Free The Drifter by Vicki Lewis Thompson Page A

New York. “Don’t tell me you took a bite out of the Big Apple before you left?”
    â€œTo be honest with you, Eb, this was as much a surprise to me as it is to you,” Chase said.
    Eb clapped him on the shoulder. “Then I think it’s time we had a talk, man to man. It’s dangerous to be ignorant of the birds and the bees, son. Isn’t that right, Leigh?”
    Leigh’s almond-colored gaze was contrite as she looked at Chase. “Oh, I think Chase understands the birds and the bees. In fact, I think he might have written the manual on the subject. Anyway, if you’ll excuse us, Eb, I need Chase to help with some chores down at the corrals. Ry was supposed to do it, but he’s not available.”
    Eb winked. “What’s wrong, bridegroom jitters?”
    â€œOh, I hardly think that’s the problem, Eb. Nice roses. Too bad Freddy’s allergic to them.”
    â€œShe is?”
    â€œSomething terrible. Maybe you can plant those over in your garden.”
    â€œBut Belinda never said anything about Freddy being allergic.”
    â€œWith all the food preparation for the reception and thinking about that little baby, Belinda’s a basket case. Trust me, Eb. A few minutes with those roses and we’ll be toasting Freddy, the red-nosed bride. Nice idea, though. Come on, Chase. We have work to do.” She pulled him toward the French doors leading into the main room of the house. “Sorry about that,” she said as soon as they were inside. “I didn’t see his truck out front and he was hidden behind the waterfall.”
    â€œDon’t sweat it. Knowing Whitlock’s sources, he’d have found out by sundown, anyway. Is Freddy really allergic to roses?”
    â€œNot yet, but she will be if Ry finds out who trundled them over here unannounced. Their big fight this morning was over whether to have Eb in the ceremony. Ry doesn’t want him.”
    â€œI don’t blame him. Whitlock reminds me of a few truck drivers I’ve known—big belly and big mouth to match.” Chase also knew that Eb had been an unsuccessful bidder for the True Love and hadn’t taken well to defeat when Ry had closed the deal.
    â€œThe problem is, Freddy promised our father before he died that she’d ask Eb to walk her down the aisle if she ever got married. I think it was a dumb promise, but Freddy will never go back on it.”
    Chase glanced back at Whitlock, who had retrieved the rosebushes and was walking toward the door. “Let’s get out of here.” He took Leigh’s elbow and they headed out the front door toward her truck. “By now, he’s probably thought of a dozen questions about this baby business.”
    â€œI’ll bet he heard a rumor about the baby and bought the roses so he’d have an excuse to come over and check it out. I’m getting mighty sick of the way Eb uses his little favors and gifts as a manipulation.” She gestured toward the passenger door of her truck. “Hop in. You look like a man who could use some therapeutic shoveling.”
    â€œYou read my mind, as usual.” Chase climbed into Leigh’s dark blue truck with the rainbow painted on the fender and a crystal hanging from the rearview mirror, which cast more rainbows around the interior. Leigh was one of the few people he allowed to drive him anywhere.
    â€œI’ll bet you’ve missed your swim today,” Leigh said as she started down the road.
    â€œI’ll get it in tonight,” Chase promised. He wasn’t about to skimp on the rehabilitation program she’d set up for him, no matter what Amanda threw at him.
    â€œStress can zap those muscles, you know.”
    Chase leaned back against the tattered seat. “What makes you think I’m stressed?”
    â€œWho wouldn’t be? I doubt it’s every day you have women show up with babies they claim you fathered.”
    â€œI did