Read Online The Drifter by Richie Tankersley Cusick - Free Book Online

guess. There’s some kind of festival going on in the village this weekend! Isn’t that great?”
    â€œMom,” Carolyn tried again, but her mother didn’t hear.
    â€œAre you from the village?” she chattered on, while the young man continued to stand and watch them. “What kind of a festival is it, anyway, do you know?”
    â€œI need a room,” he said quietly, and this time Mrs. Baxter stopped talking and leaned closer, not certain she’d heard him.
    â€œA room?” She sounded bewildered. “Here? Now? ”
    â€œI don’t have any money,” he went on. “But I think we can help each other.”
    And they were both staring at him—both Carolyn and her mother—and Mrs. Baxter’s mouth dropped open an inch.
    â€œEach other— how? ” Then she shook her head and laughed. “You’ll have to forgive me, I’m a little confused. I thought you said—”
    â€œI heard you needed help around the place.” He made a vague gesture. His fingers were long; his movements graceful. “To get ready for tourists. I can do anything you want. I’ll help you get the house in shape if you let me use one of your rooms.”
    Mrs. Baxter was looking more bewildered by the second. Beside her, Carolyn shifted and grabbed her mother’s arm.
    â€œUh, Mom—can I talk to you a minute? In private— ”
    â€œI don’t think I got your name.…” Mrs. Baxter began politely, and the young man stepped forward to take her hand.
    â€œJoss,” he answered, and his eyes shifted smoothly to Carolyn … back again to her mother. “Joss Whitcomb.”
    â€œMr. Whitcomb—”
    â€œJoss.”
    â€œYes.” Mom nodded and flushed slightly at his handshake. “Well …”
    â€œMom,” Carolyn said again, but her mother moved toward the fireplace. She stared into the flames, and then she smiled at Joss.
    â€œAre you from the village?”
    â€œJust passing through.”
    â€œHow long were you planning to stay?”
    â€œAs long as it takes.”
    â€œMom …” Carolyn said through clenched teeth, but Mrs. Baxter didn’t seem to hear.
    â€œYou see it, too, don’t you?” Mom was positively beaming. “The potential of this old house? What it could be with some loving care? I just know it was magnificent in its day. And it can be again, I think.”
    Joss smiled and said nothing.
    â€œWell, you look strong enough,” Mrs. Baxter added, “though you could use a little more meat on your bones. When was the last time you ate?”
    â€œMom—”
    â€œCarolyn, go in and start lunch, why don’t you? It must be this awful wind out here—I’m starving, and I know our guest must be, too!”
    Carolyn stared helplessly while her mother sat down and motioned Joss to do the same.
    â€œIs this a hobby of yours?” Mrs. Baxter asked him. “Rebuilding old monstrosities?”
    A faint smile touched his lips. They were full and perfectly shaped. He wore no beard or mustache, yet a shadow traced along his upper lip and darkened the sharp contours of his chin.
    â€œLet’s just say … I admire beautiful things.” Again his eyes shifted to Carolyn, and she quickly looked away.
    Mrs. Baxter clapped her hands together. “Oh, how rude of me, I’m so sorry! Joss, this is my daughter, Carolyn.”
    Carolyn mumbled a welcome as his steady gaze traveled slowly from her head to her feet. Carolyn found it unsettlingly hypnotic.
    â€œShe’s going to be a senior this year.” Mom went on before Carolyn could stop her. “We just moved from Ohio—the woman who used to own this house was my great-aunt.”
    Joss inclined his head politely.
    â€œI lost my husband not long ago, you see,” Mrs. Baxter said. “So now it’s just Carolyn and I.”
    â€œOnly the two of you?” Joss