Read Cautious Lover for Free Online Page B

familiar prowlers."
    She flung herself up the stairs and into her bedroom. There she closed and locked the door behind her. Then, trembling so violently she was afraid she'd lose her balance, she collapsed onto the bed.

 
     
     
    Three
     
     
    It was the ringing of the telephone that brought Elly out of a fitful sleep the next morning. She struggled awake, vaguely aware that she had forgotten to unplug the instrument downstairs and bring it up to her bedroom before going to bed. Now it was screeching demandingly from the living room and would probably continue to do so until she got downstairs. Then it would undoubtedly stop ringing just as she reached for it.
    To her disgusted surprise it ceased clamoring ahead of schedule. She had barely gotten her robe out of the closet when the ringing stopped. Belatedly she realized that Jess must have answered it. She opened her door in time to hear him firmly tell the caller that she was still asleep.
    "It's all right, Jess," she said from the top of the stairs. "I'll take it." Hastily fastening her comfortable, warm red flannel robe, she traipsed barefooted down the stairs. Even her robe suited the image Jess had of her, she thought unhappily. Not particularly sexy or exciting, but reliable and comfortable. The mass of tangled chestnut hair hanging around her shoulders probably went with the image, too. She should have taken the time to put on her fluffy bunny slippers. That would have really completed the look.
    Jess stood holding the phone, his expression intent as she came down the stairs. He was already dressed, and she wondered just how late it was. Or perhaps he was simply in a hurry to get out of her house. A glance out the window showed that the fog had cleared. Elly let her eyes slide away from his as she took the receiver from him.
    "Hello?" When the caller identified herself, the small element of interest Elly had managed to summon up disappeared from her voice. "Oh, it's you, Aunt Clara."
    " Elly , dear, I'm calling to tell you that the family has made its decision." Her aunt's aloof, rather arrogant tones held all the certainty in the world.
    "I see." Elly slanted a quick glance at Jess, who was listening unabashedly. "And what is the decision?" As if she couldn't guess. She had known from the beginning how the rest of the family intended to vote. She had also known the kind of pressure she would be under once the decision had been made. "And what did you decide, Aunt Clara?"
    "We have decided to sell Trentco Switches. I just wanted to let you know so that you would be prepared to vote at the meeting. I think it is essential that we present a united front. You know Harrigan will fight us."
    Good for Harrigan , Elly thought. But she kept her voice carefully polite as she said, "Thank you for telling me your decision, Aunt Clara. I will certainly take it into consideration."
    "Come now, Elly , you know there's no need to consider the matter." Aunt Clara's tone was suddenly sharp. "We have let you know what we intend to do, and it will be best for all concerned if you refrain from causing trouble. You have absolutely no knowledge of this sort of thing. What could you possibly know about buyouts and merger offers? Oh, maybe once upon a time you could have dealt with these matters, but not any longer. The business world has passed you by, and you should have sense enough to know it. Living out there with that bunch of ex-hippies, the way you do, it's a wonder you're not on food stamps and welfare. I feel so sorry for your parents. I can't imagine what they must think these days. And if it had been your mother calling this morning she would have been shocked to the core."
    Elly bristled. "Why would my mother have been shocked, Aunt Clara?"
    "Don't play games with me, Elly . You know perfectly well I'm talking about the fact that a strange man answered your phone this morning. I have to assume that's a regular occurrence these days. Only to be expected considering the sort of