It Happened One Night Read Online Free PDF Page A

steel magnolia, but he was willing to face anything and anyone for Harley June. He tightened his grip on Harley’s hand and smiled.
    â€œWell now, honey, let’s just go find out for ourselves, what do you say?”
    Without giving her a chance to answer, Sam took off for the house. Harley found herself running to keep up with his stride with Dewey not far behind. They were on the second step of the front verandah when the door opened and Marcie Beaumont came out, her round, cherub-shaped face framed in skillfully dyed,auburn curls. Sam had a moment to notice that her pink, flowing dress was almost the shade of her cheeks and then she was coming toward them.
    â€œWhy, Harley June! How sweet of you to surprise your daddy and me like this!” Then she batted her eyelashes at Sam as she must have done since her childhood when she realized that conquering the opposite sex was part of the Southern rite of womanhood. “And who is this good-lookin’ man you have on your arm?”
    Sam glanced at Harley. Her teeth were clenched so tight there was a white line around her lips and Sam figured that today the introductions were all on him.
    â€œI’m Sam Clay, Mrs. Beaumont, and may I say it’s a real pleasure to meet you. I can certainly see where Harley gets her good looks.”
    Marcie beamed as she tilted her head, having to look up to meet Sam’s gaze.
    â€œNow aren’t you sweet?” she murmured, and cast Harley a flirtatious grin. “Honey, where on earth have you been keepin’ this sweet boy?”
    â€œUnder wraps,” Harley muttered.
    Sam heard her and stifled a grin. Poor Junie. This wasn’t her day, but he was feeling better by the minute.
    â€œFive days ago Junie and I were married in Las Vegas.”
    Marcie’s expression fell as the possible suitor she’d envisioned for her daughter just faded away.
    â€œI’m sorry, Harley, I don’t remember you having a friend named Junie.”
    Sam laughed. “This is Junie,” he said, and slid his arm around Harley, then gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
    While Harley’s toes were curling from the contact, her mother’s breathing had started to sound as if she was strangling.
    Marcie grabbed Harley by the arm, all but yanking her out of Sam’s arms.
    â€œHarley June, you better tell me this—”
    Sam calmly unwound Marcie’s grip from Harley’s arm and then tucked her hand beneath his elbow.
    â€œIt’s Clay, Mrs. Beaumont. She’s now Harley June Clay. You know, it’s hot as blazes out here in the sun. Do you think you might have something tall and cold for us to drink?”
    Without waiting for her to answer, he led Marcie into the house, leaving Harley and her father momentarily alone on the verandah.
    Harley looked at her father, almost afraid to speak.
    â€œDaddy?”
    Dewey was still a little shell-shocked, but he was starting to grin.
    â€œI don’t know where you found him, sugar, but damned if he isn’t the first man I’ve ever seen who got the upper hand on your mama and made her like it.”
    Harley  blinked  back  tears and  tried  to  smile, althoughshe felt like laying her head on her daddy’s shoulder and bawling. This was so messed up.
    â€œDo you love him?” Dewey asked.
    Harley shrugged. “I’m not sure, Daddy.”
    He frowned. “What do you mean?”
    She swallowed nervously, but wasn’t going to lie. Not to her Daddy, and not about something as serious as this.
    â€œI don’t remember a thing about the wedding... only waking up the next morning with that man in my bed and a heart-shaped tattoo on my hip.”
    Dewey’s eyes bugged. “Good Lord! Are you saying you were drugged? If so, then—”
    Harley sighed. “No, Daddy. I wasn’t drugged. I was drunk.”
    Dewey stared in disbelief, but the longer he looked at his only child, the more his