Take Me Home (9781455552078) Read Online Free Page A

this here cell.” Scratching his stubbled chin, Sylvester added, “In exchange, I’m willin’ to give you my truck.”
    â€œThat old piece of junk wasn’t worth much before you smashed it up,” Huck commented, turning the page of his newspaper.
    Sylvester opened his mouth as if he wanted to protest, but then closed it; maybe deep down, drunk as he was, he knew that the deputy was right. With a sudden smile, still attempting to speak in a conspiratorial whisper, he said, “Then how ’bout we run off and get married instead?”
    Olivia flinched; the man couldn’t have known how close to home his words had come.
    Sylvester’s offer was enough to make Huck put down his paper. “Olivia ain’t near ready to get married,” he said. “And even if she was, it wouldn’t be to no drunkard like you.”
    â€œI told you I ain’t been drinkin’, you damn fool!”
    â€œThat’s it,” Huck said, standing up from his desk, his voice growing deep, even a bit menacing. “You go sit down on that cot, Sylvester,” the deputy ordered. “Only thing that’s gonna get you right is sleep.”
    â€œHow many times do I have to tell you that—”
    â€œNow!” Huck thundered, grabbing hold of the cell bars. Reluctantly, Sylvester did as he was told, grumbling with every step, plopping down onto the cell’s narrow bed, and turning to face the brick wall.
    Satisfied that there wouldn’t be any further disturbance, Huck sat down on the corner of Olivia’s father’s desk. “I’m right sorry about that,” he said. “Sylvester’s a good enough sort when he hasn’t had too much to drink.”
    â€œHe wasn’t bothering me,” she replied, trying to keep her new ring out of sight. “Not really.”
    â€œWell, he was about to fray my very last nerve,” the deputy said with a weary smile. “Heck, you’d think that after all the years I been doin’ this, I’d a learned by now not to talk back. It only encourages ’em. But I reckon I got too big a mouth of my own.” When Olivia didn’t respond, Huck frowned. “You feeling all right?” he asked. “It’s not like you to be so quiet.”
    Olivia tried to smile, but it faltered instantly. “I suppose I haven’t had the best day,” she admitted. “It’s…complicated…”
    â€œAnything you want to talk about?”
    Olivia shook her head; even if she wanted to tell Huck about Billy Tate’s proposal and her equally unexpected acceptance of it, she wouldn’t have had the slightest idea of where to start. More than likely, she’d talk herself in circles until she burst into tears, something that she knew neither one of them wanted. Even with a long-time family friend like Huck, it was easier to just hold her tongue.
    Huck nodded knowingly. “If you change your mind,” he said, taking a step back toward his own desk, “you know just where to find me.”
    By the time the deputy had picked up his newspaper to resume his reading, Sylvester was already snoring noisily in his cell. Once again left to her thoughts, Olivia was more unsure than ever of what to do next.
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    Fifteen minutes after Huck had settled back down at his desk, the door to the sheriff’s office flew open with a bang, and Olivia’s father entered, dragging a large man with him, his hands in cuffs. The prisoner struggled against every step they took, one sleeve of his dirty shirt nearly torn from the shoulder, swearing a blue streak at the top of his lungs, kicking and clawing, fighting like an animal. Through it all, John Marsten’s face remained determined.
    â€œFinally caught him, huh?” Huck asked, quickly rising from his seat to grab one of the squirming man’s arms.
    â€œHe made it easy on me,” John explained. “It wasn’t enough