[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
sign on it. She d pick it up later.
46
Autumn McCullah
Earl Clark was helping Griff set up the woodcarvings and various pieces of
woodcrafts. There were quite a selection of beautiful carvings of horses, wolves and
bears. Gabby recognized the variety of birdhouses that were Griff s specialty. She
noticed that this year there were even some wooden cars just the right size for small
children.
Hey, Gabby! someone hailed. She turned to see David Murphy hurrying
towards her. He looked a bit frazzled.
Hello, Mr. Murphy. Something wrong?
Doc Shanahan was going to man the dunking tank but he s been called to the
clinic on an emergency. There s no telling how long he ll be gone, David said in a rush.
I d ask John to help out but he s already working with the band and the kids face
painting. Got any ideas? he asked hopefully.
Well, she said shaking her head. Then she smiled wickedly. I don t think my
brother Tom has anything planned today. We ll get him to fill in for Doc.
That s great. Now all I have to worry about is the cooking. Sure hope we have
enough hamburgers and hotdogs.
Don t forget we have the lunch box auction too. I m sure there will be more
than enough food to go around. There always is, Gabby told him laughing.
See you later then. And thank Tom for me, David said striding off towards the
cooking area.
Gabby rubbed her hands together in glee. She would wait to inform Tom about
his volunteer duty until he and his family were here in the park. That way there wouldn t
be any graceful way for him to back out. Now all she had to do was think of something
for Wade. Something would present itself; it usually did if she was patient.
Forty-five minutes later Gabby saw Tom coming her way and he looked mad.
She didn t see Fran or the kids and assumed that they must be on the other side of the
park.
Tom didn t waste any time once he cornered her. What s with you and Reid?
He said he s called every day this week and you haven t returned one of his calls.
Common courtesy should have you calling to see what he wanted. What s with you two
anyway?
We are not an item and if I choose not to talk to him, that s my business, Gabby
said shortly.
You ve had a burr under your saddle about him from the beginning. What
gives? Tom pressed.
She sighed. I just don t like him. But that wasn't altogether true a part of her
demanded.
But he s a terrific guy, dependable and kind, great business sense and really
knows horses and cattle.
He s also big, bossy and pig-headed! Just like you and Wade and Sam. Always
trying to tell me what to do, Gabby said sticking her chin out defiantly. If Reid hadn t
told Tom about his engagement yet, she wasn t going to be the one to drop that
bombshell.
What are you talking about? We don t boss you around!
Not anymore because I won t let you. But when I was younger, one of you was
always breathing down my neck.
47
Autumn McCullah
Well you re so reckless and stubborn that someone had to look after you. Like
that time Sam and I found you behind a hay stick with Jimmy what s-his-face, Tom said
smarting at the memory.
You were completely out of line. He was only teaching me how to kiss properly.
And that s all there was to it, she stated angrily.
Yeah, right! You were only fifteen, Gabby, and too young to understand what
you were inviting. If we hadn t come along when we did, you don t know how things
would have progressed, Tom said as the memory rekindled the anger from that past
experience.
But it wouldn t have gone beyond kissing and you had no right to threaten
Jimmy like you did. To this day, if he sees me he ll go out of his way to avoid me unless
there s a big group of people around. Gabby had never considered Jimmy a boyfriend,
but just a friend. And she d been embarrassed for him that day.
What about the time we caught you in Silver Canyon? Tom shuddered at that
memory.
I was learning how to repel down the side wall, and it was only fifty feet down.
Now was not the time to tell him about the lessons she d taken since leaving home.
She d even done some actual work with a rescue unit in Colorado when she was working
on a special magazine article. That information would probably curl his hair.
Why couldn t you have taken cooking lessons like other girls? Tom asked
tiredly.
Gabby just glared at him.
Look, I just want you to talk to Reid today. Find out what he has to say. It s not
like you to deny someone a fair hearing, Tom said quietly. Who knows, if you spend
some time with him, you just might get to like him.
I suppose I won t have much choice but to talk with him if he shows up today.
But don t count on my liking him. He s still big and bossy, Gabby relented. Then she
saw David signaling her from the dunking tank. Now was the time to sweeten Tom up a
little. So she softened her tone. But I ll talk to him, okay? she said linking her arm
through his.
Good. And who knows, you might end up sharing lunch, Tom grinned down at
her.
While you re here big brother, there s something that I want you to see. Come
on, she said pulling him towards David. Tom was looking down at her and not where
they were going.
David held out a hand to Tom when they reached the tank. Can t thank you
enough for helping out in the emergency, Tom. Kids would be mighty disappointed if we
had to close up this game.
Ugh, glad to help out, Tom said looking from David to Gabby. Then he saw
the dunking tank. Oh shit! She d done it to him again. When was he going to learn to be
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]