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Authors: J. A. Dennam
Truth and Humility
Truth and Humility
A Novel
by
J. A. Dennam
Copyright © 2012 by J. A. Dennam
Cover art by Julie Rice
Cover design by Julie Rice
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank my husband, my love, for introducing me to the craft of destruction that is “junking.” This story would never have been born without the experience. Not only are you my jack-of-all-trades, you are a priceless source of information as I attempt to accurately interpret the complex world of man. You. Are. Spartacus.
To my friend and local librarian, Kathy, for offering her valuable input. It’s a better book because of you!
And to my editors...I want your job! But, I suck at it. Thank you for making me look good.
Most importantly, I would like to thank my fans. You are the reason and my justification for feeding this obsessive-compulsion of mine. If you enjoy the book, please don’t hesitate to leave a customer review. In return (and with the help of your email address) I will be happy to gift you with a free copy of one of my other novels.
Other novels by J. A. Dennam
FLESH OF ANGELS – FLESH series book 1.
FLESH OF THE FATHER – FLESH series book 2.
You can contact J. A. Dennam via email at:
jadennamauthor@yahoo.
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www.JADennam
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This novel is dedicated to my husband, Steve.
You are more responsible for this book than you know!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prologue
A slight breeze tickled the grass. The airy waves kept in stride with the young girl who cut through the meadow on her midnight jaunt toward the pond. Such a warm August night was meant to be experienced outdoors, though all children were supposed to be long in bed.
But as was Danny’s motto since cresting the ripe old age of seven...what her parents didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.
It was the only time of day she could enjoy the outdoors without suffocating in the unbearable heat. And the best part of being alone was that she could get away with only wearing a pair of cut-off shorts and flip-flops, relish in the feel of the occasional breeze on herifys bare chest.
The moon was high and full, illuminating the pond and everything above it in a mild blue. Her brother’s tree house was coming along nicely, nestled high in a towering black-walnut tree that was impossible to reach from the ground. Some day she would convince him to allow others access by adding steps. But until then, only the two of them – the youngest and most nimble of the family – were capable.
Naturally spring-fed from the abundant underground cave systems, the small basin of water was kept cool and crystal clear. The flat rock surrounding it was steep, partly jutting over the deep end making it perfect for jumping. Add the plentiful watercress and other exotic plants of the Ozarks, God may as well have painted a private masterpiece...just one of a few on Bennett land.
The surface was supposed to be disturbed only by naturally moving, soft splashing water. But much to the girl’s dismay, her midnight watering hole was already occupied. It suited her just fine to remain in the shadows, undetected just long enough to find out who else was out of bed when they shouldn’t be.
A head popped through the surface, waited. Then another head emerged as well.
“Hey, Austin, I got one!”
“Let me see.”
The girl’s breath came up short. Her brother was easy to recognize. His short brown hair matched her own, the voice recognizable. But what in God’s name was Derek doing with that boy
again!
Catching frogs and skinny-dipping she could relate to. But there were just some people you didn’t do it with. Getting her first look at the Cahill boy, her eyes only noted the black, slicked hair while her ears noted the voice, slightly cracking with change.
Wasn’t he the same age as her brother? Derek’s voice hadn’t started to change.
Did rich boys mature faster? Of course they did.
Angry, she searched the ground for a missile, picked up an acorn and strategically aimed it at the enemy. It sploshed harmlessly into the water, but close enough to warrant attention.
“Hey!”
She ducked the boys’ suspicious gazes until all was forgotten, then chose another missile. This time it hit it’s mark and the hollow
thunk
put a grin on her delicate face.
“Ow!”
“What the…”
This time she knew her brother and that blasted boy were swimming toward the bank, ready to investigate. Her cover was blown, but the shadows still afforded her the advantage long enough to gather their clothes in her arms. Heavily laden with britches, underwear and tennis shoes, she slinked further back under the heavy canopy of sugar maplthef sugares, but shouted a parting farewell. “You got a long walk home in your birthday suit, Cahill boy!”
Anger laced her brother’s tone as the boys topped the bank. “Danny? Is that you?”
Her eyes widened at the sight of their nakedness. They were both thin, lanky, pasty white in the moon glow and their twelve-year-old boy parts were swinging as they strode purposefully in her direction. Living with eight brothers, it wasn’t anything she hadn’t seen before. But
never
had her sight beheld a naked Cahill. It was too much.
At a stuttering loss for words, she dropped the clothes and ran. Their laughter followed her back through the meadow until the pond and her plans to use it were far behind her.
Austin watched Derek’s little brother until the boy’s bare moonlit back was no longer visible. Worried, he chewed his full bottom lip. “Is Danny a threat?”
“Nah. I own the little peckerwood.” The affection in Derek’s voice was not missed as they picked up their scattered clothing and headed back toward the water.
“It must be nice having so many brothers.”
Derek didn’t bother correcting his friend. So far, Danny was more boy than girl. “Not always. But the way you talk about your sister, I wouldn’t want to trade places with you.”
“Man, you have no idea.”
They hopped onto a section of flat rock and laid down on the cool surface. Enjoying the lukewarm breeze on their water-cooled skin, they lay there, hands under heads, and marveled at the sky. The stars were amazing toward the western horizon. The trees blocked most of them, but the trees were pretty too as the leaves gently turned in the moonlight.
A deep sigh. “I wish we could hang out without having to sneak around.”
“In a few years we can do what we want and our parents can’t do anything about it.”
“That’s true. But you’re my best friend, Austin, and you only come around once a week.” Derek found a loose stone and he launched it into the water without sitting up. “You’re so lucky. If I knew my parents wouldn’t skin my hide, I’d sneak the car out and come visit you in the middle of the night.” He turned his head to grin at Austin who was already grinning at the sky. “I can’t believe you get away with it.”
“Tom caught me once, but he wouldn’t dare tell my old man.” Austin now turned his onyx eyes on Derek. “I own him, too.”