Whisper Read Online Free PDF Page A

all the good smells were coming from. Billy threatened to go door to door to find the right house and invite himself to dinner.”
    She turned toward the sink and pulled a pie off the windowsill. “You could take these with you.
    They’re still warm. We wouldn’t want Billy to miss dessert.”
    He accepted first one, and then the other fragrant apple pies. His eyebrows raised as his mouth watered. “They’ll jump me before I get in the house.”
    Heather laughed and Whisper smiled. “I hope 24

    Whisper

    Billy likes them.”
    The pies smelled like butter, cinnamon, apples and summer. They could taste like putty, and he’d still be impressed she went to the trouble. With the overheated house, she should be resting and taking care of herself, not cooking and baking. He didn’t mouth off too often, and it figured he’d spout off to a woman who needed a hand, not an attitude. “Would you come over and join us?”
    She turned toward the sink. “No. Thank you, though. I really do have things to do.”
    “Whisper?” Heather asked.
    “They have work to finish, Heather. Certainly, they don’t need you underfoot,” Whisper replied, apparently reading her sister’s mind.
    “I’d do dishes after they eat.” He took a step toward Whisper and she glanced in his direction. One rough incident wouldn’t be enough to make her keep tabs on exactly how close he’d gotten. Her reactions spoke of conditioning.
    “She won’t be in the way. Besides, there’re three other girls in the house. They’ve been running drinks out and helping catch up on laundry. She wouldn’t be alone with a bunch of boys.”
    “Please?” Heather asked.
    Whisper nodded and Heather grabbed a pie.
    “Be home at dark,” Whisper said.
    “I will. I promise.” She bolted out the door.
    He touched Whisper’s arm with the backs of his fingers. She flinched before straightening her spine and letting go of a long breath. The urge to gentle her and tame obvious misgivings about a man being close, grew stronger. With her reactions, it’d take time, of which his was limited. He wouldn’t leave however, until she understood one basic concept. If bad things happened in the future, there’d be support right across the street. Even if he wasn’t there, Mark, Nomad or even Corey would help in 25

    Kathleen Lash

    any way they could.
    “Whisper?” When she looked up, he said, “You’re not alone here anymore. If you need something, even a light bulb changed, call the house. If you’re ever worried, or feel threatened, give a yell across the street and someone will help. I promise.” He touched her shoulder very gently and admired her bravery.
    She accepted the glide of his fingers without a jerk or cringe. “Are you sure you and Heather are all right?”
    “We’ll manage. I appreciate all the offers you made. With work next week, our troubles are over.
    Everything else is easy stuff.”
    “I’ll see you later then.” He picked up the pie and left.
    He mulled things over on the way home. The stove would be replaced next week. She obviously knew how to cook and he’d make it easier for her.
    Maybe she’d bake something for the kids every once in a while. Mark or Nomad could get her to and from work. With one of them waiting on her, there wouldn’t be a need for Johnny to show up. If the guy was a boyfriend or friend, he wasn’t a dependable one. With the porch mostly constructed, he stepped onto it and took a moment to take in the combination of smells. Warm apple pie and fresh cut lumber. What could be better? The porch stretched the entire length of the house with twice the width as the previous one to meet the overhanging roof.
    After dinner, they’d place the railings. The boys could stain it as weather permitted.
    Inside, Heather, Christy and the others set the dining room table. The last time they’d eaten there as a family had been Christmas. The food, courtesy of Steve’s Restaurant in the form of take out, had been the closest