means absolutely nothing, but you could never convince the townsfolk of that. They believe a white door wards off evil, and, come hell or high water, nobody will paint his door any other color but white.”
“Is your door white?”
David laughed. “My door, dear Rebecca—if I may be so bold as to call you Rebecca—is painted a very bright red.”
Rebecca threw back her head and laughed.
“Coffee, Rebecca?” David asked as he motioned to the waitress.
“No. I think I should get back to the room and make sure Maggie is all right.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. You two had a very long drive. You’ve spent the last month or two closing down your old life and planning to start a new one. Your sister is most likely finding it more difficult to adjust than you. She’ll be fine once she’s settled in.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Rebecca remarked.
“I don’t understand.” The waitress appeared and David asked for the check.
“I’m afraid once Maggie gets settled in that house nothing short of a stick of dynamite will get her out of there.”
“So what’s wrong with that? It really is a very fine house; this is a very nice town. I admit it is not a very thriving place, but you have only a short drive to find a major city where you can let your hair down. All in all, I think you will find Pinebrook ideal.”
“Oh, I don’t have any objections to the town or the people. It’s that house that worries me.”
“Look,” David said, taking her hand, “the house is nothing more than a house. It’s big and rambling but it is in excellent condition and it will make a lovely home for both of you. And if the ghost of Heather Lambert gives you any trouble, just call and I’ll come charging to the rescue on my trusty white steed.”
“I suppose I am making a mountain out of this thing, but in view of Maggie’s strange behavior today I can’t help but worry.”
“Come on,” David said, putting down money for the check the waitress had left. “Let’s go collect your sister and I’ll drive you out through our grape fields. They’re really beautiful at night and the aroma is delicious.”
“You’re on,” Rebecca said.
But when they got back to Mrs. Johnston’s they could not collect Maggie because Maggie was not there.
“She didn’t come in,” Mrs. Johnston told them. “I saw her walking down the street, get in her car and drive away.”
“Drive away? Where?” asked Rebecca.
Mrs. Johnston straightened her back. “Now, I am sure I haven’t the slightest idea. She said nothing to me and if she had I doubt if I would have allowed myself to listen to her. Personally, I will be happy when you and your sister are out of here tomorrow.”
Rebecca bristled. David stepped between the two women and asked, “Did you happen to see in which direction Mrs. Garrison headed?”
Mrs. Johnston nodded to the north. “That way.” Toward, Rebecca thought but did not say, the Lambert house.
“She’s just gone for a drive. Come on, let me show you our vineyards,” David said. He took her arm and walked down the steps, leaving Mrs. Johnston sitting in her rocker on the front porch.
Rebecca let herself be helped into David’s car. After he got behind the wheel and they had started down the road, Rebecca said, “I am worried about Maggie.”
“Maybe you two need to develop a little independence. You seem to be awfully tied to one another.”
“Oh, I don’t think I’d say that.” After a moment, however, she added, “Now that I think of it, the only time we were apart was when we went on our honeymoons.”
“Well, at least you took separate honeymoons,” David said with a laugh. “At least that shows some independence.”
“I must admit I felt like a fish out of water the whole time Maggie and Rod were in Scotland.”
“Scotland?”
“Maggie and Rod honeymooned over there for a week. His people came from there. I thought she’d never come home.”
“That is not very healthy, you realize that, don’t you?” he asked.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maggie is the only family I have. We’d be lost without each other.”
“How can you speak for your sister? Maybe she doesn’t feel the same way as you do.”
“Not Maggie. I know her. She’d just be lost without me.”
“How do you know? You’ve never tested that.”
Rebecca studied him for a minute. “What are you trying to do, Mr. McCloud, turn me against my sister?” She was smiling.
“Of course not. I just think you two have been so close for so long that you aren’t two people any more, you’re one.”
“And what is wrong with that? We love each other very much.”
“Loving a sister and living her life for her are two entirely different things. You should let Maggie go her own way and you should go yours.”
“But we do.”
“Do you? You wanted to chase after Maggie a second or two ago. Don’t you think she can look out for herself?”
Rebecca sighed. “Maybe I don’t want her to. I guess I have allowed Maggie to run things for me. I’m not exactly the most levelheaded girl in the world. Maggie’s always there to pick up after me. I’ve grown to depend on her too much, I know, but I can’t help it.” She gazed out the car window. “She really fought me tooth and nail about moving here to Pinebrook. I won out in the end, of course. Maggie always gives me my own way.”
“I for one am glad you are going to be living here. Pinebrook needs a spark of life and I am pleased it came in the form of you and your sister, Maggie.”
Rebecca laughed. “Now how can I argue with you if you are going to say such nice things as that?”
They were driving through open fields. David eased the car to the edge of the road, switched off the lights and cut the motor. Music was playing softly on the radio. He turned in his seat and took Rebecca’s hand. “I hope we will have a lot more arguments like this,” he said, drawing her close.
“I thought you were going to show me vineyards?”
“They’re in my eyes if you will look closely,” he whispered. “You’re very beautiful, you know.”
Rebecca gave a soft little whimper as his arms tightened around her. Her arms moved around his neck. She felt his body, hard and demanding, pressing against hers.
“I think I’m going
