His eyes hardened as he stared at Krista, then those dark orbs turned on me, sending a chill down my spine. “Heard your boyfriend had an accident.”
“Yeah, but he’ll be okay. Thank you for your concern.”
“Wasn’t concern,” he snapped. Then his eyes slid over to Krista. “What’s it feel like to be on the other end for once?”
“Mr. Callahan?—”
“Heard the whole town is rallying around him. My boy even told me he gave you the rest of the week off,” he said, his eyes sliding back to me.
I didn’t know what to say. There was an accusation in there somewhere, but I couldn’t be sure what exactly he was so pissed about.
“The golden boy finally got his comeuppance,” he chuckled.
“He’s not the golden boy,” Krista snapped. “And that’s pretty shitty to be glad he got in an accident, especially when this town did so much for you when Clay was hurt.”
That taunting in his voice suddenly turned dangerous as he shoved my cart out of the way and got in Krista’s face. “Helped themselves right to my land,” he muttered.
“That’s not what happened.”
“Isn’t it?” Mr. Callahan said sharply.
I sucked in a gasp, waiting on pins and needles for Krista’s response. I knew there was bad blood between the two families, but nothing to this level. The gleam in his eyes told me we needed to back off now.
Gently, I pried Krista away from him with my fingers wrapped around her bicep. “Come on. Let’s finish our shopping.”
“Get what you need and get out,” Mr. Callahan snapped. “We don’t want your kind around here.”
Krista snarled under her breath as he walked away, but I had a feeling this was long from over. Anger like that didn’t just dissipate.
“The accident just brought up bad feelings,” I lied. “Let’s finish the list and leave.”
“I hate that old man.”
Tugging her down the aisle, I quickly grabbed the rest of the items and made my way to the counter. “Here, why don’t you go cool off the car,” I said, handing Krista the keys.
She took them, but not before giving Mr. Callahan a scowl that made even me want to run for the hills.
“You’re not doing yourself any favors by getting mixed up with that family,” he grumbled as he scanned my items.
“I’ve been friends with them for years.”
He grunted, but didn’t say anything else.
“You know, there used to be a time when I was friends with Clay as well.”
“No one wants to hang out with him now that his brain don’t work right.”
“That’s not true. If—” I stopped myself right before I accused Austin of turning Clay into his lackey. That wouldn’t help the situation any.
“If what?”
“We don’t see him very often in town.”
“Maybe there’s a reason for that,” Mr. Callahan said right before he snatched the cash out of my hand. “Get on,” he grumbled, shooing me out the door.
I took my groceries and headed back for the vehicle, not breathing right until I was safely locked inside. I’d never been scared of the Callahans, but there was just something about them lately that set me on edge.
“Let’s get out of here.”
