The Millionaire's Club: Connor, Tom & Gavin. Michelle Celmer

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СКАЧАТЬ her that Nita had always admired. And Jane didn’t let anyone, especially the men on the farm, push her around. Though she was a good ten years younger than Nita’s daddy, if anyone wore the pants in the Windcroft family, it was her.

      “Hey, honey,” Jane said, rising to give Nita a hug. Jane had been at the hospital late last night and had come back early that morning, and she looked tired for it. “How are things going at the house?”

      “Breakfast was a bit of a fiasco,” Nita said. “But I managed to get most of the burnt smell out of the house.”

      Jane cringed. “Lord, I don’t even want to know.”

      Nita nodded toward the bed. “Has he been asleep long?”

      “He’s been in and out all morning. When he’s not asleep he’s complaining that he wants to go home.”

      “That sounds about normal.” For as long as Nita could remember her daddy had hated hospitals, especially Royal Memorial. He’d never said so, but she figured it had a lot to do with her mother’s illness. From what Nita had been told by her sister, who was old enough at the time to remember the chain of events, their momma had been feeling sick for a while but never went to the doctor. When she finally did, the cancer had spread so far there was nothing they could do but make her comfortable. She’d hung on for three months. Most of that time spent in this very hospital.

      “Who’s this young man?” Jane asked, giving Connor a curious look.

      “Jane, this is Connor Thorne. He’s going to be staying with us for a while, keeping an eye on things.”

      “Ma’am,” Connor said, shaking her hand.

      “Well, thank heaven for that,” Jane said, glancing in Will’s direction. “Things have gotten out of hand.”

      “Do you think it would be okay to wake him?” Nita asked. “Connor has some questions.”

      “Like a fella could sleep through all this chitchat,” Will mumbled from the bed, gazing up at them through bleary eyes.

      Nita moved to his side and took his hand, giving it a squeeze. He looked a hell of a sight better than he had yesterday. But propped up in the hospital bed, his leg in plaster from his foot all the way up to his thigh, he looked a decade older than his fifty-eight years—as if he’d aged overnight. “How are you feeling Daddy?”

      “Like I keep telling the doctors, I feel fine. I’m ready to go home.” He looked past her to Connor, who stood by the door, hands clasped behind his back, military straight. “You keepin’ an eye on my girl?”

      Connor gave a single nod. “Yes, sir.”

      Nita didn’t correct her father by telling him Connor was there to watch the farm, not her. She’d let him believe that if it eased his mind.

      “Daddy, Connor would like to ask you a couple of questions.” She motioned for Connor to join her at his bedside. “He’s trying to find out who did this.”

      “I know exactly who’s responsible,” Will said bitterly. “It was the Devlins.”

      “The truth is, there’s just no evidence pointing to the Devlins and they’ve firmly denied any involvement,” Connor told him. “Is there anyone else you could think of that has a grudge against you?”

      He shook his head. “No one. It’s the Devlins all right.”

      Connor could see where Nita got her stubborn streak. They looked alike, too. Same dark hair, same high cheekbones and proud chin.

      “You just worry about getting better,” Nita said, patting his hand. “I’ll handle things.”

      Will smiled up at his daughter, pride shinning in his eyes. It amazed Connor how easy it was for some men to show the emotion. He’d strived for years to see that look in his own father’s eyes. And despite all he’d done to please James Thorne, Connor still didn’t feel he measured up. He probably never would.

      “I want you to hire extra help,” Nita’s father told her. “Temporarily, until I’m back on my feet.”

      That chin of hers rose. “I can handle things just fine.”

      Connor had a feeling her resistance had little to do with her own abilities and everything to do with their financial situation. He suspected things were worse than she’d let on earlier that morning. And she probably didn’t want to worry her father.

      “Don’t worry about things on the farm, Mr. Windcroft,” Connor said. “I’ll be helping Nita while I’m there.”

      He didn’t know much about horse farms, but this gave him a good excuse to be close to Nita so he could keep an eye on her.

      Nita flashed him an uneasy look, then turned to her father and smiled. “See, Daddy, I’ve got all the help I need. You just concentrate on healing.”

      Nita, Jane and her father chatted for a few more minutes, then Nita kissed him goodbye and she and Connor headed out to the parking lot. They’d barely cleared the door when Nita turned to him and said, “I didn’t want to say anything in front of my daddy, but here’s the thing. I really appreciate your offer to help out, but I can’t afford pay you.”

      “I never asked you to.”

      Nita matched his long stride. “That’s not the point. It wouldn’t be fair for you to work for free.”

      “If I’m going to be there anyway, I may as well make myself useful.” Connor pulled his keys from his pocket and as they neared the car, he unlocked the doors. “Besides, you are paying me. Room and board.”

      “What do you know about working a horse farm?” she asked.

      “Not much.” He opened her door for her, and though she hesitated and looked at him a little funny, she got in. He walked around and climbed behind the wheel, wincing as his backside hit the leather seat. Hell on earth, that smarted. How could a couple hours on a horse do so much damage?

      “Do you know anything about horse training or breeding?” she asked.

      He started the engine. “Nope, but I’m a fast learner.”

      “I don’t know,” she said, looking wary. “It just doesn’t seem right.”

      “Nita, I’m not hurting for money, if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m set for life. Working for you isn’t going to break me.”

      He could see her hackles rising. “So, what? Are you saying I’m a charity case?”

      He shook his head. She did have pride by the bucketload. “How about this? I’ll help you out at the farm and you can teach me everything you know about raising horses.”

      “Like a trade?”

      “Yeah, like a trade. Then it all comes out even.”

      She eyed him suspiciously. “You would want to learn?”

      “Sure, why not? I like to learn new things.”

      “And СКАЧАТЬ