Next Door Daddy Read Online Free PDF

the stand to his bike down and leaving it in the door of the barn. Bogie, too tuckered out to be curious, dropped like a rock to his belly in the dust.
    Nate felt his gut twist but nodded as he hefted another load. “Tell you what. How ’bout you climb into the bed of the truck and push bags off the top there down to me.” Nate didn’t figure the slight boy could lift a fifty-pound bag, he’d seen him struggle to carry Bogie, but maybe he could shove one in his direction.
    Face set in determination, Gil scampered up into the truck and reached for the bag on the top of the stack. With a grunt he pulled. When nothing happened he climbed behind the bags and shoved. The bag rewarded him by sliding to the bed with a thud.
    â€œGood job,” Nate said, and meant it. He tugged it to him and tossed it to the stack. Gil already had his shoulder pressed to the next bag, his expression ripe with the effort. They worked for almost thirty minutes, and Nate couldn’t help admire the boy’s hard work. When the truck was empty, Gil hopped to the ground.
    â€œGot anything else to do?”
    Nate had been about to clean out some stalls, and though he figured Gil would run at the sound of that, he offered it up.
    â€œWoo-hoo! Gimme a shovel—I use a shovel, right?”
    Nate almost laughed. Almost.
    â€œMaybe you need to give your mother a call and let her know where you are first.” Pollyanna might get worried when Gil didn’t show up for so long.
    â€œMaybe I better. You know how moms are.”
    Nate motioned to the phone hanging on the wall next to the tack room. “She wants to talk to you, Nate,” he called after only a moment on the line.
    Nate took the phone. “Yes?” he said, watching Gil hop around like he was prone to do.
    â€œAre you sure you don’t mind him helping? If he’s in the way, please just send him home.”
    Her voice was soft and he pictured her gentle green eyes looking pensive as she said the words. He was struck by the image and startled by how much he felt the need to reassure her. “He’s a good helper. If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate the help.”
    There was a long pause, as if she was weighing the validity of his assurance. He added, “A boy living in the country needs to know how to muck out a stall.” Her chuckle startled him a little, like another pinprick on a toughened callus.
    â€œI’m sure you’re right about that,” she said. “If you’re sure, then I know he would love it.”
    â€œYes, ma’am. I’ll send him home in a couple of hours.”
    â€œNate, thank you,” she said, before he could hang up.
    â€œNo need,” he said, more than a little uncomfortable as he pressed the disconnect button.
    Two hours later he sent Gil and Bogie home. He wondered if Pollyanna would thank him when her son walked into her clean house smelling worse than the stalls he’d cleaned. Nate found himself smiling as he watched the kid race his bike around the bend with the dog in hot pursuit, holding his head high in order to keep his feet on the ground.
    Something told Nate that as long as Gil came home smiling, Pollyanna McDonald wouldn’t care if her son stunk like a polecat.

Chapter Four
    I t was only seven in the morning but Polly had been up since five. Rubbing her tired neck, she walked from her office.
    In the two hours, she’d sent off approval of her Web site and accepted a couple of reservations for midsummer from an online booking directory she was listed with. She’d also finally decided on the bedding she wanted in the four guest rooms, and had ordered it quickly so she wouldn’t change her mind again. At least now she would be able to choose her paint colors. That was a relief. She had a lot on her mind and hadn’t been sleeping well. The B and B had to be a success for so many reasons. Besides making Marc proud and fulfilling their dream