The Widow and the Wastrel by Janet Dailey Read Free Book Online Page A

Jeremy."
    "He left shortly after our engagement was announced," Elizabeth admitted, and tried to distract him from the subject by questioning him about the material in a particular suit.
    Once he had answered that, Fred Shaw returned the conversation to Jed. "Yes, I remember now. You and Jeremy were engaged before Jed left. We were all expecting Jed to come back for the wedding. "Course, he never was one to follow convention. No, he wasn't dependable like his brother. Now Jeremy was a son that any parent would be proud to claim. He was a fine boy, trustworthy and a hard worker. But I guess I'm not telling you anything you didn't already know."
    "Jeremy was a very wonderful husband," she murmured.
    "His death was a real tragedy." He shook his head and sighed. "It's always the hardest thing to understand why somebody like Jeremy is taken. He could have done so much good for the community. Jed was always the irresponsible, reckless one with his devil-may-care attitude. I remember when he was barely in his teens he'd disappear for a day or two, then show up and claim he'd hitch-hiked to Dayton to see the Air Force Museum. Heaven only knows where he truly went. That was one boy who brought more than his share of heartache to his parents. They tried so hard to see that he had all the advantages that Jeremy had. Mr. Carrel refused to stop trying to get him a university education. Every time Jed was expelled, his father would be out looking for another place that would take him, paying whatever money was necessary. It was a shame, truly a shame."
    "That was all very long ago, Mr. Shaw," Elizabeth said coldly.
    Lost in his thoughts, as he was, it took several seconds for her reprimand to penetrate the store-owner's thoughts. By then it had lost some of its strength.
    "Yes, it was a long time ago," Fred Shaw agreed. "After losing both Jeremy and Franklin, your mother-in-law is probably relieved to have a man around again."
    Nodding crisply in agreement, Elizabeth began selecting dress and sports outfits from the rack. She was fully aware that the instant she left the shop the news would spread all over town that Jed was back. The subtle barrage of questions she had endured led her to believe that Rebecca had sent her so that she wouldn't have to answer them initially.
    Choosing quickly and unerringly, Elizabeth unconsciously picked out styles that would complement Jed's lean virility and not attempt to cloak it in formal, sophisticated designs. It was a relief when the list had been filled and the clothes carefully folded in boxes. She signed the charge ticket with a flourish, anxious to be gone before Fred Shaw's curiosity burst to the surface again.
    Her car was parked at the end of the block. Elizabeth walked swiftly ahead of the male clerk who had been designated with the task of carrying the cumbersome parcels to her car. Opening the rear door on the driver's side, she stepped back to let him pass.
    "Elizabeth." A male voice spoke her name in warm surprise.
    Turning, she saw Allan Marsden standing on the sidewalk in front of her car, a wide smile of pleasure directed at her. He was the administrator at the local city-county hospital and had been for the last year and a half. The townspeople were holding their breath to see how long he would stay. It was difficult to keep a man of Allan's caliber when they had to compete with larger cities that could offer him more prestigious jobs and better salaries. He was a young man, in his late thirties, which was young by their standards, and one they felt destined to go places.
    "Hello, Allan." Her greeting wasn't as warm as it usually was. Elizabeth was too anxious to be gone.
    "I hadn't guessed that you would be in town over the lunch hour or I would have invited you to join me." Sandy brown hair glistened a bronze shade, catching the sun when he inclined his head toward her with a rueful smile.
    "I had a committee meeting and a few errands to run, so I was a bit pressed for time, anyway,"