Stepping to a New Day by Beverly Jenkins Read Free Book Online

I’ll pay you just as soon as I get back.”
    â€œThat’s good news, because your bill’s pretty high. Don’t keep him out too long. He and Cleo have a thing going and she gets upset when he’s not around.”
    Riley saw the sow eyeing Cletus and Cletus eyeing the sow. He hoped this wouldn’t be a repeat of Cletus and Chocolate, the sow his hog married a few years back. When Eustacia walked out on Riley and took her sow with her, Cletus was depressed for months. “Then let me get going. Don’t want Cleo to get upset.”
    â€œI’ll get the trailer.”
    Riley wasn’t sure if the new SUV would be strong enough to pull Cletus’s trailer but found he had nothing to worry about. He waved at Scarsdale and the man waved back, but Riley was so busy congratulating himself on his cleverness, he missed the angry set of Ben’s jaw and the fire flashing in his blue eyes as Riley and his hog drove out of sight.

CHAPTER
3
    T C had never attended a town meeting before, so when he entered the diner Monday evening with Gary and the girls he checked out all the smiling people milling about and visiting, heard the Temptations singing “Don’t Look Back” from the red chrome jukebox, and smiled. He liked the homey feel of the gathering right off the bat.
    â€œLet’s grab a seat,” Gary shouted over the din. “And I’ll introduce you around.”
    Following his nephew to a booth, TC estimated there were about fifty people inside, some Black, some White and all carrying plates piled high with appetizer-type food like wings, pot stickers, and cut-up raw veggies. That pleased him, too.
    Since there were more people than booths, Gary stopped at one already occupied by the mayor, Trent July, and his wife, Lily. “Can we join you?”
    TC had met both briefly over at the Power Plant while seeing about the job.
    â€œSure.” Trent and Lily moved over so he and Gary couldjoin them. Leah and Tiffany were already squeezing into another booth filled with a group of teens.
    â€œWelcome to the town meeting,” Trent said.
    â€œHow often do you do this?” TC asked, still glancing around.
    â€œOnce a month. Gives us the opportunity to stay connected and keep up with what’s going on around town.”
    â€œThis is amazing,” the impressed TC offered. “You won’t find anything like this in Oakland.”
    Lily said, “One of the advantages of small-town living.”
    â€œI see,” he replied.
    Gary asked, “I know we just had dinner but do you want something to munch on?”
    â€œSure. How long do the meetings usually last?”
    Trent answered. “No more than an hour or so. Not much on the agenda this evening.”
    â€œHow much is the food?”
    Gary smiled. “Free. Courtesy of the Boss Lady Ms. Brown.”
    TC saw her over on the side of the room speaking with a tall guy about his age. She looked elegant even when wearing jeans and a soft blue sweater. The tasteful gold bangles and the hoops in her ears seemed to emphasize the fact.
    Gary said, “Let’s grab a plate. We’ll be starting soon.”
    The buffet table offered lots of finger food. TC helped himself to a few wings, and some little filo squares filled with spinach. The woman standing behind the line was knock-your-socks-off gorgeous. Gary said to her, “Rock. Want you to meet my uncle, Terence Barbour.”
    Extending her hand, she offered up a smile that made TC melt. “Hi, Mr. Barbour. Pleased to meet you. I’m Rocky Dancer. Welcome. You’re the one taking over from Nathan?”
    TC nodded. “I am. Call me TC, please.”
    â€œWill do. Help yourself to the fixings. My assistant Siz does most of the cooking. Best chef this side of the Mississippi.”
    TC eyed the bounty. “Looking forward to trying it out. Nice meeting you, Ms. Dancer.”
    â€œSame here. Call me Rocky.”
    He