Cactus Flower by Duncan Alice

Author:Duncan, Alice [Duncan, Alice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Five Star/Cengage
Published: 2009-07-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Nick awoke because some damned fool had shined a light in his eyes. When he opened his eyes, he discovered the fool was God and that Nick himself was spread-eagled on Eulalie Gibb’s bed. Alone.

“Damn it!”

He stormed out of the bedroom, furious that his plans for the night before hadn’t been achieved. Although he wasn’t sure, he had a sneaking suspicion that Eulalie had known all about the party her friends had planned for her. Oh, very well. They were his friends, too, although they sure hadn’t proved it by thwarting his purpose.

She was gone.

Nick looked high and low, feeling kind of frantic, although he figured he was being irrational. Finally, when he slowed down long enough to really look for signs of Eulalie’s presence or absence, and possible reasons for either, he discovered a note she had set on the table in the kitchen. She’d set a little bowl of wildflowers on its edge to hold it down. Good thing she’d thought to do that, Nick thought ruefully, since it was the note’s fluttering in the breeze he made as he barreled through the house that had caught his eye. He reached out to snatch up the note, realized that if he did that, the bowl of flowers would fall over and he’d feel like an ass, so he carefully moved the flowers and picked up the note.

Dear Nick, it read. I’ve gone to church with Louise Johnson and the children. Please make yourself at home. Eulalie.

“Make myself at home?” he asked incredulously to the universe at large, since no one else was there. “How the devil am I supposed to do that? I’m not even supposed to be here during the day.”

Hell. Another day of frustration and misery. Nick stomped out of the house—via the back door and making sure nobody saw him—and scurried to the house he shared with Junius.

Junius, naturally, was in a jolly mood. Junius was always in a jolly mood, and Nick didn’t understand it. Nor did he appreciate his uncle’s good humor. Especially today, when Nick was feeling rather like a bear who’s been deprived of sustenance for too damned long.

“Howdy, Nicky!” boomed Junius. “Beautiful day, isn’t it?”

Nick wondered if the man was trying to irritate him. “What’s so damned beautiful about it?”

“Why, it’s Sunday, Nicky! A day of rest. We don’t have to do no smithing today, and the house is built, and Miss Eulalie’s sister will be coming to town tomorrow, and we’ll have another lovely young lady to spruce up the place.”

“Cripes,” muttered Nick. He stomped to the stove and poured himself a mug of coffee.

“Here,” said Junius. “Miss Eulalie gave me some of these buns Mrs. Johnson made up when I left last night.” He eyed his nephew speculatively. “Say, where were you last night, Nicky? I didn’t see you come home till right now, and you come through the front door.”

Nick downed some coffee, glaring at his uncle over the brim of his mug. He didn’t want

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