All Bets Are Off: A Samantha True Novel

by Rose, Kristi

  I bent to dig out a lens from my camera bag and watched her stalk off. She went across the park and behind a booth with a Danner Pesticide banner across the top. An older, tall, stocky man about the same age as my father was waiting there. He said something to her, and she gave him a dismissive wave. He looked slightly familiar as well.

  I turned, curious to see Principal Josh’s face. A tall teen with brown hair and side swept bangs was inches from the principal.

  “What do you want?” Principal Josh asked.

  Nope, his Joker smile gone, replaced by a thin press of his lips.

  “Wait till she finds out about the other stuff you took,” the teen said with a snarl.

  Principal Josh scoffed.

  The teen leaned closer to Josh, fist clenched, his voice low and menacing. “She may be done with you, but I’m not. You better replace everything, including the batteries and gas.” The teen snorted, his nostrils flared. “Yeah, I know about that.” The teen’s anger was radiating off him.

  I stepped off the stage, prepared to break up a fight.

  “And what if I don’t?” Josh hissed. “What are you going to do?”

  “I have options. For starters, I can tell everyone about you and the IT lady getting it on in your car. And about your smoking habit. For starters.”

  Beside me, June gasped.

  I was less shocked by the exchange, but more by the teen’s aggressive mannerisms. Like the kid had a chance taking on an adult. And to do so in such a public venue.

  I shook my head with disbelief.

  Principal Josh tossed back his head and laughed. The Joker smile had returned. He said, “Careful. If we’re telling secrets, I think you might have a few you wouldn’t want uncovered.” He slapped the kid on the back and strolled off as if nothing untoward had happened.

  I looked at June, confused. Anger etched her face. She rolled her eyes and returned to serving her long line of patrons.

  I turned my attention back to the families in line. No one but me and June seemed to seen and heard the interaction. I caught my mom as she, Rachel, and Cora were walking by.

  “Hey,” I asked. “Is it weird that Danner pesticide is here? Pesticide doesn’t feel festive.”

  My mom picked imaginary lint off my tunic. “The school has a policy that when the property’s sprayed with pesticides, parents can opt in or out on notification. Danner does the spraying. They’re here to field questions.”

  I nodded to the booth. “That’s the owners?” Father and daughter maybe?

  Mom glanced at the booth. “Yes, sorta. You don’t remember Laura Danner? Oh, I can’t recall her maiden name. But she was a grade or two ahead of Rachel. She married Carl Danner. That’s his father, Lyle, with Laura.”

  Realization dawned. “Carl was killed a few years ago, right? Changing a tire on the side of the road and someone hit him?” The story was tragic.

  Mom nodded, looking sad. “Yes, and it wasn’t even his tire. He’d stopped to help a stranger. Left two kids behind. Levi and Lanie.”

  “She’s dating Principal Josh?” I remembered Carl as a big, scrappy guy who looked like he could survive any situation. Not exactly in the same class of man as the principal. I wanted to slap myself upside that head. That’s who the teen was. Levi Danner.

  Mom smiled. “They’ve been dating for a few months. Good for her, she deserves to be happy. More importantly, it’s probably good for Levi, too. He’s struggled and having a good male role model in his life might be a positive thing.” She licked her finger then wiped something off my face.

  “Gross, mom,” I said, jerking back.

  “You’re so pretty, Sam. You should take more time with yourself.”

  “I should take these folks’ picture,” I said and pointed my camera at the impatiently waiting family.

  “You’re so good at this, honey. Don’t you miss taking pictures?” She draped an arm around Cora’s shoulders, who was face deep into a shaved ice, and steered her away.

  I looked at the irritated expression of the dad. Yep, I was so good at this. Not!

  “Smile,” I said with a fake cheery voice and bit back a laugh at the dad’s scowl.

  * * *

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  Meet Kristi Rose

  Hey! I’m Kristi. I write romances that will tug your heartstrings and laugh out loud mysteries. In all my stories you’ll fall in love with the cast of characters, they’ll become old, fun friends. My one hope is that I create stories that satisfy any of your book cravings and take you away from the rut of everyday life (sometimes it's a good rut).

  When I’m not writing I’m spinning (riding a stationary bike- I’m obsessed with having smaller calves. Mine Are HUGE- and not in a good way, ya'll), repurposing Happy Planners, or drinking a London Fog (hot tea with frothy milk).

  I’m the mom of 2 and a milspouse (retired). We live in the Pacific Northwest and are under-prepared if one of the volcanoes erupts.

  Here are 3 things about me:

  I lived on the outskirts of an active volcano (Mt.Etna)

  A spider bit me and it laid eggs in my arm (my kids don’t know that story yet)

  I grew up in Central Florida and have skied in lakes with gators.

  I’d love to get to know you better. Join my Read & Relax community and then fire off an email and tell me 3 things about you!

  Not ready to join? Email me below or follow me at one of the links below. Thanks for popping by!

  You can connect with Kristi at any of the following:

  www.kristirose.net

  kristi@kristirose.net