Sweet Annie by Cheryl St. John

Author:Cheryl St. John [John, Cheryl St.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2001-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“Outside,” Burdy added.

Luke stood. “Do you really think now is the time for this?”

“You chose the time, buster, not me,” Burdell replied, anger making a vein stick out on his temple. “Walk or I’ll drag you.”

“Burdy!” Annie struggled to her feet. “Don’t do this.”

Diana had appeared directly behind Burdell, and she, too, tried to reason with him. “Maybe we could all have coffee at the house and talk this over.”

Luke clomped toward the door with Burdell on his heels. Annie grabbed Diana’s arm and they followed. Annie had to half run, an awkward stumble with Diana supporting her, to stay behind the men.

“I don’t want any trouble with you,” Luke said, stopping in the side yard and facing Annie’s brother.

“Then you should have left her alone like you’ve been warned,” Burdell replied. “This family has had enough of your interference.”

“Burdy, please,” Annie called. “Don’t do this. This is a big mistake.”

“The mistake is his,” Burdell hissed.

A few more people came up behind the clinging women, and Annie recognized her father’s angry voice. “What did you think you were doing in there, Carpenter? Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”

“I don’t want a fight with your family,” Luke said calmly. “I don’t want any hard feelings.”

Burdell rolled back his shirtsleeves.

“Don’t do this,” Luke warned.

“Burdy, don’t!” Annie called.

“You’re going to leave my sister alone,” Burdell threatened.

Luke drew a hand over his mouth, down his chin, then lowered it. “Why don’t you let Annie decide what’s best for her?”

“She doesn’t know what’s best for her!”

His words infuriated Annie. “I do so! I know exactly what I want! I’m the one who asked him to teach me to dance, remember? Did you see me, Burdy?” Holding Diana’s arm, she spun around and found her mother and father only three feet away. “Did you see me, Mama? I walked over there and I asked him to dance! That was what I wanted!”

Charmaine and her parents had come to stand at the front of the gathering crowd.

“We can work this out without any violence,” Uncle Mort said sternly.

Charmaine covered her mouth with her hands and stared.

“He’s got a lesson coming.” Burdell took an angry step toward Luke.

Luke sidestepped. “Don’t do this, Burdell. Think of your sister.”

Burdell’s face contorted. “Don’t you tell me to think of my sister. This is for putting your hands on her, you good for nothing—” He jabbed a fist.

Luke ducked the blow and faced him, looking truly wary now. “Don’t do this. You don’t want to do this.”

“You know what I want now?” Burdell gave a terse laugh.

“You know what Annie wants?” Luke countered.

That angered Burdell more. He swung and Luke raised an arm, warding off the punch.

Overhead a burst of color fell from the night sky and the gathering on the other side of the building made appreciative noises. The fireworks had started.

“You’re going to leave her alone,” Burdell growled.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

“Why you son of a—” He swung again and this time his fist caught Luke’s jaw, snapping his head back.

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