Don't Let the Wind Catch You Read online

My grandmother stayed at the back door, welcoming each guest with her warm Maine accent. It was part of the tradition. They’d chat about who caught what fish that day, how great the water was for swimming, or a hundred other mundane subjects. The best part was the way everyone lit up when my grandmother spoke to them. She had a talent for making them feel special, every last one.

  Betsy brought out a tray of toasted garlic bread, followed by plates of spaghetti and homemade meatballs.

  I dove into my meal as if I hadn’t eaten for days, and was ready when she asked if I wanted seconds. “Yes, please.”

  While my parents kept up a conversation, I listened to the snatches of dialog floating in the air around the dining hall. “Delicious, as always.” “That Jean-Paul is a genius in the kitchen.” “Saturday night is lobster night.” But there was one bit of information that really made me sit up and take notice. The couple behind us was discussing the new Seven Whistles resort.

  “Harold, I’m telling you, we ought to check it out.”

  “Why, Miriam? I’m happy right here.”

  “But each room has its own shower and even a little refrigerator. Can you imagine?”

  “I can imagine the price.”

  “It’s not supposed to be too exorbitant, dear. And they say the cuisine is incredible.”

  “Cuisine? Isn’t that a little hoity-toity, even for us?”

  “The owners are from Louisiana. Baton Rouge, so I hear. And they make one heck of a jambalaya.”

  “Jamba what?” Harold hissed. “I don’t want fancy-schmanzy. I want to stay here next year.”

  Miriam huffed. “Well, the Murphys and the Cunninghams are already there, and they are raving about it. There’s even a pianist who plays for the guests every night.”

  “Again,” Harold scoffed. “Why would I care? I want to fish, eat real food, and relax. I don’t need to feel like I'm in Carnegie Hall or at The Ritz, for Heaven’s sakes.”

  “All right dear. But don’t feel badly next year if all your friends are staying down at The Seven Whistles and you’re fishing alone out on the lake.”

  Harold’s voice deepened. “Being alone doesn’t sound so bad, right about now.”

  My mother caught the tail end of the conversation and stiffened. She widened her eyes at my father, who leaned forward to listen.

  “Gloria. That’s not good news,” he whispered.

  She nodded, cutting her last meatball in half. “I know. I’ve been hearing a few rumors from the cabin girls that this new place is stealing all the long-time guests from around the lake.”

  I watched my father’s face darken. “Well. It won’t last. Places like that don’t have the history, or the heritage, that Loon Harbor does. They have no character.”

  My mother smiled. “Exactly. And they don’t have your parents running it, either. That’s half the draw, don’t you think?”

  He smiled. “Exactly.”

  I waited for them to say more, but they busied themselves with their meals.

  By the time dessert was served, I was almost too full to enjoy it. Somehow, I stuffed a whole dish of chocolate pudding with whipped cream into my already overly full stomach.

  We strolled out of the dining room and down the hill when everyone began to disperse.

  “Are you too tired to go to the living room tonight, honey?” my mother asked, ruffling my hair.

  “Heck, no, Mum. The twins are expecting me.”

  “Good,” my father said. “I want to sit and listen to the radio for a few hours to wind down after this long day.”

  “Sure, Dad.” We headed out, and I walked between the two of them, feeling completely and ridiculously happy.

  How could life be any better?

  Hours later, after we’d played a few games and had finally headed home in the dark, a terrified scream split the night air.

  Free Book

  Devil’s Lake

  Bittersweet Hollow, book 1

  Two years ago, Portia Lamont disappeared from a small town in Vermont, devastating her parents and sister, who spent every waking hour searching for her. When she suddenly shows up on their horse farm in a stolen truck with a little mutt on her lap, they want to know what happened. Was she taken? Or did she run away?

  2015 Finalist Readers’ Favorites Awards

  2015 Semi-finalist in Kindle Book Review Awards

  Sign up for Free Book

  Acknowledgements

  Thanks to Sonya Bateman, my long time critique partner, for her constant and unwavering support. Please check out her books at http://sonyabateman.wordpress.com & http://housephoenix.wordpress.com/.

  Heartfelt appreciation to Sonia R. Martinez for her good-natured assistance and insightful edits. Sonia is my favorite food writer, who hails from Hawaii. See her articles and photos at http://www.soniatasteshawaii.com/

  Natalie Neal Whitefield reminded me that although we must "write like the wind" (one of my pet phrases), we also must "edit like an architect." I loved that philosophy and learned a great deal from her.

  Warm gratitude to Nancy Robinson, who has a sharp eye and insightful pen. Thanks, Nancy! Glad we reconnected after the old Kodak days.

  Joan Miller, I truly appreciate all the hard work you put into finding my errors and inconsistencies! Thank you!

  Many thanks to Jeff Kaplan, a great editor and writer in his own right. Thanks for the painstaking efforts you took to help make this the best book it could be.

  I want to thank Mary Emmons (AKA Anne K. Edwards), for always being there for me, reading my books with enthusiasm, and providing great mentoring to me when I was a fledgling writer. Thank you, and best of luck with your writing. Please see her books at: www.twilighttimesbooks.com.

  Thanks to Barb Caffrey. I appreciate your thoughtful analysis and corrections of my embarrassing typos. Great job!

  As always, thank you to Lida Quillen at Twilight Times Books for your unwavering belief in my books. I will always be grateful for your support and inspiration.

  Aaron Paul Lazar

  About the Author

  Aaron Paul Lazar is obsessed with writing. He's completed twenty-six books to date, and has earned twenty literary book awards. He writes mysteries, suspense, love stories, and more. You'll usually find him writing his heart out in the early hours of the day - preferably in the dark, quiet hours when no one else is awake in his bustling household. Visit his website at www.lazarbooks.com to sign up for a free book and to learn about future deals.

  You may contact him at [email protected].

  Books by multi-award winning author Aaron Lazar

  LEGARDE MYSTERIES:

  (Romantic country mysteries set in the Finger Lakes region)

  1. DOUBLE FORTÉ

  2. UPSTAGED

  3. MAZURKA

  4. FIRESONG

  5. TREMOLO: CRY OF THE LOON

  6. DON’T LET THE WIND CATCH YOU

  7. THE LIAR’S GALLERY

  8. SPIRIT ME AWAY

  9. UNDER THE ICE

  10. LADY BLUES

  11. VOODOO SUMMER

  & THE LEGARDE MYSTERIES BOXED SET

  GREEN MARBLE MYSTERIES

  (Riveting country mysteries with time travel and a Native American ghost)

  1. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BILLY MOORE (formerly Healey’s Cave)

  2. TERROR COMES KNOCKING

  3. FOR KEEPS

  TALL PINES MYSTERIES

  (Sensual women’s mysteries set in the Adirondacks)

  1. FOR THE BIRDS

  2. ESSENTIALLY YOURS

  3. SANCTUARY

  4. BETRAYAL

  5. TALL PINES BOOK SET

  PAINES CREEK BEACH Love Stories

  (Sensual love stories by the sea)

  1. THE SEACREST

  2. THE SEACROFT

  3. THE SEADOG

  BITTERSWEET HOLLOW

  (Romantic suspense involving kidnapping)

  1. DEVIL’S LAKE

  2. DEVIL’S CREEK

  3. DEVIL’S SP
RING

  WRITING GUIDES

  WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volume 1

  WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volume 2

  WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volume 3

  Aaron Lazar’s Book Awards

  The Seadog

  2016 Winner, Best Indie Book Award, Romance

  Devil’s Lake

  2015 Finalist Readers’ Favorites Awards

  2015 Semi-finalist in Kindle Book Review Awards

  The Seacrest

  2015 Semi-finalist in Kindle Book Review Awards

  2014 Best Beach Book Festival WINNER, Romance category

  2013 ForeWord Book Awards, Romance, FINALIST

  Double Forté

  2012 ForeWord BOTYA, Mystery, FINALIST

  Tremolo: cry of the loon –

  2013 Eric Hoffer Book Awards: Grand Prize Short List

  2013 Eric Hoffer Book Awards: Honorable Mention, Eric Hoffer Legacy Fiction

  2011 Global eBook Award Finalist in Historical Fiction Contemporary

  2011 Preditors & Editors Readers Choice Award – 2nd place Mystery

  2008 Yolanda Renée's Top Ten Books

  2008 MYSHELF Top Ten Reads

  For the Birds

  2011 ForeWord Book Awards, FINALIST in Mystery

  2012 Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Top 10 Reads

  Essentially Yours

  2013 EPIC Book Awards, FINALIST in Suspense

  2013 Eric Hoffer Da Vinci Eye Award Finalist

  Healey’s Cave

  2012 EPIC Book Awards WINNER Best Paranormal

  2011 Eric Hoffer Book Award, WINNER Best Book in Commercial Fiction

  2011 Finalist for Allbooks Review Editor's Choice

  2011 Winner of Carolyn Howard Johnson's 9th Annual Noble (not Noble!) Prize for Literature

  2011 Finalists for Global EBook Awards

  Terror Comes Knocking

  2013 Global Ebook Awards, Paranormal – Bronze

  For Keeps

  2013 Semi Finalist in Kindle Book Review Book Awards, Mystery Category

  Spirit Me Away

  2014 AuthorsdB book cover contest, Silver medal.

  Under the Ice

  2015 Finalist in AuthorsdB Cover Award

  Websites

  www.lazarbooks.com

  www.murderby4.blogspot.com

  www.aaronlazar.blogspot.com

  Contact

  You may contact the author via email at [email protected].

  Connect with Aaron Lazar:

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  Goodreads

  Amazon Author Page

  LinkedIn

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