Homeward Bound Read Free Page A

two arms locked around her kept her upright when her legs buckled beneath her.
    "Kate? Kate?" She heard her name being called from far away. "What did you do to her?" yelled the man who held her.
    "Who the hell is she?"
    Kate struggled against the arms that encircled her. She felt herself being gently lowered into an old easy chair, but the fingers on her shoulders tightened when she tried to scramble out. "Relax for a minute, Kate. No one's gonna hurt you."
    She slumped over, praying she wouldn't faint. When would she learn not to trust strangers, no matter how harmless they looked? She had to get herself up and out of there as soon as possible.
    When her strength returned, she raised her head slowly. She saw two sets of boots, two sets of strong legs, two six-foot-plus, well-built bodies, and two identical faces staring at her as if she'd lost her mind. She rubbed her eyes and tried to get a clear focus, but her double vision remained. For one frightening moment she thought she had lost her mind.
    Her train of thought finally caught up with her vision. Her parallel images wore different clothes and expressions. A last shudder of fear rocked her before she managed to speak. "You're twins!"
    Very brilliant. Like they didn't already know that, she mocked herself. She had trouble making intelligent conversation when her pulse raced like a metronome at top speed. Her embarrassment sent the blood rushing to her face.
    "Can I get you anything? Water? Tea? Whiskey?" Trevor offered.
    She shook her head and pulled herself up to her feet. She clutched the back of the chair to support her shaking legs. "No. If you don't mind, I'll just go now, please." Was that her voice fading out?
    "Don't you want to see the house?"
    The house! She had forgotten her purpose for being there.
    "What's going on?" Trevor's twin demanded.
    "She's come about the ad in the paper, Jake." Trevor shot a pleading glare to his furious brother.
    Jake ran a sweeping gaze along the length of her body, and then turned his head from side to side. "No. No women. I thought you put that in the ad."
    Kate didn't know what came over her. Until that moment, she would have walked away without a second thought. She had no wish to rent from such an obnoxious boor, yet she found herself saying, "That's sex discrimination and it’s against the law, Mr. Callahan."
    His lip curled back in a wry grin. "I don't discriminate against sex. I happen to be in favor of it."
    She had no doubt that he twisted her words to throw her off balance. "Very clever. That doesn't change the fact that unless you have a deposit from someone else, you are required to show me the house and allow me to decide if I'd be interested or not."
    "That is a private residence. I don't have to do anything, ma'am."

 
    * * * *

 
    Jake balled his fingers into fists. Who does she think she is? She spoke with a distinct New York accent. Her German luxury car, visible from the front window, cost more than the bank note on his farm. Only a spoiled princess with an attitude would insist on staying in a place where she wasn't welcome. He didn't need that kind of woman living next door to him.
    Trevor stepped forward and handed Kate the key. "You go have a look while I speak with my brother."
    "Thank you. I will." She slipped the key in her jacket pocket and smiled on her way out the door.
    "What's the matter with you?" Trevor yelled. "That is the first and only answer we've gotten on that ad in three weeks."
    "No women, Trevor. You're askin' for trouble. Look at her," Jake said.
    "I am."
    He followed Trevor's gaze to the graceful beauty walking across the lawn towards the other house. Admittedly, the woman had style. Even without a stitch of makeup, and her hair pulled back in that infernal horsetail, she outclassed any woman in the area. That didn't make her a good candidate for a tenant.
    "I don't see anything wrong with her. A little flat chested perhaps," Trevor commented.
    Incensed that his twin thought with the