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Back The Nest Save as PDF
Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Copyright page
  3. Introduction by Will Errickson
  4. Acknowledgements
  5. TREMORS
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. SUSPICIONS
  13. 1
  14. 2
  15. 3
  16. 4
  17. 5
  18. DREAD
  19. 1
  20. 2
  21. 3
  22. 4
  23. 5
  24. 6
  25. WITNESS
  26. 1
  27. 2
  28. 3
  29. ALERT
  30. 1
  31. 2
  32. 3
  33. 4
  34. 5
  35. ENCOUNTER
  36. 1
  37. 2
  38. 3
  39. 4
  40. 5
  41. 6
  42. HAVOC
  43. 1
  44. 2
  45. 3
  46. 4
  47. 5
  48. 6
  49. SEARCH
  50. 1
  51. 2
  52. 3
  53. 4
  54. 5
  55. CLASH
  56. 1
  57. 2
  58. 3
  59. 4
  60. 5
  61. 6
  62. 7
  63. COUNTERATTACK
  64. 1
  65. 2
  66. 3
  67. 4
  68. 5
  69. 6
  70. 7
  71. VICTORY
  72. 1
  73. 2
  74. 3
  75. 4
  76. 5
  77. 6
  78. 7
  79. 8
  80. 9
  81. EPILOGUE
  82. About the Author

Elizabeth turned from him quickly and hurried inside. He took a step after her, then thought better of it. He was on Yarkie Island for one thing only—a mission that could mean life or death for these people, for the entire future of the community. It might turn out not that serious, but if there was any possibility of such a danger, he needed to keep all his concentration and attention on the job. Whatever he was finding he felt about Elizabeth Carr in this rediscovery of the girl—the woman, he corrected himself—would and should wait.

Peter Hubbard knocked his pipe out, being careful that the wind blew no sparks toward the lighthouse. Walking along the beach in the moonlight alone, he told himself there was time to know what, if anything, he wanted to do about Elizabeth Carr.

5

FIVE

Harvey Tinton’s ears felt plugged with the same cotton that was filling his mouth, but he thought he heard a voice calling his name. Blanche? He jerked to a sitting position, expecting his head to protest with hangover pain, but the ardor of his returning fantasy swept everything else away. Hearing his wife’s footsteps almost upon him, he swallowed with sexual agitation. Oh, she was going to get a screw to remember!

He chortled to himself. He realized he was still drunk, but the stiffness between his legs said the alcohol wasn’t cheating him this time and he had a full-­blown erection when his wife halted a step away. “Harvey? You shouldn’t be out here! You heard they’ve sprayed the forest!” He heard more concern than anger in her voice. Ah, at heart she was a dear woman. He did love her always. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted anything in life.

But he held himself quiet. It was a luscious game! In the silence of the forest he heard only a hazy sound, leaves rustling a little. Breeze in the leaves, yes. Pleasant. Romantic. Suitable background for a rendezvous with his love . . .

Harvey Tinton reached out from the shadows and grabbed his wife’s leg.

The woman screamed in terror and tumbled to the ground, shaking pine needles and leaves all about.

It was just as the man fantasized, except that his wife recovered herself at once and slapped his groping hands away. Understanding his intent, she scolded, “Not here! Come in the house, Harvey!”

But he was not about to be circumvented or deprived of his dream sex. He pulled her down again roughly, shaking the ground.