“Nothing’s gonna help at this point.”
The inspector pulls out what’s left of his phone, the screen cracked but somehow still functional. “Both ranches are being fined for unsafe water management, destruction of government property, assault by goat, and creating a hostile work environment.”
“Assault by goat isn’t a real violation,” Jesse protests.
“It is now.” He types something with shaking fingers. “I’ll be back next month with new paperwork. If it’s not signed by both parties, in my presence, without any goats, you lose water rights. And if that goat comes near me again, I’m calling animal control, the sheriff, and possibly the National Guard.”
He squelches to his car, leaving muddy footprints and what’s left of his dignity.
“This is your fault,” Mr. Thompson tells Dad.
“My fault? Your daughter’s goat stole government property!”
“Your son broke the valve!”
“Your stubbornness started this whole thing!”
“Your existence started it!”
They storm off in opposite directions, leaving me, Jesse, and Callie standing in the mud.
“So that went well,” I say.
“We’re going to lose water rights,” Callie says flatly. “Both ranches will fail. We’ll all have to sell. The land will probably become a shopping mall.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Jesse assures her. He doesn’t sound convinced.
“How? Our fathers would rather die of thirst than cooperate. They’d rather watch everything burn than sign one piece of paper together. Couple of idiots, if you ask me,” she says with disgust.
“Maybe they’ll mellow out by next month,” I suggest.
Callie and Jesse look at me like I’ve suggested our fathers might spontaneously become besties.
“Right. Never mind.”
Callie heads back to her truck, and Jesse and I watch her go, both thinking the same, that this feud is going to destroy everything if we don’t find a way to stop it.
Later that afternoon,I run into Callie at the gas station. She looks frazzled, like she’s been dealing with more than the usual amount of chaos, which for a Thompson is saying something.
“Your dad’s being weird,” I tell her.
“My dad’s always weird. It’s his baseline state.”
“Weirder. Florist weird. Smiling at his phone weird.”
She freezes, credit card halfway to the reader. “What?”
“Jesse and I saw him at the florist. With a suspicious bag. Very secretive. Also, he was parked behind thepharmacy for twenty minutes doing something that made him smile. Jesse got pictures.”
“Oh my God.” She finishes paying for gas with shaking hands. “That confirms it. He’s definitely dating someone. And I’m now ninety percent sure it’s Mrs. Delaney.”
“Your dad and the town gossip?” I can’t help but laugh. “That’s either genius or insane.”
“Both. Definitely both.” She grins at me, all excitement and mischief. “I’m gonna do some surveillance tomorrow. Think I can pull it off?”
“Absolutely. Use Rita as your cover story.”
“Brilliant idea. Or is it too creepy? Spying on my dad’s love life?”
