In Every Heartbeat by Kim Vogel Sawyer Page A

So what if they’d always prayed before eating at the orphans’ home? As much as he’d appreciated the good meals and the warm bed, he’d never taken to all of the rules. Now that he was on his own again, he could do as he pleased. And he preferred to leave the praying to Pete.
    As soon as the man raised his head, he said, “I’m Jim.” He pointed at his buddy. “This’s Ted.”
    “Bennett Martin.” Bennett forked up another monstrous bite and pointed at the jackets the pair wore. “You two in one of those fraternity groups?”
    Jim grinned. “That’s right. Delta Tau Delta. You planning to pledge? Ours is a good one.”
    Bennett mopped at the grease on his plate with a folded slice of bread. “Probably. But not sure which one. Gotta do some thinking on it.”
    “Don’t think too long,” Ted advised. “The fraternities only accept so many pledges. If you put it off, you might miss getting the one you really want.”
    Bennett shrugged again even though the idea of being in one of the groups appealed to him. He’d been alone until Aaron Rowley convinced him to leave the streets and live at the orphans’ school. There, he’d formed a friendship with Pete and Libby, but even with them, he sometimes felt as if he didn’t quite fit. What would it be like to join a fraternity and really belong?
    The two fraternity members put their heads together and talked quietly while Bennett continued to eat. He gulped the last bite, patted his stomach, and rose. “Well, fellas, I’m done, so—”
    The pair leapt up. “Hold on there.”
    Bennett curled his hands around his tray. “Why?”
    A sly grin crept up Ted’s cheek. “Wondered if you’d made up your mind yet about pledging. You gonna consider Delta Tau Delta?”
    “Maybe.” Out of the corner of his eye, Bennett observed Jim inching around the table.
    “Well, since you’re thinking about it, we need to find out a few things.” Ted folded his arms over his chest. “We like singers in our fraternity. Can you sing, Martin?”
    Chairs squeaked as people turned to watch. The noisy banter of moments ago hushed as whispers and muffled laughter rolled across the dining hall. The hair on the back of Bennett’s neck prickled. He hadn’t minded being the center of attention on the lawn because he’d been playing offense. But he didn’t care for defense. “I’m not much of a singer. So I probably wouldn’t be a good fit for the Delta Tau Delta.”
    “Let us decide that.” Jim took the tray from Bennett’s hands. “Climb on the table there and give us a little concert.” He swung around, grinning at the others in the room. “How ’bout some encouragement? Martin here’s gonna sing for us.”
    A cheer rose. Bennett stood stiff-legged, his hands clenched into fists. He had two choices: let them control him or take control. His cheeks twitched as he fought a grin. Had anyone ever forced him to do anything he didn’t want to do? He leapt onto the table. It wobbled, and he made a show of catching his balance, earning a round of laughter. Then, his balance restored, he held his arms wide.
    “All right, I’ll sing a song. But first, is there a Caroline in the dining hall?”
    High-pitched giggles erupted from a corner table. Two girls pointed to a third girl—timid-looking with straggly wisps of brown hair hanging around her thin face. She covered her cheeks with both hands. Bennett grinned and crooked his finger at the girl. “C’mon over, honey. Can’t sing this song without you.”
    The girl’s dining mates pulled her from her chair. Pink-faced, she resisted, digging in her heels and shaking her head wildly. But the other two propelled her across the floor to the edge of Bennett’s table.
    He crouched down and gave her his most disarming grin. “So you’re Caroline, huh?”
    “Y-yes.” The girl strained against her friends’ hold, her brown eyes wide.
    Bennett nearly rolled his eyes. Silly girl—she wasn’t being dragged to the gallows. He