Read Out in the Country for Free Online Page B

to think about it, Kathy. There’s a lot to consider--”
    “I don’t mean to be nosy,” John interjected, a rumble of laughter in his deep voice, “but what are we talking about here? If it’s a family matter, I can absent myself--”
    “Nonsense!” Kathy patted John on the shoulder. “You’re practically family as it is, John. You grew up at our house and you’ve been eating my cookies for over forty years.”
    Smiling, John patted his rather taut stomach. “Too true.”
    “We’ve offered our house to Lynne,” Kathy began, and went on to explain the idea of a bed and breakfast. Lynne gazed down at her coffee cup, disconcerted yet again. John might be family to Kathy and Graham, but he wasn’t to Lynne, and she felt strangely vulnerable having him know about her plans--especially when she hadn’t even agreed to anything yet.
    “Sounds like a great idea,” John said when Kathy had finished. “Hardiwick could use an inn, especially since The Firefly’s a private residence now. But it would be a lot of hard work.”
    Lynne looked up, her eyes flashing. “I’m not afraid of hard work.”
    “I didn’t say you were.” John’s easy smile took any sting out of their exchange, yet Lynne was conscious of his blue eyes laughing into hers. “So,” he continued, cradling his own mug, “are you going to do it?”
    “I don’t know,” Lynne replied, glancing down again.
    “I think you should, Mom.”
    Lynne looked up in surprise to see Molly smiling at her. The sight of her daughter’s smile was like sunlight finally emerging from behind the clouds, and Lynne smiled back. “You do?”
    “Absolutely. It’s an amazing opportunity, and after all, Hardiwick is a lot closer than Scotland.” Molly smiled, and some of the strain eased from the corners of her mouth and eyes.
    “That’s true,” Lynne said slowly. Her daughter’s support filled her with a rush of hopeful gratitude. She hadn’t realised how absent it had been until that moment.
    “So?” Graham asking with a wink, and Lynne glanced at Jess. Jess smiled but gave her head a slight shake, clearly not ready to commit to her own part in these plans.
    Still, Lynne thought she could convince her friend to give it a go, especially if she threw herself into it first. Head first.
    “All right,” she said, throwing up her hands in mock defeat. “I’ll do it.” Her smile widened as everyone cheered and clapped.
    A man dressed in a well-cut suit covered with a white apron stopped by their table, one eyebrow raised. “Is there something to celebrate, Kathy? Graham?”
    “Yes!” Kathy’s face was flushed, her eyes bright with excitement. “Our daughter-in-law is taking over our house, Mark. And turning it into a bed and breakfast!”
    “What wonderful news.” Mark’s voice was dry with a trace of a New York accent. He glanced at Lynne with a thoughtful smile, and she wondered how long it would take before all of Hardiwick knew her plans.
     
    Molly slowly came to a halt outside Cooper High School and eyed the police officer by the front doors with a deepening sense of unease. Students milled around, whispering nervously, until another office came to shepherd them in, one at a time.
    Molly hitched her bag higher onto her shoulder and tried to make her way over to the officer. She was prevented by the throng of students who jostled her none too lightly, and a dry voice behind her said,
    “I wouldn’t bother, if I were you. They won’t answer your questions.”
    Molly turned around to see Luke Michaels, smiling at her with that faintly cynical air. She was too alarmed to be annoyed by it now. “What’s happened?”
    “You left early Friday, didn’t you?” Luke shrugged. “Same old. A student attacked another student in the bathroom. Had a knife hidden in her backpack.”
    “Her?” Molly repeated, and Luke smiled, seeming to enjoy her discomfort and disbelief.
    “Yes. It was a fight between two girls. Ninth graders.”
    “Ninth