Night of Shadows by Marilyn Haddrill, Doris Holmes

it?
    Mac grimaced at her. "I was
taking care of the stock. And the difference between you and me is I knew what
I was doing."
    Preston hastily broke in to change
the subject.
    "Did you have enough
food?" he asked Mac.
    "Enough. Yeah."
    "I guess you were comfortable
then." Preston then frowned at his brother. "Please tell me you
didn't make her play cards with you. You lose more girlfriends that way."
    "Shut up, Preston," Mac growled.
    Preston gave Melinda a long,
appraising look, which he then switched to Mac. His curiosity was so visible
she almost could read his mind. She and Mac had spent five days together. What
had happened between them? What had they talked about?
    It did not take a genius to guess
their relationship was less than harmonious after their forced confinement
together. Preston seemed amused. And Mac was quick to see his brother's smirk.
    "You think something's funny,
do you?" Mac turned to Melinda. "You never did answer my brother's
question. Why didn't you let us know you were coming out here?"
    Melinda stalled by concentrating on
putting one foot in front of the other as the three of them slowly climbed the
steps. She thought it over. Maybe she had been wrong in her assessment of that
telephone conversation back at her office. If so, then perhaps it was best to
be frank.
    "Quite honestly, I didn't tell
you because I had the impression you didn't want me here. I didn't intend to
argue with you about it. So I just came."
    "So you got muleheaded, and
ended up in one heckuva mess," Mac muttered. "Maybe you'll agree now
you really were better off staying home."
    "I follow my instincts. And
that comment you just made confirms I was right. I don't think either one of you
is overjoyed to see me. Nor would you be, even if these were the best of
circumstances. Even if Joan were still — here."
    She thought again of Joannie's
letter, imploring her to drop in — not to let anyone know she was coming. Melinda's
suspicions deepened as she watched the almost conspiratorial look the two
brothers exchanged. When Preston spoke up to reassure her, he flashed her a
winning smile.
    "Don't pay any attention to
Mac. Joan's only sister? Not welcome? That's ridiculous."
    He released Melinda's arm to pull
open the heavy, carved mahogany door that led into the house. But when she
heard the trilling of a mockingbird, Melinda hesitated momentarily. She peered
around and located the gray and white bird perched atop a weather vane on a
nearby barn.
    "Infernal bird." Mac
stood aside to give her room to enter the house. "It gets its days and
nights mixed up all the time."
    "I think it sounds lovely."
Melinda felt obliged to defend the valiant songster.
    "Wait'll it starts up at two
or three in the morning, eh, Mac? It doesn't sound so lovely then,"
Preston said.
    Melinda listened a few more
moments, then summoned the strength to walk over the threshold on her own power.
Inside, she blinked in the dim light of the hallway as a tall, thin woman
slowly descended the stairs in front of her. The woman's gray hair was pulled
into a severe bun. Her pale blue eyes surveyed Melinda from head to toe.
    "So. You're Joan's sister."
    Her aloof tone gave Melinda the
same feeling of animosity demonstrated by Mac — that this woman, too, greeted
with displeasure anything or anyone connected with Joan.
    "This is Harriet,"
Preston broke in hastily. "After a few days in her care, I guarantee
you'll be as good as new."
    Maybe so, Melinda thought to
herself — if she doesn't poison me first. From her elevated position, the
stoic, elderly woman scowled down at the two brothers as if it were she, not
they, who ruled the premises.
    "Why are y'all just letting
her stand there?" she demanded. "Bring her on upstairs. Can't you see
she's about to drop in her tracks? You've been taught better manners."
    "We just got here,"
Preston answered defensively.
    Harriet continued down the stairs,
nudged him out of the way and put her arm around Melinda. Despite her