Dark Corner Read Free Page B

worried that if he dared to sleep he would not wake until late
in the evening. He didn't want to leave his possessions in the
trailer overnight. He likely had no need to fear thieves in this
town, but years of city living had made him cautious.
    He had opened the trailer door and gripped a cardboard
box full of books when the grandmotherly woman who had
waved at him earlier walked across the street. She was accompanied by a tall, lean man who appeared to be her husband.
    "Good afternoon," the man said. He had a crisp, deep
voice. "Are you our new neighbor?"
    "That I am" David placed the box on the ground. "My
name is David Hunter."

    "A pleasure to meet you," the man said. "My name is
Franklin Bennett. This is my wife, Ruby."
    David and Franklin shook hands. Franklin had a strong,
dry grip. David immediately had a good feeling about him.
One of the few things his father had taught him was how a
trustworthy man will always have a firm handshake.
    Franklin and Ruby looked to be in their mid-sixties. Ruby
was dark-skinned and petite, with large, clear eyes. She wore
jeans, tennis shoes, a United Negro College Fund T-shirt,
and a cap that covered a full head of salt-and-pepper hair.
Franklin was bespectacled and balding, with a trimmed gray
beard. He wore a white dress shirt, slacks, and suspenders.
He had a scholarly demeanor. David was willing to wager
that he was a teacher.
    King came over and snuffled the Bennetts' legs. David introduced the dog, and the couple smiled and petted King.
They were obviously dog lovers.
    "So you're a Hunter?" Franklin said. "Was Richard Hunter
your..."
    "He was my father," David said.
    "We're so sorry to hear about what happened," Ruby said.
"What an awful accident."
    "Your father was a good man," Franklin said.
    "Thank you," David said. "I moved here from Atlanta.
Someone has to take care of the house for a while. It's been
in our family for a long time."
    "That is most certainly true," Franklin said. "Since nineteen twenty-seven, in fact"
    "Really?" David said. "I didn't know that"
    Franklin chuckled. "I'm a bit of a history buff, David.
One of my long-standing hobbies has been exploring the
history of our fine town"
    "Don't get Professor Bennett started" Ruby grinned.
"Will you be living here permanently, David?"
    "Maybe for a year. After that, we'll see. I've never lived
in a small town, so I'll see how I like it."

    "It's a markedly slower pace of life than what you're
likely accustomed to," Franklin said. "But we love it. We
grew up here, moved away to Washington, D.C., to have our
careers and raise our family, then decided to come back here
for our retirement."
    "What's the age range of the people here?" David said.
    "It's not a town full of old folks, sugar," Ruby said. She
chuckled. "We've got retired folks, like us, stable, working
families, then some kids your age, and younger. We've got
our share of young, pretty women, too. Are you single?"
    "Ruby, don't pry-" Franklin started.
    "It's no problem." David laughed. "I'm single."
    "Keep your eyes peeled, then," Ruby said. She winked.
David laughed again.
    "We could talk your ears off all day," Franklin said. "But
I see that you were in the process of unloading this trailer.
Why don't I assist you?"
    "Thanks, but that's okay. I don't have that much to take
inside."
    "Frank only wants an excuse to keep asking you questions," Ruby said. "David, please let him help you, or else
he'll talk me to sleep wondering about you"
    Franklin scowled. "Woman, you do not know my mind at
all." Then he laughed.
    "Since you put it that way, I could use a hand" David
smiled. These were the nicest people he had met in ages.
Although he could have unloaded the trailer on his own, he
was interested in continuing his discussion with Franklin.
The old man claimed to be a history buff, and he might
know a great deal about David's own family history as it related to the town.
    Most of all, David wanted to ask him about