Read Dorothy Garlock for Free Online Page B

wants to be. If Hunter said white was white, Lloyd would say, 'No, it's black. ' ”
    “Mr. Westfall is going to oil Main Street.”
    “Oh, my. They did that once before and… oil was tracked up onto the porch and into the lobby. It was a mess to clean up.”
    “I can scrub the porch. It's the carpet in the lobby that will be hard to keep clean.”
    “Honey, ”Justine said, with a distressed look on her face, “Hunter Westfall runs things around here. He doesn't make a show of it and most folks don't even think about it. Be careful of him.” Justine paused to catch her breath. “Be especially careful of Lloyd Madison. He's smart; he's hard as nails and ruthless as a rutting steer. If you see him coming, head the other way. Don't have anything to do with him. Promise me, now.”
    “Of course I promise. Mr. Westfall was nice to me and Martha.”
    “Hunter is a businessman. He's nice as …pie when he wants something. He wanted to buy the hotel…. When I refused, he backed off.” She paused to take some deep breaths. “He knew that I was sick and thought he'd get it soon or later anyway. I bet he was surprised when a young, pretty girl like you showed up to run it for me.” Justine's face was flushed, and her quavering voice caused Jill concern. “Now tell me, were you surprised to see Thad? ”
    “We can talk about Thad Taylor later, Aunt Justine.”
    “Tell me now, Jill. I can't put things off like I used to do.”
    “Thad's from back home — ”
    “He told me. We had a long visit while he was waiting to go walk you home.” Justine tried to move her hands. Jill lifted them up onto her chest. “He told me about the neighborhood ball games at Jethro's and that Jack wanted to play professional baseball.” Justine paused again, looked toward the picture of her late husband, then back to Jill.
    “Jack still loves to play baseball.”
    “Thad told me that Jethro's new wife is real nice. I'm glad. He was almost crushed when your mother died, leaving him with a houseful of youngsters to raise.” She paused, then said, “Thad reminds me of the boys I knew back on the farm in Missouri.”
    “Aunt Justine, Thad isn't a boy. He's Joe's age or older … at least twenty-five or -six. He said you gave him a weekly rate and that he'd work for meals. I wish you hadn't done that.”
    “You need a man around here, honey. You know what? Radna was trying to help me out of that chair. He came in and lifted me as if I were light as a feather and carried me over here.”
    “How did that happen? ”
    “He was just passing the door.”
    “Of course he could pick you up. You don't weigh much more than a feather, ”Jill scoffed.
    Justine sighed. “I feel so much better with him here.”
    “We have Mr. Evans — ”
    “How much can a one-legged man on crutches do, honey? Thad said he'd stay until Joe comes.”
    “He and Joe are thick as thieves. He'll be here as long as Joe's here.” Jill stood up. “I've worn you out. Can I get you anything before I go? ”
    “No, dear. You can turn out the ceiling light. Thad said that tomorrow he'd fix the light here by the bed.”
    “Good night, Aunt.”
    After Jill closed the door, she stood for a minute and fumed.
Thad would fix the light by the bed.
Darn him! He was wasting no time making himself useful and endearing himself to Aunt Justine. She went down the hall toward the kitchen, then paused when she heard Radna's voice and Thad's deep rumbling laughter.
    “I sure do like this cornbread, Radna. Will you marry me? ”
    “Watch your mouth, boy. If I said yes, you'd wet your drawers. You'd better work your charm on Jill or you'll be out of here on your ear.”
    “Yeah, she's a mouthy little spitfire and has the guts to go with it. She was no more than knee-high to a duck when she flew into a couple of tough kids for making fun of her brother's limp. I had to pull them off her. Even with a bloody nose, she came up scratching and spitting like a pussycat.”
    “She's not