She Can Hide (She Can Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

“How are those poor animals settling in?”
    “Fine.” Ethan’s butt hit the chair hard, his leg muscles suddenly deciding they were exhausted.
    “I saw Ronnie unload them earlier.” One-handed, Mom slid a dish in front of him. Joint damage permanently curled the fingers on her left hand. A cleaning service came in once a week to do the heavy housework, but his mom loved to cook for her sons. “Be careful, dear, that plate is hot.”
    “Cam and Bryce took care of them.” Ethan shoveled meat, potatoes, and carrots into his mouth while his mom chattered about the animals’ arrival. “You didn’t go out in this weather, did you?”
    “Just for a minute.” She set a basket of biscuits at his elbow. “Do you need more gravy?”
    “No, thanks.” Ethan slathered butter on a biscuit. “How’s the packing going?”
    “Fine.”
    “I bet you can’t wait to see Aunt Julie.”
    Mom smiled. She hadn’t seen her sister since last winter. “You’re right. I’m excited, but I hope we get those ponies straightened out before I go.”
    Uh-oh. He had to keep her away from the horses until she left. A week was more than enough time for her to get attached.
    “Chances are Ronnie will move them before that.”
    Her eyes dimmed. “Probably for the best.”
    But didn’t Ethan feel like crap? His mother loved nothing more than to care for an animal in need. Bring on the injured dogs, starving cats, and birds with broken wings. Their barn had served as a wildlife rehab center for most of his childhood.
    “It’d be nice for them to have a family with kids,” he pointed out.
    “You’re right.” She nodded, watching him with patient blue eyes. “What else happened today?”
    As if she didn’t already know about the accident. The chief’s secretary, Nancy, would have called his mom to let her know that Ethan was all right. A few other details likely slipped out during the conversation, but Ethan told her about the river rescue anyway. She used to be active. Now the disease kept her in and slowed her down.
    His mom stirred honey into her tea. “I heard she’s a math teacher at the high school.”
    “You know I can’t talk about the details of the case.” Even though his mother probably knew as much—or more—as he did.
    His mother’s blue eyes sparkled, a sight guaranteed to give Ethan indigestion. “I heard she’s pretty too.”
    Pretty was an understatement, but Ethan gave her a pointed look. “Mom, this is a case. I’m a professional.”
    “Of course you are.” She put a hand on his forearm. “I didn’t mean to suggest you would be anything else. But if that were me, and a handsome young man came to my rescue…” His mother sighed, and Ethan knew she was thinking about his father. Dad had only saved his mother from a thunderstorm and a flat tire, but when she told the story, Dad was her white knight. “Well, he’d be my hero.”
    Ethan covered her hand with his palm. “I was just doing my job.”
    “You’re a good man, Ethan. Your father would be proud.” His mom sniffed and stood up to clear the table. “I’d love to see you with your own family instead of getting stuck taking care of me. I’m sorry I’m such a burden.”
    “You’re hardly a burden, Mom.” And Ethan could hardly think about having another family when he was still taking care of this one.
    She smiled and patted his hand. A scraggly gray tomcat sauntered into the kitchen and wound around her legs. “Would you like some roast beef, Sweetums?” She bent down to scratch behind the torn ear of her latest rescue.
    “Sweetums is a ridiculous name for that cat. You should call him Scarface or Reaper.” Ethan could hear the feline purring from across the room. He emptied his milk glass and crossed the tile floor. Sweetums raised his back and hissed. Ethan gave the feline a wide berth. Sweetums might be old and missing an eye, but those claws were Wolverine sharp. A fact Sweetums liked to remind Ethan of every once in a