Promise Broken (The Callahan Series) by Mitzi Pool Bridges Page A

doesn’t look like the kind of mom who would let her kid do what he wants just because he wants.”
    “She’s not. The fact is, I have to beg right along with Mark to get permission for him to ‘help’ as he puts it.”
    Dugan grinned. “Looks as if you’re okay with it then.”
    Donovan didn’t know when having Mark underfoot changed from aggravation to expectation. Same with Phyl. One minute he resented her being here. The next he found himself looking forward to seeing her.
    He had to admit, she was the best ranch hand he’d ever known. There wasn’t much she couldn’t do, or wasn’t willing to try. She didn’t mind getting dirty or sweaty. Surprisingly, he found himself trying to beat her to the coffee pot every morning. Some days he didn’t make it, and didn’t like the letdown feeling that not seeing her gave him.
    Then, he’d berate himself for acting like a fourteen-year-old with his first crush.
    But every day his admiration grew. At the same time, there was something about her that made him wonder. After the encounter a few minutes ago with his uncle his curiosity had escalated.
    Even though he was torn between attraction and curiosity, it was good to know that if he left, the ranch would be in good hands.
    But was he going to leave? Did he want to? The question nagged.
    The hurt hadn’t left. Only now it wasn’t a burning hole in his gut. It had shifted. Now it was as if a small piece of his heart had been cut out. At least there was some healing. Still there, but not hurting as bad.
    He knew it was the part of him that once held such pride in being a Callahan. The name itself demanded respect. His biological father, on the other hand, was a criminal.
    Donovan was conflicted. He wanted with everything in him to be who he thought he was all his life—a Callahan.
    It was too much to ask. He couldn’t change his paternity any more than he could change his height or the color of his eyes.
    Dugan waved at a half-dozen ranchers and townspeople as they made their way to his office. For the first time in his life, Donovan couldn’t look them in the eye.
    He wasn’t the man they thought he was.
    ****
    He saw the bitch cross the street, her kid in tow, and head toward the discount bookstore. How lucky was that? He had to hotfoot it to enter the store ahead of her. The bell over the door tinkled, the sound annoyingly happy. He hated it. Hated being in this hick town. Hated biding his time. For what? Backup, the boss had said. But deep down, he knew it would be a cold day in hell before he was called on to do anything of importance.
    The boss thought he wasn’t good enough. That’s why he’d pulled this glory job.
    The old lady who ran the store spoke up. “Hi there. Good to see you again. What can I help you with today?”
    He clamped his jaw and wished he could shoot her right then and there. “Looking around. That okay with you?”
    Take your time.” She chuckled. “It’s not as if we’re overrun with customers.”
    He heard them come in. Heard that damn bell tinkle again. Stupid town. Stupid store. But she’d brought her kid with her. Maybe he could use that.
    Taking a deep breath, he grabbed a couple of books and walked in their direction.
    He’d show the boss. He’d show them all. He wasn’t the flunkie they thought. Not by a long shot.
    ****
    Phyl didn’t want to be here. Too many people. All strangers. Any one of them could be someone sent to harm them. Then the uncle showed up with questions she didn’t want to answer. Against her better judgment though, she’d agreed to come to town today. Now she was such a bundle of nerves she couldn’t stand herself.
    The bookstore looked deserted. It was a good place to hide. Letting her gaze sweep over the shelves, she tamped down her anxiety, and tried to relax.
    “We haven’t read this one,” Phyl said, pulling down a brightly illustrated book.
    That guilty feeling stole over her. She couldn’t let Mark have a fun day in town for her