Son of a Gun Read Online Free PDF

did.”
“I’m Carolina Lambert, Damien’s mother.”
So he wasn’t a simple cowboy. He was a Lambert. Obviously wealthy and likely powerful, yet he’d easily passed for your everyday wrangler. Already she loved Texas.
Carolina stood, walked over and leaned in for a closer look at the squirming infant, whose face was turning redder by the second.
“Oh, poor little sweetheart. You must be cold. We’ll take care of that.” Carolina looked up. “She’s adorable.”
“Thank you.”
Damien made quick introductions of the rest of the people at the table as Belle tuned up. The two men were his brothers, Durk and Tague. Both were tanned and muscular and shared Damien’s good looks. Tague sported a ready smile. Durk eyed her suspiciously, his handshake firm.
Damien’s grandma Pearl was silver-haired, petite and wrinkled but with a mischievous sparkle in her violet eyes. His aunt Sybil looked to be in her sixties. She wore heavy makeup and her neck and wrists were weighted down with chunky silver and turquoise jewelry. A black wig topped her head like a hat. Emma hoped hers was not nearly so conspicuous.
“You’re the best-looking stray Damien’s ever come home with,” Tague said. “Of course, your closest competition was a mangy yellow dog with a bad drool.”
“Glad I beat that out.” She managed a smile.
“Have a seat,” Grandma Pearl said. “You need some soup to warm you up. A little sherry wouldn’t hurt, either.”
“Mother thinks sherry is the cure for everything,” Sybil said. “I’ll get you some soup.”
“Maybe we should give Emma a chance to catch her breath and warm up before we start pushing food on her,” Carolina said.
Belle began to wail.
“Why don’t you let me take her for you,” Carolina said. “You must be exhausted.”
“She’s hungry,” Emma said. “I really need to feed her.”
“Of course. And I’m sure you’d appreciate some privacy,” Carolina said. “Come with me to the family room. There’s a rocker near the fireplace.”
Emma took a deep breath, preparing herself for the next lie. Nothing about this was going to be easy, but it was still a million times better than freezing to death or being violated by Julio.
“I know how irresponsible this sounds, but I was so upset when I walked away from the truck that I left Belle’s bottles of formula behind.”
Durk’s eyebrows arched. “I thought you said you were driving a car.”
“It’s an SUV,” she said, as if that explained it. “Anyway, it’s imperative that I go into town and get bottles and formula for her.”
“No use to go into town for that,” Carolina said. “My neighbor Karen has a son about the same size as your Belle. She’s over frequently since we’re both on the library committee and planning a new extension. I keep bottles and formula here for her. Disposable diapers, as well.”
“She uses Similac,” Sybil said. “What kind of formula do you use with Belle?”
“Similac.”
“Now, that’s luck,” Sybil said.
Grandma Pearl clicked her tongue against her false teeth. “Luck has nothing to do with it. The Lord works in mysterious ways.”
“Indeed he does,” Carolina agreed.
“I’ll go stoke the fire,” Tague said.
Carolina walked over to the counter. “I’ll get a bottle ready.”
“I don’t want to interrupt your dinner,” Emma said. “Just point me to the formula and I’ll take care of feeding Belle.”
“Nonsense,” Carolina said. “I’ve finished my soup. And dessert and coffee can wait until you’re ready to join us. I’ll get the bottle. You just take Belle to the fire so the both of you can get warm.”
“Thanks so much,” Emma said. “And thankfully we’re warmer already. My teeth have totally stopped chattering.”
“Did you say you have false teeth?” Pearl asked.
“No,” Emma said. “My real ones were chattering from the cold.”
“Mother, are you wearing your hearing aids?” Sybil asked.
Pearl smiled. “I might have left them on my dressing