Erin's Way Read Online Free Page A

Suddenly, Sam knew he’d gone too far, hit her where she was the most vulnerable. That had always been her problem. As tough as she might seem, Erin had no self-esteem, and he had never understood why. He turned to apologize. She had her back to him and had gone still and silent, but he could see from her stiff posture that he’d managed to hurt her.
    “Erin…”
    “Go to hell.” It was barely an audible whisper, not her usual high volume bluster.
    Sam raked his hand across his short hair in frustrated patience as he tried to explain. “The only room with a bed that’s made is mine….”
    “Thanks, but no thanks, Sheriff. As you’ve already made clear again and again, you don’t want me there.”
    But he did want to be fairly certain she would still be in his house come morning. “You can have my room, and I’ll sleep on the couch.”
    “Afraid I’ll take off?” she asked, some of her bluster returning, but only for an instant. “No, I’ll sleep on the couch. You’re too big to be comfortable here,” she mumbled. “I’m used to sleeping on a berth on board ship. This is fine for me. Leave me alone. I’ll be all right, and I will be here in the morning. Like I said earlier. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
    It was the most she had said since he’d found her in the pasture, and it was without an attitude. She still had her back to him, still refused to look at him.
    “Do you need anything?” he finally asked quietly.
    “No.”
    “Well, good night then. I’m down the hall if you need me.”
    She snorted. “I won’t.”
    * * * *
    Stoner parked Sam’s truck behind the house and stepped into the kitchen. Catherine had already gone upstairs. She sat propped in their king-size bed. Seeing her made him smile. That was something else that had changed in the last six months. She had moved back into his bed. It had been a long time, not since they’d taken Erin and gone to Washington. Dear God, that was more than a third of their married life. Their daughter’s teenage years had been rocky not only for her, but for them too. In fact, their marriage hadn’t been on a solid footing since Erin’s birth.
    When Catherine glanced up from what she was reading, he smiled, praying like hell Erin’s sudden reappearance wouldn’t erode what they had rebuilt. Guilt stabbed him for feeling that way. He wanted what was best for Erin, but in the past that had always translated into sacrificing the rest of the family.
    “Did you find the problem?” His wife’s gaze held only mild curiosity. Most of the time loose cattle were the result of a gate left open or a broken wire, common enough occurrences in a rural area.
    “Yes.” Stoner kept his tone casual. “There was an accident. A driver ran off the road and took out part of Sam’s fence. It was his cattle that were loose.”
    “I hope no one was hurt.”
    He smiled. “Just a minor injury. She’s okay. Carter and I helped Sam get the cattle back in and put a temporary fix on the fence.”
    “Well, that’s good.” She was too intent on what she was reading to pay much attention, and he was relieved. After stripping, Stoner showered, wrapped himself in a thick robe, and returned to the bedroom.
    As casually as he could he asked, “Did you ever hear anything back from Erin after you e-mailed her with the pictures of Tabby’s wedding?”
    “No…not a word.”
    “Was she still in the—where was it? The Virgin Islands?”
    “Yes. That job as a cook on the sailing ship must agree with her. She’s been there longer than anyplace so far. Why do you ask?”
    “No reason. Just curious.” As soon as it came out of his mouth, he knew he’d said the wrong thing. Even his casual tone wouldn’t fool her.
    He had her attention now. Catherine was anything but stupid. “Stoner, you said ‘she’ when you mentioned someone taking out Sam’s fence. Would that ‘she’ be Erin?”
    He sighed as he sat next to her on the edge of the bed. They’d promised