Read Tracie Peterson for Free Online Page B

“But there are people out there who do have a problem with it, and they will remember what you did. The media would love to eat you for lunch because of the way you made them appear the fool. Don’t underestimate their power to motivate the public.”
    “So what’s the bottom line here?” Kerns’ anger was apparent.
    “Other than a handful of farmers and big businesses, you don’t have wide public appeal. You’re also relatively unknown in central and western Kansas, and while the bulk of the population hails from the areas where you are known, you can’t pretend those people don’t exist.”
    Kerns paced the bookshelf-lined room for several moments. His mind took him in at least twelve different directions, all leading back to one common goal: the governorship of Kansas. Owens was right. And that’s what vexed him the most. He’d known all of this when he decided to run for office, but back then it hadn’t seemed as important.
    “So, are you telling me not to run?” Kerns finally stopped pacing and faced Owens for a showdown.
    “Not at all.”
    “Then exactly where do we go with this? You’ve pointed out that people distrust and dislike the law profession. You’ve made it clear that I have insurmountable odds against me. . . .”
    “I never said they were insurmountable, Bob. But they will need a powerful whitewash to keep people from dwelling on the past.”
    “And how do you propose such a whitewash be accomplished?”
    Owens smiled in a way that suggested he now controlled the man before him. Kerns didn’t like the smug expression, but he tolerated it because Russell Owens had proven to be good at what he did.
    “I brought your can of whitewash right here,” Owens said and pulled out an eight-by-ten glossy of a young woman. He threw it on top of the other papers and waited for Kerns to pick it up.
    “Who is she?”
    Owens’ smile broadened. “She is your campaign salvation.”
    Still uncertain as to where Russell was leading him, Kerns took the photograph and sat back down. “How?” he asked, still studying the woman.
    “Her name is Cara Kessler. She runs a religious youth ministry called HEARTBEAT. She is so well loved across the state, they’ve practically erected a monument to her. Given a few more months, she’ll probably be canonized.”
    “Are you going to have her promote me in campaign ads?” Kerns asked, looking over the top of the picture.
    “In a way.” Owens picked up a computer-generated banner and unfolded it for Bob to read.
    ———
    KERNS and KESSLER
    ———
    “My running mate?” Bob asked in disbelief. Surely Owens didn’t expect him to win the gubernatorial ticket with a sugary-sweet do-gooder at his side.
    “I think Cara Kessler is the only hope you have of winning this election. She has everything you need. The most important of which is the trust of the people of Kansas.” Russell pulled out a videotape from the accordion folder. “If you watch this, you’ll see what I mean. The woman is not onlyadmired and highly respected, she’s practically a god to these people. She’s managed to coordinate youth centers all across the state, and you should know by now that the people of Kansas think pretty highly of their children.
    “Besides, her father, Augustus Brown, was once a district representative. He served eight years in the statehouse and was well liked in his community. Her husband, dead now for five years, was a popular youth minister. The name Kessler is held in high esteem in the Hays, Kansas, area.”
    “But a woman as lieutenant governor? We’d be having teas and fashion shows in the Capitol building.”
    “Don’t be so sure,” Owens replied. “Cara Kessler has the reputation for getting things done. She has a dynamic personality and she maintains a public appeal that you lack. If you want to be the next governor of Kansas, you’re going to need Cara Kessler.”
    Kerns looked again at the photograph. The pixielike brunette gazed back