Chapter 14
“Chinese food?” Lee demanded from the kitchen. “Somebody cooked Chinese food in this house? Jake, where are you?”
“I’m right here,” he growled, emerging from his bedroom, belting his robe over the pajama pants he’d just thought to put on. Lee didn’t notice him kick the scrap of blue material under the couch as he walked past. She didn’t immediately notice Amanda following from her room, belting a robe over a flannel nightgown. Nor did she see her kick two very small scraps of silk and lace after the dress.
“Hi, squirt,” Jake greeted her as she turned the corner into the living room.
Amanda waited behind, doing her best to look innocent. Content just to watch.
Lee rushed into her big brother’s arms and got her hair tousled with her hug.
“You weren’t supposed to be here for two more days,” he accused. “What’s going on?”
She backed up a little, flashing him a sly grin. “Trying to keep something from me? Hi, Amanda. I thought you were at the cabin.”
“I was,” Amanda greeted her, knowing how good the girl’s intuition was. Her brand-new underwear was probably gathering dust bunnies for nothing., “ï rode over yesterday on horseback to visit. By the time we finished eating dinner, it was too late to ride home. Thanks for the nightgown, by the way.”
The girl’s trademark blue Kendall eyes sparkled with mischief. “My pleasure,” she assured her. “By the way, the candles were a nice touch.”
Lee was only Amanda’s height, but she was a Kendall in every other way, with honey-blond hair, ramrod posture from all the years spent sitting a horse, a sleek figure and those water-blue eyes. If Jake had had any sense he’d be worried as hell about the boys circling her on campus. Luckily she also had most of the Kendall common sense.
“Chinese?” she demanded yet again. “You really got Jake to eat Chinese?”
“Oh, shut up,” Jake snarled.
Lee’s laughter was delighted. “And to think. You’re still alive, Jake. You lied to us all these years.”
“Have you had breakfast yet?” Amanda asked, noting that the sky was lightening in the east through early morning fog. It wouldn’t be long before everybody else started showing up. In fact, she was amazed that Clovis hadn’t already been up to check on why Jake hadn’t been down for morning stables. Of course, the fact that Sweet William was still in his stall might have told him something.
“No,” Lee admitted. “I’ve been on the road most of the night.”
Jake started to attention. “All night? What the hell do you mean?”
She just patted him on the arm. “I mean that I was able to catch an early flight. Only it went to Denver, so I had to hitch a ride.”
“Who with?”
Lee leaned over to give Amanda a grin. “Isn’t he cute? He still doesn’t let me cross the street in Lost Ridge.”
“Lee—” It was not an amused sound.
Lee seemed to respect her brother’s temper. “Two of the other kids from school,” she assured him. “Both of whom strictly adhere to the tenets of a religion that forbids the driving of a car over fifty-five miles an hour or playing loud rock and roll while doing so.”
Amanda saw Jake struggle against his little sister’s sharp whimsy. “Both of them girls.”
Lee nodded, her eyes big and serious. “Planning to be nuns. In fact, I think they were headed from here to the convent.”
He tousled her hair again. “Somebody spoiled you rotten, kid.”
Her smile was brilliant. “Can’t imagine who. Now, how ‘bout breakfast? Is it going to be moo shoo pork or lo mein?”
“Eggs,” Jake barked. “And bacon. As soon as I get dressed.”
Lee swung her carryall around and followed toward her room. “Getting good information, Amanda?” she asked, her eyes on the rigid set of her brother’s shoulder, her expression betraying her struggle to repress her delight.
“When I’m not stuck in blizzards or tending to the sick,” Amanda acknowledged.
“Did he get you a new computer?” she asked loudly enough to get her brother’s attention before he shut the door.
