Larkspur Road Read Online Free Page A

to tend to her, aren’t you?” She shook her head. “You have a big heart, Mia, but that old woman is a lost cause if I ever saw one. She’s never shown a flicker of interest in you or Samantha—or your dear mother either, rest her soul. You’re wasting your sympathy on her.”
    “Don’t I know it.”
    “Uh-huh. So why do I still think you’re planning to check up on her?”
    “Call me crazy.” Mia grinned. Ellis knew her too well. “She’s family, Ellis, whether she likes it or not. And she’s out there miles from town in the middle of nowhere. All alone.”
    “Honey, by now, Winona Pruitt’s plenty used to being alone.” Ellis’s sharp hazel eyes bored into Mia’s face. Then a wry smile touched the corners of her lips.
    “You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you? You’re going to Sweetwater Road to check on her.”
    “I’ll take her some supper—just for tonight. Then I’m done. Believe me, I know she wants nothing to do with me or Samantha.”
    Her sister, Sam, lived in Butte with her daughter, Brittany, and a brand-new husband, and Winny had no interest in any of them either.
    “In your own way, you’re as stubborn as your grandmother was, you know that?” The nurse spoke fondly. “And as Winny, too, I suppose.”
    “Ellis, you don’t have any clue what started it all, do you?”
    “You mean the feud?” Ellis waved a dismissive hand. “It was all before my time. Far back as I can remember, I’d heard Winny was on the outs with your grandmother and your parents, just about everyone. I don’t recall anyone ever saying what brought it all on. Which is strange, considering folks here pretty much know everybody’s business and don’t mind talking about it.”
    “Even my mom didn’t know. Gram never would tell her, not during all the years Winny was gone or after she came back.”
    Ellis patted Samson’s head. “Well, now, remember, some old things are like graves—best left undisturbed.” She nodded meaningfully. “You want to bring your aunt some supper, go right ahead. But don’t be surprised if she refuses to poke her head out the screen door. She didn’t say a decent word to Doc Grantham the whole time she was in the ER—didn’t do more than grunt and curse when he examined her foot. She’s a tough bird, that one.”
    But even a bird needs to eat,
Mia thought.
    So half an hour later, after showering, pulling on herWranglers, a pale blue tank top, and sandals, then twisting her blond hair into a loose knot atop her head, she headed for the kitchen. First she poured Samson’s kibble into a bowl and freshened his water, then she washed her hands and turned her attention to her fridge.
    It wasn’t as if she was going to any trouble. She had half of a roast chicken left from the previous night’s supper, so she merely wrapped it in tinfoil, then nuked a potato in the microwave while tossing together a quick salad of greens, carrots, peppers, and tomatoes.
    There. Done.
    So don’t start yelling at me from your grave, Gram,
she thought as she stuffed everything into a wicker basket, grabbed a hoodie, and carried Winny’s supper out to her car.
You may not have liked your sister, but you wouldn’t want her to starve to death out there on Sweetwater Road, would you?
    She had just slid into the Jeep when her cell phone rang.
    Samantha.
    “What’s up?” Mia asked, fastening her seat belt one-handed.
    “Mia, I’m scared. Really scared.” Mia went stock-still as she heard the quiver in her sister’s voice. “It’s Brittany. God, I don’t know what to do.”
    “Sam, take a breath. Tell me what’s going on.”
    “Britt’s
missing
. I can’t find her anywhere!”
    Mia felt her heart slam hard inside her chest. “What do you mean
missing
?”
    “I’ve called every single one of her friends.
No one
knows where she is. Or else they’re just not telling me!” Sam’s voice rose in a crescendo of panic. “I could
kill
her right now. Alec and I are supposed to