Under the Midnight Stars Read Online Free Page A

the middle of the football field after school, holding his black eye. Then he put a protective arm around nine-year-old Jack Sinclair and drove him home.
    “Okay, I’m back,” Brielle announced as she went behind the counter to face him again. “I’ll give you Jack’s number.” She snatched a pen from her apron and jotted his number on a napkin. “He’ll meet you there if you call him. He’s off today.”
    It sure wasn’t the number he was hoping for, but it was close enough … for now. “Thanks, I’ll head down there now.”
    He finished the last bite of ham and gulped his coffee. Then he grabbed his wallet from his back pocket and fished out a twenty, handing it to her. “Thanks for breakfast, Brielle.”
    She put her hands up and shook her head. “No, please, breakfast is on me.”
    “I can’t let you do that.” He insisted on paying, though he admired her good intentions.
    She eyed the extended twenty. “All right, but you have to let me give you change this time. You can’t leave me such a big tip. Especially not if you’ll be eating here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a while. You’ll be broke before you know it.”
    He chuckled slightly, surprised by her concern. It felt great to have someone he’d known less than twenty-four hours worry about him. “All right then, you calculate the twenty percent.”
    Brielle beamed proudly. “I’m just gonna go ring it up.” She pointed toward the other end of the counter before she made her way around Mimi to the register.
    As soon as her back was turned, Colt swiftly slipped out of the diner and headed for Zeke’s. On his way there he called Jack to set up the sale. And in less than ten minutes he was standing before the run-down garage — the only business in town still in its original shape. Both bay doors were open, though by the rusted appearance of their frames he wondered if they would even shut.
    He walked into the left bay and entered the office door along the wall.
    Zeke was sitting before a desk piled high with papers, a torn-apart carburetor on the middle of it. His buzzed red hair was streaked with gray. Crow’s feet and brow lines marked his face.
    Zeke looked up at Colt quizzically before he grinned. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He stood and made his way around the front of the desk, extending his hand. “Colton Tayler, I never thought I’d see you again.”
    Colt smiled and firmly shook Zeke’s greasy hand.
    Zeke looked at Colt’s grease-smudged palms. “I’d hug ya, but I don’t wanna muss you all up. You look good, Colt! Real good! Looks like the city was a good move for you and your mother. How is Annie, anyway? Is she here with you?” he asked hopefully. He grabbed a clean rag from the bin next to him and handed it to Colt.
    Colt sighed heavily and took the rag, rubbing it on his palm. He tossed it onto the desk. “She passed away about a month ago.” His voice was low and throaty. “Breast cancer.”
    The hopeful smile fell from Zeke’s face. “I’m real sorry to hear that, Colt. She was a wonderful woman.”
    “Yeah, she was.” Colt cleared his throat. Ready to change the subject, he glanced out the window at the two cars sitting in the bays and at the others in the parking lot. “Looks like business is steady.”
    “Can’t complain.” Zeke found his smile again. “So what brings you back?”
    “Home,” Colt replied as if a heavy burden was lifted from his shoulders. “I’m gonna buy my own place. Or possibly the old farm if it’s available. Any idea who owns it?”
    Zeke grinned. “Yep — me.”
    Colt frowned. He respected Zeke as if he were his own father. There’s no way he’d try to claim the farm back from him.
    “But don’t worry, Colt — I don’t live there. I bought it hoping your mom would change her mind and stay.” He shrugged. “I got married a few years back, but I just couldn’t sell the farm.”
    Colt grew slightly irritated. His mother had never told him about Zeke’s