Adam, Devils on Horseback: Generations, Book 1 Read Online Free Page B

by silver at his temples. He frowned as he looked from Adam to Rose. “Should I get the bandages now or is your mother past that part?”
    Adam snorted and sank into a chair. “I haven’t received my lashings yet.”
    His father winced. “Then we’d best get it over with. What’s happened—” His eyebrows flew toward his hair when Eve walked in with a bowl of stew in her hands. The wisps of steam curled up around her jaw, as though caressing her.
    Adam wondered what his father saw. A beautiful young stranger with ragged clothes and more curves than most women had. She blinked at the sight of his father.
    “There are two red giants?”
    Rose laughed like a donkey. “Oh, I do like her, Adam. You have to keep her.”
    Eve’s gaze flickered to Rose. She nodded politely, but Rose continued to act like a fool. Adam elbowed her and she sobered.
    “Eve, this is my father, Jake, and my sister Rose.” He gestured to the woman who had turned his life upside down and wondered if he would ever be the same. “Pa, Rose, this is Eve Tate. I almost hit her with the wagon and then I crashed it.”
    He pretended he didn’t hear the small gasp from his father. There would be consequences for all of it. Oh yep, there sure would.
    “Er, nice to meet you, Miss Tate.” His father smiled his most charming smile. “I hope you weren’t hurt?” He looked to Adam.
    “No, she wasn’t hurt. It’s a long story. I think we need food to hear it.”
    “Fair enough.” Jake took the bowl from Eve. “I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
    Adam’s anxiety bubbled beneath the knowledge he’d made a very big mistake. He held in the urge to leave Tanger and head for his friend Jesse Marchand’s ranch.
    Then his mother walked in with a plate of biscuits. Her gaze narrowed as though she’d read his thoughts.
    “You’re not going anywhere until we sort this out, so sit down, young man.”

Chapter Three
    Eve hadn’t felt so out of place in her life. Adam’s family was an odd mixture of two red giants and three raven-haired women who could have been Roma. Each of them watched her out of the corner of their eyes, except for the young one, Rose. She openly stared, but with the curiosity of a child.
    Most of her life, Eve had been on the outside looking in, finding ways to survive and put food in her belly. None of them involved being invited into a family’s home for supper. It was disconcerting enough to make her uncomfortable.
    As they ate the rabbit stew, which was something Eve was at least familiar with, and ate biscuits, which were delicious, they spoke of nothing. The words were inane and more chatter than conversation. With each passing moment, Eve’s stomach tightened a notch until she thought perhaps she might not ever breathe again.
    She watched each of the Sheridans as surreptitiously as she could. The girls were different as night and day in personality and made sure to speak their part in conversations. Eve liked the younger girl, Rose, better. She had a natural curiosity about her and she smiled at Eve several times throughout the meal. The older girl, Bella, was quieter and kept her gaze on her food.
    When the last of the food had been consumed, Mr. Sheridan glanced at his wife, who nodded. “Girls, go on and wash up the dishes. Leave your mama and me with Adam and Miss Tate.”
    At his words, Bella got to her feet and started gathering dishes. Rose stuck up her chin and opened her mouth, presumably to argue, but her mother cut her off.
    “Not now, Rose. Do as your father says.” Mrs. Sheridan didn’t raise her voice, but her words carried enough weight that Rose sighed and began picking up dishes as well.
    When the two younger girls exited the room, Mr. Sheridan spoke again, “At least try to pretend you’re not eavesdropping at the door, Rose.”
    The girl’s cheeks flushed and she left the hallway with her nose in the air, her tail obviously in a twist. Eve was impressed by how the parents had treated their