The Castle on Deadman's Island Read Online Free PDF

meetings to know that.”
    Neil nodded. “I know, and I don’t quite understand why they’re working together now. But Graham’s convinced they’ve joined forces against his aunt and I think he’s right. We need to warn her, but she’s on the island where there’s no phone, and we have no way to get there. How far is the castle from your cottage anyway?”
    â€œAn hour or two by sailboat, depending on the wind. You go downriver five miles or so, then cross the shipping channel to Deadman’s Island.”
    Neil waited. It was up to Crescent. He wasn’t the type to push her to take them there.
    â€œThat boy will never make it in business,” he once overheard his father say to his mother. “Sometimes you gotta be pushy. If I gave in every time someone complained about my bill, I’d never make a dime.” Neil’s father’s plumbing business had teetered on the brink of bankruptcy during the Great Depression, but was prospering again with the army-camp construction contract.
    â€œGive him time,” his mother had said. “He’ll find himself.”
    Neil wasn’t sure what she meant by that. He was the way he was.
    â€œI’ll take you, if you want,” Crescent said. “I’d like to explore that part of the river.”
    â€œGreat!” Neil replied. “We’ll hitchhike to your place. Whenever you say.”
    â€œWe’re leaving tomorrow. We’ll be there for a few weeks, so come anytime.”
    â€œWould it be okay with your folks? Using the boat, I mean.”
    â€œYou know Dad. Easygoing.”
    He noticed she didn’t say that about her mother. Maggie Savage was more intense, as Neil knew, but she’d always treated him well.
    The path veered around a fallen beech tree. It was bench height and practically invited you to stay and enjoy the quiet of the woods. They sat on the fallen tree and he put his arm around her. Crescent laid her head on his shoulder and he inhaled her scent. She lifted her face and nibbled his neck. He was content.
    â€œNeil?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhy do you only …”
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œWhy don’t you … oh, to heck with talking.” She reached up, pulled his head down, and fastened her lips against his. They stayed that way for a while.
    â€œUmm,
that was nice,” Neil said, which didn’t half describe the rush he got from her soft warm lips.
    Crescent sighed. “I’ll say. Why don’t we do it more often? Why do we only kiss when we’re saying good night after a date?”
    Neil looked away. “I guess I … well, I wasn’t sure you would want me to … you know, be after you all the time.”
    â€œTry me,” Crescent said, and snuggled in his arms.
    Above them, a pair of gray squirrels chased each other round and round a tree, until it was hard to tell who was chasing whom.

TEN
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    Neil was packing spare socks, underwear, and a toothbrush in his knapsack when his mother came into the room. “This camping trip you’re going on,” she said, “where exactly are you staying?”
    â€œNot sure till we get there,” Neil said, wondering if one pair of socks was enough, or whether to bother with socks at all. “There’s lots of campsites in the Thousand Islands. There’s even one near Crescent’s cottage.”
    â€œMaybe Graham’s aunt will invite you to stay with her.”
    â€œI doubt it. Graham says she likes her privacy.” Neil had been deliberately vague about the purpose of their expedition, not wanting to worry his mother. “Just a few days camping,” he’d said. “Great weather for it. Crescent’s going to show us the Thousand Islands in her boat, and while we’re at it, Graham wants to see his aunt’s castle.”
    â€œWell, if his aunt does ask you to stay there, you boys make yourselves useful,” his