Читать книгу Deadly Deception - Brenda Gunn - Страница 14
ОглавлениеBrenda found herself with Glen at the Somerset Carnival. In an attempt to raise money for a new building, The Joy Fellowship Church had brought a carnival to town. It was set up on the vacant lot where the new facility would be built. Brenda had actually nailed the flyers on phone poles around town announcing the fund-raiser, but she hadn’t planned on going.
She could hardly believe that this was where Glen wanted to go. Brenda hadn’t been to a carnival since she was a teenager. Now she almost felt like that girl again. But this time she was there with the best looking guy in town instead of just watching others.
It was a delicious spring night. A cool breeze brushed their faces and any other body parts that were exposed, making them comfortable. Carousel music filled the air and lifted their spirits.
In the cloudless sky above them stars sparkled. It seemed to Brenda, as they moved upward on the Ferris wheel, she could reach up and grab a few. Between the shining stars and the dappled blue lights lining the Ferris wheel, it was very romantic. Their seat stopped at the very top and Glen gave her a long, lingering kiss. Brenda didn’t catch her breath until they were on the ground.
Glen pulled her behind as he rushed to the roller coaster. “I love the excitement of careening down,” he said. In fact, he wanted to ride all the scary rides, while Brenda’s tastes leaned more toward the carousel. When she screamed loudly on the roller coaster, he covered her mouth with his own and then rained little kisses all over her face.
They ate corn-dogs, cotton candy, corn-on-the-cob and drank lemonade. And they rode the Zipper, the Hammer and the Death Trails before Brenda felt sick to her stomach and couldn’t manage the rides any more.
“Come on, let’s play some of the games,” he said.
Brenda crossed her arms and stood at Glen’s side as he played games. She was hoping that her mere presence would make him hurry and take her home. It didn’t work. Her back was beginning to ache from all the bouncing on the rides, but she didn’t want to spoil his fun. She watched him raise the basketball and pitch it toward the hoop. The ball spun around the rim and fell outside the net.
“Dammit to hell,” Glen growled.
Brenda gasped in surprise. Glen rarely cursed and certainly not in public.
The old barker lowered his eyes, “Say Bud, we’re here for the church. Watch your language.”
Glen stiffened and the muscles in his neck bulged. He shrugged and said, “Sorry, I forgot.”
He threw another basketball and it bounced off the rim. Glen slapped his leg in frustration and spun on his heels. That’s when Brenda saw him staring at a rifle stand two booths down.
“Now that’s something I’m good at,” he said and started toward the booth.
Brenda grabbed his arm, “Maybe we should go, Glen. It’s getting late.” He shook her off and continued toward the booth.
“I don’t like guns.”
Glen stepped up to the counter. “These aren’t even real,” he said, grabbing a rifle.
The young barker who ran the rifles had been watching them with interest. His attitude said he knew a customer when he saw one. “You look pretty strong, Mister. How many rounds?”
Brenda figured the young guy with the rough complexion from teenage acne was probably seventeen or eighteen.
“Give me twenty dollars worth,” Glen said, slapping a twenty-dollar bill in the boy’s hand.
The barker shot a glance at Brenda and smirked. “Alright!”
Men are like children, she thought. She bit her lip, annoyed, but didn’t say anything.
Glen aimed the rifle and shot. The pellet went into the target’s second circle from the center.
“Your site’s off. Is that how you bring in a little extra cash?” Glen asked the barker.
The boy kicked the dirt, hung his head and said, “I don’t know nuthin’ about it.”
“Well, I’ll just take care of it then.” Glen made some adjustments to the site and shot again. Bull’s-eye.
Brenda caught someone out of the corner of her eye. He was pointing his finger like a gun at Glen. She turned to see who it was and saw a tall, thin man with slicked back black hair disappear into the crowd. She hugged herself around the waist. An eerie feeling came over her. She feared the man was Mr. Morgan.
Glen kept shooting in rapid succession. Every pellet went into the bull’s-eye. He turned to Brenda.
“I have one shot left. Come on up here, Darlin’, and shoot this thing.”
“Please, I don’t want to shoot it, Glen,” she said shuddering.
“Aw, come on. It won’t hurt ya,” he said and scooped his hand around the back of her neck to bring her to him.
“I really don’t want to!” Brenda planted her feet, so he couldn’t pull her to him.
Glen fired the rifle, while still glaring at her. It went into the center of the target.
“See,” he said. “I don’t even have to look at the target to get a bull’s-eye.” Glen turned to the barker, “Give me twenty dollars more.”
“I can’t, Mister. You done won enough. You’re gonna get me in trouble with my boss as it is.”
“I said twenty dollars!” He slammed down the rifle.
“No,” the young man said, with a quiver in his voice.
“I don’t see a sign saying there’s a limit!” Glen said, angrily grabbing the barker by the collar. He was bringing back his fist to strike the boy when Brenda screamed.
“Let him go! Glen, let him go!”
Brenda grabbed Glen’s arm and stopped the blow right before it touched the barker’s face.
Glen gave an angry shove as he let him go and the barker stumbled backward. Glen pointed to a giant green dinosaur. “I want that one,” he said.
The frightened teenager pulled the dinosaur from the line and handed it to Glen.
Glen turned around, handed the stuffed toy to Brenda, then sauntered off.
“I’m sorry,” Brenda murmured to the barker, then she fell in line behind Glen.
“What’s the matter? What’s gotten into you? Why did you act like that?” she asked, confused.
“Shut up!” he screamed at her.
His eyes were glassy and full of rage. The white diamond on his temple was pulsing. He stomped off ahead of her. Brenda had never seen Glen like this before and she wasn’t sure how to handle him. She wanted to talk out their problems, but she figured she’d better wait until he cooled down.
“I’m going home,” he called over his shoulder. “You coming?”
She nodded and silently followed Glen out of the carnival grounds.
