by Jamie Begley
“He’s not saying that.” Tate sent Dustin a warning look as they all sat back down. “You have to admit, though, we never expected you to be on a dating site.”
“Why?” Greer asked belligerently.
“Because you made fun of them when Dustin signed up for one.”
“That’s because he signed up for one where millionaires hook up. He ain’t no millionaire. It was false advertising.”
Dustin blushed. “I will be.”
“Well, you sure as hell aren’t now,” Greer sneered. “Unless you’re holding out.”
“I’m not holding out. I make good money now, and Willa wrote me into her will.”
“She sick?”
“No.” Dustin’s blush deepened.
“Then it doesn’t count for shit. At least I’m being honest.”
“That’ll be a first.”
“Kentuckygirl knows what she’ll get if I choose her. I haven’t lied about a damn thing.”
“Did you say you’ve been messaging her for a few months?” When Greer nodded, Dustin continued egging the brewing fight on. “There is no way you’ve shown your true self and she’s still talking to you.”
“Either that or she’s desperate.” Cash snickered, lifting Ema higher.
“She isn’t desperate. She just knows the real thing when she hears it.”
“How can it be real? It’s on the Internet.” Rachel took Ema from Cash, giving him a dirty look.
“It just is.”
“You don’t even know what she looks like,” Dustin pointed out.
“Don’t care.” Greer shrugged. “I’m going to ask her to come for a visit, but I need to go out with Jo so I can compare.”
Rachel hit her head with her hand. “Lord, help me. Tate …”
“Don’t look at me. Greer came up with this idiotic idea himself.”
“It’s not stupid. I want to get married and have a bunch of kids; what’s wrong with that?”
Holly stared at Greer as he talked, seeing the honesty on his face. He was opening himself to the others, knowing they wouldn’t sugarcoat their reactions.
“Men can have kids when they’re older. It’s not like you’re on a timetable.” Rachel also realized how serious he was.
“But will I be physically able to do things with them when I’m older? I don’t want to have kids when I have one foot in the grave. I want to see them grown. I want to be a part of my grandkids’ lives. Dad and Mom never got to see Logan or Ema. An accident took them out. But Dad hadn’t gone hunting the last year before he died; said his knees were getting too bad.”
The sadness on his face had Holly wanting to sympathize with him. Then the part of Greer that he couldn’t hide showed again.
“I want at least four or five kids. Unless I start now, I’ll need a pill to get it up for the last one.”
“Don’t be gross!” Rachel snapped.
“I’m just saying …”
“Let’s get back on track,” Tate interrupted. “Let’s look at this logically.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do. You all are the ones who keep sidetracking me.”
“Then let’s get back on track, or we’ll be here all night. You know our opinion on Diane.”
The entire room nodded in agreement at Tate’s words, except Greer.
“That leaves the other two. Rachel, you talk to Jo and feel out if she would be willing to go out with Greer.”
“You want me to be the one to talk her into going out with him?” Rachel’s hair practically stood on end.
“You want him married to Diane?”
“I’ll call her tonight.”
“Good. Greer, ask the Kentuckygirl to come for a visit and see what she says. If she doesn’t want to come, there won’t be anything else to talk about. You can’t marry over the Internet. She’ll have to show her face if she wants a ring on her finger.”
“I haven’t told her I want to marry her yet. I have to see if she can cook before I pick.”
“You don’t care what she looks like, but you care if she cooks?”
“Hell, yeah! A woman cooks with her soul. Any fool can smear makeup on to look good.”
It took every ounce of strength Holly possessed not to ask the burning question she wanted to ask. Thankfully, Rachel didn’t have any compunction.
“Diane cooks? I didn’t think she could boil water. She never volunteers to bring a damn thing when she goes to the potluck at church.”
“She’s doesn’t, but that’s only one of my requirements. The other one is more important, and before you ask what it is, I wouldn’t if I were you. If me talking about taking a pill to get it up when I’m old grosses you out, then you won’t want to hear that a good pair of tits and a fine ass are on my list.
Rachel’s mouth snapped closed.
“From what the men around town say, Diane will be the most experienced woman you’ve picked out.” Tate helped Sutton to her feet then rose. “Me and Sutton are going to call it a night.” Hooking an arm around his wife’s shoulder, he led to the door.
“You’re really leaving?”
“Yes. You’re not going to be able to get anything settled tonight, and all this talk about getting it up is getting me worried. I’m not getting any younger, either.”
Holly saw Sutton blushing as they left. She envied how much in love they were. Tate was a hard man, but Sutton somehow managed to soften him when no one could.
No one would be able to soften Greer. He was arrogant, stubborn, and grouchy, and those were his good points.
From what Dustin had told her in confidence, he was the spitting image of their father. He had also told her that Greer had unfortunately taken most of the punishments their father had dished out, making Greer even harder than him and Tate.
Rachel and Cash soon left with a sleeping Ema. Then Holly went to the living room to clean up the beer bottles, while Dustin went to his room to play with Logan.
She was carrying the bottles into the kitchen when she saw Greer watching her.
“I didn’t hear your trap when they were here.”
She turned toward him, surprised. “I didn’t think you would be interested in my opinion.”
“I ain’t, but I thought you would give your two cents about me getting married. ’Cause, you know, soon as I figure out who to marry, your ass will be out the door. I won’t be bringing a new bride into a home that already has a woman in it.”
“I didn’t think you would,” Holly replied coldly.
“I would start looking for a place if I were you.”
Holly was getting sick and tired of his snide comments. She loved Logan as if he were her own son, but even a dog got tired of being kicked around.
“You’re not me. This is a conversation Dustin will share when the time comes.” Going to the kitchen, she dropped the bottles into the recycling bin. “I don’t think I’ll have to worry about it anytime soon. Did you find Kentuckygirl on inmatessearchingforlove.com? With your personality, the only woman stupid enough to marry you is a lifer.” The words weren’t even out of her mouth before she regretted them.
Anger filled his face.
Terrified, she took off running to her bedroom, slamming and locking the door behind her. Holly then shakily leaned back against the door, pressing her hands into the wood by her side as Greer pounded his fists on the door behind her back.
“Woman, when I get my hands on you, you’re going to be sorry you ever heard the Porter name!”
Holly shivered in fright as she listened to Dustin calming his brother down and getting Greer to move away and into his own room. She didn’t release her death grip on her door until she was sure they had left.
“You’re going to be the one who’s sorry,” she promised herself when she was sure no one could hear her.
Some men had to learn the hard way, and then there were some men, like Greer, who needed a cast iron skillet … or a computer to teach a lesson.
5
Sharpshooter: A
re you ever going to tell me your name?
Kentuckygirl: What’s wrong with Kentuckygirl? I like it.
Sharpshooter: It doesn’t tell me anything about you.
Kentuckygirl: If my name was Sadie, what would that tell you?
Sharpshooter: That you’re not smart enough to change your name.
Kentuckygirl: Lol. What about Olga?
Sharpshooter: I can deal with Olga. Makes you sound like you’re a Russian princess.
Kentuckygirl: I don’t want to burst your fantasy, but I’m not a Russian princess.
Sharpshooter: Then at least tell me the first letter of your name.
Kentuckygirl: No.
Sharpshooter: Are you still there?
Sharpshooter: Why won’t you tell me? Do I know you?
Kentuckygirl: No, you don’t know me. We’ve been talking for three months; why all the questions now?
Sharpshooter: Because we’ve been talking for three months. I’ve told you everything about me, but you don’t talk about yourself.
Kentuckygirl: I have. I told you I am twenty-eight, and short, and how much I weigh. I have a son. I work at an office. I love dogs, and I’m allergic to cats. I’m a good cook, but I hate doing the dishes. I don’t have a lot of money, and I’m saving up for something I’ve wanted since I was sixteen.
Sharpshooter: Are you married or have a boyfriend?
Kentuckygirl: I told you no. I’m not lying.
Sharpshooter: How am I supposed to know if you’re telling the truth?
Kentuckygirl: I guess you’re just going to have to trust me like I trust you. You told me you’re not involved in a relationship, and I trust you.
Kentuckygirl: Are you still there?
Kentuckygirl: Are you two-timing me with another icon?
Sharpshooter: What if I am? Would you care?
Kentuckygirl: It depends on which icon it is. Another plant might make me jealous, but anything else, no. Lol.
Sharpshooter: I knew you liked me. You don’t want me planting other seeds in my garden.
Kentuckygirl: So, it is true what they say about botanists.
Sharpshooter: What do they say?
Kentuckygirl: They have no sense of humor.
Sharpshooter: I have a great sense of humor.
Kentuckygirl: What do botanists read?
Sharpshooter: I don’t know.
Kentuckygirl: Bogs.
Sharpshooter: Now, that’s lame.
“You ready for lunch?”
Holly jumped guiltily when Diamond spoke from the doorway of her office, quickly moving the mouse to another screen.
“Yes.” She went to the small refrigerator, taking out the lunch bag she had brought from home. Carrying it to Diamond’s office, she sat down on the chair in front of her desk, where she took out two oranges and two chicken salad sandwiches. Splitting the meal in two portions, she grinned at Diamond, who was staring it at unenthusiastically.
“I hate being on a diet.”
“You want to get in that dress I told you not to buy until you lost those ten pounds you put on during the holidays?”
“I could sell it or give it to Sex Piston.”
Holly swallowed a bite of her sandwich. “You’re not giving it to Sex Piston. You’ve been hiding it from her ever since you bought it.”
“I’m saving Stud from spending the rest of his life in jail if he saw my sister in that dress.”
“You think Knox won’t be jealous of letting other men see you in that dress?”
“Knox doesn’t get jealous. He knows no one can steal me away from him.”
Holly envied her friend’s marriage. She was confident that Knox loved her, and it showed in her face.
“What has you looking so sad? The lunch isn’t that bad.” Diamond picked up her sandwich, taking a big bite.
“Greer told his family last night he’s thinking about getting married. One of the women he’s thinking about marrying is Kentuckygirl.”
Diamond’s eyes rounded as she chewed. Holly nodded in answer to the question she could see in Diamond’s eyes. Then Diamond started choking when she tried to swallow, and Holly hastily got up to hit her on her back. It took a couple of minutes for Diamond to get her breath back.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.” Holly handed her a bottle of water then went back to her chair.
“Holy crap. What did you say?”
“Nothing. What could I say? I wasn’t about to tell him we’re Kentuckygirl.”
“Not us … You.” Diamond shook her head in denial.
Holly’s mouth dropped open. “You’re the one who put me up to it when we saw his online profile. You’re the one who egged me on to keep answering him the first few times.”
“But …”
“There is no but. You’re in this as deep as I am.”
“You’re the one who kept talking to him. I thought the plan was to just stop talking to him when we realized how silly it was.” Diamond stared at her suspiciously. “You didn’t?”
“I was going to, but he kept messaging me, and I felt bad.” Holly picked up her orange, peeling it to avoid Diamond’s discerning gaze. “When he knows it’s not me, he can be nice,” she reluctantly admitted.
“Oh, my God! What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to tell him I’m moving to Russia.”
“Why Russia?”
“So, if he tries to find me, he’ll have to go to Russia.”
Diamond stared her as if she had lost her mind, and she had. She was still angry at Greer after last night. Him searching for an imaginary woman that he wanted to marry filled her with a sick satisfaction.
“He’ll kill you if he finds out.”
“He’s not going to find out,” Holly assured her with more confidence than she felt.
“Wait a minute. Did I hear you correctly? Did you say one of the women he’s thinking about marrying?”
“He’s narrowed his choices down to Diane, Jo, and us.”
“Quit saying ‘us.’ This is all on you. Knox would kill me if he knew that we … that you flirted with another man online.”
“I don’t think he would care if it was me.” Holly’s lips trembled with laughter.
Diamond threw her orange at her, and she caught it easily, giving Diamond the one she had peeled, then started peeling the other one in case Diamond was tempted to throw it at her again.
“He deserves Diane. And Jo is more likely to shoot him than marry that conceited dimwit.”
“He’s not stupid,” Holly argued.
“He acts like it.”
“Not all the time. When he talks on the computer, he doesn’t come across that way.”
“Are you kidding me? Are you actually starting to like him?” Diamond stared at her wide-eyed.
“You know I’ve always had bad taste in men.”
“Don’t talk like that. The problem is you’re too good-hearted.”
“Greer wouldn’t agree with you.”
“I told you he’s a dimwit.”
Holly stared at Diamond’s now worried face. “What’s wrong?”
Diamond tore her orange into pieces. “I’m only worried about one thing.”
“Which is?” Holly instinctively knew she wasn’t going to like what Diamond had to say.
“Greer and Shade do business together.”
“So? Greer does business with half the town.”
“If Greer asks Shade to find out who he’s talking to online, he could do it.”
Holly frowned. “I don’t think Greer will bring the subject up to Shade, do you?”
“I don’t know. They aren’t friends. It depends on how much Greer wants to find out who he’s been talking to. Shade could easily find out where the messages are coming from.”
Holly dropped her orange back into the lunch bag. Crash wouldn’t be able to find out where the messages originated from, could he?
She only started messaging Greer after one night he had her nearly
crying from his cutting remarks. When she had come in to work the next day with swollen eyes, she hadn’t been able to help herself. She had confided in Diamond how mean he was being. Every month, it grew worse, and she didn’t know why. The meaner he was to her, the nicer she became until she was practically walking on glass to survive in the same house with him.
When Greer’s picture showed up in her profile as a new member, she had shown Diamond, expecting to get a good laugh. Except, Diamond had come up with the idea of messaging him.
“Do it! Come on. We can have some fun with him, and he’ll never know who you are.”
“You sure?”
“Positive,” she’d promised.
Well, that was coming back to bite her in the butt.
“Don’t be so scared. I don’t even think Crash is in Treepoint. I think he’s gone back to Ohio, so maybe he’ll be too busy to help if Shade asks.”
“He won’t have to ask Shade. He could ask Cash to do it. Cash is his brother-in-law. Hopefully, you’re right and Crash will be too busy if anyone asks him.”
“I forgot Cash. Damn. I still think he’s too conceited to ask either of them for help.”
“Me, too,” Holly agreed.
“I still think Crash is too busy to be of any help to whomever asks. Viper has even turned over the computer stuff to Knox. Between his job at the sheriff’s office and Viper, Knox hasn’t had time for me.”
“Could Knox figure out where the messages came from?”
When Diamond didn’t answer, Holly became even more frightened. If Greer found out she had been playing him all along, he would kill her.
She placed her hand over her heart. It was beating so fast. She tried to catch her breath. She was starting to feel like she might pass out.
“Holly? Are you okay?”
Holly waved her hand in front of her face, trying to cool herself down. She felt as if she were on fire. “He’s going to kill me and never let me see Logan again. He’ll tell Tate and Dustin, and they’ll let him.”
Instead of calling an ambulance, Diamond started laughing at her.
“Are you crazy? I’m having a heart attack, and you’re laughing at me?”
“Get real. You’re not having a heart attack; you’re having a panic attack.” Diamond left her desk to come behind her, pushing Holly’s head down to her knees. “If Knox finds out it’s you, he’ll tell me before he tells anyone else. You don’t have to worry about Knox spilling your secrets.”