Not Afraid

By Elizabeth Monvey

Raleigh Hewes has known Augustus Rains his whole life, and for the past year they’ve been lovers. They’ve kept it a secret because Gus is afraid of what people will say. Not only are they a gay couple in a small town but he is black and Raleigh is white. Raleigh wants to be out and proud, but Gus is concerned since both their businesses revolve around the local market.

After an argument, Raleigh has doubts that their love can last because he’s tired of hiding their relationship. When a storm sweeps over his farm, he’s caught in the eye of a tornado, and Gus races frantically to find the man he loves.

The danger has put into perspective his fears and Gus decides not to be afraid anymore. He just hopes it’s not too late to lay claim to Raleigh’s heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Publishing
• Release date: Oct 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781772330366

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Published byn Evernight Publishing ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2014 Elizabeth Monvey

ISBN: 978-1-77233-036-6

Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Editor: Tricia Kristufek

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.

DEDICATION

Many thanks to my editor Trish, and to all the Evernight Staff.

NOT AFRAID

Romance on the Go TM

Elizabeth Monvey

Copyright © 2014

Chapter One

Raleigh bounded up the back porch steps and immediately smelled the delicious supper his grandmother had cooked. His stomach rumbled hungrily, but he ignored it because he was going to have to make a run into town.

You’re late, his grandmom, Berryl, said as he pushed open the porch door.

The padlock busted and the cows wandered out, he explained. I had to round some of the strays up.

Yes, I can smell it on you, she replied dryly. Go on upstairs and wash. As you can see, supper is ready.

I gotta run to Gus’s before he closes.

Berryl put her hands on her hips and frowned at him. When he was a child, that look would’ve had him cowering, and truth be told, it still made the little boy inside him cringe a little.

I’ve got wire holding it together, he explained, hating that his voice had taken on a whining tinge to it, just like it used to when he was younger and she would tell him no.

It’s not like the cows are gonna stampede, she pointed out. They’ll be fine.

I won’t be able to sleep all until I get it fixed.

She huffed and turned away. Well, I’m going to eat. You can heat up your food when you get back.

He bent and quickly kissed her cheek, then darted away before she could slap him. He caught the small smile playing around her lips and knew she wasn’t really mad at him. She never was. Berryl Hewes was a rough, tough old lady with a heart the size of the universe. She’d do anything for anybody and asked only for truth in return, and that right there had Raleigh hiding his eyes as he turned to the stairs and ran up them two at a time. He couldn’t give