Winds of terror Read Free Page B

would have Mark drive her into town that afternoon to do some marketing, so that she could start preparing hot, nourishing meals for everyone.
    Addie smiled, and Melanie thought how much the old lady looked hke a gremlin. Once, with her tumed-up nose and saucy eyes, she probably had been pbdelike, but time had reduced her to a shriveled-up old being, angry and full of vengeance.
    "If I hadn't been put in the hospital, that boy would

    never have been buried in the family mausoleum," Addie said.
    Melanie stared at her, remembering Uncle Bartley lying in the long pine box in the parior before being taken to his final resting place in the family crypt.
    "I mean it!" Her voice was angry. "You think I want the likes of him buried alongside my husband, my ancestors? Land sakes, no! I'd have paid for a lot in the cemetery in town, but by the time I was aware enough to remember all that had happened, it was too late. Mark had that crazy old Luke Walker come out and get him, and the two of them buried him. There wasn't even a funeral. Who would come? Everybody hated Todd! And he has no business being in the family mausoleum!"
    Melanie sensed that her aunt was becoming too excited. "It doesn't matter. Auntie," she said, trying to soothe her. "Todd is dead, after all. You shouldn't even think about it. You need to rest and get well. I'm here to help you do that, if you will just let me."
    Addie looked at her, miffed for a moment that she was being contradicted. Then her face mellowed and she smiled at the young girl before her, the girl with eyes that r^ fleeted heartache and a loss too great to express.
    "My dear, I was so sorry to hear of your loss. I know you loved your Robert very much. I wish I could do or say something to make you feel better, but..."
    Melanie looked down. Talking about Robert only made things worse. What she had felt for him was too precious to try to share, and even her grief was too strong for another to try to understand or participate in.
    "Please, I know I have your sympathy, but as I tried to say before, the past is the past. We have to dwell on the present and the future. I find I just don't want to talk about Robert."
    Addie Beecher wasn't used to being cut short "How long were you two married?" she said quickly, as though she had not heard the girl's plea.
    Melanie's answer of "a year" was whispered so low that Addie asked her to repeat it.
    "A year," she said again. The words came out in a rush as tears erupted and ran down her cheeks. "We had four months together before he was shipped to Korea. And then I got the telegram saying he had been killed. I took his body to Arlington, which is what he had asked me to

    do if anything ever happened to him. That's why I couldn't come when I first got the telegram about Todd*s death . . • I'm tired, Aunt Addie. I'd like to rest." She was crying unashamedly now, her shoulders convulsed in sobs.
    "Everything will work out for you, my dear," Addie said, trying to console her. "You can rest here and plan a new hfe."
    The door opened, and Mark walked in carrying a tray with the now-steaming broth. He looked from Melanie, tears streaming down her face, to Addie, whose eyes glared at him, daring him to speak.
    "Aunt Addie, what have you been saying to Melanie? You know she has her own grief to bear." He set down the tray and went to put his arm aroimd Melanie.
    "I'm all right, really." She brushed the tears away with the back of her hands. "We were just talking, and I lost control. I have to start forgetting sometime. Tm sorry." She nodded politely to her aimt and hurried from the room.
    Mark caught up with her before she reached the room that would be hers. He took her by her shoulders, spun her around, and gave her a gentle shaie.
    Melanie gulped as she apologized for letting herself go. "rm just tired from the trip, Mark. I'd Uke to take a nap. Then I would like for you to drive me into town so that I can do some marketing and prepare a nice dinner tonight"
    "I