Read Shine On for Free Online

distillery, disassembled it, put it on a train, and moved it to Canada. Now he’s selling all kinds of bootleg liquor, taking money away from the people of your state.”
    Ava just raised her eyebrows and smiled behind her glass. She still had yet to take the first sip. Gabe walked over and took the glass from Ava’s hand and set it on the table, tsk-tsking in mock disapproval. Louis Armstrong belted out an upbeat song and he pulled her up for a dance. She twirled, kicked her legs, and waved her hands like a mad woman. Emmie couldn’t help but laugh at her erratic movements.
    “So, you’re a good girl after all.” Silas plopped down on the couch next to her.
    “Yeah, what makes you say that?” she wondered.
    “You didn’t take more than a sniff of that whiskey but you didn’t run out the door either. You’re alright, Emmie.” He pushed her with his elbow.
    She felt her body turn red from toe to nose. What was wrong with her?
    ***********
    Silas tried not to laugh at her blush. At first yesterday, out by the pool, he and his brother had thought she was some sort of floozy. He could see now he was wrong. She had been genuinely embarrassed. Vince had told him she was a friend of the family. Silas knew from experience that just because someone was a friend of one family didn’t mean she was a friend to them all. He knew he should just walk back to the pool table and keep playing. So why couldn’t he move from this couch? He grabbed her hand and pulled her into a loose embrace, his feet moving quickly to the music. Silas could tell by how tense she was that she’d not had much experience with dancing, she was so stiff. Maybe she should have had the bourbon.
    “Relax, Emmie,” he whispered.
    “I don’t know that crazy dance.” She nodded over to Ava and Gabe.
    He laughed out loud. “Who would want to? It’s ridiculous.”
    At last she threw her head back and laughed, relaxing around him for the first time. Silas pulled her in closer. Wrapping one arm all the way around her waist while his other arm held her hand tightly to his chest. This was the best he’d felt in a long time. He’d deal with the consequences tomorrow. He was going to enjoy this tonight and with that thought he leaned down and brushed a quick kiss on her lips.
    ***********
    Spotty entered the mouth of the cave and plopped down at Walter’s feet. Walter walked over and scratched his ears. Silly name for the dog. Not a damn spot on the thing , he grinned. The girl must be at that Del Grande house if the dog was out roaming around. He didn’t know if that was good or bad. Talk about wolves in the forest. Them people were wolves, keeping more skeletons in their closet than Red Riding Hood’s grandma, if ya ask me. I suppose it weren’t none of my business though.
    Walter stood back and watched little to no steam escape his makeshift pipe. Emmie was good at making paste for the still pipe on Ole Maizy. Maybe if he could just get a little more business he could give the girl a couple more dollars each month.
    He had just dropped off a dozen ears of his best corn on her porch. He didn’t exactly know why he felt like he needed to raise her. Their families had been neighbors for years. Her mama, Ruby, was a sweet little thing that could barely raise her voice enough to shoo away a fly. He didn’t know how she did it. She lived there alone on that farm with a toddler and did it with a smile on her face too. The townsfolk talked about her having a baby with no dad. He never knew if she was a widow or just a young mom that got herself in trouble. He never cared to ask, either. The way he figured it wasn’t any of his business.
    It wasn’t long after Ruby had moved to town that she’d married that good-fer-nothin’ Ronnie. Always had been a thorn in his side. He must have convinced her she needed him, having that baby and all. He probably weaseled his way into her life just like he did Walt’s.
    For all Ronnie’s faults he was a stiff