Undeniable Demands Read Online Free Page B

helped families tie them into trunks and onto roofs. The
man wasn’t quite sixty yet and had always appeared to be at the peak of health.
His brown hair was mostly gray now, but his blue eyes were still bright and
alert, and he didn’t hesitate in his physical work. Ken had always been a lean
man, but a strong man. If nothing else, he looked a little leaner than
usual.
    “There’s nothing wrong with me, so quit looking for it.” Ken
snatched the last tree from Wade and hauled it down to the pickup truck waiting
for it.
    Wade followed him, then stood quietly until the truck pulled
away. “I wasn’t looking for anything.”
    “Liar. Everyone has been doing it since your mother told
Julianne about that damned attack I had. It was no big deal. I’m fine. They gave
me a pill to take. End of story. Don’t be sitting around waiting for me to drop
dead so you can inherit this place.”
    Both men chuckled, knowing Wade could buy and sell the farm ten
times over and had no interest in getting his claws on any inheritance. “You’re
looking good to me, Dad.”
    “Yeah.” He slapped Wade on the back and started walking toward
the gift shop. “Most days I feel okay. I’m slowing down a little. Feeling my
age. But that’s just reality. The attack threw me for a loop—just came out of
the blue. But between the pills and your mother’s dogged determination to feed
me oatmeal and vegetables, I should be fine. What are you doing up here so
early, Wade? You kids don’t usually show up until Christmas Eve.”
    “I had some time in my schedule, so I thought I’d spend it with
you guys. Help out. I know I don’t visit enough.”
    “Well, that’s a nice lie. Be sure to tell your mother that.
She’ll eat it up. All of you boys are in a panic since you found out we sold
that land.”
    “I wouldn’t call it a panic.”
    “Wouldn’t you, now? Four out of the five of you kids have been
here in the past month, just randomly checking in. I’m sure Xander would’ve
come, too, if congress wasn’t in session fighting over the stupid budget.”
    Wade shrugged. “Well, what do you expect, Dad? You kept your
heart attack a secret. You’re having financial trouble and you don’t tell any of
us. You know we all make good money. There was no need to start selling off the
farm.”
    “I didn’t sell off the farm. I sold off some useless rocks and
dirt that were costing more money than they earned. And yes, you make a good
living. I haven’t made a good living in quite a few years. One doesn’t make up
for the other.”
    “Dad—”
    Ken stopped in front of the gift shop, his hand on the
doorknob. “I don’t want any of your money, Wade. I don’t want a dime from any of
you kids. The unexpected medical bills just sucked up our savings. The past few
years had been lean and we’d cut back on things, including our insurance, to
weather the rough patch. Selling off the extra land let us pay off all the
bills, buy a new insurance plan and stick some money away. Less land means less
taxes and less for me to worry about. Everything will be just fine.”
    He pushed open the door to the gift store, ending the
conversation. Wade had no choice but to let the subject drop and follow him in.
They were instantly bombarded with lights and sounds straight from Santa’s
workshop. Jingling bells chimed from the door; Christmas music played from
overhead speakers. A television in the back was showing holiday cartoons on a
constant loop near the area where children could write letters to Santa and play
with toys while Mommy shopped and Daddy loaded the tree.
    Multicolored lights draped from the ceiling. The scent of pine
and mulling spices permeated the room. The fireplace crackled on one wall,
inviting customers to sit in rocking chairs and drink the hot chocolate Molly
provided free.
    “Wade!” The tiny and pleasantly plump woman behind the counter
came rushing out to wrap her arms around her oldest boy.
    He leaned down to hug her as