Free Summer's Desire by Kathleen Ball Page A

filled. She didn’t own a whole
lot. Things never made a huge difference to her. The only thing of value that
she owned was her mother’s gold locket. Summer lifted the mattress up. It
wasn’t there. On her hands and knees she searched under the bed. She looked in
every corner of the room. It was gone.
    Finally, she took everything out of her suitcase,
shaking out each piece of clothing. The necklace wasn’t there. Her heart plummeted
and she hoped it was just misplaced. The thought that someone had taken it was
too much. Luke was angry enough to want to get back at her but she wasn’t about
to accuse anyone without hard proof.
    A few tears seeped out as she zipped up her case.
She dashed them away with the heels of her hands. Taking a deep breath she descended
the stairs, her head held high. She nodded to Mark who stood at the door and
left. It was if she was on auto pilot. Somehow, she finally found herself
parked in front of the O’Malleys home.
    Caleb came rushing out of the house and opened her
door. He held out his hand and she took it. Tears fell freely now. Caleb pulled
her close and she wrapped her arms around his waist and cried into his
shoulder. She couldn’t even enjoy the comfort of his arms around her. She felt
too broken inside.

 
    *
* * *

 
    The lights shining in his house gave Holden solace.
It’d been a hellish day. Three horses had to be put down. He thought he’d be
used to it by now but each one took a part of him. Why don’t horse owners
voluntarily give up ownership when they could no longer take care of the
animals? The fact that the poor creatures were still alive amazed and grieved
him. How they must have suffered.
    All he wanted was a smile from Summer. He’d hardly
seen her in the last few days and he hungered for the sight of her sweet face.
It was late but all the lights in the house were on, it boded well that she was
awake. His heart skipped a beat with hope.
    He knew something was wrong the moment he opened the
door and all four brothers were sitting up straight, staring at him. “Okay, out
with it.”
    “Summer left,” John said his voice full of sadness.
    “Good thing too. She should have been out of here
days ago,” Luke spat out.
    “Summer’s gone? What the hell happened?”
    “She stole my money,” Luke said, heatedly.
    “So you say,” Mark said shaking his head.
    “All I know is Luke says his money is gone,” Matt
told him.
    Holden put his hands up. “Now hold up. Summer took
your money and left? Are you sure she won’t be back? Maybe she just borrowed
it. I’m sure there’s some rational explanation.”
    Luke scowled at him. “Yes there is. She’s a thief
and I told her to get out.”
    Holden wasn’t sure what to think. “So, your money
was missing and you told her to leave?”
    Luke nodded. “I told her to get her ass off our
property. She packed and left. Good riddance.”
    “How much money are we talking about?” Holden
couldn’t wrap his mind around the whole damn thing.
    “Does it matter?” Luke challenged.
    “Every detail matters. Matt, what happened?”
    “Mindy Sue came over and dropped off some magazines.
She left and Summer was in the kitchen making dinner when Luke came storming in
and ran upstairs. He came thundering back down accusing Summer of stealing his
money and fired her. She looked pretty shaken and insisted that she didn’t take
his money. Luke screamed at her and she went upstairs and came down with her suitcase.
She told Mark he was in charge until you got back, then she got in her car and
left.”
    John jumped out of his chair. “She was all but
crying and it’s all Luke’s fault.”
    Luke jumped up and faced John, squaring off. “Why
you—”
    Holden stepped between them. “Hold it right there.
First of all, we don’t fight. Second, I do all the hiring and firing. How much
money and where did you see it last?”
    “Twenty bucks and it was on my dresser this morning.
I remembered what was said about her being