Parker Read Online Free PDF

replied.
    “She’s a very nice woman.” And that was not a
lie. “You all have already acknowledged that.”
    Brody rose and chuckled, taking his cup with
him, and headed for the counter where he waited for another cup of
coffee.
    “What’s so funny, Brody?”
    He shrugged, grinning. “Nothing.”
    Parker glared.
    “You’re smitten.”
    “Smitten? What the hell kind of word is
smitten?”
    Brody faced him and laughed aloud. “What
would you rather I say, that you want to get into her panties?”
    Parker’s face heated up. Quickly he shot back
with, “We’re not talking about getting into anyone’s panties here,
Brody.”
    Hell, I want to get into her panties.
    Brody set his cup down and put his hands up
in surrender. “No worries, big Brother, I’m just saying that I
think you like her a bit.”
    “Enough.” Parker’s voice rose. “End of
subject.” He waited a few seconds to clear the air and then added,
“One of us might need to take her to the doctor since her truck is
out of commission.” He glanced at his siblings.
    Brody nodded and leaned into the counter.
“She’s lucky that truck didn’t roll a few more times. I went down
there this morning. She could have been hurt a lot worse had it
teetered off into that gully.”
    Parker figured as much. “I’ll take a look
after I get some coffee in me.” He took another sip. Mercer was
right. Still hot. “I guess I’ll call a wrecker sometime this
morning.” Hell, one more thing.
    “I wonder where she wants to take it?”
    “I haven’t a clue. I suppose Reba should make
that decision. Insurance and all. I’ll take care of it.” He looked
to Brody then, expecting another snarky remark, but it didn’t
come.
    “Let it sit,” Brody added. “It’s off the road
and not in the way. But that glass needs to get cleaned up. I’ll
have a couple of the boys get down there. Maybe fix a tarp over the
windshield to keep the animals out. I know you’ve got other things
on your plate today.”
    Parker looked to his stepbrother. Brody sure
had changed the past few weeks. He’d been more help to him lately
than he had ever been. “Thanks. That would be good.”
    “Mom wanted me to help her at the lodge
today,” Mercer said. “I’m not sure what time I will be finished or
I’d take Reba.”
    Callie looked to Parker. “I can do it. I
don’t have anything going on.”
    “Great.” Thanks, little sister. He was
trying to avoid taking her himself. He didn’t want to stir up the
speculation about him liking her any further. “She was sleeping so
I guess give her some time….”
    Parker mentally went over his schedule. What
day was it, anyway? Saturday. “Ah hell, I have an appointment in
town at ten.” He had spoken with his father’s attorney yesterday,
and Tom had suggested the meeting. He hadn’t told Liz about it yet.
“I almost forgot.”
    “Can it wait?” Mercer asked. “You’re dead
tired.”
    No, it couldn’t. “Naw. Tom was insistent. No
worries.” He gave her a smile.
    “Well, if you’re sure. I can call and
reschedule.”
    “No, thanks.” He glanced at his watch. Nearly
seven o’clock. “I might be able to catch a couple of hours’ sleep
before I go.”
    Callie stood, scooting her chair back. “Good
idea, Parker. Go crash. I’ll make sure you are up in enough time to
get to your appointment. And I’ll check on Reba too.”
    Parker smiled and stood and then gave his
little sister a hug. “You don’t have to tell me twice.” It sure was
good to have her home again—permanently. He slammed back as much of
the coffee as he could, knowing no amount of caffeine would keep
him awake in a few minutes.
    ****
    At about twenty minutes until ten, Reba
fluttered her eyes open and slowly perused her surroundings. The
cuckoo clock hung on the opposite wall. The time had to be right
because she’d worked for hours getting the thing set correctly a
few days before. She didn’t know if the time was approaching ten
o’clock in