Foxfire Light by Janet Dailey Page A

ago?”
    â€œNo. I must not have been listening,” Linc’s drawled reply indicated a lack of interest. Joanna didn’t answer at all.
    For the first time, Reece noticed the closed expressions both of them were wearing and began to suspect that all was not right. He also sensed there would be no conversation unless he carried it. “Joanna admired your home when we drove by it today, Linc,” he offered as a gambit to draw both of them into the discussion.
    â€œDid she? I’m flattered.” But a strong thread of mockery ran through the reply.
    Reece saw the way Joanna’s lips tightened in a thin Line, a sure sign of temper. “His house commands quite a fantastic view. You can see for miles. We will have to stop sometime so you can see it.”
    â€œIt sounds lovely. I can hardly wait.” She was equally taunting, cloaking it behind false politeness. As if this front of pleasantness was too difficult to maintain, she abruptly set her cupdown and rose from the chair. “Excuse me, will you? If I want to reach my mother before she goes out for the evening, I need to phone her now. I have some things I want her to send.” The last was added to Reece as an explanation for the phone call.
    â€œUse the phone in the study so you can have some privacy.” Reece straightened, out of deference to her sex, but Linc remained seated as she left the room and closed the door. Resuming his seat, Reece let the silence run between them before he finally spoke his thoughts, needing to know what was wrong. “There is friction between you and my niece. What has caused it?”
    Linc’s gaze swung to the study door, narrowing slightly, then he attempted a smile. “Maybe it would be better if we talked about something else.”
    â€œIs it something that happened yesterday?” Reece persisted with the subject, anxious to smooth out any differences between the two. “Joanna admitted to me that she had said some pretty unforgivable things. She is young and her temper is quick.”
    â€œAnd her tongue is sharp,” Linc added. “And she’s a little too big for her britches.” His glance ran sideways to Reece. “Sorry, but you asked for my opinion.”
    â€œFrom the time Joanna was small, her mother—my sister-in-law—has attempted to run every minute of her life. It’s natural that Joanna began to resent that and learn to stand up for herself.” Reece sketched in a little of his niece’sbackground so Linc could understand her present behavior. “She doesn’t like being told what to do,” he paused to eye Linc with a knowing look. “And you are used to telling people what to do.”
    â€œMessage received,” Linc acknowledged with a wry twist of his mouth. “But I still think she needs to be pushed on her backside. It takes falling on your rear end a few times before you appreciate landing on your feet.”
    â€œYou may have a point,” Reece chuckled at the piece of Ozark wisdom. “But you also have to admit she is an attractive girl.”
    â€œA very attractive woman,” Linc agreed on a thoughtful note, then appeared restless, a little irritated. He drained his cup and set it on the tray. “Thanks for the coffee, Reece.”
    â€œYou aren’t leaving already,” he protested as Linc pushed to his feet.
    â€œYes. Give my goodbyes to your niece. I’ve done enough damage for one night,” he said.
    â€œCome by again,” Reece issued the long standing invitation again.
    â€œThanks, I will.” Taking his hat, he carried it with him to the door and put it on as he walked out.
    When the truck motor started up, Reece saw the doorknob to the study turning slowly. “It’s safe to come out now, Joanna,” he called to his niece, a faint light gleaming in his dark eyes. “He’s gone.”
    It was several seconds before the door actually opened and