The woman’s smile faded, and she studied him as though dissecting and rejecting the many parts that made him who he was.“Because there’s an arrogance about you.Jack and Dolly don’t have an arrogant bone in them.”She glanced at the car, shook her head.“What happened?Couldn’t rent the BMW, so had to settle for a compact?”She didn’t wait for a response, but continued her barrage of his character.“Your tone says entitled, bored, and annoyed, so I’m guessing you weren’t dying to visit.”Another head shake, and then came the words that pounded his gut.“You’re not here because you want to be.You’re here because youhaveto be.What did you do?Run up your parents’ credit cards?Spend too many days by the pool instead of getting a job?”The narrowed gaze shot straight through him.“Any or all of the above?”
Ian never admitted uncomfortable possibilities to himself, let alone some smart-mouthed woman who lived in the woods like a hermit.He ignored the comments, shot back a few of his own.“Since we’re doing ten-second-meet-and-greet analyses, I’ll go with recluse with trust issues and an aversion to the real world.”He shot a glance at the cabin,hisfamily’s cabin.“And I’m also going with takes what she wants, whether it belongs to her or not.”
“Get off my property and stay away, or I’ll tell your cousins you’ve been harassing me.”Her nostrils flared, her face turned red.“They won’t like that, especially when I tell them what you’ve said.”
Ian opened his mouth to shoot more accusations, decided against it.The last thing he needed was to annoy his “Uncle” Jack.“I think I’ll head out now.”He raised a hand, manufactured a smile.“Let’s forget this encounter, okay?”
The look she gave him said “not likely”, and then she picked up the ax and chopped another piece of wood, leaving him to wonder if she’d stay quiet or spill to Jack and Dolly.
It tooktwo days for the whole town to start buzzing about Jack Finnegan’s kin, the city boy who didn’t know how to punch a timecard or stuff a shop rag in his pocket.
Ha ha ha.Talk about a fish out of water.
Did you see that boy trying to push a 2-wheel dolly?Acted like he never seen one before.
Who doesn’t know not to use their cell phone on company time?
And how about when he went to the front office to get a cup of coffee?
And the grease on his face?
Idiot.
Bet Jack’s blood pressure goes up every time he hears another story about the kid.
No doubt, but do you think his father taught him how to use a tool?The guy left town as soon as he could.Thinks we’re all hillbillies and fools who don’t know the difference between a fork and a spoon.
Still…
I guess we could have helped him by telling him what each buzzer means.
But that wouldn’t have been any fun, now, would it?
Want to take a bet on how long he stays?Let’s start a pool.Ten dollars says he quits before his first paycheck.
Ha.You’re on.I say he doesn’t make it three more days before he hurts himself.Gash or some such that sends him to the emergency room.
No doubt that could happen.He’s not used to manual labor, that’s for certain.
Did you see those hands?Not a spec of dirt under the nails.
Do you think he gets a manicure?
I hope not.
What about the hair?He’s too pretty with that tan and the dark hair.
And the cleft in his chin.Don’t forget about that.
Betty was fawning all over him, running her mouth faster than machine number eight.For an old spinster who’s never lived with anybody but her dogs, it’s a curious sight to watch.
Bet Nate will have a thing or ten to say about it.You know he doesn’t like show-offs or people who talk too much and say nothing.
That’s because Nate gets his message across with a look.Words aren’t necessary.
True, but he’s better now that he’s got a wife and kids.
Absolutely.Pop says he’s getting soft, like butter melting on hot corn.
