Page 50 of Whiskey Lullaby
“Not ones that are falling apart.” Her eyes squeezed shut. Her teeth doing a number on her pretty bottomlip.
“Ah, you know this thing’s haunted,” I said, slowing down alittle.
“Give me abreak.”
“It is.” I grinned. “Don’t tell me you never came out to Cry Baby Bridge and did the old baby powdertrick?”
“Nope.” She took a breath andswallowed.
“You have to do it right atmidnight—”
“Of course youdo.”
“Put some baby powder on your windshield”—I mimicked dusting powder on my hand—“and sit in the middle of thebridge…”
“What? So you can fall right through the bridge and into the river? That sounds like a greatidea!”
“No, you wait until the little baby footprints show up on theglass.”
I could feel her staring at me, so I turned to look at her. There was the most unamused look on her face. “That is the most unoriginal story I’ve everheard.”
“It’strue.”
She laughed. “It’s a load ofcrap.”
“Sure hope the ghost didn’t hear you say that…” The tires bumped over the end of the bridge and I turned into an open space. “You know, it’s not fun if you don’t get a little freakedout.”
“Well, you have to try a little harder, you know, since I’m nottwelve.”
“Okay, okay.” I laughed and drove into the middle of the old pasture that backed up to Old Man’s property. I put the truck in park before I threw the dooropen.
She hopped out and followed me around to the back of the truck. I lowered the tailgate, jumped into the bed, and grabbed an old ski rope from the toolbox, then dragged Benji’s patio table to the edge of thetailgate.
“What is that for?” she asked, pointing at thetable.
“It’s oursled.”
“Uh-huh.” She fought a smile. “Isee.”
“This is how you do Redneck Sledding.” I flipped the table over before tying the ski rope to the trailer hitch and tugging to make sure it was secure. With a grin, I stepped into the middle of the table and grabbed the ski rope handle. “Glides over grass like a dream.” I winked. It may have sounded stupid, but I didn’t care. Right then all I cared about was that she was smiling anddistracted.
“Let me guess, you brought me along so you have immediate medical care when you break something,right?”
I know the smirk that worked its way over my lips just then must have been arrogant. “Nah, you’re goingfirst.”
“Yeah,no.”
“Ladiesfirst.”
“That’salright.”
I dropped the rope and stepped toward her, trapping her between me and the tailgate. “Ah, sonowyou’re scared, huh?” I pushed a piece of hair away from hercheek.
“No.”
“It’s alright.” I leaned in close to her lips. “You’re kinda cute when you’rescared.”
“You better not get me arrested fortrespassing.”
