Free The Life and Afterlife of Charlie Brackwood (The Brackwood Series Book 1) by Stacey Field Page A

astonishment.  That voice was familiar.  In fact, it was a voice we’d both been hearing regularly since we were all kids.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, time for the best event of this entire show to start. It’s been a tradition in this village for many, many years, and helps our show make others in Yorkshire pale by comparison.  Oh, yes, this is a well-loved show indeed...”
    “What is he doing?” Lucy whispered.  I shook my head for reply, still astonished by the sight of Russ onstage.
    “... but it is also a show that promotes deceit, corruption, and the sexual objectification of young women.  The crowning of the village queen should be a fair competition, with a winner who is beyond reproach. I should imagine that at one time such was the case.  But making Amy Hale our queen for the third year in a row would be a disastrous mistake,”
    The crowd gasped in unison and Lucy gaped slightly in shock.
    “Since to be considered for the role of queen the contestant should be the perfect example of a good Christian woman, Amy Hale should never have entered this competition in the first place.”
    I looked over at Reverend Hale whose face wore an expression of complete shock.
    “Amy is conniving, bitter, dishonest and conceited,” Russ announced.  “She tortures, intimidates and disparages others for her own enjoyment, and is so arrogant that she freely admits to these crimes when challenged.”
    My eyes met Lucy’s and I wondered whether she realised that Russ was talking about her, that this whole speech was for her.
    “Amy Hale deserves no golden crown.  She deserves no lavish ceremony, and she certainly doesn’t deserve anybody’s respect.  So far she has successfully pulled the wool over the eyes of all of you.  Consider this a warning. Each and every one of you, in future, be careful whom you place on a pedestal…”
    “OK, that’s enough,” a voice shouted from behind Russ.  It was shrill and girlish and belonged to Amy Hale.
    Her face was transformed by fury as she strode towards Russ. Amy was wearing a huge baby pink ballgown with a skirt that stuck out like the one on a a toilet roll cover I’d seen at my gran’s house.  Amy snatched the microphone from his hand and glared at him.  She held the mic in her right hand but let it dangle at her side, perhaps thinking that placing it there would prevent the crowd from hearing their conversation.
    “What are you doing?” she said to him through clenched teeth while still attempting to smile at the onlookers.
    “We’re over, Amy. The last stunt you pulled was the final straw.  You really had me fooled, though. I did think for a while that you were different.” Russ stared at her in disdain while he replied.
    “Oh, I’m so heartbroken,” Amy said sarcastically. “It’s not like you were any good in the sack anyway.”
    The crowd gasped upon hearing these words and the illusion of Amy as a good, sweet Christian girl was shattered instantly.  Russ grinned slyly as the realisation that the crowd had heard every word hit Amy hard.  He leant towards her, a triumphant expression on his face.
    “Ditto,” he said smugly, before walking off-stage.
    Still in shock, I turned to look at Lucy.  Gone was the anxious expression I’d seen on her face earlier.  For the first time that week Lucy wore a wide smile.

Chapter Six
     
    My dad was adamant that I was destined to carry on the family tradition of sheep farming and after the summer ended I enrolled at agricultural college.  I also started to help out on my old man's farm for menial wages.  I had lived there my whole life and I always felt like I belonged there. It seemed natural that I would end up following in my dad’s footsteps but I often wondered whether I was doing it for myself or to help my father out.
    At first I was content being a farm hand. I made it my mission to ensure the welfare of the animals in my care was as high as possible.  As my gramps always said: you can tell a