It’s hard to swallow past the lump forming in my throat, so I take a few swigs of water to wash it down. It doesn’t really help.
“Hi, there!” is shouted from behind me, the sound coming from a distance away. It pulls all of our attention, and I find that awful woman from across the road.
“Oh, goodness,” Daisy says with a huff.
“Tell me about it,” Gus adds with a groan.
The woman reaches us quicker than she should, considering she’s three times our age, maybe more.
“You have some visitors, I see?” she says, looking between all of us.
She’s got that look about her. One that makes you feel like you’re worth nothing.
“Is there something you need, Ms. Mathews?” Daisy asks.
“I was just coming on over to see how you liked that casserole I brought the other day. I hadn’t heard a word from you about it.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Daisy says. “I should have gone by to—”
“It’s only good manners, Miss Daisy.”
“Of course. I apologize.”
“I suppose it’s not your fault, you know. Moving on over to the city with all them—”
“Is there something else you need?” I ask, getting to my feet.
I don’t intentionally use my height or size to intimidate her… but I don’t miss the step back.
Ellen Matthews looks up at me with wide eyes.
“I’ll take your silence as a no. So, you have a good day now,” I say.
“I, uh—” She lets out a frustrated sound. “You people are—”
“You’re on Daisy’s property, ma’am, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t insult anyone on it, no matter how nice you try to make it sound. Daisy appreciates the casserole. She said thank you. She apologized for not saying it sooner. I think you can go home now,” I add.
Fury fills her eyes. She stomps her foot, letting out a little screech, before turning and heading back up the road, muttering to herself the whole time. I stand there between her and the guys and Daisy, watching her go until she’s up beyond the hill.
When I turn back, Daisy is staring at me with a look in her eye that I can’t quite figure out.
Rhett’s gaze is curious, while Gus… he’s smirking as if he knows something I don’t.
Chapter Fifteen
Daisy
“You’resureyou’rebothcomfortable?” I ask, looking at Rhett, who is on the couch, and Wade, who is on the floor on a pile of blankets.
I’d offered them Grannie’s room, but neither wanted to go in there. I guess I can’t blame them for it. I don’t want to go in there at all, never mind to sleep. Maybe her ghost is in there, haunting the room and waiting to pop out at us and scold me for not leaving my muddy boots outside or for washing my clothes in warm water instead of cold.
“Very,” Rhett says.
“I’m good,” is what Wade says.
I hold his gaze. “Thank you again for today, Wade. I appreciate you sticking up for me with Ms. Mathews.”
“She’s been a bully her whole life,” he says, turning onto his side and giving me his back.
