B00CZBQ63C EBOK by Karen Barnett Read Free Book Online Page A

her pocketbook under one arm. “You used to say that about Johnny’s smile.”
    Amelia shot her a dirty look. “Laurie, you know I’ve never had eyes for any man other than your brother and I never will. But, if I did . . . that Samuel Brown might just steal the top spot on my list.”
    Laurie laughed. “Amelia, you’ve had ‘eyes’ for lots of men.”
    The tiny blonde stopped in her tracks. “Laurie Burke, don’t say such a thing.”
    Laurie paused, surprised by the hurt in her friend’s face. She touched Amelia’s arm. “I’m just teasing. Everyone knows your heart belongs to Johnny.”
    Her friend’s eyes glistened as she dropped her gaze to her shoes. “I wish he felt the same.”
    Laurie groaned. “Johnny’s an idiot. He adores you. He’s just being stubborn. He probably won’t propose until he can buy you a house and a ring.”
    “That will be years with what he makes at the mill.” She looked up at Laurie, her lips turned down in a pout. “We could live in a tree for all I care, he knows that. We could even move in with you and your father. Wouldn’t that be fun? We’d be like sisters.”
    Laurie stifled a shudder. She tucked an arm around her friend’s waist, nudging her toward home . “I think it’s romantic. He wants to give you the best. That’s worth something.” Her heart skipped. That must be why Johnny was rumrunning—for Amelia’s sake. She’d be furious if she knew.
    Laurie steered the conversation to happier ground. “You said Mr. Brown would steal the top spot on your list . . . that means you have one—a list, I mean.”
    Amelia’s eyebrows pinched. “Johnny’s at the top of my list, I told you that.”
    “Yes, yes, I got that.” Laurie smoothed her skirt. “I mean, who else? Just for fun.”
    “Well, now that you mention it, Mr. Larson’s grandson is a regular Rudolph Valentino.”
    Laurie bit her lip. She didn’t want to be reminded about Daniel Shepherd.
    Her friend prattled on. “Did you notice Mr. Shepherd staring at you during church? Speaking of delicious smiles.”
    “No, I didn’t.” Laurie twisted her silver bangle bracelet. “Besides, he’s not on my list at all.”
    “So you do have a list! Who’s at the top?”
    Laurie reached for names and came up blank. Daniel Shepherd’s face in the shadows on the bluff filled her mind.
    “It’s Mr. Brown, right?” Amelia clapped her hands together. “I knew it! I could tell you liked him, right off. I’ve been praying for you to meet the perfect man and he shows up at church of all places.”
    Laurie gave her friend a half-smile, content to let Amelia believe what she would. It was certainly safer than the other option. She pushed Mr. Shepherd from her mind and let her thoughts wander back to Samuel Brown.
    A quiver ran through her. A federal agent? Johnny would kill me. She blew on her hands to warm them. But, I suppose a federal agent is better than a rumrunner.

Chapter 6

    A fter saying goodbye to Amelia, Laurie hurried to Johnny’s boarding house. She wrinkled her nose at the belching smokestacks along the waterfront. A yellowish haze tainted the spring air with the fumes of rotting wood pulp and sulfur.
    Johnny and two other men sat on the front porch steps, deep in conversation. Laurie slowed her pace, ducking behind a neighboring hedge.
    “We can’t go tonight.” A small man with brown hair hanging far past the edges of his tweed cap gestured with grimy hands. “I’m on early shift. If I show up at work one more time with whiskey on my breath, they’ll send me packing.”
    Johnny scoffed. “There’s nothing saying you have to drink the stuff, Lew.”
    “Stay out of my business, kid. Just ‘cuz you’re hauling your stash back to your old man don’t mean the rest of us can’t enjoy the spoils.” He jammed a lit cigarette between his lips and took a long drag.
    Laurie held her breath, palms damp.
    “Well, if not tonight, when?” A third man spoke.
    “Let’s make it Thursday,