Page 23 of The Taste of Deceit

“I’m serious.”

I snort and adjust my purse higher on my shoulder.

“You’re not my dad.”

“No,” he agrees, glancing past me into the darkness. “And if I was, I’d tell you the same thing.”

“Are you giving me rules now?”

“Somebody has to.”

I let out a laugh.

“Randy, you’re what? Ten years older than me?”

“Twelve.”

“That’s not helping your case.”

He shakes his head and takes another drag from his cigarette.

“Doesn’t matter. I’ve seen things you’ll never see.”

I snort.

“Congratulations. You’re old.”

That earns another laugh.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Sure it isn’t.”

I lean against the fence beside him and glance out across the property. Everything looks different at night. The barns are just shapes. The fields disappear into darkness. The only light comes from the moon and the glowing tip of Randy’s cigarette.

“You think you know everything.”

“I do know everything.”

“That’s the confidence of somebody who hasn’t had real responsibilities yet.”

I gasp.

“Excuse you. I cleaned three horse stalls this morning.”

Randy laughs so hard he has to look away.

“Three whole stalls?”

“I know. Try not to be intimidated.”

His grin lingers as he looks back at me.

“I’ll do my best.”

I hold out my hand.

“Give me a hit of that.”