Wandering Heart Read Online Free Page A

problem."
    "Yes, I've been
finding that out. I desperately need a manager, a sorta take-charge
person, a live on property manager. My time is going to be so
tied up in town and whoever I hire is going to have to help with
everything, including Josh." She caught her breath and searched his
face for reaction. "I wouldn't dream of asking you or anyone else,
but under the circumstances, I need help. It dawned on me tonight,
that you are so right for the job, so experienced. You know the lay
of the land. It wouldn't be like I was turning it over to a
stranger. But the question is, would you be interested?"
    "Why me? I
mean, as I recall you were never all that fond of me. Especially
since Raif died the way he did.
    "That's water
under the bridge, Coop. I've grown since then. I never meant to
blame you for his death. I know differently now."
    Cooper looked
skeptical.
    "Oh, all right.
I'll be honest. You happened along at the right time, and I'm
desperate. I simply don't have the time to spend showing someone
around the place. I need someone with experience who can get right
on the job. And since you've already worked for my uncle, I just
figured…"
    She saw the
sardonic shadow of a smile he wasn't buying that either. She was
going to have to level with him.
    "Okay, I've
already tried three men. The first one I fired for trying something
with me. The second one stole from me. The third one was such a
drunk I couldn't have him around Josh."
    Cooper remained
silent for a long moment; he seemed to be weighing her words. Then
suddenly he shook his head. "I don't think it would work."
    "Why not?" She
couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice.
    His lips curled
into a devilishly handsome smile. "Because I'd probably try
something, too! Well don't look so surprised, you're fair game
until there's a ring on your finger."
    "Look." She
couldn't stop her voice from shrilling. It seemed very important
that he totally understand her position and what she was actually
offering him. "This is strictly a business proposition, Coop. There
is nothing personal in this for you."
    The gentle
teasing went out of his eyes, and his smile faded, replaced by some
grim determination. "You must be pretty desperate to ask me."
    It wasn't a
time for games, or being coy. "It's not a question of likes or
dislikes, Coop. In fact, the truth be known, I admired the way you
stood up to everybody when they blamed you for Raif's death. You
were both so young, but he made his own decision. He didn't have to
race that train. And even you couldn't control his decision to try.
Deep down I knew it wasn't your fault. Raif had been drinking that
night. Even I tried to persuade him to stop the insanity." She
shook herself a little, a shiver running up her spine. "But back to
the present, it's not as though we're strangers or enemies. You
grew up on the farm next to mine. We've known each other all our
lives. And I should know if you can handle it or not. Why, your
place was literally a showplace for years, until you ran off."
    "My place? It
was never my place." He shook his head and took another sip of
coffee, then looked at her. "And for your information, I didn't
work that hard because I wanted to. I had no choice. I got the hell
beat out of me, if I didn't."
    For the first
time in her life, Angela saw past the flirtatious Cooper Johnson to
the inner man. A man who had struggled growing up, gone through
pain, and survived, and she realized just how tough he was. A man
who had never asked for anyone's pity or help.
    "I'm sorry,
Coop, I didn't know. I mean—no one knew for sure what was going on
out there. We suspected, but you never said anything. In fact, you
did a good job of hiding the abuse. But you ran that farm. Everyone
in town knew that. Every farmer in this area respected your opinion
of crop rotation and new inventive ideas. And I always thought I
saw the look of pride on your face, as though you loved doing
it."
    Coop's
expression changed again. "I did. I just