Emmett Read Online Free Page A

she said defensively.
    â€œYou’re bigger than they are,” he pointed out. “Make them.”
    She glanced at the kids and shook her head. “Not me, mister. I know when I’m outnumbered. I’m not going to end my days tied to a post imitating barbecue.”
    â€œThey don’t burn people at the stake,” he said with exaggerated patience. “That was just gossip about that lady motorist they kidnapped.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Polk said. “Gossip.”
    â€œAnyway, she got loose before she was very singed.” Amy sighed.
    Melody gave Emmett a speaking look. It was totally wasted.
    â€œAre you really okay?” Guy asked his father. He, of the three children, was the most worried. He was the oldest. He understood better than they did how serious his father’s injury could have been.
    â€œI’m okay,” Emmett said. His voice was different when he spoke to the children; it was softer, more tender. He smiled at Guy, and Melody couldn’t remember ever being on the receiving end of such a smile. “How about you kids?”
    â€œWe’re fine,” Amy told him. “Melody has a very nice apartment, Emmett. We like it there.”
    â€œShe has a cat,” Polk added. “He’s a big orange tabby named Alistair.”
    â€œAlistair?” Emmett mused.
    â€œHe was a very ordinary-looking cat,” Melody said defensively. “The least he deserved was a nice name.”
    He leaned back against his pillows and closed his eyes. “Saints deliver us.”
    â€œI don’t think the saints like you very much, Mr. Deverell, on present evidence,” she couldn’t resist saying.
    One bloodshot pale green eye opened. “The saints didn’t do this to me. It was a horse. A very nasty-tempered horse whose only purpose in life is to maim poor stupid cowboys who are dim enough to get on him. I let myself get distracted and I came off like a loose hat.”
    She smiled gently at the description. “I’m sure the horse is crying his eyes out with guilt.”
    The smile changed her. He liked what he saw. She was vulnerable when her eyes twinkled like that. He opened the other eye, too, and for one long moment they just looked at each other. Melody felt warning bells go off in her head.
    â€œWhen can you come home, Emmett?” Amy asked, her big eyes on her father.
    He blinked and looked down at her. “Two days they said,” he replied. “God, I’m sorry about this!” He glanced toward Melody. “I had no right to involve you in my problems.”
    That sounded like a wholesale apology. Perhaps the head injury had erased his memory so that he’d forgotten her part in Adell’s escape.
    â€œI don’t mind watching the children for you,” she said hesitantly. She pushed back her hair with a nervous hand. “They’re no trouble.”
    â€œOf course not, they were asleep all night,” he replied. “Don’t let them out of your sight.”
    â€œAw, Dad,” Polk grumbled. “We’ll be good.”
    â€œSure we will,” Guy said. He glanced at Melody irritably. “If we have to.”
    â€œIt’s only for a day or two,” Emmett said. He was feeling foggier by the minute. “I’ll reimburse you, of course,” he told Melody. He touched his head with an unsteady hand. “God, my head hurts!”
    â€œI guess it does,” Melody said gently. She moved closer to the bed, concerned. “Shall I call the nurse?”
    â€œThey won’t give me anything until the doctor authorizes it, and he’s in hiding,” he said. His eyes closed. “Can’t say I blame him. I was pretty unhappy about being here.”
    â€œI noticed.”
    He managed a weak chuckle. “If Logan had been at home, you wouldn’t be landed with those kids….”
    He was asleep.
    â€œIs he going to be okay?” Amy asked.