Read Chance Of A Lifetime 1987 for Free Online Page B

around a house like Snowball’s Chance. Old houses required a lot
    of attention. He put it on the save pile and went back to thinking about Rachel.
    The nervy lady free-lancer scenario played well until you considered the wary expression in Rachel’s blue-green
    eyes, Chance decided. She was a woman with something to hide, and he didn’t think it was just her desire for a good
    story. There was too much emotion in that sea-colored gaze. She wanted something more than an article from Snowball
    ’s Chance and from him.
    He wondered how much more and how far she would go to get it.
    Then he smiled grimly to himself. Time was definitely on his side. He was planning to devote most of the fall to
    Snowball’s Chance. When winter arrived he would start making plans for his business future. One thing was for
    certain: he was not going back to work for Herb Dixon.
    In the meantime, it would be interesting to continue unraveling the secrets of Rachel Wilder.
    Chance paused once more, lifting an ancient drill out of a cardboard box of metal objects. If he was really lucky he
    might find some bits around nearby.
    He stood gazing down at the drill and realized that he didn’t really want to investigate Rachel Wilder as though she
    were just another assignment. What he really wanted was for Rachel to learn to trust him enough to tell him her
    secrets.
    That would be a very satisfying way, indeed, to spend the next month.
    Chance smiled to himself. She was a cautious, wary, prickly little thing. He would have to tread gently if he wanted
    her to confide in him. He would have to be patient.
    There were a number of people in the world who did not consider Abraham Chance the patient sort. They would
    have been surprised to see the smile on his face.
    Two DAYS LATER Chance stood in the doorway of the coach house and watched Rachel return from another trip to
    town. This time she’d bought a large load of cleaning supplies. She hadn’t dawdled, Chance was pleased to note. He
    hadn’t coaxed any secrets out of her yet, but he was getting his money’s worth in terms of housekeeping.
    Unfortunately, he found that fact extremely frustrating. He was doing his best to lure her into his confidence, but
    she seemed totally oblivious to his patient ploys and encouraging hints. This business of being subtle and persuasive
    was not his normal way of working. He preferred to jump in with both feet and get straight to the heart of the matter.
    But as he walked across the yard to help carry in sacks of cleaning supplies, he reminded himself that he had to have
    patience.
    When Rachel called him to lunch a bit later he was genuinely appreciative of the solid fare she provided. He
    realized he was growing accustomed to the good food and the little evening ritual of Scotch in front of the fire. A man
    could get spoiled.
    „I’m going to try a washing this afternoon,“ she said as he finished the large sandwich she’d made for him. „Maybe
    you’d better give me another short course on temperamental washing machines.“
    He nodded agreeably and ran her through the various methods of coaxing the old washer into action. He just
    wished it was as easy to coax Rachel into confiding.
    „Did you send for the rest of your clothes?“ he asked conversationally as he watched her dump in the first load of
    washing. „You didn’t bring much with you in that overnight case.“
    She glanced up, her expression uneasy for an instant. She masked the look quickly. „I picked up a couple of things
    in town. They’ll hold me for a while.“
    So she wasn’t sure yet if she would be staying long enough to warrant sending for her clothes. Either that, or she
    was afraid the action might tip off someone as to her current location. Chance nodded, deciding not to push her any
    further on that particular subject.
    „There’s a line out back where you can hang these things to dry,“ he said as he started for the door.
    „There’s no dryer?“ she demanded,