Breaking Free: A Colorado High Country Crossover Novel by Pamela Clare (well read books .TXT) 📗

this before. She’d never known that anyone lived like this. Not only did they have a gym and a sauna, but they also had a two-story library with a fireplace. More than once, she and Jason had exchanged looks, both of them astounded.

“They call this a house?” Jason had whispered.

Jason took his whisky from Janet. “Thanks. I’m looking forward to one of these steaks. McBride swears they’re the best.”

Janet nodded like she’d heard that before, her lips curving in a smile. “I would have to agree with him.”

Then Emily came bounding down the stairs in jeans and a pink, sparkly sweater, a pair of fuzzy bunny ears on her blond head, Megan, Nate’s wife, back from Denver and following her daughter with little Jackson in her arms.

Emily’s face lit up. “Winona!”

Winona was surprised the child remembered her. “Hey, Emily. How was school?”

“It was okay. I like my teacher, but Ms. Walker made us do odd and even numbers again, and that’s boring. How is Shota?”

“I went to visit him a few weeks ago, and he was doing very well. I have a newborn nephew named Shota now.”

Emily’s nose wrinkled in confusion. “You named a baby after a wolf?”

Winona couldn’t help but laugh and saw that Jason was smiling, too. “Shota is a boy’s name in my language.”

The little girl’s eyes widened with understanding. “Oh.”

Megan introduced herself to Jason. “I’m Megan, Nate’s wife. This is Emily, our daughter. She’s eight.”

Emily grew indignant. “I’m eight and a half.”

Winona thought she was adorable. “That half is important, isn’t it, Emily?”

“This is Jackson.” Megan lowered the toddler to the floor. “He’s two and a half and into everything.”

Then Jack and Nate stepped through the sliding glass door.

Jack glanced around, as if confused. “Who are all you people?”

Emily hopped over to him. “Silly Grandpa Jack! We’re your family.”

Jack waggled the girl’s bunny ears. “My family?”

Nate shook his head, a grin on his face. “Don’t let my old man fool you. He loves a full house. Get your jackets on and join us on the patio. Dinner’s ready.”

“Okay, Chiago. Let’s hear it. What’s your verdict?”

Jason looked from Nate to Jack. “That was the best steak I’ve had—and the best chocolate cake, too.”

Winona dabbed her lips with a napkin. “It was all so good.”

The two men clinked their beer bottles, broad grins on their faces.

Jack took a drink. “Glad you enjoyed it.”

Jason had never eaten outside during a snowstorm. He had expected it to be a cold and awkward experience, but the West family had the art of the winter barbeque down. With big propane heaters placed around the patio, a fire pit, and a canvas shade overhead to keep in the heat and protect them from snow, he’d been toasty warm. There was something about the combination of fresh air and flame-grilled food that provoked and satisfied hunger like nothing else.

“Okay, Emily.” Megan got to her feet, Jackson in her arms, his chubby hands and little face covered with chocolate frosting. “It’s time to wash up and get ready for bed.”

Emily glared at her mother, clearly not happy about this. “Damn it!”

“Miss Emily!” Jack pinned his granddaughter with his gaze. “What have I told you about using those words?”

Emily rolled her eyes. “Don’t cuss in front of Mama or our guests.”

“That’s right—and you’d best listen.”

Jason had to fight not to smile and saw Winona was doing the same.

“Come now, Emily.” Megan opened the rear sliding glass door.

Emily got to her feet. “Can Winona read me a bedtime story?”

Winona picked up her dishes and stood. “How about I tell you a story instead? I know lots of stories that aren’t in books.”

The little girl’s face lit up. “You do?”

“Yes, I do.”

The two disappeared inside with Megan.

Janet handed Lily to Jack and carefully got up from the bench, one hand on Jack’s shoulder to steady herself. She winced as if lifting her leg over the bench were painful.

“You get inside. I’ll bring Lily-bean.” Jack noticed Jason watching. “My wife took a high-caliber round to the hip a few years back while on a protection detail.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Jason was surprised she could walk at all.

“It’s a lot better. I used to walk with a cane.”

Jack kissed his little girl, got to his feet, and followed Janet indoors, his daughter giggling in his arms. “It’s time for you to have a bath, chocolate monster.”

And then it was just Nate and Jason.

“How is Win doing?”

Jason knew why Nate was asking. “That bastard shook her up.”

“I thought so. I don’t know her well, but we all read what happened to her and Lexi in the newspaper.”

“I’m going to help her upgrade her security. She’s afraid that guy knows where she is or will try to find her. He sure seemed to have an unhealthy interest in her. Besides, there are drugs in her clinic that have real street value—anesthetics, narcotics, sedatives. They could attract bad elements.”

“I’ve got a contact in Denver who handles security systems. I’ll give you his card when we get back inside. I’d like to help pay for it if she’ll let me. This happened while she was up here at our request. I need to make this right for her.”

“That’s a kind offer. The clinic is completely dependent on donations, so I doubt she has much of a budget.”

Jason helped Nate clear the remaining dishes off the table, the two talking about horses and ranch operations while Nate loaded the dishwasher.

Then Megan walked into the kitchen, a smile on her face. “Come. You should hear this. Winona has Emily completely mesmerized.”

The three of them walked upstairs and down the hallway, stopping outside what must have been Emily’s bedroom to listen.

“Iktomi saw what Porcupine had done with that hawthorn branch and how the thorns had pricked Bear when Bear had tried to gobble up Porcupine. It gave Iktomi a crazy idea.”

The sweet sound of Winona’s voice put a hitch in Jason’s chest.

“Iktomi took many hawthorn branches and peeled off the bark. Then he put