Sage Creek Read Online Free Page B

have no idea. Poor guy’s up to his ears in work, trying to get as much out of the way as possible before she makes her debut. It’s a girl, you know.” Lissie smiled mistily. “I mean, she’s a girl. We’ve decided to name her Molly—or Caitlin. Depending on which one we think she looks like when she finally makes her appearance—oh!”
    Lissie paused as they heard the sound of a truck door slamming in the driveway.
    “That must be them.”
    “Them who?” Sophie took another sip of coffee.
    “Rafe. And Ivy. His daughter.”
    Sophie set the cup down with a slight rattle just as a girl’s voice rang out and the screen door creaked. “Aunt Liss, it’s me.”
    “Come on in, honey bun, we’re in the kitchen.” Lissie seemed too comfortable to hoist herself from her chair.
    “I’m hanging out with Ivy today,” she explained quickly as rapid light footsteps echoed through the airy house—and Sophie went very still at the table. “She starts sixth grade in a few weeks, and it’s a very big deal, if you remember. I promised to take her shopping for new school clothes. Rafe has to drive to Helena for a horse auction and won’t be back until suppertime.”
    Sophie felt a ridiculous flash of electricity under her skin as she braced herself for Lissie’s oldest brother to come through that door.
    You’re not an infatuated twelve-year-old anymore—get over it, she reminded herself. You have bigger things to think about than the one that got away . . . hell, the one that never got close .
    “Hey, Aunt Liss.” A coltish young girl of eleven or twelve burst through the doorway. Tall and thin for her age, Ivy Tanner had a shoulder-length mop of wavy auburn hair and delicate features, which Sophie suspected would soon bloom into startling beauty. Her arms seemed too long for her narrow body, her ink blue eyes almost too big for her heart-shaped face. She peered in surprise at Sophie, then her gaze shifted shyly away to Lissie.
    “Dad said to tell you thanks.”
    “What do you mean? Where is he?” With a frown, Lissie glanced at Sophie, then away. Her lips puckered. Sophie immediately recognized that peeved expression, and a sudden horrifying suspicion dawned on her.
    Oh, Lissie, please don’t tell me that’s why you wanted me here by ten o’clock. I’m so not ready to be pushed into the path of any man—and I won’t be for a long time. And especially not your big bad brother.
    “I don’t see why he couldn’t have come inside this house for one little minute,” Lissie complained.
    The platter of muffins was attracting Ivy’s interest. “He said he was running late for the auction and that I should tell you he’ll be back to pick me up by six. I have a sleepover tonight at Shannon’s.”
    Lissie didn’t appear the least bit satisfied with this explanation, but she quickly introduced Ivy to Sophie.
    “It’s nice to meet you, Ivy.” Sophie smiled at the girl, who was trying to unobtrusively study Sophie’s sleek dark jeans, her scoop-necked yellow top, and low-heeled sandals. “I bet you were named for your grandmother.”
    Ivy’s head bobbed. “Yeah, but I don’t really remember her that well. She died when I was a little kid. My dad showed me pictures though.”
    “I knew her.” Sophie smiled at Lissie, who had lost her mom seven years ago. “She was a wonderful woman. And it’s a beautiful name.”
    “Sophie knew Grandma Ivy because we’ve been best friends since first grade,” Lissie explained. “Exactly like you and Shannon.”
    “Oh.” Ivy looked at Sophie again, quickly, this time with a dawning realization. “You’re that Sophie—Sophie McPhee. The one who just moved back here. I heard about you yesterday.”
    “You did?” Lissie’s brows rose, but Sophie wasn’t all that surprised. Lonesome Way’s legendary gossip hotline had apparently been activated.
    “From who?” she asked.
    “A bunch of us were over at Mary Kate’s house. Her mom was talking on the phone