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She sighed dra?”
Brant arched his brow “I can’t wait to hear this”
She flipped her hair over her shoulders “All of this is make-believe, silly Don’t you kno to pretend?”
“In other words,” Brant explained, “the fairy tale can change at any point” A beat later, he added a smile and said, “See if you can’t try and pay attention”
Colt studied the large, round circles adorning the cardboard box, noticing they didn’t have plastic cups or anything to suggest drinks—iined or real—would soon be served “Tell you what, since you were kind enough to offer us a little hospitality, I have an idea I’ll be right back”
Colt started to walk off and Brant ju?”
“She’s a child, Brant She’s not a loan officer at the local bank She won’t bite Wait here”
Brant had warned Colt on the way to Kentucky Harlan County was rich with natural character and offered plenty for the outdoorsman, but where the area’s county leaders and officials failed, they failed their community miserably
Many citizens in the area struggled Families couldn’t feed their children Schools weren’t provided with enough funding to offer adequate education Jobs were scarce, some said practically nonexistent And homelessness was the norm
Was Princess Exhibit A? If so, where were her parents? Did they understand how dangerous it was to leave a child unattended in this day and age?
Colt wandered through the park area until he found a vendor selling hot chocolate He ordered three cups and headed back to the large oak tree He stood at a distance for a fewthe way the child tried to ed for his acceptance
She was telling what appeared to be a grand story, co, and a soloWhen she didn’t gain the reaction she evidently desired, she swooned at Brant’s feet
Colt rushed to the table and quickly set the Styrofoaround and obviously bought the child’s theatrics “What the blasted hell?” He shook the girl by the shoulders “Hey! Are you okay?”
She opened one eye A slow smile claimed her full rosy lips and she said, “So you do care if I live to rule this land as the greatest queen this court has ever seen!”
It wasn’t a question, but rather a triumphant proclamation