Path of the Jaguar by Vickie Britton, Loretta Jackson
Authors: Vickie Britton, Loretta Jackson
Ads: Link
pies would keep her mind from this dangerous situation with Delores.
Any event that would cause Delores to flee from Lennea had to be crucial, for in spite of a certain lack of closeness between them, Delores had always counted on Lennea's help and protection. Lennea would not have believed Delores' fleeing, her terror, had she not witnessed it with her own eyes.
•
Goldie's baked stuffed fish and vegetable casserole waited in complete perfection on the sideboard. The pies lacked only five minutes. Wesley, always on time, would be the first to arrive!
The sound of the doorbell made Lennea hasten to the kitchen entrance. Nervously her hand went up to her hair, smoothing the straight, blond strands that just brushed the shoulders of her new turquoise dress.
"Good evening, Joseph," she heard Goldie call. Lennea stepped forward and looked expectantly past Joseph into the darkness beyond.
"Dr. Hern sends his apologies," Joseph said, sounding slightly embarrassed. "Something's come up, so he couldn't make it tonight. You know how those things are."
Lennea tried to swallow her disappointment as Joseph's words sank in. The carefully brushed hair, the dangling earrings, her best dress—all for nothing!
Anger filled her. Not for herself, but for the LaTillas. Goldie had planned the whole party just for him. Surely he could tear himself away from his work long enough to honor their invitation. It was cruel! Lennea recalled the many times she had stood in Joseph's place making vague excuses for Wesley's rudeness.
"You're looking lovely tonight," Joseph said. His slightly mocking gaze traveled from the new silver earrings to the dainty white sandals. Humiliation washed over her. He knew she had dressed up for Wesley Hern.
Joseph stood near lighted candles. His white jacket made him look darker, even more handsome. Lennea felt some silly satisfaction. She had dressed for Wesley, but she felt the secret pleasure of knowing Joseph's suit and tie were for her! Goldie intercepted Frank with the news that Wesley wasn't coming. Lennea saw the disappointment she herself had so carefully concealed come to full bloom upon Frank's round, childlike face. Disappointment, but not anger. "He's going to kill himself working so hard! I don't know why he won't take care of himself." Turning to Lennea, he added, "Can't he see he needs one of Goldie's good meals now and then?"
From outside came the sounds of talking, commotion, and laughter. Neysa and Lucas entered carrying food. Sid, looking suave and debonair, followed, one hand carefully hidden behind his back. Goldie approached them, lifting lids and squealing with delight. She eyed Sid, her gaze bright with expectation. "Sid, what do you have hidden from me?"
With the flourish of a magician, Sid extended a silky, golden butterfly on a fragile stem. "Gold for Goldie!"
"Oh, Sid!" The excitement upon Goldie's face reminded Lennea of Alice in Wonderland. Sid laughed, delighted by Goldie's pleasure. The perfect guests, Lennea observed: Sid, so charming; Lucas, so aristocratic with his gleaming white hair and old-world manners; Neysa, in lacy blouse and pink coral necklace, so very gentle.
While Goldie and Frank took dishes into the kitchen, the three, as if accustomed to finding favorite chairs, seated themselves.
"Mother's been giving Dad and I headaches," said Sid, rubbing his forehead with long fingers. To Joseph, he added, "She's been getting those vibrations again."
"We'd better listen to her this time," Joseph responded. "Mother has psychic power," Sid explained to Lennea. He turned to Joseph for reassurance. "We can't doubt that, can we? For days before the last tidal wave, Mother predicted danger!"
Gravely Joseph nodded.
"Messages afloat in the air," said Neysa modestly, "so fine that only a few of us pick them up."
Lennea felt a small shiver go through her. She never liked people to talk about the supernatural. As if sensing her discomfort, Joseph spoke softly to her. "The
Any event that would cause Delores to flee from Lennea had to be crucial, for in spite of a certain lack of closeness between them, Delores had always counted on Lennea's help and protection. Lennea would not have believed Delores' fleeing, her terror, had she not witnessed it with her own eyes.
•
Goldie's baked stuffed fish and vegetable casserole waited in complete perfection on the sideboard. The pies lacked only five minutes. Wesley, always on time, would be the first to arrive!
The sound of the doorbell made Lennea hasten to the kitchen entrance. Nervously her hand went up to her hair, smoothing the straight, blond strands that just brushed the shoulders of her new turquoise dress.
"Good evening, Joseph," she heard Goldie call. Lennea stepped forward and looked expectantly past Joseph into the darkness beyond.
"Dr. Hern sends his apologies," Joseph said, sounding slightly embarrassed. "Something's come up, so he couldn't make it tonight. You know how those things are."
Lennea tried to swallow her disappointment as Joseph's words sank in. The carefully brushed hair, the dangling earrings, her best dress—all for nothing!
Anger filled her. Not for herself, but for the LaTillas. Goldie had planned the whole party just for him. Surely he could tear himself away from his work long enough to honor their invitation. It was cruel! Lennea recalled the many times she had stood in Joseph's place making vague excuses for Wesley's rudeness.
"You're looking lovely tonight," Joseph said. His slightly mocking gaze traveled from the new silver earrings to the dainty white sandals. Humiliation washed over her. He knew she had dressed up for Wesley Hern.
Joseph stood near lighted candles. His white jacket made him look darker, even more handsome. Lennea felt some silly satisfaction. She had dressed for Wesley, but she felt the secret pleasure of knowing Joseph's suit and tie were for her! Goldie intercepted Frank with the news that Wesley wasn't coming. Lennea saw the disappointment she herself had so carefully concealed come to full bloom upon Frank's round, childlike face. Disappointment, but not anger. "He's going to kill himself working so hard! I don't know why he won't take care of himself." Turning to Lennea, he added, "Can't he see he needs one of Goldie's good meals now and then?"
From outside came the sounds of talking, commotion, and laughter. Neysa and Lucas entered carrying food. Sid, looking suave and debonair, followed, one hand carefully hidden behind his back. Goldie approached them, lifting lids and squealing with delight. She eyed Sid, her gaze bright with expectation. "Sid, what do you have hidden from me?"
With the flourish of a magician, Sid extended a silky, golden butterfly on a fragile stem. "Gold for Goldie!"
"Oh, Sid!" The excitement upon Goldie's face reminded Lennea of Alice in Wonderland. Sid laughed, delighted by Goldie's pleasure. The perfect guests, Lennea observed: Sid, so charming; Lucas, so aristocratic with his gleaming white hair and old-world manners; Neysa, in lacy blouse and pink coral necklace, so very gentle.
While Goldie and Frank took dishes into the kitchen, the three, as if accustomed to finding favorite chairs, seated themselves.
"Mother's been giving Dad and I headaches," said Sid, rubbing his forehead with long fingers. To Joseph, he added, "She's been getting those vibrations again."
"We'd better listen to her this time," Joseph responded. "Mother has psychic power," Sid explained to Lennea. He turned to Joseph for reassurance. "We can't doubt that, can we? For days before the last tidal wave, Mother predicted danger!"
Gravely Joseph nodded.
"Messages afloat in the air," said Neysa modestly, "so fine that only a few of us pick them up."
Lennea felt a small shiver go through her. She never liked people to talk about the supernatural. As if sensing her discomfort, Joseph spoke softly to her. "The
Similar Books
