Lost Memories (Honky Tonk Hearts) Read Online Free Page B

Lost Memories (Honky Tonk Hearts)
Book: Lost Memories (Honky Tonk Hearts) Read Online Free
Author: Sherri Thomas
Tags: Contemporary
Pages:
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are you against her working here?”
    “You saw her. She couldn’t sit still during the whole meeting. Her answers were evasive at best. I bet she’s never even been to Girard .” Why was he the only one who saw the problem here? Were they all blind?
    “Shouldn’t be too hard to check out.” His brother moved to stand behind one of the chairs, his beefy hands resting on the wooden back. “Come on, she’s a nervous thing, I’ll give you that, but cut her some slack. I like her. She has a spark in her eye like she’s ready to take on anything and everyone.” He smiled and sat on the edge of the desk. “Including you.”
    Nick shook his head. “Something’s not right. I can feel it.”
    “Ya, I bet you can.” He chuckled. “Man, the stare down between the two of you contained enough sparks for the Fourth of July.”
    Choosing to ignore the comment, Nick laid her papers out in front of him. “If you’re too busy, have Chris or Trent show her Theresa’s old cabin. She has today to get settled, but I want her at the barns by six a.m. tomorrow.”
    “Why can’t you show her?” The second oldest grinned.
    “I want to spend some time going over her information and calling her references.” Nick scanned the pages without actually reading the print. He needed time to mull over the situation.
    “Uh-huh. I’m sure that’s it.”
    He frowned. “What’s that mean?”
    “Nothing.”
    Whistling, Sam got up from the desk and left the room.
    ****
    By the next morning, Nick had failed to find anything out regarding one Darcy Brooks. Nor did he figure out what bothered him about her. He finished his coffee, placed his mug in the sink, and faced his brothers gathered for their regular morning meeting.
    “I want you guys to show Darcy how to handle the smaller animals today.”
    “You workin’ the horses today?” Chris questioned.
    “Yes.”
    “Aren’t you going to let Darcy help?” his youngest brother continued, pulling on his boots.
    Chris remained the only Matthews living in the main house. The others occupied private cabins within the same vicinity of Darcy’s. The decision to move into the cabins had been made when each brother turned twenty-one, craving privacy from one another and their parents. Something he could use right now.
    “Not today.” Nick waited for Trent to move out of the way before grabbing his hat and jamming it on.
    “Need to get your head on straight before you work with her, huh?” Sam grinned and lifted his cup to his lips.
    Nick glared in his direction then stomped out the door, letting the frame bang shut. He made his way across the ground, watching the sun rise far off in the distance.
    Why did Darcy rattle him? What was she keeping from them?
    He sighed. The fact he failed to contact one person last night who knew her personally reinforced his doubts. Too bad his mother didn’t listen to him. Another burden lying on his shoulders.
    Working through his frustrations, he stacked feed bags, grained the horses, filled water buckets, and mucked stalls. By ten, he hadn’t seen nor heard from any of his brothers, and his shirt dripped with sweat. The ranch remained quiet from the human standpoint; the animals of course carried their own conversations.
    He released the horses out to pasture and topped off the outside water tubs before going in search of the others.
    Had Darcy showed up this morning? He bet she’d been late. He stopped at the cow barn and noted clean stalls.
    Where is everyone?
    Nick continued to the goats’ feeding tub in the next barn. Big chunks of brown and tan filled the bucket.
    What the hell?
    He reached in, lifted a handful to his nose and sniffed. Unable to help himself, he chuckled. The tenderfoot had fed the goats dog food. He tossed the food back into the bin. She’d prove him right by the end of the week.
    Ambling out of the barn, he started down the hill. What other animals had his brothers let her handle? A puttered baa-baa caught his attention to
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