Robin Lee Hatcher Read Online Free PDF

tomorrow or the next day. The buyers will be expecting us.”
    “You think you oughta — ” Stubs began.
    Two shrill cries interrupted his question. “Ma! Ma!”
    Once again, Emily got to her knees and leaned over for a better view, and once again, Gavin stopped the wagon.
    “Ma!”
    Dark brown hair streamed out behind the girls as they ran. The older one was tall and slender. The younger was plump and rosy. Both wore big grins.
    Gavin hopped down from the wagon seat, then lifted his wife to the ground. Dru turned just in time to receive the two girls into her arms.
    “Ma, you’re back! You were gone so long.”
    “I know, Brina. It seemed like forever to me too.”
    Sabrina had her mother’s hazel eyes as well as the same long, narrow face. Her complexion was fair except for the spattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks. Her dress barely covered her knees. She would soon be grown clear out of it.
    “Ma.” Petula tugged on her mother’s sleeve. “Look.” She opened her mouth, pointing into it.
    The younger girl’s eyes were a dark chocolate brown and were capped by chestnut brows. Her complexion was dark, her mouth wide and full. Emily saw little resemblance to either Gavin or Dru in the child.
    “My goodness, Pet. Where did your tooth go?” Her mother feigned amazement.
    “It came loose when I was ridin’ this morning.” The girl’s eyes widened. “I swallowed it.”
    “Well then, you probably won’t be hungry for supper, will you?” Gavin swooped Petula into his arms.
    The girl promptly threw her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Will too. Mr. Chamberlain’s fixing pie for dessert, and I helped.”
    With his other arm, Gavin lifted Sabrina against his side. “What about you? Stubs tells me you’re doing the cooking.”
    Sabrina mimicked her sister’s actions by hugging his neck and kissing his cheek. As she pulled back, she nodded. “I made the stew.”
    What an amazing smile he gave the children. Emily would have sworn he was incapable of such a joyous expression. She certainly hadn’t seen its like from him before. Although he’d been tender and solicitous with his wife throughout the journey home, the most frequent look on his face had been frowns and scowls. She’d come to think him a dour sort.
    He must love them very much.
    Dru touched Emily’s hand on the side of the wagon. “Come meet my daughters.”
    “Yes, of course.” She jumped to the ground. Oh , please let them like me , she prayed.
    “Brina . . . Pet . . .” Dru waited while Gavin set the girls on their feet. “Come say hello to Miss Harris.”
    Holding hands, they came forward to stand next to their mother. Two sets of eyes stared up at Emily, curious and skeptical at the same time.
    Her throat felt dry. “Hello, Sabrina. Hello, Petula.”
    They didn’t say a word.
    “I’m glad to meet you at last. Your mother’s told me so much about you.”
    Still no response.
    Emily swallowed hard. Her stomach churned. If the children took a dislike to her as quickly as their father had, she wouldn’t stand a chance.
    Petula turned and tugged on her mother’s skirt, then motioned for Dru to lean closer. “I like her hair,” she whispered. “Don’t you, Ma?”
    “Yes, Pet, I do.”
    The baying of hounds interrupted the introductions. Emily turned to see three huge brown and gray dogs barreling toward them. The first two slid to a halt at Gavin’s feet. The third didn’t stop until he’d risen on hind legs and thrust muddy paws against Emily’s shoulders.
    Thrown off balance, she flailed the air with her arms. But it was a lost cause — the dog gave her another push and she dropped like a rock onto her backside, hitting the ground with a hard thump . Before she could close her mouth, the dog’s long tongue smacked her across the face. She sputtered, closing her eyes and raising her arm to ward off the beast, hoping all the while he wouldn’t decide she was tasty enough for a