The Last Riders - First Four Votes by Jamie Begley Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jamie Begley
made her feel free, as if she was capable of being like the other women her age who didn’t have to worry about keeping so many people happy.
Beth thought back to the first time she had seen Razer, he had been across the street talking to the Sheriff. Her heart had done a flip in her chest, and every part of her body called to her to walk across the street and introduce herself. However, she hadn’t been too afraid. Now she was determined to take that chance she hadn’t that day.
The door opening and closing downstairs alerted Beth to Lily’s return home. Not long after, there was a quiet knock on her door before Lily stuck her head inside.
“I’m just going to bed. Need anything?”
“No, thanks. Goodnight, Lily.”
“Goodnight; sleep well.”
“You, too.”
4
M ondays were always busy for Beth. Her first stop was Mrs. Langley, who was waiting for a ride to the beauty salon. Beth listened on the way as Mrs. Langley gave a list of groceries for Beth to pick up. She was expecting Vincent Bedford and Samantha to be coming to dinner that evening, so she would be preparing a meal. Beth would fit the grocery shopping into her tight schedule, hoping this time the father and daughter would actually show up. The last time they hadn’t shown without as much as a courtesy phone call to cancel.
It didn’t take long for her to drop Mrs. Langley off at the salon. Then, her next stop was Ton’s home. He lived on the outskirts of town, a couple miles up Pine Mountain. Beth always enjoyed the drive and Mr. James gave her money for gas. The log cabin, which was Ton’s home, suited him. It was rustic and old fashioned with hardwood floors; built on the ridge to capture the beauty of the mountains through the windows on the front of the house.
Ton answered her first knock, so he must have heard her arrival. Her smile was returned with a sheepish one. Beth had not seen him since his drunken rampage at Rosie’s .
Upon entering, he didn’t prevaricate. “I’m sorry Beth. My behavior was inexcusable.” He poured her a cup of strong black coffee. “Have a seat.”
Beth sat, picking up the coffee and wincing at the taste. Ton pushed the sugar towards her and she hastily added several spoonfuls to make it drinkable.
“I have your groceries in the car.”
“I don’t know why Loker won’t let me do my own shopping. The drive isn’t that far from town."
“Probably because you’re blind in one eye,” Beth gently reminded him.
“Yes, well, I remember where everything is. I still see perfectly fine.” Beth shuddered in horror at his reply. “Doesn’t matter anyway. Loker took my keys after Rosie’s . He even threatened the cab company if they came out here to pick me up.”
“I’m sorry,” she said softly.
“Don’t be. Guess I brought it on myself. I just go in for a couple drinks and then, before I know it, I’m drinking the harder stuff. Guess I’m not doing so well adjusting to being old with nothing to do.” He ran his gnarled hand through his long, grey hair.
“You need a hobby,” Beth suggested.
“That I do, drinking isn’t working out so good at being one.” Beth laughed. She found it hard to believe the mean, foul-mouthed man she had seen last Thursday was the same one standing before her now.
“Well, I better get the groceries packed in before you go. I know you have other clients to see about.”
“I do, but I have a few things I wanted to get done here first, if you don’t mind. I scheduled in a couple hours and I don’t want to lose the money.”
“You sure you’re not staying because you and that son of mine think I can’t take care of myself?”
“Not at all. I need all the hours I can get with a sister to put through college. It can be very expensive.” Ton tried to stare her down, but Beth held firm. Twenty-seven years in the military and he caved to a blue-eyed blond. Of course, Ton realized there could be worse things than looking at Beth clean his house for a
Beth thought back to the first time she had seen Razer, he had been across the street talking to the Sheriff. Her heart had done a flip in her chest, and every part of her body called to her to walk across the street and introduce herself. However, she hadn’t been too afraid. Now she was determined to take that chance she hadn’t that day.
The door opening and closing downstairs alerted Beth to Lily’s return home. Not long after, there was a quiet knock on her door before Lily stuck her head inside.
“I’m just going to bed. Need anything?”
“No, thanks. Goodnight, Lily.”
“Goodnight; sleep well.”
“You, too.”
4
M ondays were always busy for Beth. Her first stop was Mrs. Langley, who was waiting for a ride to the beauty salon. Beth listened on the way as Mrs. Langley gave a list of groceries for Beth to pick up. She was expecting Vincent Bedford and Samantha to be coming to dinner that evening, so she would be preparing a meal. Beth would fit the grocery shopping into her tight schedule, hoping this time the father and daughter would actually show up. The last time they hadn’t shown without as much as a courtesy phone call to cancel.
It didn’t take long for her to drop Mrs. Langley off at the salon. Then, her next stop was Ton’s home. He lived on the outskirts of town, a couple miles up Pine Mountain. Beth always enjoyed the drive and Mr. James gave her money for gas. The log cabin, which was Ton’s home, suited him. It was rustic and old fashioned with hardwood floors; built on the ridge to capture the beauty of the mountains through the windows on the front of the house.
Ton answered her first knock, so he must have heard her arrival. Her smile was returned with a sheepish one. Beth had not seen him since his drunken rampage at Rosie’s .
Upon entering, he didn’t prevaricate. “I’m sorry Beth. My behavior was inexcusable.” He poured her a cup of strong black coffee. “Have a seat.”
Beth sat, picking up the coffee and wincing at the taste. Ton pushed the sugar towards her and she hastily added several spoonfuls to make it drinkable.
“I have your groceries in the car.”
“I don’t know why Loker won’t let me do my own shopping. The drive isn’t that far from town."
“Probably because you’re blind in one eye,” Beth gently reminded him.
“Yes, well, I remember where everything is. I still see perfectly fine.” Beth shuddered in horror at his reply. “Doesn’t matter anyway. Loker took my keys after Rosie’s . He even threatened the cab company if they came out here to pick me up.”
“I’m sorry,” she said softly.
“Don’t be. Guess I brought it on myself. I just go in for a couple drinks and then, before I know it, I’m drinking the harder stuff. Guess I’m not doing so well adjusting to being old with nothing to do.” He ran his gnarled hand through his long, grey hair.
“You need a hobby,” Beth suggested.
“That I do, drinking isn’t working out so good at being one.” Beth laughed. She found it hard to believe the mean, foul-mouthed man she had seen last Thursday was the same one standing before her now.
“Well, I better get the groceries packed in before you go. I know you have other clients to see about.”
“I do, but I have a few things I wanted to get done here first, if you don’t mind. I scheduled in a couple hours and I don’t want to lose the money.”
“You sure you’re not staying because you and that son of mine think I can’t take care of myself?”
“Not at all. I need all the hours I can get with a sister to put through college. It can be very expensive.” Ton tried to stare her down, but Beth held firm. Twenty-seven years in the military and he caved to a blue-eyed blond. Of course, Ton realized there could be worse things than looking at Beth clean his house for a