Free Regan's Pride by Diana Palmer Page A

she slept the night through.
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    The next day, she didn’t watch out the window while Ted worked his horses. She put on a pair of too-largejeans and an equally large T-shirt with a Texas logo on it and curled up in a chair to read the paper she’d begged from Mrs. Bird.
    The news was depressing. She glanced at the comics page, and finally settled on the word puzzle. It kept her mind busy, so that she wouldn’t remember that Ted wanted her out of his house. She was still too wobbly and sore to do much. An employer was going to expect more than she was capable of giving just yet. She hoped Sandy would come home today. Her friend would help her escape from this prison Ted had made for her. He hadn’t told her to stay in her room, but he’d made it very obvious that he didn’t want her around him.
    It was after lunch when she heard a car drive up. Minutes later, a smiling Sandy came into the room and fell onto the bed in an exaggerated pose.
    â€œI’m tired!” she groaned, smiling at Coreen. “I thought I’d never get that new computer system put together for our client. But I did. Now I can take a day off and spend some time with you. How’s it been going?”
    â€œJust fine,” Coreen said blithely. “Could you help me find an apartment?”
    Sandy’s expression was comical. “I gather that Ted’s been at it again?” she muttered.
    â€œWe’ve had this discussion before,” Coreen said quietly. “You know how he feels about me, about having me here. He’s accused me of leering at him again, and maybe I have. God help me, I can’t seem to stop…” She bit her lip. “Only, it isn’t leering and it isn’t lust. You can’t know how it was with Barry,” she added, her eyes wide and tragic. “If you did, you’d realize howincredible it is that I can even look at a man without shuddering!”
    Sandy sat up, brushing her hair out of her eyes. “Maybe if you talked to Ted…”
    â€œWhy?” Coreen asked solemnly. “He doesn’t want to know anything about my marriage, or about me. He’s made it very clear that I’m here on sufferance and that he isn’t interested in me.”
    â€œMrs. Bird mentioned that Lillian came to supper last night,” the other woman murmured. “Did you get to meet her?”
    Coreen shook her head.
    Sandy sighed angrily. “He can’t help the way he is. I’m sorry, Corrie. I’m very sorry that I finagled you into this corner. I had hoped…well, that’s not important now. Do you want out?”
    â€œYes, please” came the immediate reply.
    â€œOkay. We can both move up to Victoria, into my old apartment. I never have gotten around to leasing it, so it’s still empty. It’s plenty big enough for both of us, and you won’t have my brother to contend with.”
    â€œBut your job…”
    â€œI work at our branch office in Victoria as well as the headquarter office in Houston,” Sandy reminded her.
    â€œI don’t want to impose,” Coreen said firmly.
    â€œYou’re my best friend. How could you impose?”
    â€œI’ll need my things from the house,” she said hesitantly. “I hate to ask, but could you…?”
    â€œOf course I can go get them for you.”
    â€œHenry has a key. He’s still living in the chauffeur’s quarters, I’m sure, because Tina will need him to take care of the place until she moves in. My clothes willbe in the closet, in the second bedroom on the right upstairs. There isn’t much in the drawers, and I’d already packed up my own books and tapes, and the few things Mother gave me.”
    â€œI’ll run down there this afternoon, if you like.”
    â€œThank you, Sandy.”
    â€œWhat are friends for? Now you stop worrying! By next week, we’ll be in Victoria and all these bad memories will be