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

help,” she said coldly. She was staring hard at Mrs. Baxter, her eyes never once straying to Joss. “But you will. All of you will, mark my words.”
    â€œOh, Nora, for heaven’s sake—”
    â€œMy mistake,” Joss said so suddenly that once again everyone else in the room turned to stare at him. “It must have just been a shadow or something. I didn’t mean to upset everyone.”
    â€œThat was no shadow,” Nora murmured, and at last Carolyn spoke up.
    â€œThen who was it, Nora? The captain’s wife? But how can you be sure? It could have been a shadow—”
    â€œOf course it was a shadow,” Mom broke in impatiently. “What on earth else could it have been? Have you eaten, Nora?” When the woman maintained a sulky silence, she added, “Carolyn, make sure you fix Nora something for lunch, too.”
    â€œI’m perfectly all right,” Nora insisted, but her voice was barely a whisper, and Carolyn noticed how her hands were shaking. Catching Carolyn’s stare, Nora clasped her fingers together and stiffened even more.
    â€œForgive us, Joss,” Mrs. Baxter said with forced brightness. “We’re not usually quite this neurotic around here. The truth is, we’ve all been through a pretty rough time recently, but now things are going to be much better. Right?”
    The room grew quiet.
    Lifting her eyes, Nora stole a reluctant glance at Joss’s face, then turned and went straight to the kitchen.
    â€œPoor Nora.” Mrs. Baxter sighed and shook her head. “I don’t think she’s in very good health, and I’m afraid she’s still so upset over Hazel’s death. She was devoted to my aunt, you see.”
    â€œHow touching,” Joss murmured.
    Carolyn excused herself and followed Nora into the other room, but before she could strike up a conversation, Mrs. Baxter joined them there.
    â€œNora, are you really all right? I know you have certain … ideas and such about the house, but I wish you wouldn’t share them with the guests—at least not before they’ve had a chance to settle in. Heaven only knows what he’s thinking.”
    In answer, Nora started banging pots and pans on the stove. Carolyn darted a quick look at her before she spoke.
    â€œMaybe he did see something, Mom. It could happen.”
    â€œWhat he saw was a shadow—much to his regret, I’m very sure.”
    Mrs. Baxter rolled her eyes in exasperation, took a long, deep breath, then let it out again, a sure sign that she was on to more important matters.
    â€œCarolyn, are you thinking what I’m thinking?” She burst into a big smile. “He’s the answer to our prayers!” When Carolyn didn’t respond, she stopped and studied her daughter’s face. “So why are you looking like that?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Carolyn said, busying herself at the counter. She really didn’t know—she felt all mixed up inside. She opened a container of chowder that Andy had brought and shrugged her shoulders. “This guy’s a total stranger, Mom.”
    â€œWell, really, Carolyn, this isn’t exactly like the neighborhood we just moved from. People here still leave their doors unlocked. They trust each other.”
    â€œWho told you that?”
    â€œSome of the people I talked with this morning in the village. They’re all so nice and wonderful people! Like that Mr. Bell sending groceries.”
    â€œIt’s just”—Carolyn groped for words—“strange, don’t you think?”
    â€œWhat is? What do you mean?”
    â€œShowing up the way he did, just when we needed someone to help us.”
    â€œDrifter,” Nora muttered, and they both looked at her.
    â€œWhat was that, Nora?” Mom asked.
    But if Nora heard, she gave no sign. She turned on the tap water so hard that the pipes groaned.
    â€œBut that’s what makes it so