The Cowboy Upstairs. Tanya Michaels

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       Chapter Five

      Becca felt dazed, moving on autopilot as she waved goodbye to the Whittmeyers and ushered her sister up the porch steps. She managed an absent “You remember your aunt Molly?” to Marc, even though she doubted he would. It seemed only yesterday that Becca had been applying bandages to Molly’s scraped up, preschool knees. Now her sister was a woman in painted-on jeans and high-heeled boots.

      “You look...good,” Becca said diplomatically. Beneath the foyer chandelier, her sister’s heavy-handed makeup looked a little garish, but the teenager was still beautiful. Besides, Becca had too much guilt over their estranged relationship to open with criticism.

      “Mama always said I look like you. The redhead part, maybe.” Molly’s laugh was self-conscious. “Definitely not the height.” She dug inside her purse and pulled out a green pack of bubble gum. “Want one?” she offered Marc, as she unwrapped a piece for herself.

      He nodded eagerly.

      “You okay with sour apple?” she asked. “I’ve also got grape, watermelon and fruit pun—”

      “I’m sure sour apple will be fine,” Becca said. “Marc, why don’t you put on your pajamas and watch a DVD in my room? I need a few minutes to catch up with Aunt Molly.”

      “’Kay, Mama. Thanks for the gum.”

      “Sure thing, kid.” As he took off toward the staircase, Molly smiled after him. “He’s cute. I always wanted a little brother. Thought it might be fun not to be the baby of the family.”

      Being the oldest was no picnic, either. “You’re definitely not a baby anymore. You’re a grown woman who gets to make adult choices. Like leaving home, apparently.”

      Molly’s face flushed. “About that...”

      “Odette only called fifteen minutes ago. The bus must have made good time.”

      “I decided to save the money I would’ve spent on the ticket and bummed a ride from a couple of guys headed in this general vicinity. We parted ways at a bar just outside town.”

      “Please tell me these were guys you knew.” Becca had an appalling mental image of her sister hitchhiking on the freeway.

      “Uh, it was more like a friend-of-a-friend thing,” she said evasively. “But since I’m not twenty-one, I couldn’t go into the bar for dinner. You got anything to eat?”

      “Come on, I’ll fix you a sandwich.”

      Molly followed slowly, studying her surroundings. “This place sure looks different than back home.” There was an edge to her voice. Jealousy? Disapproval? Had she subscribed to Odette’s claims that Becca should be doing more to financially assist her family? “Is there a guest room?”

      What was Molly’s backup plan in case there wasn’t—sleeping on the sofa? “Yes.”

      Her sister looked away, blowing a green bubble that popped loudly. “I know you and I don’t talk much, but I can’t afford to get all the way to Oklahoma to stay with Courtney. Can I stay here?”

      The inevitable question. Becca didn’t want to think about where Molly would end up if she said no. “You can stay. But there are a few house rules and conditions.”

      Molly’s gaze hardened. “I don’t need you telling me what to do.”