"Yes, ma'am." Swift nodded his head and grinned. If he had wanted to work, he would have gone to work.
"Then make yourself useful and tell Granny who the hell got my baby so upset. Your face is all bent up since you've been here." When he opened his mouth, she saw the lie coming before he spoke. "I know you like I know all my grandchildren, Cairo. That Ezekiel ain't no better," she added, referring to his cousin. "He lies for his daddy and his mama. Now, his younger sister and brother like money just like him. All I need to do is offer some, and they sing like canaries."
"Pfft. Money, too. How do you think he earned his nickname?"
Swift bent down, lowering to his knees as he took his time picking pole beans. He couldn't roughly pull them from the stem without risking breaking the stalk. He used to hate yardwork, especially tending the garden, but he had a newfound respect forit after working with Wrangler and the other staff at the Steel farm.
"That's all a front. Ezekiel likes independence and not having to rely on his parents. As soon as he could live on his own, off he went and has been gone ever since. I did hear he's coming to town, though."
Swift stopped, staring at his grandmother. He'd been so caught up with the Steel's affairs that he hadn't had time to catch up with his cousin.
"Oh, maybe that was a surprise." She laughed, then stood up as Papa barked feverishly at someone standing near their back gate. "Hmph. I wonder who that is?"
Swift stood, then lifted his hand, shielding his eyes from the sun. He couldn't make out their faces, but there were two of them. Whatever they said to Papa infuriated him, and he jumped, trying to leap over the gate.
"What the hell?"
Swift lowered his bag, practically running to where Papa was when they hopped into their truck and drove off. By the time he made it, he had run as far as he could, trying to read the license plate, but dust from the tires clouded the air.
"Papa, you're okay?" Swift rubbed his head, his chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath. "Alright, boy. Good job, but let's head on back inside."
By the time they returned to his grandmother, she stood there with her brows dipped.
"Baby, who was that?"
"I don't know, but do people usually get out and stand around your land?"
"Maybe, but this is the country. Folks ride up and down the road all the time. They probably saw Papa and decided to speak. Rest assured, your granny ain't never scared."
Granny went to a bench filled with her gardening tools, opened it, and pulled out her shotgun.
"What do you chirren tell folks about messing around and finding out or something like that?"
She racked her shotgun and winked her eye, causing Swift to belt out a huge laugh. He couldn't believe she hadn't blinked once when she attempted to repeat the infamous saying of "fuck around and find out".
"Granny, no more reality television for you." Swift kissed her forehead, then looked inside the gardening toolbox. She had another shotgun and two nine-millimeters. "Un-huh, let 'em come back."
"Naw, let's not. Let me call up Money. We need to install some outdoor cameras, and then I'll tell him I'm not his woman. He doesn't need to slip into town and surprise me."
"I think he's worried. That's all."
"About?"
"Cairo, you remind me of your mama when your daddy was chasing her. She did everything possible to give him a reason not to pursue her. She even had your uncles parading outside on the porch with shotguns like he was here to steal. You know what your daddy did?"
Swift knew. He'd heard the stories more times than he could count, but he loved hearing how his father staked his claim.
"One day, London called herself going out with some guy she felt was safe. Cain caught them out and about. Your mama was making the man spend up all his money on nothing she ain't already have. He figured it would work in his favor when he bought a cooler full of beer, four, maybe five slabs of ribs with Wonder bread, and the best weed from over there in Lancaster."
Granny giggled and slapped her leg.
"Your mama came back, and there Cain was on the porch, fingers all wet from barbecue sauce, three beers by his feet, and high as hell. All four of 'em."
"Granny, how did you know that was the best weed in Lancaster?" he asked, flashing his dimpled smile.
"That's Granny's medication for her knees. Now, go mind your damn business and get your girl back. You know that damn mama of yours can't hold water. Ezekiel said he's coming out here because he's worried. I'll pack your bowl, and if you want, you can leave Papa here."
Papa sat, wagging his tail.
