Read Online Moonshine Murder [Hawkman Bk 14] by Betty Sullivan La Pierre - Free Book Online

out the door with the paddle and ball in his hand.
    Jennifer removed a toy with colored plastic animals hanging on a colorful string, and attached it to Marcy's cradle. The baby immediately grew excited and kicked her feet.
    "She loves it,” Beth said, touching the items so they wiggled.
    Jennifer glanced at Beth who'd become silent, with an expression of concern on her face.
    "What's the matter?"
    "We can't accept these things."
    "Why not?"
    "I can never repay you."
    "I don't expect any payment. These are gifts from one friend to another. Just seeing the pleasure on your faces makes me happy."
    Beth ran her hands over the baby's crib, and tears welled in her eyes. “I love this."
    "When Marcy outgrows her cradle, she'll be able to sleep in it for at least a year."
    Both women turned on their heel when a voice boomed from the doorway. “What the hell's going on here?"
    "Mrs. Casey has brought some lovely items for Marcy."
    "You can't keep them. We don't take no charity."
    Jennifer narrowed her eyes and glared at Jeb Hutchinson. “This isn't charity. These are gifts."
    "We don't want to owe no one."
    "No payment is due, if the item is a gift,” Jennifer said.
    "I want the stuff out of here,” he said, advancing toward the crib.
    Jennifer stepped in front of him. “Don't touch it. It stays in here for Beth and Marcy."
    He pushed Jennifer aside, picked up the bed and carried it toward the door.
    "Mr. Hutchinson, you're the most unreasonable man I've ever met, not to mention very selfish. These items make less work for Beth. Instead of making life miserable for your family, why don't you spend some time working on that windmill, so you'd have running water in this place?"
    Dropping the bed, he whirled around and pointed a finger at Jennifer. “Don't tell me how to run my family. I want you out of here, now!"
    "Only if you allow Beth and Randy to keep these items will I leave in peace. Otherwise, I'm calling the authorities to let them see how you treat your children."
    The fire in his eyes and the contortion of his mouth would have caused most people to flee in terror, but Jennifer bravely stood her ground.
    "So what's your answer?” she asked.
    Jeb looked Jennifer in the face. “You drive a hard bargain. I'll let Beth and Randy keep the items, but I don't want you back here."
    "I'm not promising such a thing. Beth is my friend, and I'm concerned about her, Marcy's, and Randy's welfare."
    "I take care of my own, they're not your concern.” He pushed open the door. “I'd advise you to go, before I lose my temper completely."
    "I'll go, but I'll be back; you can bet on it.” Jennifer said, leaving the cabin and climbing into her truck. The flush of anger burned her cheeks as she stuck the key in the ignition. She backed up and turned the Ford around. As she left the premises, she glanced in the rear view mirror. “Oh, dear God, no!"
    Jeb had a shotgun pointed at her vehicle. Jennifer hit the accelerator in hopes of putting as much space as possible between him and her. The boom echoed through the air, and the sound of being peppered by pebbles made Jennifer breathe a sigh of relief when she realized she'd just been blasted with birdshot. Thank goodness she'd put distance between them. She might have a few tiny dents in the metal, but there would be less damage than if she'd been at close range.
    What possessed him to shoot at her? She knew the man didn't like the idea of Beth having a friend, especially one who didn't take his guff.
    "Did he think he could scare me off with a little birdshot,” she mumbled.
    She finally bounced onto the paved road and headed toward home.
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
    Randy followed Jeb into the cabin and hurried across the room where he stood wide eyed as his mother met his father with fiery eyes, and a long dagger raised in a threatening manner.
    Jeb stood the shotgun in the corner. “Now Beth, put that thing away."
    "How dare you humiliate me in front of my