Read Lone Star Baby (McCabe Multiples Book 5) for Free Online

“That’s why they make noise-canceling headphones. Luckily—” she winked as she locked up and led the way across the yard to the stable-house “—I brought along a pair. And extra batteries, too.”
    Chuckling at her sassy tone, he followed her into the stable-house.
    His brow lifted at what he found. “Wow. You’ve been busy.”
    * * *
    A LTHOUGH WHY , G AVIN THOUGHT , she wanted to be stranded out here, away from all her family and friends, still puzzled him. Was she running away from something? Trying to get her thoughts together? Or fulfilling some cockeyed notion of the McCabe clan’s famous Texas Pioneer spirit?
    Hard to say.
    But whatever was going on with Violet, she was clearly determined to make it work, at least for the next few months. “It’s a big improvement over the way it looked two days ago,” he continued, impressed.
    All the moving boxes had been pushed to the rear of the former stable and were neatly lined up behind the Conestoga wagon that functioned as her bedroom.
    On the right side of the large space she had rolled a rug out over the painted concrete floor and arranged a sofa, armchair and two end tables to make a nice conversation area. A big packing trunk served as a coffee table.
    On the other side of the room a wooden trestle table provided additional kitchen counter space. It held a microwave, toaster oven and what looked like an electric skillet. The small refrigerator stood next to that. A white wrought-iron patio set now served as the dining room table and chairs.
    There were no shades or drapes on the tall casement windows that lined either side of the room, which was where she had placed the Conestoga wagon. Its rounded, white-canvas top would come in handy, he realized, since the flaps could be tied shut on either end, allowing her complete privacy. For changing and—
    He didn’t need to be thinking about that.
    What she wore—or didn’t wear—to sleep in was none of his business.
    Violet looked at the dusky light outside and switched on the overhead lights. Mounted close to the ceiling, they let off the kind of bright fluorescence the hospital corridors afforded. A bonus, given the fact he was a little too interested in the way her thigh-length shorts, faded college T-shirt and sneakers cloaked her spectacular body.
    “Do you have the questionnaires?” she asked brusquely, bringing his attention back to where it needed to be once again.
    He lifted the manila file amiably. “Right here.”
    A faint blush highlighted the elegant contours of her cheeks. She looked around until she found something to write with. “A pen?”
    Gavin patted his pocket. Found his cell phone but nothing else. “Ah, no.”
    “No problem. I think I have some extra in my bedside drawer. I’ll be right back.” She headed up the stairs and disappeared into the covered wagon.
    While Gavin waited, he checked out the ventilation in the room, which seemed comfortably cool despite the warmth of the summer day. Further investigation showed why. Long-handled cranks opened the tall, abundant windows along the very top quarter of the glass. The ceiling fan whirred overhead, cooling and dispersing the fresh air. As a result, the room smelled like the sunny autumn day it had been. Fresh and clean, like the great Texas outdoors.
    He could see why she liked it out here, although it had to be lonely, too, he thought. Especially at night.
    Almost too quiet.
    In the wagon, however, it was anything but.
    He could hear things being shifted, occasional muttering and...was that swearing? There was a small crash, a shift of bedsprings and then an even bigger crash.
    Followed only by silence.
    Gavin waited.
    Still nothing.
    He began to get a little worried. “Violet? You okay in there?”
    The bedsprings creaked.
    There was a muffled cry.
    “Violet?” he called out again.
    And then he heard what sounded like a small, furious scream.
What the...?
    Gavin took the steps up to the wagon two at a time. He threw back