Read The Glenmore's: Caught for Free Online Page A

placed them onto the table while Justine placed a pitcher of lemonade onto the table.
    “This all looks so good Millie” Justine sat herself at the table and waited for the others to join her before beginning.
    “Millie, Josh; I’ve been thinkin’ in the few days I’ve been here you have both made me feel like ya daughter instead of a boss. I don’t wanna be ya boss so please call me Justine Josh. I know it’s not how other ranches work with their help but I’m real happy with the way things are if’n you both are”
    “Millie and Josh looked at each other and smiled. “Darlin’ we would be happy with that. We both feel real protective of ya and are startin’ to love ya like a daughter too. Mason always treated us like family instead of help too and like ya say it ain’t how other ranches work but it always worked for us. We just want ya to be happy” Josh assured her.
    “I am happy Josh, for the first time in a very long time”
    They talked more about the ranch as they ate. They had just finished their meal when they heard the roar of the wind and the rain pelting down on the roof.
    “Storm’s broke” Josh commented.
    Justine shivered with fright at the deafening noise but Josh reassured her. “We’re safe; me and yer granddaddy made sure this house was built real strong and we ain’t never had trouble”
    Justine nodded as she continued to listen to the wind rattling the windows.
    ********
    The rest of the night passed without incident although the wind continued to roar and the rain pelted down. Joseph and Ben had managed to remove the branch from the window and they had boarded it up. Ben had swept up the glass and then Virginia and Nellie had cleaned up the water.
    They were in the kitchen finishing breakfast when George walked in. “Woowee it’s a mess out there pa. We got bits of trees and other rubbish everywhere. Real fine day though; hard to believe we had such a storm”
    “Yeah; we were all out earlier havin’ a look around. Apart from the broken guest room window we did okay. I sent the men out to check on the cattle and the fences while we clean up the mess around the house. How’s your place son?” Joseph asked as George sat down.
    “We was just fine pa. Jenny was a bit scared and the girls fussed a bit but we ain’t got no damage. Just a few branches and rubbish around the place like here. I told Jenny I’ll clean up later when I get home; won’t take long”
    “That’s real good to hear son. Ben, I want ya to go over to Miss Saunders place and ask about Christmas and make sure they’re okay” Joseph instructed his youngest son.
    “Cain’t I stay here and help?” Ben really didn’t want to face Justine and get shouted at again.
    “I’ve told ya what I want done son”
    Ben rose from the table and they could hear him grumbling and muttering all the way out of the house.
    “What was that about?” George asked his father.
    Virginia sat a coffee in front of her son and sat down. “Miss Saunders came over yesterday; Fergus had got out into her cows again. Ben turned on the charm instead of caring about the damage the bull had done and it didn’t affect her at all. She told him exactly what she thought of his perdy face and yelled at him to get the bull and fix the fence. It was real interestin’ to watch; Ben didn’t know what hit him” Virginia chuckled and George almost choked on his coffee as he laughed.
    “Good for her; ‘bout time some gal put him in his place” George told his parents. “I’m lookin’ forward to meetin’ this gal”
    “Ben’ gone to ask Justine, Millie and Josh to come for Christmas lunch; I thought it would be real nice for her to meet all the girls seein’ as she ain’t got no friends her own age here” Virginia told him.
    “Wonder why she left Boston to come all the way out here. I woulda thought there was more excitement for a young girl in the city” George mused.
    “I’m not sure son but I think she’s had it real tough