Carnival Glass

By Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

When James Glass returned after two and a half tours in Iraq, his spirit was as wounded as his body. With no home to go to, he joined a traveling carnival and has followed the show across America each season since.

It’s a lonely life and he still dreams of Kerry Simpkins, the woman he loved and once planned to marry. When he lands in the small town unaware she now calls home, their chance meeting results in both recognition and romance. James may have just found the second chance at coming home and if so, he’ll take it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Publishing
• Release date: Sep 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781772330038

Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

Growing up in historic St. Joseph, Missouri, Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy scribbled her stories from an early age. Her first publication – a poem on the children’s page of the local newspaper – seems to have set her fate. As a full time author, she has more than twenty full length novels published along with assorted novellas and short fiction. A contributor to more than two dozen anthologies, her credits include Chicken Soup For The Soul among many collections of short fiction. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Missouri Writers Guild, and the Ozark Writers League. Lee Ann earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Missouri Southern State University as well as an Associate Degree from Crowder College. She has worked in broadcasting, retail, and other fields including education. She is currently a substitute school teacher. As a wife and mother of three, she spends her days penning stories, cooking, reading, and other daily duties. She currently makes her home in the Missouri Ozarks, living in what passes for suburbs in a small town.

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Published by Evernight Publishing ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2014 Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

ISBN: 978-1-77233-003-8

Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Editor: Lisa Petrocelli

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

CARNIVAL GLASS

Romance on the Go

Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

Copyright © 2014

Chapter One

Midnight might be the witching hour, but at three o’clock in the morning, darkness reigned in James’ world. Sleep often eluded him, but if he drifted into an uneasy doze, the nightmares hit with full force. Awake, each awful thing he had ever done haunted him and the stresses he struggled with during the day grew into giants to torture his troubled soul by night. The lonesome hours spent solitary in his bunk gnawed holes in what little remained of James Glass’ heart. He drank too much and spent hours mesmerized by the flame from a single candle.

The dark green Sangria bottle held one taper, but over the months James had spent with the carnival, he had burned many. Different colors of wax decorated the sides of the bottle in intricate patterns, the results of many late night sessions. His obsession with creating the perfect drip candle kept him sane. Without it, he might yield to the ever-present temptation to end his life. He would drink too much cheap liquor and have black thoughts. The past would torment him even more.

Other men listened to music or read books or engaged in sex with women they didn’t know. They hung out in bars, went fishing, hunting, or gambled. Some people adopted a pet or found a hobby, like collecting stamps or coins. James found some minor solace in his candles, although he had no idea why. Perhaps the flickering flame represented the sole light he allowed into his dark misery.

The late June heat never abated much in his tiny tin can of a travel trailer, but he lacked air conditioning. He could find a cheap used window unit and adapt it to fit, but he never had. Too much effort would be required. He didn’t really want it, didn’t care for the stale, cool air it would produce. Sweating didn’t require any effort. A fine layer of perspiration coated his face and although he wiped it off with one sleeve, he continued to roast. James thought about a shower, but the water pressure lacked force, thanks to the system of hoses running through the backyard.

He cocked his head and listened. An absence of noise indicated most of the carnies had retired for the night. Tomorrow would be another free day before Thursday morning’s work call to set up the show for the three-day run. If he ventured out, it wasn’t likely he would meet anyone now, so James blew out the candle.

He put on a T-shirt and ventured outside. Travel trailers, motor homes, and RVs of every size surrounded