Texas Sunrise Read Online Free Page B

hand, her eyes full of stunned disbelief. She felt like crying, but she fought back her tears. Behind her, the twins, Katy and Josie, tussled and squealed as they both tugged at a flop-eared rabbit. Both girls were as stubborn as she was. Each of them would end up with one of the rabbit’s ears, and then she’d have to sew them back on when they napped. It didn’t matter that each had her own rabbit. So far she’d sewn the ears back on both rabbits a dozen times. The terrible twos. She loved and treasured each minute she spent with the twins, who, she said, looked just like Adam, although they had her blond hair and blue eyes.
    â€œDamn,” she muttered as she picked her way past an oversize playpen, then tripped over a Raggedy Andy doll, which she kicked out of her way. The twins stopped tugging on the battered rabbit and stared at the colorful doll flying through the air.
    â€œAdammmm!” Sawyer bellowed.
    â€œAre you trying to wake the dead?” Adam bellowed in return. “It’s a damn good thing no one else lives here but us, with the crazy hours we keep. What’s wrong?”
    Sawyer sat down on the high stool at her drafting table, which was alongside Adam’s. His and hers drafting tables. Most times she thought it amusing that they could work side by side, Adam drawing the political cartoons that provided their living and she doing her designs. Right now she didn’t see anything amusing in it.
    She told him about her conversation with Cole. “Do you believe that! He actually said that to me!” Sawyer snorted angrily.
    Always the peacemaker, Adam said, “Maybe you caught him at a bad time. Sumi is pregnant, and he’s probably worried about her. He’s got a hell of a load to carry around. He’s responsible for the whole shooting match over there. Cut him a little slack, call him back.”
    â€œNo way,” Sawyer seethed.
    Adam’s brow furrowed. “Maybe his business practices changed.” He was remembering Cole and Riley when they were young, when he acted as mediator, as if he were their big brother. “Do you want me to call him? You’re a hothead, Sawyer, and Cole’s no slouch in that department either. I’m sure this is ... Jesus, you’re asking for a couple of hundred million dollars. I don’t know how quick I’d be to say yes. I’m sure he needs time to think about it, to speak with his advisers.”
    â€œNo, no, no,” Sawyer snapped. “He was real quick to say he wanted seventy-five percent and twelve percent interest. Does that sound like he has to confer with his advisers? Cole is the adviser. He’s everything. Whatever he says goes. Another thing, Adam. When my family needed money last year to pay off legal suits, you were the first one in line to offer money. Grandmam Billie didn’t even have to ask you, so don’t go telling me you’d have to think about all this.”
    Adam scratched his stand-up red hair, the tight curls giving the appearance of corkscrews. He hated arguing with Sawyer, because he never won. She wore him down by sheer persistence. Still, he tried. “I realize this sounds like I’m playing devil’s advocate, but has it ever occurred to any of you Colemans that Cole is not your personal banker? Where is it written that he has to come through every time you guys get in a bind?”
    Sawyer started to sputter. They’d had this argument once before, and she’d come out on the short end simply because, logically, Adam was right.
    â€œLook,” she said hotly, “the point is, I never dreamed he would take the position he just took. He’s a little shit, Adam. The money and power have gone to his head.”
    â€œBut you’re willing to tap into that power and money without a second thought.” Adam smirked. He was getting to her. Finally.
    â€œIf you put it like that,” Sawyer snapped, “I guess