Woodlands Read Online Free PDF Page B

pointed spiral and a rooster weathervane. The gingerbread trim along the roofline had been repainted recently and made the house look fresh in the glow of another gorgeous spring evening.
    “These Buchanans must have some money,” Seth observed. “What does Kyle do when he’s not coaching Little League teams?”
    Leah didn’t know how much to tell Seth. The truth was, the money came from Jessica. When Jessica married Kyle, she was a millionaire. However, Jessica didn’t like people to know that, and she and Kyle had done a commendable job of settling in and living a fairly normal life in Glenbrooke. The initial shock and novelty of her wealth had worn off, and over the years it had become less and less of an issue to the townspeople.
    “Kyle does a lot of things,” Leah said. “They have some money.”
    Then, in an effort to redirect the conversation, she said, “Iwonder why your great-uncle never moved into this mansion. You know it was built by his grandfather, Cameron Madison.”
    “Funny you should mention that. I asked Franklin just a few days ago.” Seth slowed down as he neared the top of the driveway. “Cameron was bankrupt when he died. He put all his fortune into building this house and was so in debt by the time he died that the place was no longer his to will to anyone. I’ll be honest,” Seth said, parking the car. “I’m really curious to see inside.”
    “It’s beautiful,” Leah said.
    The golden retriever that had been barking at them from the front porch now bounded down the steps to greet them. Travis, the Buchanans’ oldest son, held open the screen door and called out, “Hi, Auntie Leah. Did you bring the eggs?”
    “No, I haven’t finished them yet. Are you looking forward to the big party on Saturday?”
    Travis nodded and looked shyly at Seth.
    “Travis, this is Seth Edwards. He’s come to look at your puppies.”
    Travis’s cherub face lit up. “I’ll show them to you. They’re in the laundry room.”
    Seth trailed behind Leah as they followed Travis into the house. Seth seemed to be taking in the hardwood floors, the spectacular staircase, and the evening sunlight coming in through the door’s beveled glass. Travis led them down the hallway into the kitchen where Jessica was clearing the dinner table.
    The toddler of the family, Emma, squealed with delight when she saw Leah and hopped down from her chair to run into Leah’s open arms. Leah kissed her soundly on the cheek and then proceeded to tickle her madly. As Emma tossed her curls and burst into giggles, Leah tried to introduce Seth to Jessica. Fortunately, Kyle stepped in from the back room and finished the introductions.
    The Buchanans’ youngest, Sara, sat in her highchair and pounded her spoon on the high chair tray, demanding some attention, too.
    “I wasn’t ignoring you, Sara Bunny,” Leah said, going over to the high chair while Emma clung to her like a baby koala bear. Leah managed to release Sara from the high chair and scooped her up, holding a happy little girl on each hip. “Do you two want to show Seth your puppies?”
    “I was going to show him,” Travis said, standing in the doorway of the laundry room with his hands behind his back.
    “I can hear them,” Seth said. “Why don’t you all show me?”
    Kyle, a tall, good-looking man in his mid-thirties, stayed in the kitchen and slipped his arm around his wife, Jessica. She was a gentle-spirited woman and more of a big sister to Leah than any of her own sisters had been.
    Jessica rested her fair-skinned cheek against Kyle’s chest. “Let us know if you guys need any help, although I doubt you will. Travis is our resident expert on the puppies.”
    Leah followed Travis into the large laundry room. A separate area had been sectioned off by a board that was low enough for Lady, the young mother golden retriever, to step over. Lady lay comfortably curled up on top of what looked like a flat beanbag pillow. Leah had one, too, for her dog, Hula.