Lucky Thirteen by Melanie Jackson Read Free Book Online Page B

men stopped, considered one another, and almost recommenced their scuffle. Then with warning glances exchanged between them, they separated and left me standing unseated near the head of the table. Wayne walked around the table to seat Sissy Hightower. I shook my head, once more dismayed by the machinations of the male mind, and seated myself. Harrigan stepped behind Miss Hightower’s chair to assist her in taking her seat.
    “Allow me, Sweet Pea,” he said condescendingly as he set her chair behind her knees.
    “Why thank you, Mr. Harrigan.”                      
    “Angus would suit me a sight better.”
    There was a brief round of musical chairs as Jose and Mark rushed for the chair beside mine. Jose won the much vaunted position by dominating the bulk of the seat cushion with his derriere and holding onto the legs of the chair to successfully avoid being unseated. Wayne and Mark grudgingly took seats elsewhere while Jose stuck his tongue out at them. Alex sat in his place across the table from me, to Miss Hightower’s left. Since the table was so long, we gathered at one end. With the seating arrangements ironed out, the soup course was served without incident.
    “Alex, perhaps you could regale us with your exploits while here in our state,” Miss Hightower prompted.
    “Oh, I wouldn’t say there’s much regaling to be done,” Alex admitted. “It’s been mostly boring computer stuff related to system security for a hotel.”
    “Why, that sounds fascinating,” Miss Hightower said encouragingly, though I doubted she was actually fascinated.
    “I’ve dabbled a little in computers myself,” Hillary injected.
    “Seems to me, you’ve dabbled in a little bit of everything,” Jerry interjected.
    “Mr. Dietz!” Miss Hightower exclaimed.
    “Sounds like women’s work to me,” Harrigan bellowed.
    “Mr. Harrigan!”
    “Angus, Sweet Pea.”
    “Alright, Angus! And stop calling me Sweet Pea. You know I hate it when you do that.”
    “Have it your way.”
    “Mr. Harrigan, perhaps you’d tell us about your business,” Alex suggested.
    “I’m a horse breeder and trainer by trade,” Harrigan replied proudly. “I own the best breeding and training facility in the state.”
    This statement elicited groans and mumbled responses from many around the table. Miss Hightower refrained from comment. Most likely she was familiar with such boasting coming from the large man.
    “Alright, perhaps the second-best breeding and training facility in the state,” he amended. “But then, if I have things my way, the two best breeding and training facilities will soon be one.”
    “Oh?” I replied, almost choking on a sip of soup.
    “Mr. Harrigan!” Miss Hightower objected.
    “I hadn’t heard about this,” Hillary said with some concern in his voice.
    “Oh yes, Sweet Pea and I have been talking,” Harrigan hinted.
    “You mean that you’ve been talking and I’ve been refusing to listen,” Miss Hightower clarified.
    “Why that would make Sissy and Wayne brother and sister,” Mr. Dietz pointed out with a chuckle.
    “Shut up, Jerry!” Sissy snapped.
    “Perhaps we should change the subject,” Miss Hightower insisted.
    “So, Hillary, what kind of computer work did you do?” I asked dutifully.
    “Sales,” Hillary responded proudly.
    “Oh? What did you sell?” Alex prompted.
    “This and that. Some of those infernal machines that people work on and other machines that allow them to communicate.”
    “Personal computers and networking equipment then.”
    “If you say so,” Hillary replied, looking defensive.
    Jerry chuckled again at Hillary’s response.
    “Shut up, Jerry!” Sissy repeated.
    “Sissy, what career have you chosen?” I asked quickly.
    “I’ve been thinking of attending beauty college so that I can open my own salon,” Sissy replied. “That is if grandmamma will lend me the money.”
    “You don’t think that you should start out working in a salon first? Just