Promise Them (The Callahan Series Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page A

found him in the pond trying to get a calf out that had gotten stuck in the mud.” She winced at the telling. “He couldn’t get her to move. I could see he’d been at it a while and felt sorry for him. So in I went in to help.”
    “You’re kidding.”
    Nellie faked a laugh. “Not kidding. I haven’t done that in quite a while.”
    “You’re sure you’re okay?”
    “I’m not so old I can’t still help on the ranch.” Nellie tried to keep her voice casual. There was no way she’d tell the rest of it.
    “I didn’t mean anything of the kind. I hope I’m as beautiful and active as you in a few years.”
    “A lot of years.” Nellie reminded her. As much as she loved her daughter-in-law, Nellie wanted to be alone. “Now, if you don’t mind...?ˮ
    Phyl’s mouth curved. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
    Nellie nodded, then turned away from Phyl’s trusting stare.
    She had never outright lied to the family, but here she was, telling only a half-truth. She’d never told any of them of her time with the Fraziers. They knew she’d lived in foster homes, one of which was a ranch, but no one knew how miserable she’d been. There’d been no need for them to know about those years of pain.
    She looked at Phyl and saw her concern. Nellie admired Phyl so much. She hadn’t had an easy life either, but after all she had gone through, Phyl had managed to maintain an easy nature, which made her easy to love. No one loved her more than Nellie’s oldest son, Donovan. Their devotion to each other was palpable.
    Nellie groaned softly. How could she sit here and not tell any part of her true self? The part she’d kept hidden for almost sixty years.
    “Thanks for the tea, but I need to get dressed and start dinner.”
    “Why don’t you rest? I’ll fix dinner.” Phyl frowned. “Even bring it to you, if you like.” She brushed Nellie’s stray hair behind an ear. “You look pale. I want you to rest.”
    “You’re going to spoil me.”
    Phyl chuckled. “Are you kidding? If Donovan sees you like this, he’ll take you in to see the doctor. Then he’ll chide me for not doing it earlier.”
    “Ridiculous. I’m fine.”
    “Glad to hear it.” Phyl rose, took the tray and headed for the door. “Stay in bed. Let me take care of you for a change.”
    Other than the few days it took to recuperate from childbirth, Nellie had never stayed in bed and certainly never wished to be waited on.
    Duncan had brought her coffee on Sunday mornings before the bedlam of a house full of children took over. Even then, Nellie would never lie in bed in the middle of the day.
    Perhaps the age of sixty was some kind of turning point.
    If so, she didn’t like it.
    Still, she didn’t argue, didn’t get up, didn’t get dressed. And when Phyl brought in a tray several hours later, she thanked her and still didn’t get up.
    “The guys are threatening to come up here and bother you with a hundred questions. I’m doing my best to keep them at bay.” Phyl chuckled. “Don’t worry. I told them you deserved a quiet day.”
    It said a lot for Phyl’s fortitude that she’d managed to keep Donovan from clomping in here with questions.
    But after a day of rehashing unwelcome memories, Nellie couldn’t eat, no matter how enticing everything looked. A bud vase with a single rose from her garden sat in the center of the tray that held baked chicken with noodles, a green salad, and a piece of pie. Her stomach heaved. She refused to disappoint Phyl. Taking the tray to the bathroom, Nellie slowly fed the majority of the food to the toilet.
    She was sipping the glass of tea when Phyl came in to pick up the tray.
    “You’re a great cook.” Nellie smiled her thanks.
    “Takes one to know one.” Phyl looked closely at Nellie. “Why do I have the feeling you didn’t really eat all this?”
    “Only a mother would know.” Nellie sighed. “I’m just not hungry tonight, and I didn’t want to upset you.”
    “I’ll let you get by with