A Taste of Shine_A Trick of the Light Duet - Book One by Addison Cain

Author:Addison Cain [Cain, Addison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blushing Books Publications
Published: 2018-11-10T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Hoisting a basket brimming with the packaged meat from her doe, Charlie trod up the well-tended path to Sheriff Cormac’s Main Street dwelling. After her tap against the door, the burly lawman stood on the threshold.

“Good morning, Sheriff Cormac.” The polite greeting came out just like she’d practiced—innocent and unassuming. Charlie hefted her burden higher. “I have a basket of fresh venison here. Knowing how intrinsic you are to the community, I thought you might know how best to distribute it to families in need.”

Adjusting his belt over his paunch, the grey-haired lawman asked, “And who might you be?”

“My name is Charlotte Elliot.” Peeking past the stout man, Charlie spied Ruth sticking her head out of the kitchen. “I am an acquaintance of your daughter.”

Sheriff Cormac already knew exactly what everyone else knew about Charlie… nothing at all. “Your family from these parts?”

“No, sir, my family is no longer with me.” Struggling with the weight of the basket, Charlie tried to explain, “I have been living at Fontanne’s Boarding House. They take decent care of me.” When the sheriff reached out to help with her cargo, Charlie offered a grateful smile and went in for the kill. “You see, sir, there is another reason I came to see you. I wanted to ask your permission before I approached your daughter for a favor. Everyone knows Ruth is Monroe County’s finest baker—I keep hearing about her cobbler—and, well, I was hoping you might allow her to teach me how to prepare a few things.” Trying to look harmless, Charlie quickly added, “I would supply all the ingredients of course.”

Flattering the man’s daughter seemed to be just the ticket to win the sheriff’s approval. A lax smile came to his face, the lawman asking over his shoulder. “Ruth, child, could you spare the time to teach this young woman?”

“Absolutely, Father.” Kitten eyes twinkled at Charlie, the girl’s mischievous smirk unnoticed by her daddy. “It would be unchristian to do anything less.”

The man looked to the basket in his arms. “Just where did you come by all this meat, Miss Elliot?”

Charlie, virtuous expression back in place replied, “A deer ran right in front of my car.” The lie was an easy one. “Eli Emerson drove by and stopped to see if I was all right. He repaired my car—didn’t charge me a nickel—and offered to butcher the deer so others might benefit from the situation. In fact, it was Eli who suggested I come to you, claimed you’d know what to do.”

The expression on the lawman’s face darkened at the first mention of the boy, but Charlie carefully painted a picture of how amiable, how gentlemanly, Eli had been. “I am very grateful to Eli Emerson. He was really kind to me.”

Sensing her cue to jump in, Ruth spoke up. “When would you like to start your lessons?”

Charlie offered her warmest smile. “As soon as may be.”

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