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

friend. You acted like a jackass,” she screamed, her voice shaking.
    Marcy began to cry and Randy hovered in the corner on his crutches, clutching his gifts to his chest.
    "She was so good to us when I fetched our son from the hospital. I couldn't have done it without her. Then she comes to see me, bearing gifts, and you treat her like dirt. Have you no compassion?"
    Jeb held up his hands in defense. “I just don't hanker after charity, and I don't want people nosing around here."
    Beth lowered the knife and narrowed her eyes. “Why? What are you doing that you don't want anyone to see?"
    He shrugged. “Nothin'."
    "You're lying.” She waved a hand at him. “Just get out. I don't even want to look at you."
    He put his fists on his hips. “You can't kick me out of my own house."
    "It's not yours. It belongs to your father."
    "Beth, settle down. I'll be nicer to Mrs. Casey if she comes back."
    "I doubt I'll ever see her again. After being shot at, she'll be afraid to come visit me."
    "Sure sorry I've upset you so. What can I do to make it up?"
    She stared at him. “Are you serious?"
    He nodded.
    Pointing at the kitchen sink, she said, “Get the pump to working, so I don't have to haul water."
    "I can probably do that, but it might take awhile."
    "I don't care. Just do it."
    He walked out the door, and she heard him yell at Earl to get a couple of shovels out of the shed and meet him at the side of the house. She smiled to herself, put the dagger away, and picked up the crying baby.
    "Mom, do you think Dad will really fix it so we have water in the house?” Randy said, stumbling out of the corner.
    "Yes, or he'll feel my wrath."
    "Boy, I want to be on your good side."
    She laughed. “You are, my son, you are."
    * * * *
    When Jennifer arrived home, she still felt angry and stormed into the house. Hawkman glanced up from reading the paper as she slammed the front door, yanked off her fanny pack and tossed it onto the counter with a clunk.
    "Hey, what's going on?"
    "I'm so mad I could pick up a chair and throw it through a window."
    "Whoa, lady, settle down before you explode. Let me fix you a drink and tell me about it."
    Jennifer sat on the hearth, and Miss Marple rubbed up against her side. “I'm really not in the mood for you. Go see the man of the house."
    "Boy, you must have had a bad day,” he said, handing her a drink.
    Hawkman lowered his lanky frame next to her, and she leaned against his shoulder. “I should never have gone without you."
    "Where'd you go?"
    "To see Beth."
    He frowned, set his glass down on the brick, took her by the shoulders, and turned her toward him. “Start at the beginning."
    She took a deep breath. “I found exactly what Beth needed for the baby in Yreka, bought the crib and high chair, then made a quick stop to pick up some toys for Randy, along with purchasing some staples for Beth. When I returned home, I decided to run them out to her since it was still early in the afternoon."
    "Were you met by Jeb?"
    "No, Earl halted me and demanded I stay there until he checked with his mom. I didn't like the cocky kid's attitude, so decided to move ahead. When I reached the cabin and approached the door, I heard Beth scolding Earl for stopping my vehicle. She seemed genuinely happy to see me. We moved in the stuff and she was so excited, until Jeb came in and made a big to do over not accepting charity. I tried to talk to him, but he didn't listen and ordered me off the property, never to come back. As I drove away, he gave my Ford a good birdshot pelting.” She dropped her head into her hands. “The man is maleficent."
    Hawkman put an arm around her shoulders. “You've got to promise not to go up there again without me."
    "What could he be hiding?"
    "Probably something illegal. He's keeping people out on the pretense of making you think it's his private property, but we know his dad owns it. There are several outbuildings on the land. The wagon is probably stored in the barn, and the