Free Something More by Janet Dailey Page B

stranger looking straight at her.
    â€œHi, there. What’s your name?” A wonderfully warm smile curved the woman’s mouth.
    Embarrassed by the sudden attention, Dulcie edged closer to her brother, trying to disappear behind him. Tobe glanced down at her, then appeared to realize the question had been addressed to her.
    â€œThat’s my sister, Dulcie.” He tossed out the answer and turned his curiosity toward the good-looking redhead. “I’m Tobe West. I work at the Ten Bar for Luke.” He bobbed his head in the direction of his employer.
    â€œAngie Sommers.” She volunteered her own name, then switched her attention back to Dulcie. “Dulcie is a very pretty name.”
    A thousand times Dulcie had wished for a more ordinary name. Never once had she considered her own to be pretty. The unexpected compliment had her blushing to the roots of her white-blond hair. But the corners of her mouth tilted upward in a tentative smile of pleasure that this woman should think it was.
    At her failure to reply, Ima Jane stated the obvious. “Our little Dulcie is a bit shy, I’m afraid.” She then leaned closer to explain sotto voce, “Both her parents are gone. The poor dear’s an orphan. Such a tragedy for one so young.” She made a show out of noticing their plates and inquired in a louder voice, “Are you two finished here?” When Angie nodded that she was, Ima Jane signaled to one of the waitresses, indicating that the dirty dishes needed to be cleared away. “I hope you left room for some homemade pie,” she told Angie. “No one bakes a tastier one than my Griff.”
    Angie pulled in a quick breath and exhaled it with a shake of her head. “No, thanks. I couldn’t eat another bite,” she said in utter sincerity.
    â€œWould you like more coffee?” the waitress asked as she stacked their plates on her serving tray.
    â€œI’ve had plenty, thanks.” Angie placed a hand over her cup, then glanced toward the front windows, noting the night-darkened world beyond them. “It’s getting late, and I’ve had a long day. If you could just bring me the check?”
    â€œDon’t bother doing that, Liz,” Luke cut in. “Just put her dinner on my tab.”
    â€œThat’s generous of you, but if anybody is going to be owed favors around here, it’s not going to be you,” Angie informed him, then opened her purse and removed her wallet. “I’m paying for both meals, Liz.”
    With a flick of his fingers, Luke motioned for the waitress to do as she was instructed. “Give the lady the check, Liz. I’m not going to wrestle her over it.”
    While Liz retrieved the meal tab from her apron pocket, Ima Jane took advantage of the opening provided. “You’ll be needing a place to sleep tonight. Griff and I have a—”
    â€œYou’re out of luck this time, Ima Jane,” Luke interrupted. “Miss Sommers brought her bed with her. She has a camper parked outside.”
    â€œYes,” Angie confirmed, then asked, “is it all right if I park overnight in your lot?”
    â€œOf course, it’s all right.” Ima Jane was quick to agree, relieved that Angie wasn’t going to slip entirely away from her. “I only hope it won’t be too noisy for you when everyone starts leaving.”
    â€œAs tired as I am after driving all day, I probably won’t hear a thing once my head hits the pillow.” With the fatigue of the long trip pulling at her, Angie suspected that statement was more true than she realized. She counted out the money to pay the check, added a gratuity for the waitress and laid it on the table with the check, then looked pointedly at Luke. “Would it be convenient for me to come out to your ranch tomorrow afternoon?”
    â€œCollecting on that favor already, are you?” Amusement tugged at one corner of his