Silver Falls Read Online Free Page B

happen. But It had happened, apparently more than once, and she needed to get to Sophie, fast.
    But Sophie was at Maggie Bannister’s house—the safest possible place. She needed to calm down, not rush into anything and end up freaking Sophie out.
    She could be reasonable, wait for David. In the meantime she wanted to know who was the man who managed to rattle her unflappable husband.
    She followed him into the living room where Stephen Henry had been holding forth. Half the guests had already departed in the wake of the horrifying news, and the ones who remained were looking even more stunned at the sight of the newcomer.
    Stephen Henry looked up, his long silver mane pushed back from his face in artistic disarray. His faded blue eyes focused on the newcomer, and to Rachel’s astonishment, a smile wreathed his face.
    â€œMy long-lost son,” he said. “Welcome home, Caleb. We’ve missed you.”

2
    W ith a superhuman effort Rachel shut her mouth, waiting, watching, when she wanted nothing more than to go up to her sulky husband, shake him and say “why the hell did you tell me you were an only child?” In fact, when he’d come into their shattered lives he’d said that was one thing he had in common with Sophie—he knew what it was like to grow up alone. He’d lied. And she really hated liars.
    She moved across the room and sat down on one of the uncomfortable antique sofas that Stephen Henry preferred, since he didn’t have to sit on them. The other guests were disappearing rapidly, and David was still too caught up in whatever was going on between him and his long-lost brother to realize how much shit he was in with his perfect faculty wife.
    â€œYou don’t look particularly pleased by the return of your brother, David,” Stephen Henry saidwith a slight smirk. “Don’t tell me you two are fighting already.”
    â€œOh, we’re not fighting,” Caleb said easily, and he seemed oddly amused by the tension in the room. “I just surprised him.”
    â€œIs that true, David?”
    Rachel watched as her husband swallowed some of the cold-eyed anger that was so unlike him. He managed a stiff smile. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be happy that Caleb has come back to town?”
    â€œMaybe because he’s already putting moves on your wife? You never could hold a girlfriend, could you, David?” Stephen Henry said with his usual malice. “They all seemed to prefer your brother. And you did it on purpose, didn’t you, Caleb, you naughty boy? Always the troublemaker. That’s one thing I’ve cherished about you.”
    â€œHave you?” Caleb said, his low, husky voice at odds with his father’s plummy tones. “I always had the impression that you preferred David.”
    â€œOh, I’ve never played favorites,” the old man said airily. “You both know that. It’s your own sibling rivalry that’s gotten you in trouble. How long are you staying this time? One day? Two?”
    Caleb glanced at his brother. “I thought I’d stick around this time. I have a few things to work out, a few answers I need. I told the bureau that I was taking an extended leave.”
    â€œWhat would the wars do without you?” David said, sarcastic.
    â€œRachel, my elder son is a reporter,” Stephen Henry said. “What you might call a war correspondent—he’s always been drawn to death and disaster, and he happened to find the perfect profession—one that allows him to wallow in it. It always followed him like a plague when he was younger, and I must admit life has been a great deal more peaceful with him off somewhere. But of course I welcome both my sons with a full heart.”
    At least he didn’t say “fruit of my loins,” which Rachel half expected. But since she was finally being addressed directly she decided not to continue with their polite