She Waits Read Online Free PDF

extended my hand. "Nice to meet you."
    "The pleasure is mine," Allison said insincerely, taking my hand. I noticed the realization flash across her face.
    "Yes," I said, answering her unasked question. "I'm the one who knocked her off her horse."
    "Really? And you're sitting here drinking sherry? How nice."
    She was beginning to annoy me. "Nothing like a glass of fine sherry after knocking someone on their ass and--"
    "Allison, would you like a glass of sherry, dear?" Hannah chimed in, saving the day.
    Allison smiled sweetly at Hannah. "No thank you, it's a little early in the day for me." She looked at me. "But you enjoy yourself."
    She so didn't mean that and I was now truly annoyed.
    Allison turned back to Maggie. "You take care, and give me a call if you need anything. Anything at all." She kissed her on the forehead.
    She said good-bye to Hannah and came over to me. "It was nice to meet you Miss Ryan. Will you be leaving soon?" She purposefully stood too close to my chair so it would be very awkward if I tried to stand.
    I picked up my glass of sherry and crossed my legs. "I couldn't say. But it was a pleasure meeting you. Any friend of the family--"
    Hannah shot out of her chair and took Allison by the arm. "Thank you for coming over, dear. Give us a call later, won't you?"
    Allison looked over her shoulder as Hannah ushered her out. "I'll call you later, Mags."
    "That would be great, Allison," Maggie called into the hallway then glared at me and started to say something.
    "You've got lipstick on your forehead Miss Winfield," I said with a smug grin. I leaned over and presented a napkin.
    She wrenched the napkin out of my hand.
    I heard Hannah saying her good-byes before rejoining us. "Goodness, it is getting dark," Hannah said, sitting back with her sherry. "I think we may have a good storm. Now, where were we?"
    "You were asking if Miss Ryan is from Illinois," Maggie said, with her eyes closed.
    "Ah, yes." Hannah sat down and picked up her sherry. "Well?"
    "Ladies, I have no idea where I'm from or where I'm going, but could someone get the knife out of my back?" I turned to expose my back. At least Hannah and I had a laugh.
    "I think I could use a small refill," Maggie said. She struggled to sit up and retrieve her glass.
    "I got it," I said absently, rising to get her glass.
    "I can get it," she insisted as she struggled.
    She couldn't reach it and she knew it. So, I shrugged and watched her flounder for a moment. It was too much; she nearly fell off the couch.
    "Man, you're stubborn," I said impatiently and grabbed her glass from her.
    "Thank you," she said too sweetly as I handed her the refilled glass.
    We sat for a moment in silence. After telling Hannah the truth, I knew I had to tell Maggie as well. I figured now was as good a time as any.
    "Maggie, I'm afraid I haven't been telling you the whole truth," I blurted. All at once, I felt a little foolish.
    "Really?" Maggie asked. "What do you mean the whole truth?"
    She stared at me, bewildered while I told them about Jan and Barb, and the whole nine yards. When I finished, I looked at Maggie. "Believe me, I did not know who you were until we were introduced. And even then I wasn't sure if I should stay or go."
    "It's Kismet!" Hannah said with great enthusiasm until she looked at her niece. Her smile faded quickly.
    "It's rot!" Maggie said, in an irritated voice. "So, you thought you'd get the scoop and leave, is that it? Have my aunt tell you personal family matters, then what? Give it to your magazine for a nice little cover story about the sad lives of the rich? Tell me why I should believe you?"
    "Maggie, Jan and Barb told me you declined to meet with me, but I came up--"
    "You came up to see if you could find me anyway, is that it? Even though I said I didn't want anyone here?"
    I was getting tired of being cut off. "No, you self-absorbed little..." An appropriate word failed me. "First of all, I take wildlife photos. Unless a loon is in your lineage, which is