Summer on Kendall Farm Read Online Free PDF Page B

shoveling food into his mouth as if he hadn’t eaten in days.
    “Slow down, Ari,” Jace cautioned.
    “This is really good,” he said, swallowing an amount that was too large for his mouth. “It’s nothing like yours.”
    Kelly laughed. “I guess we both get insulted today.”
    “Can I say that?” Ari looked at Jace.
    “Say what?”
    “Insulted? Is it a bad word?”
    “It’s not a bad word, but you need to know when to use it,” Jace explained. “So for now, don’t say it.”
    With a nod, he went back to his meal. Jace looked up at Kelly. Her gaze was soft as she stared at him. Jace had seen those eyes before. He glanced down at his food. What he had to tell her was hard enough. With her looking at him like that, it was too much.
    “Dad, this isn’t a hotel, is it?” Ari’s mind jumped like lightning from subject to subject. “It doesn’t look like the other hotel.”
    “This isn’t a hotel, Ari.”
    “Our apartment at home wasn’t this old.”
    “No. It wasn’t. This house is very old, constructed so long ago, even I wasn’t around when it was built.”
    Ari continued eating. Kelly liked their banter, but she didn’t join in the conversation.
    Ari finished eating and quickly stood up. “May I go?” he asked. “I want to play some more.”
    Jace looked at Kelly. She nodded.
    “Stay close to the house,” he said. “This is a big farm. I don’t want you getting lost.”
    “I won’t,” he said and rushed out the door and down the back steps. Jace could see he was happy here. He was still in the explorer mode. Everything was new, different and exciting for him. He hadn’t had time to get homesick yet.
    “I apologize,” Kelly said.
    “For what?” Jace brought his attention back to her.
    “For my thoughts. Obviously, you and Ari have a special relationship. And he’s not a kidnapped child.”
    “Apology accepted.”
    “Now, you wanted to talk about something,” she said. She crossed her arms on the end of the table and gave him her full attention. “Talk.”
    “I want my home back.”
    * * *
    K ELLY HAD DEALT with difficult clients before. She’d worked for a marketing firm in New York City and everyone at the firm thought they were more important than anyone else. Among other things, she’d learned to steel her features. She remained where she was, refusing to show how upset she was over Jace’s statement. His eyes were clear and there was no joke in his comment. He was serious.
    “I’m afraid that is not an option,” she said calmly. “The house was sold and the deed duly recorded. You can check the county records if you wish. The courthouse is—” She didn’t get any further.
    “I know where the courthouse is,” he snapped.
    “Don’t speak to me like that, Jason.” She intentionally used his given name, hoping it brought her point home. “I bought this property free and clear. Your brother had run it into the ground, selling off anything and everything he could. He hadn’t paid the taxes in more years than your son is old. I came along and saved it. And I am spending everything I can beg, borrow or steal to make it a going operation. So don’t come in here and tell me you’re planning to force me out. It isn’t going to happen.” She took a breath. “I offered you one night’s lodging. Well, you’ve had it. You can pack your things and move on. You are no longer welcome here.”
    Kelly stood up and took her coffee cup to the sink.
    “Kelly. You misunderstood me.”
    She turned around. Jace was now standing within feet of where she was.
    “Your words seemed pretty clear to me.” Kelly understood that he was back-peddling. What did he expect her reaction to be? Should she just curl up and let him take away everything she’d done in the past two years? She was preparing to open the house to the public and take income from the tours. Sometime in the future, she’d bring back the horses and build a racetrack. Every penny she had was invested in this farm.