Read Joker's Wild for Free Online Page B

stick. Kaylyn and Sandi—Kaylyn’s the recreation director and Sandi’s the therapist—say that all the single men in the joint are courting Miss Lenice.”
    “Ahh, Joker, you’re such … such … a tease.”
    “Yes, that’s one of my charms, darling. Now don’t tell anybody, but as soon as we can get rid of the wardens, I thought I’d take you out for a midnight spin on my new bike.”
    “Oh … you … I’m an old lady.”
    “I always was a sucker for an older woman.”
    “Not … me. Take Allison.”
    There was a light knock on the door as it swung open. “Mrs. Josey, it’s time to get ready for our trip to the springs. Oh, sorry. I didn’t know you had company.” The woman in the doorway was tall, very tall, Allison noted. She was an absolutely stunning, statuesque, very pregnant woman.
    Joker put his hand on Allison’s shoulder as if he’d known she wanted to bolt from the room. “Kaylyn, this is Allison, Mrs. Josey’s granddaughter. She’s come home for a while. Allison, my sister-in-law Kaylyn.”
    “Oh, how nice. I’ve heard so much about you. Tom Brolin, the editor of the
Gazette
,” Kaylyn explained to Allison, “was saying just last night that between you and the Vandergriffs, Pretty Springs is really on the map.”
    “Yep,” Joker agreed. “But that’s about to change. I heard this morning that Elvis Presley was spottedover at the springs. You’ve heard that he isn’t really dead, haven’t you?”
    “Joker, how do you do it? Everybody else brings fruit. You bring fantasies. By the way,” Kaylyn whispered behind her hand, “King said to tell you that Harold is looking for you. He’s talked to the committee and they’ve decided to—”
    “Harold?” Joker interrupted. “He isn’t coming here, is he?” He knew what Harold’s committee had decided. As soon as he’d told Mrs. Josey that Allison was home, the word had spread. Harold had come up with the idea of having Allison take part in the grand opening of the Sports Medicine Center. That was the last thing she needed to hear at the moment.
    “Possibly. He was asking where—”
    “Oh no! I forgot that Allison and I have an errand to run,” Joker said, lifting Allison in his arms and striding out the door. “Give Harold my best,” he called over his shoulder in a rush.
    “Where are you going?” Kaylyn asked, shaking her head at her brother-in-law’s foolishness.
    “To buy some chickens,” Joker said seriously. “We’re considering turning the estate into a chicken ranch. Allison likes fried chicken.”
    Allison waved helplessly at her grandmother. Raise chickens? From the merriment in Gran’s eyes it was obvious that she understood the man whooshing her out the door. Allison wished she did.
    “What was that all about?” Allison asked as Joker fastened the strap of her helmet beneath her chin. She could have fastened it herself, but there was something soothing about feeling his hands softly touching her neck and chin. The feeling in herstomach as he straddled the machine and slid back against her was anything but soothing.
    “What do you mean?” Joker yelled as he started up the motorcycle.
    “Why did we fly out of there like we were about to be caught by the posse?” she asked when they stopped at a light.
    “We were. You heard her say that Harold was looking for me.”
    “So? Who’s Harold?”
    “Harold is running for mayor, and you know how those politicians are, always campaigning.”
    By the time he’d parked the bike, Allison’s leg was throbbing from the awkward position she’d had to hold her leg in while riding. All she had to do was continue her therapy, they’d told her, and she’d be able to walk. Walk? Maybe. Conquer her pain? No. Skate again? Never. The pain she could live with, but never skating again was something she refused to accept.
    “Thank you,” she managed to say, grateful for Joker’s assistance this time. She couldn’t have walked back to the house even