Nantucket by Nan Rossiter Read Free Book Online Page A

to run a small refrigerator and a water pump.”
    Cadie frowned. “How will you cook?”
    â€œGas.”
    â€œLights?”
    â€œKerosene.”
    â€œHeat?”
    â€œWood . . . and a big, cozy quilt,” he added with a grin.
    â€œIt sounds kind of primitive.”
    â€œPrimitive?!” he said, opening his eyes. “It doesn’t sound fun? ”
    â€œI don’t know,” she answered skeptically.
    â€œWhat if I let you plug your hair dryer into my generator?”
    She laughed. “Well, then, I might consider it.”
    â€œJust think how romantic it would be to have dinner by lantern light every night.”
    She rolled her eyes. “What about TV?”
    He shook his head and closed his eyes again. “Naw . . . just books.”
    â€œYour eyes will go bad from the poor lighting.”
    â€œI had no idea you were so negative,” he teased.
    Cadie gave one last pull and the boat slid up onto the beach with a jolt that almost sent Liam into the water. “We’re here!” she announced.
    â€œNice,” he said, hopping out to pull the boat higher, and at the same time, splashing her.
    â€œHey!” Cadie said, laughing good-naturedly. She pulled the oars back into the boat, stood up, handed him the cooler, towels, and blanket, slung her beach bag over her shoulder, and climbed out too.
    â€œWow,” she said, looking up and down the deserted beach. “This is beautiful.”
    Liam grinned. “Welcome to Tuckernuck.”
    â€œNo wonder you named your boat after it,” she exclaimed, watching the only other beachgoers—a flock of piping plovers—chasing the waves.
    Liam walked a few yards away, set the cooler down, spread the blanket across the warm sand, and dropped the towels on it.
    â€œLook at these shells,” Cadie called, walking along the water’s edge. “There are so many . . . and they’re not broken!”
    â€œThat’s because Tuckernuck is Nantucket’s best-kept secret. Islanders rarely tell vacationers about it. You know the saying: ‘It’s classified . . . ?’”
    â€œGreat!” Cadie said with a laugh as she looked around and realized how vulnerable she was. “And I didn’t even tell anyone where I was going.”
    â€œAre you nervous?” he teased in an eerie voice.
    She searched his tan face and looked into his summer sky blue eyes. “No,” she said simply. “I think I could tell if you were crazy.”
    â€œMaybe . . .” he said mischievously. Then added, “Would you like to go see an abandoned house with me?”
    Cadie laughed. “Why not? Abandoned beach . . . abandoned house—it doesn’t matter—either way, they won’t find me.”
    They walked along the water, Cadie picking up shells and Liam skipping smooth stones across the waves. “How come you want to live here?” Cadie asked.
    â€œWouldn’t you?”
    â€œI don’t know . . . it’s beautiful, but I think it’s a little too far from civilization.”
    â€œWho needs civilization? Since the beginning of time, civilizations have been nothing but corrupt—they’re all about power and war. Man will never learn to get along with his brother—there’s always someone who wants more power or more money.”
    â€œThat’s awfully cynical.”
    â€œCynical, but true. I see it all the time—even living on an island. Nantucket is a microcosm of the world—and it has more than its share of haves and have-nots; and the ones who have only want more.”
    Cadie nodded. “You don’t need to tell me —my father is one of them, but there are other haves who give away a lot of what they have.”
    â€œNot many.”
    Cadie was quiet, not knowing what to say.
    â€œLiving out here would be so simple,” Liam continued. “No news, no politics, no rich, no poor, no . .