“Look, I want you to know that I had nothing to do with this, and I am very sorry about what Grannie did, but holding a grudge against me isn’t going to help anything.” I offer out my hand. “I promise I won’t tell anyone, and I’ll dig through Grannie’s stuff to see if there is a way to break this curse.”
Wade frowns, looking down at my hand. Rhett seems curious but doesn’t move.
“There is no way to break it,” Rhett says, and I finally hear his voice. Rough and husky, like he doesn’t talk much.
I drop my hand, since neither of them take it.
“There’s always a way. I’m not sure I’ll find it, but I’ll try. It’s the least I can do to make up for this. It’s not our fault that our family argued over land. We shouldn’t have to suffer.”
“Youaren’t suffering,” Wade snaps.
“Well, yeah, but—”
“We’re the ones who have been stuck as ch—“ He stops before he says it then lets out a frustrated growl as he goes to the back door.
I glance at Gus. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. That’s just Wade.” He goes after him, calling his name.
I look back at Rhett.
“I really just want to help. I don’t know what else I can do.”
He nods, then he leaves too. I don’t see them for the rest of the day. But they’re there in the morning, in chicken form, with their eggs waiting for me.
And then it hits me… how strange this actually is.
They aren’t roosters. They’re chickens. Hens.
Chickens arefemale. I can’t help but laugh to myself. Grannie sure was a menace.
Chapter Seven
Gus
“You’renotlistening,Wade,”I say in a hushed voice.
“No, you’re the one who isn’t listening,” he responds.
“I’ve heard everything you said—and I don’t agree.”
“There are no other options,” he growls.
“Wade, if you listened—”
“Enough, Gus. Seriously. I don’t want to hear it.”
I glance at Rhett, widening my eyes and silently askingare you going to help?
He sighs, shoving his hands into his pockets and walking over to Wade.
“If there’s a chance, shouldn’t we take it?” hesays.
Wade looks at him, then back at me. “Seriously? Now you’re tag-teaming me?”
“This isn’t about that,” Rhett says. “This is about our freedom. Shouldn’t we do everything we can if there is a possibility?”
“Just to be disappointed again? I don’t think so.”
