Read Song of the Meadowlark (Intertwined Book 1) for Free Online Page B

hour or two. Cora used a walk around the ranch or sitting on the porch as a way to relax and reflect.
    Where had she gone wrong with Clark? Why had her relationship with him ruined hers with Mom and Dad? She could kick herself for leaving things in such an uproar with them, no matter who was right or wrong. But she wasn’t ready to go home yet.
    Living at the Southern Hope ranch fit Cora at this time in her life. She now had more than enough money to travel home on, and she’d need to make plans someday, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave this haven yet. The O’Reillys wanted her to stay, as did Susie. Rex was another story, and that made it even harder not to think about him, to try to figure out why he was so hard. But she had to keep her mind off him, especially since she still had a husband. After all, Clark could appear as easily as he’d vanished.

* * *
    “Hello,” the woman hissed, holding out a lotion-slathered hand, leering at Cora with eyes of ice. “I’m Veronica Ludlowe, Rex’s girlfriend. I’m sure you’ve heard all about me. You must be the new nanny.”
    Cora shivered at the coldness in the woman’s voice and held her breath so her department-store perfume wouldn’t suffocate her. They exchanged a handshake. “Hi. I’m Cora. I don’t know if you could call me a nan—”
    “Well, whatever. It’s good to know Rex’s time will be freed up to be with me.” She smiled and hung on Rex’s arm, as if she were afraid he’d get away from her if she let go.
    “That’s what I’m here for, I suppose.” Cora grimaced, dropping her hand to her side and wiping it on her jeans. Who was this woman? And how did Rex tolerate her snobbishness? This blond-haired, blue-eyed viper, who obviously didn’t care for Cora, must be out for Rex’s money, and Cora knew exactly how she was keeping him loyal to her. That had been obvious the night she’d overheard them at the pool. It certainly wasn’t her charming personality.
    After Cora excused herself, she tended to Susie until her naptime and then took a walk around the ranch where she stumbled upon Rex and Matt arguing about the ranch and its future. She tried not to eavesdrop, but the daggers the two brothers shot at each other darted right past her ears. The O’Reilly brothers scratched and kicked in the sawdust of the barn and snorted like the steer in the pasture. Cora rushed back toward the house taking great care not to be detected. The hair on the back of her neck bristled. Whatever the argument pertained to was intense, and she didn’t want to get in the middle of it.

 
* * *
Bobby Millburn called to tell Cora her car was ready. Now nothing held her back from leaving. She could go home to Mom and Dad to resolve their issues, but spending more time with Susie appealed to Cora more. The attention Pearl and R.L. gave her filled a hole in her heart left by years of familial disharmony. Then there was Rex. His lifestyle got under Cora’s skin like a splinter. Was it enough to make her leave? Was his family enough to make her stay? Now was the time to make a decision.
    “Hello, Ms. Buchanan,” a man’s voice said as she reached into the refrigerator to retrieve the orange juice.
    “Please, call me Cora. Everyone else does.”
    “No, no, I couldn’t. That’s not respectful.”
    “Cook, I’m a temporary employee. Please, I insist. Call me Cora.” She grabbed a juice glass from the cabinet above the dishwasher.
    “Okay, Cora, I will.”
    “What’s your name?” Cora put the juice back in the refrigerator and shut the door. She studied Susie’s drawings held in place by various magnets.
    “Cook.”
    “No, your real name?” She pivoted to look at him.
    “Jimmy.” He smiled, as if saying his name for the first time in a long time.
    “I like that, Jimmy. I hope you don’t mind if I call you by your first name.”
    “Not at all. I prefer it.” He gave her a knowing look.
    “Good. Jimmy, when do you go to town next?”
    “I’m