Leave Tomorrow Behind (Stella Crown Series) Read Online Free PDF

you would see if you came to my place. But then, I have Holsteins, which have a different look altogether.
“I need to go,” Amy said. “See you later?”
“We’ll be around.”
She left, offering one more glare toward the offending exhibitors, and we turned our attention to the family we’d come to check out.
The Gregg girls were in full-out decoration mode, hanging posters and ribbons and glitter. It was like a Hobby Lobby had exploded. The girls, apparently not content with buying a champion, had decided they needed to win the stall decoration contest, as well. Maybe that was the only way they would feel like they had actually done something to deserve winning a prize. But then, if their parents thought what they were doing cow-wise was legit, their daughters probably thought so, too.
The cows in question were pretty nice. And by pretty nice, I mean perfect. Great build, great coloring, great udders. It was no wonder they’d won at the State Fair the year before.
“Pretty, aren’t they?” The Gregg mom was talking to me. She’d obviously just had her hair done, and her lipstick was on in nice, clean lines. I stifled a desire to kick wood chips on her clean pants and un-scuffed boots. Very grown up of me.
After a slight pause, during which I was biting my tongue, Nick said, “Yes, they’re very nice.”
We watched the girls climbing all over the stall, covering every available surface with sparkle. It was amazing how unlike a cow stall a square box made of wood could actually become.
“They have such nice personalities, too,” the Gregg mom said. “We’re very fortunate.”
And then I couldn’t help it. “They are nice cows. Practically perfect in every way. Too bad I can’t congratulate the people who actually raised them.”
The smile froze on Mrs. Gregg’s face, and her voice rose. “What do you mean by that?”
“Mary, what’s wrong?” Now the Gregg dad was getting in on it.
She took a little hiccup breath. “She was saying that—”
“Nothing,” I said. “I was saying nothing.”
Mrs. Gregg’s chin quivered, but I didn’t feel sorry for her. That’s what she got for being a cheater, and teaching her kids to be cheaters, too.
“Well, you were obviously saying something, because my wife is upset.” He wasn’t going to let it go.
Fine. “We were just having a conversation about who should actually get the credit for your cows. Your family, or the people who actually turned them into champions.”
Nick grabbed my hand and pulled. I dug in.
Mr. Gregg, all fake farmer in his pressed denim pants and plaid shirt, looked me up and down, his eyes hesitating at the steer head tattoo peeking around from the back of my neck. His chest puffed out, and he made his hands into fists, pushing against the tops of his legs. “And who would you be?”
“Nobody,” Nick said. “She’s nobody. Come on.” That was to me, of course.
I let him drag me away this time, aware I wasn’t helping matters for anybody by pointing out the Greggs’ bad decisions. Except my own sense of justice.
“Hey—” the Gregg dad called after us, but Nick hustled me out of the barn and into the crowd of incoming kids and animals.
“Nobody?” I said, yanking him to a stop. “I’m nobody?”
“As far as he’s concerned, yes. Do you really want to start a fight in the dairy barn? In front of all those kids?”
I turned away, glaring across the sea of people. Dammit, Nick was right. But it was just so wrong.
“Geez, what’s with you?” Zach and Randy were coming back from the food tent.
“Nothing,” I said.
The boys gave Nick some kind of look, and slowly walked away.
“Dude,” Randy said over his shoulder to Nick. “I am so glad I’m not you right now.”
“You won’t be soon,” I said.
Randy’s head jerked around, and he walked a little faster.
Nick smiled.
“What?” I snapped.
He smiled some more. “You have such a way with people. It’s no wonder you have so many friends.” He slid his arms around