The Lancaster Men by Janet Dailey Read Free Book Online Page B

enough noise in there with Whit. We could hear you laughing all the way upstairs.”
    While Shari hesitated over an answer, Rory supplied the explanation. “That’s not unusual. Those two have always carried on like that.”
    Shari didn’t elaborate on the response. “It shouldn’t take me more than a couple of minutes tochange, then I’ll be right down.” Beth moved to the side so Shari could pass and continue up the stairs to her room.
    In all, it took Shari a little less than ten minutes to change out of her dress into a pair of navy blue twill slacks, a pale blue turtleneck and white sneakers. On top of the outfit, she added a dark blue wind-breaker and tied a scarf of blue-green silk around her black hair.
    She half-ran down the stairs to join the sailing party waiting for her. It wasn’t until she was nearly to the bottom that Shari noticed they didn’t seem to be in any hurry—at least Doré wasn’t.
    Whit was in the living room with them, acting the polite host by keeping them company in her absence. Doré had sidled close to him to subtly and aggressively flirt with him, and Whit didn’t seem to object.
    A hot knife of jealousy stabbed Shari. She walked forward, determined to break up the scene. “Why is everybody standing around?” she challenged, deliberately ignoring the fact that they had been waiting for her. “Let’s go.”
    Rory and Beth were quite willing to be hurried along but Doré lingered next to Whit. “Change your mind and come with us, Whit,” she coaxed with a sexy smile. “You’ll miss out on a lot of fun.”
    The lazily indulgent way he was regarding her blonde sorority sister made Shari feel raw. When he didn’t immediately turn down the invitation, she stepped in to do it for him.
    “Whit can’t come. He has work to do,” she stated in a very emphatic voice.
    There was a glint of mocking humor in his eyeswhen he swung his glance to her, amused that she had found it necessary to remind him of it. She was immediately irritated with herself for speaking out.
    Whit turned back to Doré. “I’m afraid Shari is right. I have a lot of paper work I need to finish.”
    “Well, if I can’t persuade you—” Doré sighed her disappointment and didn’t bother to finish the sentence, lifting her shoulders in a little shrug to indicate her reluctant acceptance of his decision.
    Then Whit was directing his glance at Shari and Rory, once again assuming the role of older brother. “Be careful.”
    “We will,” Rory promised and turned to the others. “Shall we go?”
    There was a general exodus toward the door.

Chapter Four
    It was a perfect night for sailing. The moon was fat and full, gilding the waters of Loch Dornie with its silvery light. A stiff breeze filled the canvas to send the sailboat gliding silently through the water while the shadowed darkness of Grandfather Mountain watched over them.
    But Shari wasn’t in the mood to enjoy it. There were too many disquieting thoughts going around in her head. They left little room to consider the serenity of the moonlight sail. After an hour’s ride, Rory maneuvered the boat into its slip to tie it up Shari was glad it was over so she no longer had to maintain the pretense that she was having a good time.
    On the way back to the condominium, Doré, Beth and Rory talked so much that her silence wentunnoticed. It was much too early to consider sleep, plus the night sail had invigorated all of them, including Shari, although the others were more boisterous.
    “Let’s fix some hot toddies,” Doré suggested as they entered the condo.
    “Sorry,” Rory tipped his head to the side in a gesture of regret. “Granddad never leaves any liquor here. He brings his private stock with him whenever we come.”
    “Hot chocolate is about the best we can do.” Shari backed up his assertion. “I saw some cocoa in the cupboard.”
    “Didn’t I see some peppermint canes in a candy jar?” Beth frowned as she tried to recall. “We can use