Joey smiled. "Aww. You're having a girl. Have you picked out names yet?"
Sarah's eyes flew to Joey. "I didn't say that. I have no idea."
Drake narrowed his eyes at his sister. "Have you told Mom yet?"
"Uh oh," Joey said. "Did I say something wrong again?"
Sarah laughed. "Never." She ignored Drake. "And sorry I freaked out on you the other day. Seeing your pendant was just a little more than I could comprehend at the time."
"Drake told me about it. And your mom explained it to me. I wish I had more answers about why I even have it. My guess is that Daddy didn't know what it was either, but when I get home, I'm going to look through his journals. He wasn't an avid diary keeper, but he does have a few that he wrote in sporadically. I've never actually read them."
"Well, since that's the thing that got our daddy killed, it would be nice if there was some sort of explanation."
Drake groaned, and Sarah covered her face.
"Let me guess. No one had told her that part?"
"Killed?" Joey pinned Drake with a stare. "Neither of you told me that your father was killed over this, this thing." She clutched the pendant.
Drake reached over and took her hand. "We don't know that's what got him killed. We just know that he was accused of stealing the idol before he was killed. It has never been found."
"Oh, great. So now I'm wearing an idol of a lost artifact? I feel like I'm in an Indiana Jones' movie."
Sarah giggled. "We've never been compared to him before. It's just very strange to see the idol again, that's all."
"If my mom gets another moment of clarity, as I call it, I'll try to find out if she knows anything about it."
Sarah patted Joey on the shoulder. "I heard about that. I'm sorry you're having to watch your mom suffer through."
Joey finished her plate and stood. "If you'll excuse me, I need to go find out what my esteemed boss wants." She also didn't want to burst into tears talking about her mother.
Drake blew her a kiss. "If you need me, just find me. I'll bust his ass for you."
Joey almost had the desire to call Drake on his words when she stood in front of Percy almost an hour later.
"When I send someone to get you, I expect you to jump."
She rolled her eyes. "Should I ask how high?"
"Let me tell you something, you cocky little smart ass. I know you're not afraid of me but let me up the anty here." He cut right to his point for once. "You either stay away from our oh-so-gracious host, or Cheryl and her little brat are out on the road with nothing. Not a goddamned thing. And since you're all driving my campers, I can make it happen, and they will literally be out on the street. Do I make myself clear?"
His savagery shocked her into silence.
"That's what I thought. I have eyes everywhere, Josephine, and I know what you're doing at all times. Don't think you can pull one over on me. Stay away from the Hales. Got it?"
She spun on her heel and stormed out. She had no idea what his problem was with the Hale family, but something was definitely not right. He had never interfered with anyone's relationships before. And this little side trip had been his idea.
She was almost back to her camper when she heard shouts. She stopped and turned, and her blood ran cold when she realized what they were saying.
"Fire!"
Thick smoke rolled from one end of the blue barn.
Chapter Sixteen: Sabotage
Drake Hale
Once the breakfast rush was over, Colton managed to sneak out to haul hay bales to the paddocks while Drake was stuck helping his mother clean up. Sarah, for her part, was attempting to eat all of the leftovers to avoid putting them away.
