couldnât contain her curiosity any longer. âWhat does he want?â
âHe wants to ask Olivia about the boys who supplied the alcohol. The Army is looking into the incident. They recognize that underage drinking is a very serious problem in the community and they want to help. The military police are questioning Heather. Shane offered to come here because he felt Olivia might feel less threatened by a friend of yours.â
âHeâs not exactly my friend.â
Marge pulled a sheet of paper towel from the holder under the cabinet and dried her hands. Turning to face Annie, she said, âHe wants to be.â
Looking away, Annie chose to ignore the remark. âI hope she tells him what she knows.â
âI hope so, too. She didnât want to tell me anything that would get Heather in more trouble, but perhaps she wonât feel the same misguided loyalty toward those young men. Tell meâwhy donât you believe that Corporal Ross wants to be your friend?â
Startled, Annie frowned at her. âI didnât say that.â
âNot in so many words, perhaps, but the look on your face plainly says you donât believe he does.â
âDo you think he does?â
âI think itâs worth taking the chance to find out.â
Annie focused her attention out the window. Shane had risen to his feet. He offered his hand to Olivia. She stood and shook it, looking almost grown-up and shyly proud. Dropping the curtain so Shane wouldnât see her spying on him, Annie moved away from the window. When the pair came into the kitchen, she busied herself pulling a stack of plates from the cupboard. She chanced a peek at him. He grinned and winked at her, then spoke to Marge.
âThank you for letting me speak with Olivia. Sheâs been very helpful.â
Marge smiled at her daughter. âIâm glad. Have you had dinner, Corporal?â
âPlease call me Shane. No, I havenât eaten.â He glanced at his watch. âIâll pick something up on the way back to the base.â
âWhy donât you join us? We have plenty.â
Annie spoke up quickly. âIâm sure that the corporal has to get back to his duties.â
âActually, Iâm done for the day. Whatever youâre having smells good. If youâre certain it wonât be a problem, Iâd be happy to stay.â
âWonderful. Pull up a chair and join us. It isnât fancy, but itâs filling. Olivia, would you please tell Crystal that dinner is ready. Annie, could you set another place for Shane? Iâll be back in a minute. I need to put my tools away. Theyâre forecasting rain tonight.â
Annieâs apprehension about the approaching weather jumped a notch. âAre they calling for severe weather?â
Marge patted Annieâs arm. âNo, dear. Just a few showers. Are you okay?â
Nodding, Annie turned back to the cupboard. The sound of the back door closing told her Marge had left the room.
âNot scared of a little thunder, are you?â Shane asked, his amusement plain.
Annie bit her tongue to keep from making a rude reply. He probably wasnât scared of anything. It must be nice.
She didnât want him here, but this was Margeâs home and Marge had invited him to dinner. Pulling a plate from the shelf, Annie spun around, determined to make the best of it.
âCan I do anything to help?â he offered.
âLeaving would be good.â
âBesides disappearing forever through a crack in the floor, is there anything else I can do?â
âThatâs all I had in mind.â
âSorry. Army regulations strictly forbid military personnel from melting.â The hint of humor in his tone had her struggling to hide a smile.
âThe front door would work just as well.â
âAh, but then Marge would think that you ran me off.â
He was right, but she hated to admit it. She moved past him,
Legs McNeil, Jennifer Osborne, Peter Pavia