Free When Passion Flares (The Dark Horse Trilogy Book 2) by Cynthia Dane

the hearts of everyone watching at home. I know I already have your hearts. Not that I don’t need them, but this is an easy audience!”
    Everyone laughed except for Hunter. His eyes wandered the crowd below, trying to ascertain who was there for whom. Sure, there were some undecided voters in the audience, but most of them had been selected due to their loyalty to one extreme or the other. They would frame their questions based on who they wanted to win – who they wanted to look good answering, while making the other flounder. Once upon a time Hunter had played that part for an election in some other state.
    Terrence kissed his wife on the head and patted Hunter on the shoulder before going off for his grand debating adventure. Hunter crossed one leg over the other, ignoring his mother’s berating that he should sit up straight in case one of the reporters snapped a photo of him sitting like that. The horror. He doubted anyone cared.
    There was still some time to kill before the start of the debate. It did not help that they couldn’t start until the sound checks were completed, which required multiple volunteers getting up on the stage and doing some songs and dances while the video cameras and booms adjusted. Instead of subjecting himself to that torture, Hunter peered at the audience once more, and had a surprise when he saw Holly the girl sitting in fifth row, a piece of paper clenched in her hand.
    Interesting. Hunter had never asked his father about the girl’s visit. Sometimes he forgot it, until something like this reminded him of her appearance at the Hall house all those days ago.
    He then looked at the woman sitting next to Holly. Just a woman, presumably the girl’s mother. She was young, perhaps in her early thirties, and kept one protective arm around Holly while she looked upon the stage as if she expected the Queen of England to appear. There were no men or other children to account for near them.
    “Do you know that girl?” Hunter asked his mother when she was free to talk to him. “There, in the red sweater.”
    Ronnie held up her opera glasses and peered where her son pointed. “That girl? No, I don’t recognize her. Why?”
    “Oh, no particular reason.” Tonight was not the night to drag stuff like that out in the open. Better to wait for some other night, like the day after the election.
    “Ladies and gentlemen.” The moderator, a college professor of politics, stood in the middle of the stage and held his hand up to the nearest camera. “I would like to welcome you to the first debate for state governor of this election year. Tonight we will be hearing from the three leading candidates representing their respective political parties. May I introduce your incumbent, Governor Raymond Mitchell.”
    Applause erupted as the governor strolled onto the stage, waving at the audience as he adjusted the bottom button on his suit jacket. A stage hand directed him to his podium, where he stood straight and wore a smile that said, “I’ve got this.” Hunter tried not to laugh.
    “Next we should welcome Representative Terrence Hall. Representative?”
    Hunter’s father walked with the grace of a supermodel. I doubt that’s what he’s going for. But showman Terrence could never step on a stage in front of hundreds of thousands of people and not preen like a pastor on his first day preaching. He made a gallant show of standing at the front of the stage to raucous applause, which made Raymond seethe at his podium.
    “Finally, let us welcome candidate Joshua Payne to the stage.”
    The third podium in the middle was soon occupied, as Joshua walked out with his hand held in the air and minimum applause coming his way. If it bothered him, he did not let it show. However, both Raymond and Terrence cleared their throats as Joshua took his spot.
    “Thank you, gentlemen, for coming here today for this marker of freedom.” The moderator went on to give a spiel about political academics, the role of