The Housekeeper's Daughter Read Online Free PDF Page B

think a lot,” he’d answered at the time. He’d kissed her deeply. “And engage in vigorous activity,” he’d added, then he’d proceeded to show her what he meant.
    The heat surged to her face at the memory. She spooned out rice and beans, then passed the bowls to Joe, who sat at the end of the long table with Drake on his left, directly across from her so that she met his eyes every time she looked up.
    Ms. Meredith breezed into the room, bringing the scent of expensive blended perfume. Without acknowledging Maya’s presence, she wrinkled her nose at the food, then informed her husband she had a luncheon engagement in town and, without so much as a goodbye to her son, left.
    Maya tried not to feel sorry for Drake and the other Colton children, but it was hard. Her own mother, Inez, loved kids and lavishly showed it. Other than periods of intense interest in her two youngest children, Drake’s mother mostly ignored her children. It was a riddle because she hadn’t always been that way.
    From her childhood, Maya recalled Ms. Meredith as a gentle, laughing woman who would run and play with her children and husband as if she, too, were young and full of life.
    Glancing up, she saw Drake’s eyes follow his mother as she left the house.
    Maya suddenly sensed the need of the boy for the comfort his mother would have once given him. Thenhis gaze hardened and he was a man again, tough, resilient and determined, the kind of man the Navy called on for its most dangerous missions.
    It was a life he relished. As if he courted death. As if he dared it to come close.
    She ate quickly, sorrow in her heart. Maybe Drake didn’t know it, but there was something in him…not exactly a death wish—nothing so drastic as that—but a core of darkness nevertheless, one that he had never come to grips with.
    â€œI wanted to ask you about the Hopechest Ranch,” Joe continued after the brief interruption. “I want your opinion. Do you think it’s helping the children?”
    â€œOh, yes. It’s a wonderful place and has a fine reputation. The reading program is excellent. In my opinion,” she added, realizing she might have sounded arrogant.
    â€œI’m thinking of increasing the endowment this year.”
    â€œThat would be good, sir. The courts are referring more children there than the school can take.”
    â€œMmm.” The older man thought a bit. “Drake, while you’re home, maybe you can take a tour of the Hopechest and recommend something more we can do—a new stable or arena, perhaps? Or an additional bunkhouse.”
    â€œI’ll look into it,” Drake promised.
    â€œGood. That’s good, son.”
    Maya was touched by the obvious pride and trust the elder Colton placed in his son. Drake needed to see he was appreciated for himself.
    Abruptly, she cut off the thought. Drake didn’t need her concern and pity. He was a grown man. She’d do well to keep out of other people’s business, especially when her own emotions were totally unreliable at this point.
    Remember that advice, she mocked her soft heart, and you’ll get along a lot better in the world. Except she was going to love her child devotedly and show that love just as her parents had done with her and her sister, Lana.
    She sighed in resignation. Yeah, she was one tough cookie.
    â€œHow are you feeling this morning?” Drake asked, looking directly at her.
    His father turned his kind gaze on her, too, while they waited for an answer.
    â€œFine,” she murmured. “I’m just fine.”
    â€œBack not hurting?”
    The question sounded so intimate, she felt as if he were making love to her right there at the table. The awful blush started again. “No. Excuse me. I have to be at the Hopechest soon.” She picked up her plate of half-eaten food and fled.
    â€œYou didn’t eat much,” her mother noted as soon as Maya