Defiant Heart Read Online Free PDF

fundamental truth.
    He was a burden. And a terribly unfair one at that.
    His Grandpa Wilson had passed away several years ago. To make ends meet, his grandmother gave piano lessons. At her age. Then, out of the blue, along came another mouth to feed, a selfish one, contributing nothing and, in the process, disrupting her life.
    He felt ashamed.
    He was mulling over ways in which he might address the problem when his attention was drawn to a figure in the crowd. It was a young man who stood a head taller than anyone else and was therefore impossible to miss. His back was to Jon. A sleeveless t-shirt revealed muscular shoulders and a thick neck, and his head was covered with light blond curls. He was talking to someone, and, as he did, he gestured and turned slightly. The movement afforded Jon a line of sight to the person with whom he was speaking, and, instead of focusing on the young man, Jon found himself staring at the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life.
    #
    “That’s nice of you to ask, Vernon,” Mary said, “but my friends are here, and we’re having a good time.”
    Vernon smiled easily and cocked an eyebrow. “It would just be for a little bit. You know I’m pretty busy these days. We may not get another chance to spend time together.”
    “Well, I think I’ll take that risk.”
    “Suit yourself,” Vernon shrugged with a carefree nonchalance. He looked past Mary and, apparently making eye contact with someone in the crowd, nodded.
    “See you around.” He stepped past her and strolled off, a study in practiced indifference.
    Sam, who had been lingering a short distance away, now came stomping up to Mary.
    “Are you crazy? Vernon King wants to make time with you, and you’re too busy having ‘a good time with your friends’? ‘Oh, I’m terribly sorry, my social calendar is full at the moment. Perhaps you can check back with me later.’ What are you thinking? Are you holding out for Cary Grant? Because I’ve got a breaking news bulletin for you. Cary Grant isn’t coming to Jackson anytime soon. What do I have to do to get some sense into your stubborn head? You can’t play hard to get with the King. He likes you, but he won’t wait around.”
    “Oh, Sam,” Mary said, laughing, “I love your passion. But, in this case, you’re just wrong. I’ve known Vernon all my life. And I can tell you he only likes two things: Basketball and Vernon King, and not necessarily in that order.”
    “But, he’s the King…”
    “And I have no interest in being the queen. Come on, let’s go find Gwenda. Then the two of you can gang up on me.”
    #
    Jon watched the two young women have a spirited conversation, the dark-haired girl waving her arms in dramatic fashion, while the blond laughed gaily. Then the two linked arms, turned, and melded into the crowd. For a moment, he contemplated getting up and following, but realized he had no idea what he would say if he found them. He strained to catch another glimpse of the blond girl, but she and her companion were lost in the multitude.
    Sitting back against the trunk of the tree, he turned his mind to the problem that had been vexing him. How, he asked himself, could he help alleviate the burden he represented? How could he make it up to his grandmother?
    #
    The placard in the window simply read “Help Wanted.” There were no further details. Jon took a deep breath and stepped into the hardware store.
    “Can I help you?” asked the heavyset man behind the counter. Jon swallowed, then took a step forward.
    “I’m here about the job.”
    “Ah,” said the man, amiably. “The owner’s not in now. You wanna check back later?”
    “Sure,” Jon replied. Then he added, “Can you tell me what the job involves?”
    “Cleaning. Stocking. Helping out with the customers when things get busy. It’s not a full time job, but the pay’s decent. The guy who had it before just joined the navy. You know about tools and hardware?”
    Jon hesitated briefly,