Read Online Reaper's Vow by Sarah McCarty - Free Book Online Page B

silence.
    â€œAhh, that kind of barn time, eh?”
    That rustle could have been a nod.
    â€œYou want a drink of my whiskey?”
    â€œI’m not allowed whiskey.” He heard the implied “you dolt” at the end.
    Cole bit back a chuckle. “You’re not, huh?”
    â€œI’m too little.” As if he didn’t already know that.
    â€œI don’t like it anyway,” she added.
    Interesting. “How do you know you don’t like it?”
    â€œI tried it.”
    Not when anyone was looking he’d bet.
    â€œI see.” He bit back a smile. “Well, I like it.”
    â€œWell, you’re stupid.”
    That brought his eyebrows up. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had called him stupid.
    â€œYou’re packing a lot of attitude for somebody hiding in a corner this hour of the night.”
    â€œI’m mad.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI don’t like Jenny Hastings.”
    Ah, now they were getting to the root of the matter. “Jenny pis—” He caught himself just in time. “Jenny ticked you off, huh?”
    â€œShe’s stupid.”
    â€œStupid” seemed to be her preferred insult.
    â€œI see.”
    He didn’t, but it couldn’t hurt to agree.
    â€œAnd she wets the bed.”
    â€œSo, because Jenny Hastings wets the bed, you’re hiding here in the barn?”
    There was a rustling he took to mean she was nodding in agreement again.
    â€œIt’s all because of him.”
    â€œWho’s ‘him’?”
    â€œThe bad man.”
    She had his full attention now. He asked very casually, “Is someone hurting you, honey?”
    He’d kill the son of a bitch, and fuck whatever that did to any Reaper law.
    â€œI’m not going to let him hurt me.”
    That was good. “Is he threatening to hurt you?”
    Another rustling indicating another nod of her head. He tapped the whiskey cup on his knee and said, “I see,” when he really didn’t.
    There was a disgruntled huff and then, “Dolly and me have to sleep with Jenny Hastings because of him.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause they gave him our house. He wants to steal Miss Addy away, and now he’s got our house.”
    Shit. Cole blinked. The bad man was him.
    â€œAnd you have to sleep with Jenny Hastings who wets the bed because this man took your house?”
    She nodded.
    â€œMaybe he really doesn’t want to steal Miss Addy away. Maybe he loves her.”
    â€œIf he loved her, he wouldn’t make her sad.”
    â€œWhat makes you think she’s sad?”
    â€œI snuck into the barn the other day, and I saw her crying.”
    â€œDid she see you?”
    She shook her head. “Nope. I can sneak real good.”
    He wished he could see her face. If her expressions were anything like her energy, she had a very expressive face. “How’d you learn to sneak so good?”
    â€œI can’t fight with Mommy, so when I get mad, I come here.”
    â€œWhy can’t you fight with Mommy?” He’d fought with his parents all the time.
    â€œBecause she’s sad.”
    â€œYour mommy’s sad?”
    Another rustle that he assumed meant another nod.
    â€œShe doesn’t know I know, but me and Dolly know.”
    Dolly?
“And you don’t like to make her sadder.”
    She nodded.
    Nice kid. “Is this your secret place?”
    â€œUsed to be.”
    He smiled at the accusation in the three words. “I won’t tell.”
    â€œYes, you will. Grown-ups always tell.”
    He shook his head. “I won’t.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause I had a secret place in the barn when I was a boy, and I know how special it is.”
    There was a long, pregnant pause followed by a very aggressive, “If you tell, I’ll make you sorry.”
    He could just imagine.
    Without turning, he put his hand over his shoulder with his little