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

repeated slowly.
    Oh, Mom, why’d you tell him that — why’d you tell him how terribly alone we are —
    â€œWell … and Nora, of course,” Mrs. Baxter added. “She’s our housekeeper. We sort of inherited her from Aunt Hazel.”
    â€œI’m sorry about your husband,” Joss said, and his voice was very soft, very deep. “Maybe it’s good I’m here.”
    Mrs. Baxter mulled this over. At last she smiled.
    â€œYes. Yes, I think it might be.”
    â€œ Please , Mom”—Carolyn made a quick gesture toward the kitchen door—“I really need to talk to you.”
    â€œWhat is it, Carolyn? Can’t it wait a minute?”
    â€œDon’t mind me,” Joss said. “Go ahead.”
    â€œI’ll be right back,” Mrs. Baxter promised, and then as she glanced toward the hallway, “Oh, come in, Nora. Meet our first real guest, Joss Whitcomb.”
    Joss stood up, but as Nora came slowly into the room, a puzzled look went over his face.
    â€œNot ready for guests,” Nora sniffed. “He’ll just have to make do.”
    â€œIt’s not a problem, Nora.” Mrs. Baxter sighed. “Joss is going to help us out for a while, doing repairs around the house.”
    â€œThis is Nora?” Joss sounded so funny that Mrs. Baxter turned to him in surprise.
    â€œWhy, yes. Hazel’s housekeeper I was telling you about.”
    Nora’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, but Joss didn’t seem to notice.
    â€œThen who’s the other woman?” he asked.
    As everyone turned to stare at him, he gestured toward the front of the house.
    â€œThe one I saw when I came in,” he added.
    Mrs. Baxter shook her head. “I don’t know who you mean. There’s no one out here but us.”
    â€œBut she was standing up there,” he insisted quietly. “Up on the widow’s—”
    He broke off as the tray Nora was carrying crashed to the floor.
    â€œNo,” Nora whispered, and her hands fluttered feebly to her throat as though she couldn’t breathe—“ No! ”
    She took a step backward, into the shadows.
    And before anyone could move, her body crumpled to the floor.

9

    â€œN ORA !” M RS . B AXTER CRIED. “O H, DEAR, PUT HER HERE on the couch! Carolyn, quick, call a doctor!”
    Carolyn watched helplessly as Joss carried Nora back to the parlor. In black dress and shawl and stockings, the housekeeper resembled some grotesque stain spreading across the horsehair sofa.
    â€œCarolyn, now! ” Mrs. Baxter ordered.
    Carolyn hurried to the phone. She lifted the receiver and started to dial, but a strong hand closed firmly over hers. Startled, she looked up into Joss’s eyes.
    â€œThere’s no need for that,” he said quietly.
    Carolyn’s heart raced. She couldn’t take her eyes from his. A muscle clenched in his jaw, and he pulled the phone away, replacing it on the table.
    â€œCarolyn, will you please—” Mom broke off as Joss knelt beside the couch. He pressed his hand to Nora’s forehead, massaging gently. Almost at once the housekeeper’s eyes fluttered open.
    â€œShe’ll be all right,” Joss said.
    He stood and moved back. He leaned casually against the mantel, and Mom stared at him in dismay.
    â€œNora?” Mom patted the woman’s cheek, slipping one arm beneath her back to prop her up.
    At first Nora didn’t seem to remember anything. Her eyes darted from Mrs. Baxter to Carolyn and then around the room, finally coming to rest on Joss.
    â€œNora, wake up,” Mom coaxed. “You fainted, that’s all. You scared us all silly.”
    Nora had regained a little color, though she still looked pinched and strained. She pulled out of Mrs. Baxter’s grasp and got slowly to her feet, and by the time she was standing again, she’d managed to perfectly recompose her face.
    â€œI don’t need any