County Line Road Read Online Free PDF Page B

sitting, but when he stood up, he was the tallest guy there. His cowboy boots gave him an extra inch, but he didn’t need it.
    Jeff cruised up to Jimmy and Double A in a golf cart. It had a cup holder with a beer that sloshed side to side as he drove down the long driveway from his house to the street.
    “Hey, Jeff!” Jimmy called out. “I gotta’ ask you about something.”
    “Free shuttle to the party, my friends,” Jeff said to Jimmy and Double A in his warm Southern drawl.
    Before Double A or Jimmy could step up on to the golf cart, Jeff saw Rich and swerved toward him. “Rich! Long time.” Jeff drove across the street to Rich. “Be right back, Jimmy.”
    As he slowed the cart to a stop next to Rich, Jeff lifted his beer cup as a salute and with a finger, moved a lock of hair that curled down in front of his green eyes. Jeff wore a college t-shirt, khaki shorts and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville brand sandals.
    “What’s up, college boy?” Rich said.
    “Auburn’s the place to be, my friend,” Jeff said. They shook hands. “Plenty of girls and business opportunities.”
    “I’m always interested in more business,” Rich said.
    The man in the cowboy boots leaning on the Z28 nodded in agreement.
    “Jump on,” Jeff said, motioning to the seats of his cart.
    “Nah,” Rich said. “I’ve got some business to take care of, but I will catch up with you later.”
    Jeff waved and headed back over to Jimmy and Double A who jumped on the cart. Jeff maneuvered his way slowly through the crowd of people.
    “What’s up, Jimmy?”
    “Who was that girl you were talking to at the gas station today?”
    “Which girl?” Jeff said. “I meet so many.”
    “The blonde with the blue Mustang.”
    “Oh, yeah,” Jeff said. “Allison. New in town. Nice.”
    “I thought you were dating Jeanie,” Jimmy said.
    “I am, I am,” Jeff said. “I can still look. If you haven’t met her yet, I can provide a formal introduction. I invited her.” He exaggerated his Georgia accent to sound like an old southern gentleman from a bygone era.
    “I usually do fine on my own,” Jimmy said. “But since you say it like that.”
    “My pleasure,” Jeff said. “What else is going on?”
    “My step mother is trying to set me up,” Jimmy said.
    Jimmy explained the situation.
    “That baseball sounds valuable,” Jeff said. “Maybe she’s trying to sell it on ebay.”
    “That’s it!” Jimmy said. “I bet she is.”
    “We can check on my computer back at my house,” Double A said.
    “I got wireless right here.” Jeff pulled his iPhone out of his pocket.
    They all bent over it like it was a campfire in the darkness. After searching a while and not seeing the baseball listed, Jeff put it away.
    “I’ll set up an alert for anything like it and let you know,” Jeff said. “Yeah, that’s what I’d do – sell it. That will bring in big bucks.”
    Jimmy sat back in the seat of the golf cart, disappointed, as they continued up the driveway.
    They pulled up to the front door of Jeff’s house, a Georgian style mansion of red brick with white shutters and white columns forming the massive entryway. Music and people filled the grand living room. A band played rock and roll in the corner. The Pepsi 400 NASCAR race was on the big screen television.
    “The race is on,” Jimmy said. “Let’s get some beer and sit there.”
    Jimmy joined a group of guys on the couch watching the race.
    “Where’s Junior?” Jimmy asked.
    “In fifth place,” one guy said. “He started in third. He had to pit.”
    “He’ll work his way back up,” Jimmy said.
    Double A scanned the crowd and kept checking the door.
    “I wonder if Anna’s here yet,” Double A said. “I don’t see Jeanie or anyone.”
    Just then Jeanie descended the staircase as if on cue. Kris followed closely behind. They both wore short jean skirts and tops and knew they looked good.
    “Speak of the bitch, and she appears,” Jimmy said.
    Jeanie saw Double A and