She glanced around the room and scooted her chair closer. The low hum of kids taking part in various activities floated around us.
“Well, they’re a pack of about four or five boys. All Leary cousins. Wilder than hell with little to no supervision at their homes.” She leaned in closer. “That family has a reputation for dysfunctional situations, so of course, the boys are just repeating what they see at home. I personally feel that they’re simply lost and need some proper guidance, but they won’t get that at home.”
Ah, so the Learys were raising another generation of bullies. Typical and so very sad. “Are they any relation to the Owens clan?”
“Only through marriage. They’re both loud, rude, and ignorant, but Manfred does tend to keep a firm rein on his sons,and none of those brutes have reproduced yet. Given as how your family is all about the gayness, I’d keep a close eye on both of those broods. They’re quick on the trigger when it comes to people who are different than they are. Ask me how I know.”
“How do you know?” I enquired, leaning up with my coffee cup dangling between my fingers. I was going to ask about the gayness comment, but it was fairly obvious. Baker was with Hanley and did not hide that fact. I was dating the sheriff, also a well-known situation it seemed, and Bella lived with us, a transfemme man, so yeah, we did have the rainbow flag flying out at Bastian Acres. And we’d not touched on our gay youngest sibling or our big bear queer half-brother.
“I married a Cherokee man a few years back.”
“Ah.”
“Yep.”
“Okay, well, thank you for the information.” The side doors opened. The pack rolled in, loud, pushing and shoving through a group of kids working on signs for the livestock barns. I knew that group well. They were Dahn’s buddies. My sight flew to my son, who, as soon as he saw his friends enter, put some distance between himself and Phil. “Those the boys we were discussing?”
“Oh yeah, all Learys.” Her nose wrinkled as if she had just winded a skunk. One of the instructors shouted at the wild ones to settle down. They did, to a point. Knowing what I knew now, I waited it out seated beside Lily. When the hour and a half was over, I knew more about the people of our little town than I probably should. Lily was quite the chatterbox. Phil bounded over to us, and Dahn lingered with his friends, shooting me looks that felt like pinpricks. I waved him over strongly and watched as he pulled away from the boys.
“Looks like you’re doing well,” I said to my son, placing a hand on his shoulder as I stared hard at the Leary cousins. They wilted under my glare, shuffling outside to do whatever it wasthey were planning to do. “Lily says you and Phil are striking up a goatie friendship.”
“Sure,” Dahn muttered. Lily smiled that “kids” sort of parental sympathy smile.
“I’m all for it.” I gave his neck a squeeze and said goodbye to Lily and Phil. Dahn was silent on our way to the car, his head craning when we stepped outside to find the pack but unable to locate them. Just as well. Dahn and I were going to have a long talk very soon about that particular group of boys. He slumped in his seat as we headed back to the ranch. I had some work to do on the books, and then I had a date to get ready for. And speaking of that date…“Tonight I’m going out with Ollie.”
“Whatever.”
I’d only heard that word said in that tone a few times, and it already made my left eye twitch. I’d have a permanent eye spasm by the time he outgrew it.
“Right, well, I’m telling you now ahead of time so you know what is taking place and where I’ll be should you need me.”
“Whatever.”
I drew in a long breath then let it out. “Ollie and I are going to the casino tonight.”
“What’s at the casino?” Dahn enquired, his words clipped but his sight now on me.
“Gambling games mostly,” I answered. I’m not big into gambling, to be honest, so my time in casinos was limited. Chris, on the other hand, never met a casino or betting app he didn’t like. “This one also has a stage show and a fine restaurant, so we’ll see the show, eat, maybe play a few hands of cards or spend some time with the one-armed bandits, and then come home. I should be home by midnight, but it might be later. Granny, Bella, and all your uncles will be home.”
“Whatever.” He went back to looking out the window at the farms passing by.
“Dahn, I know all of this new stuff is hard to adjust to,” I said over a soft Lionel Richie song from the ’80s playing on the radio. “I’m not trying to add to your confusion, but I am ready to live my life a little. It’s been a long time since your dad and I split, and I like Ollie. Dating him should be no hardship for you in any way.”
“Dad, he’s a cop. The guys say he only got the job because he’s an Indian.”
I pulled off the road to stare at my son. He darted a few looks my way. “Okay, this stops here and now. I don’t like what just came out of your mouth. Ollie got the job because the people of Bastian Grange elected him, more than once, to keep the town safe. His being Native American had nothing to do with his being elected. What got him elected was that he’s the best man for the job. I will not have you spouting racist things that you hear from your friends. Do I make myself clear, young man?”
“Yeah,” he whispered.
My anger began to wither as I watched him roll into himself. “Dahn, you of all people should understand how hurtful that kind of thing is. What if you won the blue ribbon at the fair for best showman but people said you only won it because you’re Asian?” His eyes flared. “Right, exactly. That’s not in the least fair or accurate, is it?” He shook his head. “You’d win because you worked the hardest. Just like Ollie worked hard to get a degree and then won the election. I think you need to take a small break from those boys and find new kids to hang out with once school starts.” He sat there silently, nodding, but never agreeing. I ruffled his hair. “Okay, well, that’s something to think about over the next few days. You’re a smart boy with a good heart. I’m sure you’ll make the right decision about yourself and Ollie.”
We pulled back onto the road when silence was his reply. We no sooner parked behind Hanley’s vehicle than Dahn wasout the door, barreling toward the goat barn. I gathered up his backpack from the rear and ambled into the ranch house to lose myself in numbers. Maybe a few hours trying to rob Peter to pay Paul, as my aunt says, would take my mind off my son and his difficulties. It was doubtful but worth a try.
10
Chapter Ten
“Hey, you with me here?”
