The Golden Chance by Jayne Ann Krentz Page A

the women of the Lightfoot and Castleton clans. The only male in the group was young Jordan, who was so excited he could not sit still.
    The townspeople sprawled across the wide lawn. Some were drinking a final can of beer, and others were trying to put away one more slice of apple pie. The dogs had stuffed themselves and were laying supine nearby. Somehow one of them, the one called Fifi, Phila thought, had managed to get her head lodged on Phila's lap.
    Nick had vanished along with his father, Tec Sherman and Darren.
    “Do all the Castleton and Lightfoot males get involved with the fireworks?” Phila asked Vicky, who was sitting next to her.
    “It's a tradition,” Vicky explained, her tone brusque. She looked at her bouncing son. “In a few years Jordan will get to help stage the fireworks display.”
    “Next year, next year, next year,” Jordan chanted and then shrieked as another flash of color filled the night sky.
    “Fireworks are dangerous,” Phila said with a frown. “Basically, they're explosive devices. Small bombs. They're supposed to be handled by experts.”
    “Reed and Darren and Nick are experts. So was Burke.”
    “Is that right? Where did they all get this expertise?” Phila glanced up again as a starburst of red exploded overhead.
    “Oh, every Castleton and Lightfoot male does his military service,” Vicky said. “I suppose when Jordan is out of college he'll go into the Marines or the Air Force for a while.”
    “Another tradition?” Phila asked dryly.
    “You wouldn't believe how many traditions these families have established in just two generations. My people have lived in Virginia since the seventeen-hundreds and we don't have as many rites and rituals as the Castletons and the Lightfoots.”
    “Nick and Darren went into the service?”
    “Their fathers would have kicked them out of the business if they hadn't done their military duty. Don't worry. They all know what they're doing around explosives and firearms.”
    “How reassuring.”
    Hilary spoke softly out of the darkness to the right of Phila. “I'm going to get something to drink. Anyone want anything?”
    Phila shook her head. “No, thanks.”
    “Nothing for me, Hilary,” Victoria murmured.
    “I'll come with you, Hilary, dear.” Eleanor Castleton got out of the porch swing and followed Hilary into the house.
    Victoria and Phila sat in silence for a few minutes as fireworks shrieked overhead. Phila absently played with Fifi's ears. The dog shuddered with pleasure.
    “Are you going to pick up where Crissie left off?” Victoria finally asked quietly.
    Phila had been wondering about the woman's tense tone, and she was glad the reason for her unfriendliness was finally out in the open.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Are you going to cause trouble for us?”
    “Do you think I can?”
    “Crissie certainly did.”
    “I'm not Crissie.”
    “No, you're different. Very different. I knew that the minute I saw you. But you're in a position to cause all kinds of trouble. You've got the shares now. Why did Nick bring you to Port Claxton?”
    “To let me find out for myself what happened while Crissie was here. I want to know what you people did to her, Vicky.”
    “It's more a case of what she did to us,” Victoria snapped. “I'm sorry for your sake that she's dead, but she did a lot of damage during the short time she was around, Phila. I hope you won't do more of the same. The families have been through enough.”
    “What, exactly, have the families been through?”
    “Never mind. It doesn't concern you. I just thought you ought to know that what happened between the families and Crissie wasn't all one-sided.”
    “Perhaps.”
    They were silent again for several minutes before Victoria Castleton spoke. “Nick came back today because of you, didn't he? You have no idea what a shock that was to everyone, except maybe Eleanor. She always believed he'd return sooner or later. I wonder what he's planning?”
    “He's planning