The Best Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

Becca.”
    â€œRebecca?”
    She nodded. “And a pink toothbrush.”
    Elizabeth brushed the blond hair out of her daughter’s eyes. “Sounds like you had a full evening. Did you sleep all right?”
    Mandy nodded. “I had one bad dream, but I hugged Mr. Bear and told him what had happened, and he said he’d take care of me until you were all better. Are you all better, Mommy?”
    Elizabeth swallowed hard. She’d never loved anyone as much as she loved this little girl. She squeezed her. “Almost, honey. The doctor is going to let me go home tomorrow morning.”
    â€œAre we going to our house? The one with the bunnies?”
    When she had accepted the job, Elizabeth had rented a house. While she’d stood in the kitchen and looked out at the backyard, she’d seen three rabbits scampering across the yard. She’d told Mandy about them and her daughter was very anxious to make their acquaintance. “No. We can’t move in there until October first. That’s about three more weeks.”
    â€œSo where are we going tomorrow?”
    Elizabeth could feel Travis’s gaze on her. He’d asked the same question. She still didn’t have a decent answer. “We’ll be fine.”
    â€œOkay.” Mandy picked up her bear and slid off the bed. “Travis said we could go to the movies tonight, Mommy. He said we could have popcorn and hot dogs and candy.” Her body quivered with excitement. “And if I’m really good, I can stay up past my bedtime.”
    Travis cleared his throat. “She wasn’t supposed to tell you that last part.”
    â€œI appreciate you doing this for me,” Elizabeth said, wondering how it had all gotten out of hand. “She’s my responsibility and I—”
    Travis pushed to his feet and held out one hand to stop her. “You’re not in L.A. anymore. Glenwood is a small town, Elizabeth Abbott, and we take care of our own. As of Thursday night, you’re one of us. I’m on duty today, so I’m going to take Mandy with me to the station. We’re right across from the park. I’ll see that she gets exercise and decent food and is in bed by nine. My housekeeper promised to come by and make sure I’m doing it all correctly.”
    â€œWhy are you doing this?”
    â€œBecause I don’t have any plans for the weekend and I’ve always been a sucker for a pair of beautiful blue eyes.”
    Elizabeth felt a rush of disappointment that her own eyes were brown. She wanted to believe him, believe that it was just about people helping each other. The way he said it, she was almost willing to buy into the myth of small towns. But she’d believed before, had trusted before, and that trust had been betrayed.
    â€œI hate to impose,” she said.
    â€œYou don’t have a choice,” he answered. “What else are you going to do with her?”
    She glanced down at the IV needle taped to her hand. She didn’t have an answer to that one, either. “Thank you. Again.”
    She looked up at him. Humor danced in his eyes, humor and a little bit of compassion. As long as it didn’t change to pity, she could survive. And somehow, she would pay him back.
    He retrieved his hat and settled it on his head; then heheld out his hand to Mandy. The little girl collected her giraffe and tucked it next to her bear. She grinned at her mother and slipped her hand in his. “By, Mommy.”
    â€œBy, honey.”
    Elizabeth watched her daughter act so trustingly with this stranger. Maybe Mandy hadn’t been scarred by the experience as badly as she’d feared. Maybe Mandy was going to be fine.
    Travis paused by the door and looked at her. The Stetson hid his eyes from view, but she saw the quick smile flash under his black mustache. Her heart fluttered foolishly. The man was handsome as sin.
    â€œI’ll call before the movie,” he said. “So