Holy Water and Whiskey Scars

Holy Water and Whiskey Scars Ali Spooner 2023 Back of the Book Faith Wilson and Logan Bronson have family secrets to protect and a legacy to uphold to support their small rural Appalachian community. Their commitment to each other is strong, and their desire to aid the struggling families however they can, lead them both down an exciting but dangerous path. Will their love continue to grow and be the glue that binds the community together, or will they flee the withering community? Holy Water and Whiskey Scars © 2023 by Ali Spooner Affinity E-Book Press NZ LTD. Canterbury, New Zealand Edition First 1st ISBN: ISBN: 978-1-99-104024-4(paperback) ISBN: 978-1-99-104025-1(EPUB) ISBN: 978-1-99-104026-8(PDF) ISBN: 978-1-99-104027-5(KINDLE) All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the express permission of the author and publisher. Please note that piracy of copyrighted materials violates the author’s rights and is illegal. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Editor: A Koenig Proof Editor: Lisa M Cover Design: Irish Dragon Designs Production Design: Affinity Publication Services Acknowledgments I thank my fans for following my stories and providing great feedback and encouragement. Writing wouldn’t be so much fun without you. Thanks to Affinity, Irish Dragon, for the cover art and the team of editors, readers, and publishers who continue to help me grow as a writer. Dedication I dedicate this story to my Mom, who lived through some of the struggles of this small community. You are and have always been my Guardian Angel. Also by Ali Spooner Single BooksI Am StormThe Ghost of East TexasThe Trophy Wives Club-TWC1The Bee CharmerRuinedBack in the SaddleOpen Your HeartSouth of HeavenShotgun RiderThe SettlementLove’s PlaylistCowgirl UpTwisted LivesThe EpitaphTerminal EventBailey’s RunForever Home SeriesThe Island SeriesVenus RisingNeptune’s Ring The Hunter SeriesThe Devil’s TreeBound Sasha Thibodaux SeriesSugarlandBayou JusticeLine of Sight Strong Southern Women SeriesDiamond DreamsGator GirlzTrue NorthFootprints Cast Iron Farm SeriesThe Mountain WhispersThe Star ChildSoul on Fire Songwriters SeriesSix Strings and a DreamMidnight in NashvilleOut and Loud Co-authored with Annette MoriHeart Strings Attached-TWC3Free to LoveTrouble in Paradise TWC4Co-Authored withK.L. GallagherHat Trick Find out more about Affinity and our Authors. Check out the latest news on new releases and more. Become an Affinity newsletter subscriber. We have special offers only for subscribers! Check out other books by Affinity Authors- Table of Contents Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Personal Notes from the Author About the Author Other Books from Affinity Chapter One “Holy Shit.” Faith Wilson cried loudly as her hand clutched the panic bar above the passenger’s side door. Her left hand pressed into the edge of the dash as her butt cheeks grabbed for the seat. She cursed Logan’s choice of leather seats as she felt her body sliding toward the driver’s side. Faith looked at Logan. “You remember we have already made our delivery, right?” Logan grinned at Faith. “Yeah, I know. I just can’t help myself. I love fucking with these guys. They have tried to catch Lightning for years but never do. I don’t plan to change that tonight.” Logan pulled into the cover of thick trees and cut her engine. Several long seconds later, they saw the blue lights flashing between the branches as the sirens echoed through the forest. Faith straightened in her seat and looked at Logan. Her dark eyes were shining with excitement. “Why were they even chasing us?” “I was running about fifteen miles over the limit.” Logan shrugged. “It really gets their goat that those buffoons can’t catch me. I give them a chase every time I can.” Faith shook her head. “You know that’s going to land you in jail one day. Or worse. What will happen when they buy one of the supercharged cruisers, Ms. Bronson?” Logan laughed. “It’s not the cars. Never has been. It’s the skill of the driver and lack of confidence that has kept them from catching me. They’ve never gotten close enough to get a tag number or even a good description of Lightning.” Logan reached down and turned a button. The crackle of a police scanner filled the truck cab. “The Ghost has slipped through our fingers again.” They heard an irritated male voice report over the radio. “The Ghost?” “That is their name for me. I disappear like a ghost when they get close. Those guys don’t realize I know every inch of these state and county roads. Even some that are no longer on any map.” Logan reached over to brush a strand of loose hair from Faith’s face. “I can drive every switchback within three counties with my eyes closed and never hit my brakes. These guys need to slow down for fear of taking a tumble down the mountain.” “You are crazy. You know that?” “I’ve been called much worse. It’s what I’m good at. You didn’t have to come.” “I need to meet the buyer occasionally, but you’ve made my heart race tonight with that chase.” Logan scooted closer to Faith. “I thought my incredible good looks made your heart race, or my sexy eyes?” Logan wiggled her eyebrows for emphasis. “Oh, they do. But they don’t compare to the sound of your tires sliding on the gravel as you take the curves at full speed or the rush of the guard rails as you brush past them.” “You have such a way with words, Ms. Wilson,” Logan teased. She leaned into Faith and kissed her. “We can stay here and fog up the windows, or I can deliver you safely to your bed before the sun rises?” “Is it safe to get back on the road?” “Who said anything about getting back on the road?” Logan smiled and