Free Big Bad Wolf by Gennita Low Page B

wondered what it was all about. The father seemed to have a hold over his daughter, and in a strange way, vice-versa.
    “So, will I be able to use the new computer soon?” Jaymee wanted to know.
    “As soon as you get everything updated and reconfigured.”
    She sighed. “That means another month or so.”
    Nick frowned. “What do you mean?” Transferring programs and files was assembly work, like eating.
    “My abilities with a computer don’t go beyond turning it on, pointing the mouse, and saving a file,” confessed Jaymee with a wry smile. “Anything more difficult usually means reading a manual, deciphering lots of error messages, redoing the same procedure a dozen times, and God knows what else. You’ll see. What with all the other chores I’ve to do, it’ll take a month before I get the new computer set up.”
    She made it so easy, the operative in him mocked him for taking advantage of her. “I can do it for you,” Nick offered, calmly reaching for a roll. “I can help you out in the evenings, do anything you want.”
    Bob grunted at the other end of the table and his watery eyes told him exactly what he thought of the offer. “I’ll bet you would do anything she wants,” he said. Turning to Jaymee, he added, “You ain’t learned a lesson yet, I guess you just ain’t as bright as I thought. Help you out in the evenings, do anything you want. You just stick him back to real work and watch that pretty face wilt in the sun.”
    “He does work in the sun,” Jaymee quietly said, but her face was slightly flushed at her father’s none-too-subtle accusations. “You don’t have to like everyone I hire, Dad, and if you’ve nothing good to say, why don’t you just keep it to yourself?”
    “He ain’t got much to say to defend himself, does he?” Bob sneered at Nick.
    Nick looked across the table, calmly chewing, then swallowing. “What your daughter and I do isn’t your business, Mr. Barrows.”
    “Nick...” Jaymee began.
    “Ain’t my business?” Bob barked out in sudden wrath. “If I don’t keep an eye on her, she won’t have any business left at all. The last time she mixed business with pleasure, she near bankrupted me! And sent her ma to an early grave, she did!”
    “That’s enough,” Jaymee cut in, her voice low. Why, why, why did he have to keep bringing it up?
    As if her father heard her, he continued, “I’ve to remind her so she won’t forget. She wants to play, let her do what she promised me, let her pay for her mistake first. My daddy taught us to always pay for our mistakes, and she…”
    Nick stood up. He’d had enough. “As far as I can tell, you’ve got the most hard-working daughter around.” His voice was no longer that lazy, gravelly drawl. “Let’s go for a walk, Jay. I need to work off a sudden indigestion.”
    There was a cold, dangerous edge to it, and Jaymee shivered at the sound. She stared at his outstretched hand and looked up into calm and steady eyes the color of winter sky. She couldn’t read his thoughts as those unfathomable eyes demanded her to do as he said. She placed her hand in his and got up.
    Bob continued eating, already forgetting the outburst of a few moments before. “Go for a walk,” he repeated. “I’ll clean up.”
    Summer heat blasted them the moment they stepped off the porch into the bright sunlight. The air was thick with humidity and tension. In silence, Jaymee walked toward the lake, heading for the picnic table under the elm oak. The shade beckoned invitingly as the heat beat down on their unprotected heads.
    “This used to be my favorite spot,” she said, in an attempt to lighten the mood. “I used to sit right here to do my homework. Only the lake kept tempting me, and I always ended up in that small canoe.” She sighed, wanting those easy days back.
    “You have a nice piece of property here,” Nick agreed, as he looked toward the lake.
    “It’s not mine. It’s Dad’s,” Jaymee corrected. Plucking a small