The Last Honest Woman Read Online Free PDF

Tennessee walker when I was a kid. Sixteen hands."
    "Sixteen?" Ben's eyes widened before he remembered he shouldn't be too enthusiastic. "He probably wasn't as fast as Thunder." When Dylan made no comment, Ben struggled, then gave up. "What'd you call him?"
    "Sly. He had a way of knowing which pocket you had the carrot in."
    "Ben. Chris."
    Ben flushed with guilt as he spotted his mother in the doorway. She had that look in her eye. Oblivious, Chris bounced happily on the bed. "Hi, Mom. I don't think Dylan's a robber after all."
    "I'm sure we're all relieved to hear that. Benjamin, didn't I tell you not to disturb Mr. Crosby?"
    "Yes, ma'am." You had to use "ma'am" when she used "Benjamin."
    "They weren't." Dylan took a pair of slacks and hung them in the closet. "We were getting acquainted."
    "That's kind of you." She sent him an even look, then ignored him. "Maybe you boys have forgotten about your chores?"
    "But, Mom—"
    She cut Ben off with a look. "I don't think we have to discuss responsibilities again."
    Dylan stuck a shirt in his drawer and tried not to chuckle. He'd heard the same line in the same tone from his own mother countless times.
    "You have animals depending on you for their dinner," Abby reminded her sons. "And—" she rustled a paper "—this seems to have fallen on the floor. I'm sure you were going to show it to me."
    Ben shuffled his feet as she held up his C in spelling. "I sort of studied."
    "Mmm." Walking over, she cupped his chin in her hand. "Delinquent."
    He smiled, knowing the crisis had passed. "I'm going to study tonight."
    "You bet you are. Now scram. You too." She held out a hand for Chris as Ben scrambled from the room.
    "Ben said he might steal my trucks."
    Abby lifted him up by the elbows to kiss him soundly. "You're very gullible."
    "Is that okay?"
    "For now. Change your clothes."
    At six, Chris couldn't have defined charm—but he knew he had it. "I'm still awful hungry."
    "I guess we could eat a little early. If you get your chores done."
    Since it seemed cookies were out, he wiggled down and walked to the door. He stopped and aimed a smile at Dylan. "Bye."
    "See you."
    Abby waited a moment, then turned back. "I'm sorry. I'm afraid they're used to having the run of the house and don't think about other people's privacy.
    "They didn't bother me."
    She laughed and tossed her hair back from her shoulder. "That won't last, I promise you. If you don't mind, we'll eat when they've finished their chores and cleaned up."
    "Anytime."
    "Mr. Crosby." The laughter was gone, and her eyes were calm and sober again. But it was her mouth, he realized, that drew his attention. It was fun, sensual, serious. "I'm going to try to give you my cooperation with this project. That doesn't include my children."
    He drew his shaving kit out of the case. "Which means?"
    "I don't want them involved. You aren't to interview or question them about their father."
    After setting the kit on his dresser, he turned back to her. Soft. She was a woman who looked soft as butter and she had a voice to match, but he had a feeling she'd grow talons if her children were threatened. That was fair enough. "I hadn't really given that any thought I'd think both of them a little young to remember much."
    You'd be surprised, she thought, but nodded. "Then we understand each other."
    "Not yet. Not by a long shot… Mrs. Rockwell."
    She didn't care for the look in his eyes. It was too… intrusive. How much of herself would she have left when he finished his assignment? It was a gamble, and she'd already decided to take it. "I'll have one of the boys let you know when dinner's ready."
    After she'd closed the door and started down the hall, she found herself chilled, so chilled that she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. She wanted to call her family, to hear her parents' comforting voices. Or Chanters caustic one. She dragged a hand through her hair as she walked down the steps. Maybe she could call Maddy and absorb some of her