One More Sunrise by Michael Jr. Landon

Author:Michael Jr. Landon [Michael Landon Jr., Tracie Peterson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781441203267
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

Chapter 19

It was almost dusk when Joe arrived at Sam’s hardware store. He had just managed to slip inside before closing time—something Sam reminded him of with a tap on his watch and a frown.

Now, as Joe stepped back outside with a paint can and a box of nails, he heard the deadbolt slide across the door and looked over his shoulder to see Sam flip the “Closed, Please Come Again” sign in the window. He secured his new purchases next to the assortment of lumber in the back of the truck before slamming the tailgate and heading around to the cab. He climbed in and glanced down the street just as the light for Barney’s Tavern blinked on. Barney’s. It’s Saturday. He’d been kind of busy the past few days doing good turns for friends and strangers—fixed two flat tires, picked up a trailer for a neighbor, helped an elderly woman find her lost dog, delivered groceries, and sprayed two fields—gratis. He hadn’t had time to even think about Barney’s—but here he was in town, just down the street from his Saturday-night haunt. And now, he realized, there was something else he needed to do.

Hands sweating and heart pounding, Joe stepped inside to the strains of the Penguins singing “Earth Angel” on the jukebox, and in spite of his nerves it made him smile. He took a quick look around and saw the usual Saturday-night crowd was there. Ralph and Bo Gene shooting pool. Eddie and Clyde in the back booth—and Gunny perched on his usual barstool. It suddenly occurred to him that he was the only man in the place that was married. The only one who had a family waiting at home. Did have a family waiting for me, he revised. He pushed the thought down. One step at a time. The man God intends you to be.

He had started across the room when he saw Marsha making a beeline in his direction.

“Hi, Marsh—”

She hooked her arm through his and spun him away from the bar.

“I’d think twice before bellying up to the bar right now, Joe,” she warned. “Barney’s still plenty steamed at you.” She looked a little closer at him. “Nice haircut,” she added.

Joe frowned. “He is?”

She nodded, and Joe watched her throw a quick glance over her shoulder toward the bar. Barney was nowhere in sight.

“You bet he is. You did the dash, Joe. You know he hates that.”

Joe had totally forgotten how he had ducked out of Barney’s and slipped away the last time he’d been there. Barney was very protective of all his customers—especially the regulars. He never let anyone drive if they’d had one too many.

“He won’t serve you—and he told me I couldn’t serve you,” Marsha continued.

Joe nodded. “Good. That’s good.”

She raised her eyebrows. “It is?”

“Yeah. In fact, Marsh, I need you to do me a serious favor.”

“Don’t ask me to go behind Barney’s back, Joe,” she said with a shake of her head.

“No. No, it’s nothing like that. In

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.