Read Online First Light by William G. Tapply, Philip R. Craig - Free Book Online Page B

retrieved my hand from her weak grip. Then I tucked her blanket around her, touched her cheek with the palm of my hand, and slipped out of the room.
    When I went into the living room, I saw Patrick standing by the window peering out. Both of his fists were clenched, and he held them pressed tight against his thighs.
    I walked over to him. Through the window pasthis shoulder I could see Eliza sitting there with Luis and Philip. They were drinking their Bloody Marys and laughing and pawing at each other, and as I watched, Eliza turned to Luis, the one with the black mustache, and kissed him hard on the mouth.
    Philip, the blond guy sitting on the other side of her, was stroking her hip.
    Patrick apparently didn’t notice me standing behind him. He mumbled something that sounded like “Whore.” It came out as a low growl.
    I cleared my throat, and he whirled around. “Oh,” he said. “Brady. Hi.”
    â€œIf you don’t like it,” I said, “you shouldn’t watch.”
    â€œI’ve been watching it all my life,” he said. “It’s nothing new. My own mother.” He let out a long breath and shook his head.
    I took his arm. “Come on, man. Let’s go have some coffee.”
    He took one more glance out at the patio, then allowed me to lead him away. “Sure,” he said. “Coffee. Just the thing.”

Chapter Five

J.W.
    I n the small hours when Zee crawled into bed with me after her night’s fishing, I woke up and was happy, feeling her skin against mine. She spooned up behind me and her arm came around my chest.
    â€œCatch anything?” I murmured.
    â€œA couple little ones. I’ve got them on ice, but they’re nothing worth weighing in. Brady got a good hit but it bit off his fly. He said it felt big.”
    â€œYou lose a lot of lures if you fish for blues without a leader,” I said. “I’ve lost my share, leaders and all. But you never know what size fish might win a prize, so you should take your biggest one to the morning weigh-in even if you’re sure it’s a loser.”
    â€œI’m sure, but you’re right about going to the weigh-in. Remember when Iowa won a daily with a four-pound blue?” She paused. “I’m going to invite Molly Wood to come to supper tonight, so she can meet Brady.”
    Does Mother Nature abhor an unattached male? “Who’s Molly Wood?”
    â€œMolly’s a visiting nurse who’s down here for the summer. You’ll like her. I think she and Brady bothneed to meet somebody nice. Brady isn’t seeing Alex anymore, and Molly’s been a widow for over a year. It’s time they got back into the loop.”
    â€œThe loop is good.” I rolled over toward her. “Let me demonstrate one of the benefits of being in it.”
    She laughed. Her skin was sleek and warm. In the darkness I slid my hands over her, and her arms came around me. I heard her breath deepen as I put my lips to her breasts—golden apples of the sun, silver apples of the moon.
    In the morning, Zee slept late. After the weigh-in, she was only going to work half a day, starting at noon, before coming home to play Cupid. Or did women play Aphrodite?
    While she slept, I got supper together. Coquilles St. Jacques, an excellent dish that is always worth the time it takes to prepare. Normally I adhere to the principle that you should avoid any recipe over four inches long, but Coquilles St. Jacques is an exception to the rule. Although you have to do a good deal of chopping and stirring, you can make it well ahead of when you’ll use it, and thus can take all the time you need. Mine was made of scallops we’d captured and frozen the previous winter, and was sure to be delish.
    While I cooked, I thought about fishing, food, my sleeping wife, and the children playing outdoors with the cats. I also thought about Katherine Bannerman. When Zee woke and I could make some