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rolling chuckle that warmed Jonah through like the liquor had done. “Absolutely not. But if the chawbacon caterwauls loud enough, we’ll let him into one of the other attractions for free. If it’s a fella without a date, he’s generally happy enough to get a free pass to the hoochie-coochie tent.”
    “What’s that?” Jonah slapped the reins on the horse’s rump as the animal slowed to a lazy plod.
    “Aye, you are wet behind the ears, aren’t you? A hoochie-coochie dancer shimmies and strips off scarves till there’s little left to the viewer’s imagination.”
    “Oh.” His cheeks burned, not only at the image of a nearly nude woman, but because he’d once again shown his ignorance. He didn’t like Grimstone thinking of him as a naive lad, even if it was true.
    Mostly . Memories of the things he’d done with Rev. Burns again flooded his mind, and to his chagrin, his cock began to stiffen. Despite the betrayal and denial of their relationship when they’d been exposed, Jonah still melted at the memory of the intense pleasure the older man had given him—pleasure Jonah had been happy to return as he’d learned techniques under his mentor’s instruction.
    Grimstone returned his attention to his accounting, and Jonah concentrated on keeping the horse moving. He gazed to the left and right, taking in the Ohio countryside. Fields of corn stretched away in either direction. Small white houses and large red barns scattered at regular intervals seemed fat and satisfied, prosperous and respectable. Jonah couldn’t wait to leave the familiar view behind and see something brand new: hills, lakes, a river, mountains, or even the ocean. The world lay before him, and for the first time, he began to feel excitement at the prospect of eclipsing his shame at the manner in which he’d left home.
    “Excuse me, sir,” he interrupted Grimstone’s reading again. “Could you tell me the route the carnival takes, or do you make it up as you go?”
    “We have a circuit. Have to, or all the outfits would be stepping on each other’s territory. Wouldn’t do to try to drink from a well that’s already dry. Our area includes most of Ohio, part of Indiana, and Kentucky.”
    Jonah was disappointed. He’d hoped they would travel farther afield.
    “Did you get enough to eat this morning?” Grimstone changed the subject.
    “Yes, thank you,” he answered politely, even though his stomach was growling for more substantial food than a hunk of bread and a sip of liquor.
    “Hm.” Grimstone gauged him with a disbelieving eye. “We’ll stop for lunch in another couple of hours. When we do, I’ll introduce you to Parinsky, and he can assign you some chores and a place to sleep.”
    Jonah nodded. Of course he’d known he couldn’t stay with Grimstone, but another flare of disappointment shot through him.
    “You don’t look too good.” The manager reached for the reins, and Jonah surrendered them. “Climb in back and get yourself some rest if you can. God knows these roads are so rutted, they’re enough to jar your bones apart.”
    Grimstone pulled out the battered brass whistle from his vest pocket. He blew three long blasts, and the entire parade of vehicles came to a stop in order that Jonah could climb down from the seat and enter the wagon.
    Others took the halt as an opportunity to head for the bushes and relieve themselves. Many curious eyes watched Jonah, and he flushed to the roots of his hair at the scrutiny. The last thing he wanted was to be considered weak or to be set apart from them by special treatment. He wished Grimstone had let him stay on the box.
    As soon as the door closed behind him, the whistle blew again—one long blast. There was a moment of silence, then three short shrieks of the whistle. Almost at once the wagon rolled forward with a jolt that nearly knocked him off his feet. Jonah dropped down onto his makeshift pallet on the floor, certain he wouldn’t catch a wink. But within minutes the