His Secret Child Read Free Page A

Bishop back in Crooked Oak for any length of time.
    If Caleb ever found out exactly how old Danny was, if he ever took a good, hard look at her son, he just might start to wonder. A man at loose ends, his once-glamorous and exciting life ended, Caleb was probably searching for something to fill the empty days. But once he came to terms with his disability and had a chance to decide what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, he'd leave Crooked Oak. When he'd left her twelve years ago, she had survived. But she didn't want her son to have to suffer over Caleb Bishop's second departure. Danny had gone through enough when Daniel had died five years ago. He had already lost one father. She wasn't going to run the risk of his accepting Caleb into his life and then losing him, too.
    Sheila stood, dusted her hands off on her hips and went inside the small, wooden house she'd lived in with her husband. She heard the television in Danny's room and knew he was watching "Nickleodeon." She allowed her son a great deal of freedom, and with each passing year she let him make more and more of his own decisions. If he was watching TV, that meant he'd finished his homework and was probably ready for dinner. They usually ate around five-thirty during the months when Danny didn't have baseball practice, and it was already past five now.
    She walked down the hall and stopped in front of Danny's open door. Peeping in, she saw him spread out across the bed, his back braced against the headboard. He glanced away from the TV and up at her. He smiled. And for one endless moment Sheila's heart stood still. He had his father's smile. That lazy, smirking grin that curved the left side of his mouth. She was surprised that no one had ever noticed. If Caleb had been around all these years, someone would have put two and two together long ago.
    "Hi, Mom. Did you get Tallie's house all fixed up for Caleb?"
    "Yes."
    "When's he supposed to get here? Sometime tonight?"
    "He's already here. He came before I left."
    "Did you talk to him? Gosh, Mom, I can't believe that Caleb Bishop is living down the road from us." Danny scooted to the side of the bed and jumped up. "Do you think he'd give me his autograph? The guys at school didn't believe me when I told them that my mom was going to take Caleb Bishop his supper."
    Danny rushed across the room, picked up his baseball and leather glove, then tossed the ball into the air and adeptly caught it in the mitt. "Do you think he'd mind giving me some pointers? You could tell him who I am, that Tallie's practically my aunt, since you and she are such good friends."
    Sheila grasped her son's shoulder and forced a smile on her face. "We're not going to bother Caleb while he's visiting Crooked Oak. He's come here to recuperate. But if he stays long enough, I'm sure we'll run into him sooner or later."
    "Ah, gee, Mom, couldn't I just stop by his house and get his autograph?"
    "No, you may not. I don't want you pestering Caleb."
    "Asking a famous person for his autograph isn't pestering him."
    "Danny Vance, I want you to promise me that you won't go over to Tallie's house and bother Caleb."
    "Ah, Mom."
    She had to keep Danny and Caleb apart if at all possible. The more they were together, the more likely it would be that someone would notice the similarities between the two. Even Caleb might notice that Danny didn't resemble Daniel Vance in the least. Danny had inherited her blue eyes, but that was all. His black hair and dark complexion were genetic gifts from Caleb, as were his natural athletic abilities.
    "I'll tell you what," Sheila said. "Promise me that you won't bother Caleb and I'll make sure you meet him and get his autograph before he leaves Crooked Oak."
    "Okay," Danny agreed reluctantly.
    "Go wash up and get ready for supper. We're having barbecue."
    "Great. Barbecue is my favorite." Danny tossed the ball and glove down on his bed, then raced out of the bedroom and up the hall to the bathroom.
    Sheila ran her