The New Butcher in Town

By Nanisi Barrett D'Arnuk

Amy Gilbert’s been coming to Marvin Wright’s butcher shop for years. It’s the only place her mother trusted. So she’s surprised when she discovers he has a new hire -- his niece Jody now works as his apprentice.

Amy’s attraction to Jody is immediate, and she wastes no time asking her out for drinks. Things seem to be heading in the right direction, but when Jody runs away after their first kiss, Amy’s left in turmoil.

What started out as a promising relationship threatens to sputter and die before it even gets off the ground. But when an ex-girlfriend from Jody’s past suddenly appears, Amy is determined not to let the new butcher in town get away from her that easily.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Sep 2, 2017
• ISBN: 9781634864527

Nanisi Barrett D'Arnuk

Nanisi Barrett D’Arnuk first published in 1996. In 2000, she and her partner were victims of a hate crime which burned their house to the ground, destroying everything. She has since rewritten her first series, The Cameron Andrews Mysteries. For more information, visit facebook.com/nanisibarrettdarnuk.

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The New Butcher in Town

By Nanisi Barrett D’Arnuk

Published by JMS Books LLC at Smashwords

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2017 Nanisi Barrett D’Arnuk

ISBN 9781634864527

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Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

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For Ti, Lucy, Harvey, and all the brood.

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The New Butcher in Town

By Nanisi Barrett D’Arnuk

I’ve been coming in here for years. It was the one butcher shop my mother trusted. Marvin Wright always chose the best cuts and treated his customers with the greatest care. I remembered when he was younger and had a lot of hair; now he was older and completely bald, whether by nature or by razor. He’d watched me grow up, too, and he always remembered me. He’d turned into a sharp old guy. (I say old with affection. He was probably the same age as my dad: forty-nine.)

The Wright family owned a farm in the next county, so he always had fresh meat and would tell his customers when there was going to be a special slaughtering and would take orders for any special cuts.

Hey, Amy, he greeted me. How are you doing?

I’m fine, Mr. Wright. You?

I’m doing really well, but I think I’m starting to get old.

You, Mr. Wright? You’ll never get old.

Nope, not up here. He tapped his head. But tell that to my knees. I had trouble getting up this morning when I had knelt down to clean the showcase. He laughed heartily. How’re your folks? I haven’t seen your mom lately.

They’re doing well. They’ve been away, went to visit my aunt in Florida for two weeks.

Which aunt? Irene?

No, Dad’s sister, Susan.

"Ah, didn’t know her as well. How’s she doing?"

Not too good, I guess. She’s got arthritis real bad.

Then she should be in Arizona, not Florida.

"I know, but tell her that."

Is she as stubborn as your daddy?

I nodded. Guess it’s a family trait. Hope I take after Mom’s side!

We both laughed at the thought.

Oh, tell your Mama that we’ll be slaughtering some sheep next week if there’s anything special she wants.

Ah! Save us a boneless shoulder roast, okay? I’ll see if she wants anything else.

All right. One boneless lamb shoulder roast for the Gilberts. He turned as he took the pencil from behind his ear and wrote it down on a clip board he had hanging behind the counter. He always had a pencil behind his ear. I can’t remember him without it. So, what can I get you today?

"Mom wants two pounds of hamburger, two