When the Wind Blows by John Saul Read Free Book Online

killed him myself.”
    She lowered herself into the chair that had only recently been occupied by her mother and stared into the flickering flames on the hearth.
    “Do you know what it’s like to be an Amber here, Dan?” she asked suddenly.
    Dan Gurley was sixteen years younger than Diana, and had known her all his life, though only at a distance. To his knowledge, no one was close to the Ambers. Now he felt he was about to hear things that he was sure were none of his business and had nothing to do with Elliot Lyons at all.
    “I’m sure it can’t always be easy, Miss Diana,” he said quickly. Her eyes met his, and for the first time he saw the vulnerability that Bill Henry had told him was there.
    “I don’t have many friends,” Diana said softly. “You know, in some ways, I think Elliot Lyons was about the only friend I had. I used to go up to the mine sometimes and talk to him. Just talk to him.”
    “You have lots of friends.…” Dan protested.
    “No, I don’t, Dan,” Diana said, her voice suddenly free of the pathos that had been in it a moment before. “I’m an Amber, and in Amberton the Ambers have no friends.” She stood up suddenly and smiled. “Well, now maybe it will be different,” she said. “You know, they say it’s an ill wind that blows nobody good? Well, this may sound like a terrible thing to say, but even though what’s happened is tragic, it may prove to be good for me.” Her voice dropped, and when she spoke again, Dan attributed what she was saying to the strain of the day. Surely she couldn’t be serious. “I’ve decided I want to adopt Christie. I’ve always wanted to have a child, and adopting her seems like the least I can do for Elliot. After all, it was my idea that he come here.”
    “Your idea?” Dan asked. “How did you know him?”
    “I didn’t. But when mother began making inquiries about hiring a mining engineer, I looked at all the material we were sent. Mother wanted to hire one of the men from Boston—she’s one of those people who thinks civilization begins and ends in Boston—but I liked what Elliot had to say.” Diana’s fingers fluttered nervously at her throat. “I suppose I wanted him because he was young. It seemed to me that if the mine were really going to be opened again, it should be by someone young, who knew all the most modern techniques. So I begged mother to hire Elliot, and she gave in. And now he’s dead. I just can’t help but feel responsible.”
    Bill Henry had appeared at the door in time to hear the last. He crossed the room and placed his hand on Diana’s shoulder. “You didn’t kill him, Diana. Whatever happened, it wasn’t your fault. You weren’t even there.”
    Diana looked up at him, her eyes beseeching. “Does that matter?” she asked. “Does that really matter?”
    Feeling suddenly uncomfortable, Dan Gurley stood up and cleared his throat. “I—if you’ll excuse me, I’d better get on up and talk to Esperanza and Juan. Bill …?”
    “Unless you need me, I’ll stick around here for a while. Why don’t you stop back after you’ve talked to them?”
    “Sure,” Gurley replied. He put his hat on his head, then impulsively leaned over and kissed Diana Amber’s cheek. “I’m sorry, Miss Diana,” he murmured. “I really am.”
    Diana patted his hand and nodded. “I know, Dan,” she replied. Then she smiled weakly. “I’m sorry Mother was so awful to you.”
    Dan shrugged and managed a faint grin. “It’s nothing unusual. As long as us peons stay in our place, she’s not too bad.”
    Diana laughed brittlely. “Thanks for putting up with her. I know it isn’t always easy.” Then: “If anybody knows, I do.” She walked to the front door with Dan, then waited until he was gone before she closed the door and returned to the parlor. She sat down and for a moment studied the fire.
    “Did you look at Christie?” she asked at last, though her mind seemed to be on something else.
    “She’s fine,