipe,” he told her when they were seated at the small kitchen table, sipping the hot liquid. He grinned. “Didn’t have the heart to tell him that I’ve finally given it up.”
    â€œDad!” She reached across and patted his hand. “Oh, that’s great news!”
    He chuckled. “Figured you’d like it. Maybe I won’t have so much trouble with my lungs from now on.”
    â€œSpeaking of lungs,” she said, “you gave Dawson a lighter. Guess what he’s just given up, and didn’t have the heart to tell you?”
    He burst out laughing. “Well, maybe he can use it to light fires under his beef cattle