Making Waves Read Online Free PDF Page A

but it’s much too grueling a sport for ladies to participate in.”
    “Then, can I go as a passenger?” Her eyes, blue as the water in the afternoon sun, sparkled. “Please, Daddy.”
    “I don’t know, Marguerite. It could be dangerous.”
    She waved off the comment. “I’ve been watching them all day. It doesn’t look one bit dangerous.”
    “I haven’t heard of any of those pond yachts taking on passengers.”
    “But we haven’t really tried to find out, either.”
    “No, I guess we haven’t.” He chuckled. “You know, you get me in a lot of trouble, young lady. I’m not making any promises, but I’ll see what I can do. Now, we’d better hurry or you’ll be late for dinner – again.”
    The smile slid from her face.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “One more night of enduring Roger. Mother invited him to come in from town to join us for dinner.”
    “Sweetheart, does he really make you that miserable?” He offered her his arm, and the two of them started back toward their camp, steps crunching on the pebbled path.
    “It’s not that Roger doesn’t have admirable qualities. He’s basically thoughtful, and he’s well-mannered to distraction. I’m sure some girl will find him wonderful.”
    “But you don’t.”
    She sighed. “No. He is impossibly tiresome. You know, it’s like spending the afternoon at one of those long meetings you complain about. I’ve honestly tried to find things that I could like about him, but he doesn’t make me feel special.”
    “I kept telling your mother that he wouldn’t. I knew he wasn’t right for you from the start.” He squeezed her hand.
    “How?”
    “He’s a selfish chap. He likes the sound of his own voice far more than he could ever like anyone else.”
    “So you won’t make me marry him?”
    “Have I ever been able to make you do anything?” Edward stopped and plucked a petunia from an overflowing planter. He tucked it behind her ear. “When you decide to marry, I want it to be to someone who holds your heart and not just a large pocketbook. You deserve that, sweetheart. You deserve to know the kind of love that takes your breath away. Now, let’s get to dinner before your mother has us both hung by the yardarm.”
    She kissed his cheek and slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. “Thank you, Daddy, for everything.”

4
    Rigging the mainsail, Trip readied the Argo for passengers. Much larger than the Endeavor , the keelboat had been built by his father to impress the wealthy lake patrons. For a fee, he allowed them to enjoy the lake from aboard a sailboat. Sure, two small steamboats ferried guests across the lake, but the steady chug of a steamboat felt nothing like gliding over the water in a sailboat. More than one lake patron had fallen hook, line, and sinker for the sport of sailing, and if they were fortunate, the wealthiest then asked Trip’s father to build them their own boat.
    “Lloyd, where’s Harry?” Trip glanced around the Argo .
    The lanky sailor shrugged. “Must be running late.”
    “Just don’t let Dad know.”
    Stepping from belowdecks, his father scanned the ship. “Don’t let me know what?”
    “Nothing, Dad.”
    “Where’s Harry?” Weathered wrinkles deepened across his father’s brow.
    “He’ll be along any minute.”
    “I told you if he was late again that he was done here.”
    Trip tensed and checked the rigging on the mainsail. “Dad, we need him. He’s a great sailor.”
    “Great sailors are made. They aren’t born.” Captain Andrews slapped his captain’s hat against his leg, then jammed it back on his head. “Just train a new one.”
    As if it were that easy. Trip had taught sailing to several young men during the summer for the last two years, and so far only a few seemed to have a feel for the sport. They couldn’t afford to lose Harry, especially with the regatta so close.
    “Dad, I’m sure he has a good reason. He always does.” At least he did now. There was a time when that