Read Long Ride (Riding with Honor) for Free Online Page B

well drag you from place to place while I attempt to do my job.  What about your job for that matter?” she asked.
    “I don’t mind being dragged around… I kind of like it in fact… especially when a woman pulls my hair ,” he said, his blue eyes twinkling.  He was truly breathtaking at times.
    Unable to respond to him , she remained quiet and after a minute he looked thoughtful and then said, “How about if I drop you off and go take care of some things at the shop while you are having your meeting and then you call me as soon as it is over and I will pick you up?” he asked.
    “That would be fine with me ,” she replied.
    “You must not step foot out side of the building until I come back to get you… promise,” he said with a serious and stern look.
    “I promise ,” she replied, rolling her eyes.
    A couple of hours later she found herself sitting across from Carmen James in a small and untidy office.  The woman looked at her and picking up a file said , “I don’t exactly know how to approach this subject so I’m just going to say it.  Casey Lawrence is pregnant again.”
    She had seen Tommy and Dana together and as in love as they were, she found it impossible to believe that he would have been with Casey again since having met Dana.  The couple was nearly nauseating in the way that they acted toward each other. 
    Tommy was forever standing with his body pressed against Dana whispering words to her that made her smile and blush.  Tommy was a handsome man so she couldn’t fault Dana for her responses.
    “I know what you must be thinking but I want to assure you that this child is not Tommy’s.  Casey wasn’t even in the state when the pregnancy occurred,” Carmen said.
    “Then what does this have to do with my client?” she asked.
    “Casey Lawrence is now back in Florida and on her way to prison for a fairly lengthy stay.  The new baby will be born a ward of the state but fortunately due to Casey’s incarceration this baby should be born considerably healthier than Melody was.  Do you understand why I asked to meet with you now?” Carmen asked.
    “Not exactly, other than with Casey being incarcerated, I can petition to have all of her parental rights revoked including any chance of visitation,” she replied.
    Carmen smiled . “This baby will be Gretchen and Melody’s sibling.  Additionally, from what I’ve come to understand Dana Atkinson, who is still a licensed foster parent, is now living with Thomas McMurray.  Is that accurate?”
    “Yes, that is true ,” she said, growing frustrated “Please get to the point, Mrs. James.”
    “I invited you here today to ask you to essentially do my job for me.  I would very much like to place the new baby with your client and Ms. Atkinson as it would keep the siblings together.  I would like you to broach the subject with your client and Ms. Atkinson as it is likely that this child will end up being adoptable…” Carmen said.
    “So you want my client to take responsibility for yet another of Casey Lawrence’s children, when this one isn’t even his?  Am I hearing this correctly?” She said.  Unbelievable!
    Tommy and Dana had their hands full as it was with all of Melody’s medical problems.  Melody had gone through a battery of tests trying to determine if there was an underlying medical condition that was effectively stunting her growth.  The child wasn’t developing or hitting the milestones she should be reaching but at the same time reached some milestones she shouldn’t reach for many months yet. 
    She was nearly four months old but still looked and moved like a newborn, though she would smile and coo at Chuck.  Could she ask them to take on even more responsibility? 
    “So if the child does become adoptable, then what?” she asked.
    “Well if your client and Ms. Atkinson are still together by then and interested, they would stand a good chance of adopting the child.  However, it would help tremendously if