Rot Read Online Free Page B

on?”
    “I don’t know, but if I catch him sniffing around my daughter I’m breaking out the deer rifle.”
    No, condoms were probably not a good idea. If he did get lucky, and if Marianne did insist on protection, he could always buy some in the other town where he would not have to worry about gossip.
    He told Mrs. Simms he would not need supper tonight, but she insisted he eat something before going out.
    “You’re seeing Marianne Avery?” she asked, looking at him sternly.
    “Yeah. We’re, uh, going to that carnival over in …”
    “Elkhorn City,” Mrs. Simms supplied.
    “Whatever. I haven’t been to a carnival for years.” Why did he feel so damn guilty? He was just taking the girl to a dance. It was not as if he was hitting on somebody’s wife.
    “That carnival comes to Elkhorn City every year. Your cousin Carney and Marianne used to go over there when he was home.”
    “Yeah, well, I’d better get going.”
    “Have a good time,” said Mrs. Simms in a tone that meant,
Behave yourself, or else
.
    Kyle escaped from the bright farm kitchen and walked out by the tool shed where the Plymouth was parked. He admired the soft gleam of the Plymouth’s wax job. While thunder continued to mutter in the distance, and the clouds blotted out the stars, no rain had yet fallen to spoil his afternoon’s shine job. He got in, shoved the paper bag with the vodka into the glove compartment, and drove out to the highway.
    Following Marianne’s directions, he found the Avery house with no trouble. There were only five houses on the entire quarter-mile length of the street. Hers was a solid two-story brick structure sheltered by the huge old Maple trees. The shrubbery was neatly trimmed, and a pair of tall alder bushes stood sentry duty at each side of the door. Marianne’s Mustang was parked in the driveway. The open garage doors revealed the rear end of a Buick Electra.
    Kyle parked in front of the house, got out, checked his fly, and marched up to the entrance.
    He caught his breath when Marianne opened the door in answer to his ring. She had on a fitted skirt of dark green Ultrasuede that stopped halfway up her thighs. She wore a white top with a wide collar and a neckline that revealed the beginning of the sweet valley between her breasts. Her strawberry hair was done back with casual strands spiraling down to her earlobes. Without getting as radical as the girls who went to L.A. rock clubs, she achieved a subdued sexuality.
    “You look great,” he said.
    “Thank you.” She lowered her voice. “Mom and Daddy are inside waiting to meet you. Think you can handle it?”
    “Hey, I’ve swum with sharks. Lead me to ‘em.”
    Mrs. Avery was a tall, graceful woman with Marianne’s fine features. She sat gracefully with her hands folded in her lap. Marianne’s father was short, balding and solidly built. His eyes appraised Kyle from behind bifocals.
    “Mom, Daddy, this is Kyle Brubaker.”
    Mr. Avery shook his hand. His wife gave him a cool smile from her chair.
    “We both knew your mother,” Mr. Avery said. “She hasn’t been back here for a few years.”
    “I guess not. She’s pretty busy back home with her real estate and all.”
    “How does your father feel about her working?” Mrs. Avery asked.
    “Oh, Dad’s in favor of anything that makes Mom happy.”
    “A good attitude,” Mr. Avery approved. “How’s your Uncle Bob doing?”
    “Not too badly, considering. He hopes to be up and around by September.”
    “That’s good. I suppose Carney will be coming home about then.”
    The heavy reference to his cousin, Marianne’s intended, was not lost on Kyle. He put on his best Wally Cleaver smile and said, “Sooner, if he can arrange it.”
    “We all like Carney a lot.”
    I got the message, Mr. Avery!
“Carney’s a likable guy, as I remember.” Kyle risked a glance at his watch.
    Mrs. Avery caught it. “I think the young people want to be on their way, Frank.”
    “No hurry, I just