Read Love Everlastin' Book 3 for Free Online Page B

Lightning crackled and snapped within the ominous mass,
then faded into the once again sunny sky.
    Winston's mind cleared of
all extraneous thought. Despite the brightness of the sunshine, a
freezing wind lashed at his body. The quilt was nearly torn from
his shoulders. Securing it, he tucked two of the corners into the
waistband of his slacks, then was about to re-enter the house when
he spied two boxes to the left of the steps. Snatching them up into
his arms, he dashed into the relative warmth of the hallway and
closed the doors behind him. Alby was waiting for him by the foot
of the staircase.
    "What's that?" the boy
asked.
    Stopping, Winston glanced at
the labels on both packages. "For Roan Ingliss."
    "Nuts. Thought maybe Santa
left me something else."
    Chuckling, Winston headed
for the parlor. "Come along. I can smell breakfast on, can
you?"
    Alby attempted to sniff
through his stuffy nose, shrugged and fell into step behind
Winston. "Nope. But I'm starving to death."
    Winston, the packages tucked
beneath one arm, led the boy into the parlor, and beyond to the
dining room. Once inside, Alby ran ahead to where Roan and Laura
were seated at the table. Two older boys sat across from
them.
    Agnes entered the room from
the kitchen. "Have a seat," she said to Winston, one white eyebrow
arched in a show of impatience as she lowered a silver tray to the
table. "Nothin’ worse than cold sausages and scones."
    Winston approached the
nearest end of the elaborate table and set the packages down before
lowering himself onto one of the chairs. Agnes was immediately at
his side, filling his mug with steaming coffee, then arranging some
of the food-laden plates in front of him. Winston's gaze swept over
the dishes. Eggs. Thick slices of ham and spicy sausage patties.
Potato scones dripping with butter and homemade marmalade. Brose,
steamy and inviting.
    Suddenly, he felt as though
he hadn't eaten in months.
    He was helping himself to
portions of everything offered when Roan's wry tone caught his
attention. "Good morn to you, too."
    Embarrassed, Winston
graciously inclined his head. "Forgive me. Good
morning."
    Laura smiled and gestured to
the two boys across from her. "This is Kahl and Kevin. Say good
morning to Mr. Connery."
    Kevin stuck out his tongue
and made a rude sound, while Kahl merely spared Winston a sour
glance before diving into the food on his plate.
    Winston again nodded then
looked at the packages. "Ah, these were ou' by the front door.
They're addressed to you, Mr. Ingliss."
    Rising from his chair, Roan
grimaced. "You make me feel like an old mon. Roan, if you please.
I'll be damned if I call you Mr. Connery."
    Briefly locking eyes with
the mistress of the house, Winston again offered a perfunctory nod.
Then, unable to deny his hunger a moment longer, he lifted the
scone and took a large bite out of it. He was relishing the bursts
of flavors on his tongue when he happened to look up at the laird.
The contents in his mouth went down in a lump as Roan's stricken
expression registered.
    Winston minutely lowered his
mindshield and probed the man standing next to him. The depth of
the laird's emotional pain took him aback. He glanced again at the
packages, at Laura, at each of the boys then cut his gaze back to
Roan.
    "What is it?" Laura
asked.
    When Roan remained as still
as a statue, she left her chair and went to stand at his right
side.
    "Roan?"
    He remained perfectly still.
Winston retracted his probe. Laura took the top package and walked
around to Winston's left. Placing the box down, she used one of the
knives on the table to cut the string securing the box.
    She was lifting the lid when
Roan murmured a barely audible, "Don't."
    Ignoring him, she removed
the cover and dropped it to the floor beside her, then spread apart
the white tissue paper concealing the contents. A gasp of delight
escaped her. Her hands trembling, she lifted a lace and satin
beaded wedding gown from the box, stepped back, and held it up
against