Free Never Smile at Strangers by Jennifer Minar-Jaynes Page A

their time in the trailer out back.
    She knew her crush was innocent. Just something to take her mind off her troubles. Something she’d never act upon. Women like her, plain, predictable and responsible, went for boys like Mac. Stayed with boys like Mac.
    Besides, Mac was good to her. And Austin had a serious girlfriend. Beth, a freshman at Texas A&M. Rumor had it, he was going to ask her to marry him. And Haley was likely to some day marry Mac.
    “How’s Beth?”
    The edges of Austin’s mouth turned up. “She’s good. Real good. And Mac, how’s he?”
    “Doing well. I didn’t realize you knew him.”
    “Oh, I don’t. Just seen him around Luke’s,” he said. “And, of course, Mrs. Motor Mouth talks about him from time to time.”
    Haley smiled at the nickname he’d given Kim.
    “So, how often do you get to see Beth?”
    “We shoot for every other weekend and, of course, college breaks. It’s not a short drive by any stretch of the imagination.”
    “Yeah, I know,” Haley said, wondering if she could have a long-distance relationship with Mac, and quickly decided she could. Even though they lived only ten miles from one another, it wasn’t like they saw each other every day anyway. He usually stopped by three times a week. Sometimes more, sometimes less. And when he did, it seemed he was much more interested in making sure that she and her family were okay then wanting to make out or do anything romantic.
    But she had no complaints. The relationship, as it stood, was perfect for her. Since her father died, she had lost most of her interest in conversation and usually worried that she was a bore when she was with him anyway. She was no longer the witty girl she’d been when they first met. But Mac, not much of a conversationalist himself, didn’t seem to mind. They did things that didn’t require much conversation; like watching movies, television, or reading on the couch. Sometimes he just fiddled around alone, repairing something in the house, cutting the lawn, painting the trim. He mostly kept to himself.
    Haley rested her head against the passenger seat. She closed her eyes and inhaled. Austin's truck had some of the same comforting grease smells, minus the stale, smoky odor Mac’s had. And it was less dusty.
    Austin stopped in front of her house and yanked the emergency brake. In the time it took for her to pick her purse up from the floorboard, he was already at the passenger door, opening it for her. He helped her out like Mac always did. But when his hand touched hers, a jolt of electricity shot through her body.
    “You get some rest,” he said, walking her to her front door. “Chris said he’ll bring your car by this evening. If you need it beforehand, just call Luke’s and we’ll get it to you.”
    “Thanks,” she said, shielding her eyes from the sunlight. “I guess I
did
need the ride,” she admitted, wiping at her eyes. All of a sudden, she realized that she felt a little better.
    “See you at Luke’s when you’re ready to come back. Chris is concerned about you.”
    Two pecans fell onto the porch. Haley bent to pick them up. “By the way, did Chris ask you to take me?”
    He nodded.
    “Oh,” she said, realizing she had wished it had been
his
idea. “Please thank him for me.”
    “I’ll do that. Take care of yourself.” He walked back down the dirt driveway.
    Haley stood on the porch and rolled the pecans around in her palm as she watched him walk the dirt driveway and climb back into his truck.
    Sighing, she opened her front door.

Chapter 18
    ERICA LOVED THE way Rachel wrote on the chalkboard. Her words straight, sharp. Always in capital letters, very legible. She double-underlined the important words, the ones she wanted to emphasize.
    The chalk often made her sneeze. And when she did, “Bless you’s” bounced off the walls of the small auditorium. It was because everyone loved her. But not as much as Erica did.
    Erica enjoyed Rachel’s fluid, confident movements