The Right One Read Free

the briefcase and slid it off the table to hang at her side. “They didn’t make it easy, did they?”
    “You didn’t really think they would, did you?”
    “No.” She smiled. “I didn’t. Thank you for being here with me. It was nice to glance over to a friendly face.”
    Alex reached up to the Stetson and absentmindedly tilted it forward to shadow his chocolate eyes. “I’ve been there every day since that kid tried to steal your ball in the playground when we were five. Why stop now?”
    She laughed, shoulders easing. Could always count on Alex. “I’m hungry. Want to grab some dinner on the way back to the sanctuary? A couple burgers at Joan’s?”
    “Sure. My treat.”
    She knew better than to try and argue with him, and allowed Alex to guide her out the room, hand on the small of her back.
    Victory felt good.
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
     
    Cami pulled into the driveway and sighed. Her parents’ Escapade was parked to the side, their two heads bobbing back in forth behind the windows, conversation lively. She could only imagine the reason they came by, and more certain she wouldn’t enjoy the visit.
    She climbed out of the car and whistled to the sheltie resting on the porch. The petite collie sub breed scurried with scraping nails and scattered dust to her side, front paws padding her leg for attention. “Hey, Sadie. We’ve got company, huh?”
    The dog yapped and licked a hand as Cami reached to scratch behind the black folded ears. 
    Two hard thuds of metal announced her parents making their way to her side and she steeled against the coming onset. Conversations about the sanctuary had been heated over the past couple months, once they realized her fortitude in building it, and she knew her parents didn’t like to lose.
    They weren’t going to win this time.
    “Hi Cami. Where’ve you been?”
    She rolled her eyes and turned to face the woman who she resembled so closely. The same blond hair, same crescent hazel eyes, same oval mouth. The only trait they didn’t share was the sole feature Cami inherited from her father, the long oval shaped faces.
    Her parents drilled into her since childhood the desire for her to be a doctor, a model, lawyer, actor. Someone with prestige and clout, pretty dresses and socialite parties. Their disappointment in a daughter more tomboy than lady, one who spent more time with animals than with the upper crust, wasn’t missed on Cami. She felt it every time they looked at her.
    She suppressed a giggle. They could want anything. She didn’t have to comply.
    “You know where I was, Mom. I told you about the meeting this morning when you called five times.” She allowed her mother a kiss on the cheek. “Hi, Dad.”
    “Was that today? For some reason, I thought you said it was next week.”
    “Of course it was. And I won.”
    A shared glance between them spoke volumes. Cami remained silent.
    “So that means you’re going forward with this … project?” Mr. Lockhart turned, and looked to the perimeter fencing.
    “Yes, of course, Dad.” She sighed. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
    “Because it’s dangerous. You’ll be housing cats large enough to kill you, and living only minutes from them. Why would we be happy about this?”
    Cami shrugged. “You don’t have to be happy about it, Mom. I’m thirty years old, the money I’m using is my own, this has nothing to do with you.”
    One of the ranch hands, Tank Grendolt, walked across the far yard and waved. She waved back. “Good afternoon, Tank. How’s it going?”
    “Good. Good.” He held a hand up again. Mrs. Lockhart scoffed and turned away, Mr. Lockhart nodded. Cami shook her head.
    Mrs. Lockhart tightened every feature, the hard glare used to intimidate Cami as a child resurfaced. Now it just made her want to laugh. “I do have to be happy about it. You’re our daughter, and we don’t want to come here to find you eaten by one of those beasts.”
    “I’m not going to be