I couldn’t stay there after she died.
It went from being filled with joy to memories of her dying.
I place my hand on my father’s shoulder. “You and I both know that’s not true, but maybe there are some things you could teach me and help with.”
My father’s chest puffs out. I should’ve done this a while back.
“I can do that.”
“I appreciate it, Dad.”
“I can also fix the mess you’re making with Sadie.”
Not this again. “I don’t think that’s the case, but I’ll let you know if I change my mind.”
He shakes his head. “Stubborn ass.”
“I wonder where I get it from.”
He laughs. “Speaking of, rumor has it you were awfully close with that Gatlin girl.”
I was wondering when this would start to get around. “I wasn’t close with her, we were in a store together.”
“Should’ve left.”
“We live in the same town with them, we can’t avoid them everywhere.” I keep the annoyance out of my voice—somehow.
“Maybe we can finally run them out,” Dad suggests. “Set their barn on fire or maybe a meteor will take them out.”
If I didn’t know better, I’d think my father was the suspect in these damn pranks. As much as my father can do some things, running isn’t one. He’d never be able to sneak away and physically do the things being done.
Cutting the fence—maybe.
The stuff to the barn—no way.
Still, I eye him. “Are you the one causing issues?”
His face scrunches. “Son, if I was doing anything, it wouldn’t be cutting a damn fence. I’d sell those horses out from under them. I didn’t need to do dumb things. When I wanted payback, I did it like a man.”
Yeah, sure he did. “Whatever you say, Pop.”
“Go on and finish your chores and get out of here. Sadie and I have big plans tonight when you go out.”
I bet they do. Most likely it’ll include starting trouble and doing something that’ll piss me off. My father is her greatest ally in giving me gray hairs.
“Two beers,” Jimmy says to Debra, the bartender who terrifies me just a little. I’m pretty sure she scares everyone here, which is why the owner of the Barley Beast keeps her.
She’s a beautiful woman, but she glares at you like she could pierce your soul. She also threatens the ways she’d dismember you if you tried anything.
There’s not a person alive who will defy her.
She scoffs. “Are you going to drink light beer this time?”
Jimmy clears his throat. “No.”
“You should,” she tells him, and I fight back a laugh.
Debra gets two bottles of beer and places them on the counter, popping the tops and nodding to me. “Tristan.”
