Read The Drifter for Free Online Page B

suspected it had been many years since Belinda had felt like anyone’s hired help.
    They entered a high-ceilinged room that was blissfully cool.
    â€œThat was kind of you to let Dexter hold your baby,” Belinda said. “Ever since his stroke, he’s been so frustrated—can’t always find the right word, can’t move around as well as he used to. He was such a vital man. It’s heartbreaking.”
    Amanda met the older woman’s gaze. “I can imagine it would be,” she said gently.
    â€œHe was delighted with that baby.” She gave Bartholomew a wistful smile before gesturing toward a door to the right. “This way. We’ll change him in Freddy’s office.”
    Amanda surveyed the room as they started across it. Directly opposite the front door, a huge picture window revealed a landscaped patio with a pool and a Jacuzzi. A low wall swooped up to an arch, where a waterfall cascaded into the pool, transforming the surface of the water into dancing points of sunlight.
    It would have been an idyllic setting except for the cowboy and cowgirl arguing heatedly beside the pool. Intrigued, Amanda paused. She couldn’t tell what they were saying, but from the arm-waving and belligerent stances of both, she knew they were furious.
    Belinda noticed Amanda’s preoccupation. “Never mind them. They’re in love.”
    â€œDoesn’t look like it.”
    Belinda laughed. “It’s been like that between those two ever since T. R. McGuinnes came to the ranch. Now, of course, we all call him Ry instead of T.R. That was the first thing Freddy did—got rid of those stupid initials and gave him a name you could say without laughing.”
    â€œFreddy’s a woman?” Amanda had assumed the office they were heading for belonged to a man.
    â€œI’m sorry. I forgot that you don’t know who anybody is around here. Ry is one of the three owners of the ranch, and Freddy’s the foreman. They’re getting married in two days, so we don’t have any regular paying guests staying here just now, only members of the wedding party. I guess that’s why Freddy and Ry feel free to carry on like that by the pool. When we have paying guests, they usually save their spats for the corrals or the open range.”
    Just then, the dark-haired woman out on the patio pushed the broad-shouldered cowboy into the water.
    â€œThey’re getting married?” Amanda jiggled Bartholomew on her shoulder to buy a little time so she could watch the exciting show outside. She’d never known anybody who acted this way, and she was fascinated. “But she just pushed him in the water, clothes and all!” The cowboy swam awkwardly to retrieve his floating hat while the woman stood back, arms crossed, and watched.
    â€œThey’ll make up. Wait and see.”
    The woman named Freddy turned on her booted heel and marched, head down, toward the French door leading into the room where Belinda and Amanda stood. She opened the door and turned to shout over her shoulder. “They could rope me with barbed wire and drag me to the altar and I still wouldn’t marry the likes of you!” Then she closed the door with enough force to rattle the panes. She obviously didn’t notice she had an audience until she turned her attention away from the man still groping for his hat in the choppy water.
    â€œOh!” she said, her hand going to her throat. “Sorry about that.”
    â€œFreddy Singleton, meet Amanda Drake and her son,” Belinda said. “I didn’t catch the baby’s name, Amanda.”
    Amanda lifted her chin. “Bartholomew.”
    â€œWhat a lovely name,” Belinda said, earning Amanda’s immediate loyalty.
    â€œI’m pleased to meet you,” Freddy said, coming forward with her hand extended.
    Amanda barely managed to return the handshake as Bartholomew began wriggling and protesting. Amanda could