Candy-Coated Secrets by Hickey Cynthia

Author:Hickey, Cynthia [Hickey, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-10-10T04:00:00+00:00

I woke to a room cast in shadows. My head still rested in Ethan’s lap, and soft snores issued from his slightly open mouth. Low murmurs drifted from the kitchen. I yawned and sat up to stare through the dim light at Ethan’s face.

The moon’s glow highlighted the stubble on his jaw. To think that someday I’d have complete access to his lips, anytime I wanted, warmed my insides. My gaze shifted to the square of light coming from the kitchen. As protective as Uncle Roy is, it’s a wonder he’d allowed me to sleep with my head in Ethan’s lap.

“What time is it?” Ethan’s voice was raspy from sleep.

“I don’t know. My aunt and uncle are in the kitchen. Do you want to join them?”

He gave me a slow, lazy smile. My stomach flipped. “Not really, but we probably should. Before Roy gets his gun.”

I’d much rather remain where I was, secure in Ethan’s love, relishing his touch, but I knew the wise choice of action. Unfolding my legs, I rose and held out my hand. “Let’s join my aunt and uncle. Where it’s safe.”

Aunt Eunice and Uncle Roy sat nursing cups of coffee. My aunt’s gray curls stuck in all directions around her face. Uncle Roy looked glum.

“What’s up?” I reached for the coffeepot.

Uncle Roy sighed. “Your aunt just told me y’all’s suspicions about that elephant. Sure wish I would’ve been here. I would have told you straightaway not to walk it to the fairground. Sometimes you ain’t got a lick of sense.” He raised his head to stare at my face. “You’re too sweet, Summer. Too kind. Easily taken advantage of. The world ain’t a safe place.”

“You would’ve done the same thing, Uncle Roy. Someone needs your help, you’re there. It’s as simple as that.” I lowered myself into a chair and gratefully accepted a mug of coffee from Ethan, this time brewed to perfection.

“What suspicions?” Ethan asked.

“Eunice and Summer seem to think the carnies asked her on purpose to walk that animal. That someone hoped she’d be hurt—or worse.”

Ethan sat in a chair next to me and placed his arm along the back of my chair. “It would have to be a pretty elaborate plan, don’t you think? They’d have to stage the accident.”

“Not if they just took advantage of things when they happened. Saw the opportunity and took it. Animals can be unpredictable. They aren’t all as sweet as our Truly here.” Uncle Roy slurped his drink and scratched behind the dog’s ear with his free hand.

“Still pretty far-fetched. After staging the accident, they’d have to be certain it would be Summer that found Millie’s body. If that was their plan, they wouldn’t want her killed or injured.”

“What if they didn’t want me to find Millie? If I hadn’t walked Ginger, I probably wouldn’t have.” I pushed my coffee away. My stomach churned. Thoughts of my possible demise churned the abdominal acids. Thoughts swirled in a circle, making no sense.

Ethan cocked an eyebrow. “Maybe. But still risky.

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