090 Stage Fright by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene [Keene, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Eight

NANCY!” NED CRIED, snow flying as he plowed through the drifts after her. He was tall and strong, but Nancy’s long legs quickly carried her up the hill toward the stable as gracefully as a deer.

He caught up to her just as she reached the empty paddock. Hearing his steps closing behind her, she gave up the race and leaned against the fence, her breath coming out in quick, frosty puffs.

He stopped a few feet away. “Nan, I’m sorry. I know how it must seem to you, but really, Laura doesn’t mean anything to me. It’s just that she’s—”

“A beautiful actress who thinks you could be a movie star.”

Ned laughed. “Me, in the movies? No thanks. I mean, it’s nice that she thinks so.”

“Admit it, Ned, you love the attention.”

He brushed his dark wavy hair off his forehead. “Yes and no. I mean, it’s flattering, but also kind of, well, embarrassing. It’s just that she sort of sucks you in, and before you know it—”

“You’re caught in her trap.”

Ned winced. “Yeah, I guess so.”

Nancy stared at him for a long moment. She could understand how he felt, and the last thing she wanted to do was lower herself to Laura’s level.

She took a step toward him and held out her hands. “I have a magic potion.”

“What do you mean?” He stared at her.

“If I touch you with my magic potion, you will be immune to flirts like Laura from this time forward.” She stepped closer and gently ran her hands over his forehead, his eyes, his cheeks, his chin. Then she kissed the tips of her fingers and pressed them to his mouth. “Now you are safe forever more.”

He gazed into her eyes, then pulled her close in a fierce hug. “Nan, my Nan,” he whispered. “There’s no one in the world like you.”

• • •

At breakfast Nancy watched with amusement as Ned deliberately chose a seat far from Laura.

She leaned forward to speak to him. “I can’t believe we’re opening tomorrow night! Ned, darling, you are going to watch dress rehearsal, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I’ll be there.”

On the way to the Lodge, Ned had told Nancy and George that he had knocked on Joseph Brunner’s door the night before, but the playwright refused to let him in. This morning he would try again to gain Brunner’s confidence.

“You must all come,” Marla gushed. “Liz has created some absolutely stunning gowns for Laura. And wait until you see Matt in his tux. Even in a wheelchair, he’ll be gorgeous.”

Matt squirmed in his chair.

George spoke up. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Nancy knew that George had made little progress in getting Fiona to talk. Still, she was determined to succeed now. The plan was that George and Ned would try to befriend the suspects and keep an eye out for any arson attempts.

As the company was preparing to head for the Barn, Nancy said to the people getting up from her table, “I’ll join you in a while. I have some personal business to take care of first.

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