It Happened One Night Read Online Free PDF

mouth began to twitch. Harley was twenty-seven, almost twenty-eight, and truth be told, he’d been afraid she was going to turn into an old maid like his oldest sister, Mavis. This stunt was the first truly daring thing that Harley had done since her eleventh birthday when she’d announced to her teacher that she was going to be a stripper when she grew up.
    He chuckled.
    Harley stared.
    â€œYou think this is funny?”
    â€œI just didn’t think you had it in you,” Dewey said. “At least you can sleep easy now, knowing you willnever succumb to the ordinary things in life.” Then he took her by the hand and started inside. “We’d better hurry. I wouldn’t miss the rest of this show for another year added onto my life.”
    They walked in just as Sam was taking a long sealed envelope from inside his jacket pocket. Sam turned, smiling at Harley. She shivered. His smile was almost as devastating as his kisses.
    â€œMr. Beaumont, I realize you must have a thousand questions you’d like to ask and certainly have concerns as to your daughter’s safety.” He handed the envelope to Dewey. “Inside are the names and phone numbers of my banker, my boss and my pastor. My parents are dead, but I have a brother and two sisters who all live in Oklahoma. Their names and numbers are also listed, although I’d appreciate it if you’d not take everything they say about me to heart. I’m the oldest and growing up, they didn’t much like my bossy nature.”
    Once again, Dewey was taken aback by the man’s ingenuous nature.
    â€œYes, well...thank you. Of course we have concerns. I will make some calls later.” Then Dewey looked at his wife, whose face was two shades of pink deeper than normal. “Marcie, I think we’d like some of your fine lemonade.”
    Marcie sputtered then squeaked. “Lemonade! You want my fine lemonade? Dewey George Beaumont, have you no sense of decorum? Our daughter has goneand married herself to a total stranger and all you want is lemonade?”
    â€œI’d take something stronger, if you have it,” Sam said.
    Marcie’s lips went slack. Harley stifled a grin. Dewey headed for the sideboard in the library where he kept a decanter of sippin’ whiskey for occasions out of the ordinary. Dewey was of the mind that this was one of those times.
    â€œYou’ll be stayin’ for supper?” Dewey said, as he poured liberal shots of the amber-colored liquid into glasses for himself and for Sam.
    Marcie moaned. “Dewey! I can’t believe you are just standing there letting this happen.”
    â€œOh, it’s already happened,” Sam said, and grinned at Harley. “Several times now. Right, darlin’?”
    Harley wanted to throttle him. How dare he even hint about their lovemaking to her own mother and father?
    When Harley didn’t answer, Sam just winked and grinned. “We’d be happy to stay for supper, wouldn’t we, Junie?”
    â€œI do not answer to that name,” she muttered, and then pointed at the whiskey.
    â€œAren’t you pouring one for me, too, Daddy?”
    Dewey hesitated. “Daughter, after what you told me, I don’t think you have the head for drink.”
    Sam handed Harley his glass and poured himself another, ignoring Dewey’s sputter of disapproval.
    â€œOn the contrary, Mr. Beaumont. Junie’s about as centered a woman as I’ve ever met. For me, it was love at first sight.”
    Marcie’s shoulders slumped as she glanced at her daughter, her voice just shy of a whine.
    â€œI can’t believe you’re married.”
    Harley tossed back the whiskey as if it were water, blinking back tears as she choked. When she could breathe without fearing fire would come out her nose, she answered.
    â€œWell, Mama, neither can I, but I’ve got a tattoo on my butt and a ring on my finger that says different.” She