by Jamie Begley
Greer rolled down his window. “You trying to break your neck?”
She wanted to scream at him that he wouldn’t care if she did. Conscious of Logan listening, though, she went inside, leaving the door open for them.
Dustin was sprawled out on the couch, watching television. He took one look at her angry face and sat up. “What’s wrong?”
Logan didn’t give her time to answer as he came running into the house. “We’re going fishing!”
Dustin stared at Logan’s ecstatic face, then Greer’s unconcerned one, and drew his own conclusions.
“If we’re going fishing, you need to change your clothes.”
“Okay.” Logan started to go to his room.
“Shut your door and watch one of your movies until we’re ready to go,” Dustin instructed him before he could get out of earshot.
“Can I color instead?” he yelled out.
“Yes, and lower your voice.”
Holly waited for the door to shut before she set her purse down on the counter. “Dustin, may I please talk to you alone?”
“You got something to say to my brother, you can say it in front of me.”
She knew that was coming. “Fine. I’m going to make your day.” Giving Greer her back, she focused on Dustin. “Tomorrow, I’m going to start searching for an apartment.”
“What in the hell happened at church?”
Holly put up a hand to stop Dustin from saying anything. She was determined to say her piece.
“I love Logan more than I love my own life.” She dug her nails into her palms to keep from bursting into tears and giving Greer that satisfaction. “I can’t keep living my life as an apology to you, Greer, and Tate. It isn’t fair to me or Logan. I know you love Greer, and I don’t want you to have to choose between him and me, and I certainly don’t want Logan to have to do that.
“It will be better if I find an apartment, and if you’re willing, give me visitation. I could keep him after school until you get off. He spends most of the nights playing with you, so he won’t even miss me.” A sob nearly escaped her, but she choked it back to finish. “You like going out on Saturday nights. I could keep him for you and bring Logan back after church. If this doesn’t work for you, then maybe we can work out something else. When I find an apartment, both of us can sit down with Logan and have a talk with him.”
“Holly—”
“If you’ll excuse me, I want to wash my hair, and I have a few things I need to get done around the house.”
She left the two brothers staring after her. It was going to be hard not living with Logan, but it would be better than living with Greer. It was only a matter of time before he figured out how much she cared about him, since it was becoming more difficult every day, even with the escalating tension between them.
As she closed her door, she was able to hear Greer and Dustin arguing. Holly turned on her television then went into her bathroom and turned on the water so they would think she was washing her hair. Instead, she sat down on the side of the tub and cried.
Life with Greer was like living in a briar patch, and she was tired of being stung.
Eventually, she undressed and got into the shower, luxuriating in the warm water.
She was getting out of the shower, a towel wrapped around her head and drying off, when her bathroom door was flung open.
She didn’t even have time to scream before she was pinned against the open door.
“What are you doing!”
“Don’t worry; you don’t have anything I haven’t seen before.” Greer’s hand went to her throat.
Lifting her eyes to his storm-filled ones, she desperately clutched the large towel to her breasts.
“You cry a lot, don’t you?”
Gaping at him, she forgot to feel embarrassed. “What?”
“Your eyes are red. You’ve been crying.”
“What do you care?”
“You’ve got to toughen up, or the world is going to chew you up and spit you out.” Greer’s eyes slipped down to the towel that was covering her breasts; the whole time she had shared the same house with him, he had never shown any sexual interest in her. Now, he was staring her as if he was claiming her.
She pushed him away from her. “What’s so important that it couldn’t wait until I finished my shower?” she snapped.
He moved away from her and into her bedroom. “Just scoping out my new room.” He turned back to face her. “Dustin and I had a talk. By the way, I don’t appreciate you trying to drive a wedge between me and my brother.”
“I wasn’t trying—”
He waved her excuses away. “Doesn’t matter. It didn’t work. Dustin called Mrs. Langley. Her house has been sitting empty since she moved in with Winter and Viper. Her place hasn’t sold yet, and Dustin goes by every day to check on it for her. He asked if you could live there until it sold. Kills two birds with one stone.”
She numbly stared at him as he walked around her bedroom, staking his claim. Disappointment filled her, he hadn’t been staking his claim on her body; he had been staking his claim on his new bedroom.
“All you have to do now is pack today, and Dustin and Logan can drop you off tomorrow afternoon. You need any help?”
She was standing in front of him, almost naked and vulnerable, and he couldn’t care less that he was trashing her life.
“No, I don’t need your help. I’d like to get dressed. Please go.”
“No problem. I’d figured you’d show at least a little gratitude. Hell, you get to live rent-free until that big-ass house gets sold.”
“I’ll make sure to thank Dustin when he gets back from fishing.”
“You just can’t please some women,” he said testily.
“I thought you were going fishing?” She went to the door of her bedroom, curling her hand around the doorknob.
“I am. Just waiting for Sutton to get here so you won’t be by yourself.”
Holly couldn’t understand why someone had to stay with her today. After tomorrow, she would be by herself when she moved into Mrs. Langley’s house. She had been happy for the older woman when she moved in with her niece, having no clue the Porters would use it as an opportunity to get rid of Holly a few months later.
“Have Logan and Dustin already left?”
“Yeah.”
“Could you do me a favor before you leave?”
Magnanimously, he paused.
“Go fuck yourself.”
11
Sharpshooter: I’m going fishing with my nephew. I wish you could be here.
Sharpshooter: You like fishing?
Sharpshooter: Hey, if you don’t like it, we can talk about something else.
Sharpshooter: Want to talk about movies? How about trucks? I like trucks. Have I told you that before? We can talk about what you like to do on a Sunday afternoon. I like fishing and hunting.
Sharpshooter: You ever been hunting?
Sharpshooter: It’s hard to carry on a conversation when you don’t answer. Did I say something? I’m worried about you. Please answer.
Sharpshooter: I’ll be up all night if you don’t answer. If you don’t want to talk to me anymore, just tell me so. At least I’ll know you’re okay.
Kentuckygirl: I don’t want to talk to you anymore.
Sharpshooter: Why not?
Sharpshooter: I’m going to keep messaging you until you answer.
Kentuckygirl: What do you not get? I don’t want to talk to you anymore.
Sharpshooter: Why?
Sharpshooter: Why?
Sharpshooter: Why?
Sharpshooter: Why?
Sharpshooter: Why?
Kentuckygirl: OMG. Quit bothering me!
Sharpshooter: Answer my question, and I will.
Kentuckygirl: I don’t think we have anything in common. I hate fishing and hunting.
Sharpshooter: That’s it?
Kentuckygirl: Yes, that and you don’t like merry-go-rounds.
Sharpsho
oter: The last time I talked to you, you sounded like you were thinking about giving us a chance.
Kentuckygirl: I changed my mind.
Sharpshooter: Why?
Kentuckygirl: I’m searching for a different type of man. One who likes merry-go-rounds and who doesn’t like fishing and hunting.
Sharpshooter: So, if you don’t want a man who hunts and fishes, what do you want in a man?
Kentuckygirl: I want one who would do anything in the world for me, one who is kind and caring. A man who, when he sees a pretty flower, he’ll think about me. One who, when I’m upset or scared, I’ll know he’ll take care of it.
Sharpshooter: You do know the difference between a man and a woman, right?
Sharpshooter: A man doesn’t think like that. I’m not being mean, but they don’t especially think about a woman they’ve never met. Especially one who he doesn’t even know the color of her eyes or hair to compare it to which flower. A man can’t know what will upset you or make you scared until they find out for themselves. If you stop being afraid and send me a picture, or open up to me, maybe you would find out that we could have a future together instead of brushing me off.
Kentuckygirl: I’ll think about it.
Sharpshooter: Does that mean you’ll keep talking to me?
Kentuckygirl: Yes.
Sharpshooter: Cool. I’ve gotta go. I got a fish on the line. It’s a big son of a bitch.
Kentuckygirl: I hope he gets away.
Sharpshooter: Isn’t going to happen. I have my hook in.
Kentuckygirl: Jerk.
“Instead of giving me dirty looks, why don’t you go clean that fish?” Greer tossed the fish he had just caught into the cooler sitting on the bank.
“Go clean your own damn fish!” Rachel fumed, moving away from the fishy smell.
“If you’re going to barf, you might as well go back to your cabin,” he said with no concern.
His sister’s hands clenched into fists. “Greer, so help me God, if Logan weren’t watching, I’d throw you into the lake!”
Greer saw his nephew sitting on the rock overhanging the water. “Boy, what have I told you? You’re not allowed over there unless someone is with you.”
“Dad and Tate will be right back!” Logan yelled back.
Greer swore when Logan slid nearer the edge. “I don’t want to have to go swimming to fish you out. Get over here until they get back.”
Logan scooted backward, clambering down as he came back to the bank where he and Rachel were standing.
“What’s taking them so long?” Greer complained. “They just went to get some drinks.”
Rachel lowered her voice as Logan drew nearer. “They probably don’t want to be near you like I don’t.”
“More like, they want to drink a quick beer since Holly told them not to drink in front of Logan anymore.”
“Is that why you wanted to throw her out?”
Greer picked one particularly fat and juicy worm that was trying to wiggle out of the cup of worms he and Logan had dug up to use for bait. “Jesus, woman, I told you I didn’t throw her out.”
“You might as well have. She couldn’t take you always sniping at her. I don’t know how she took it as long as she has.”
“Why are you mad at Uncle Greer?” Logan’s troubled face went back and forth between them.
Rachel’s mouth snapped closed at Logan’s innocent expression. At the same moment, Tate and Dustin walked out of the woods, hearing Logan’s question.
“Aunt Rachel is always mad at Greer. Don’t worry about it.” Dustin handed Logan the small fishing pole he had brought from the car. “Go bait your hook, and I’ll take you to our favorite spot.”
Logan went to the plastic cup, losing interest in the adults.
Dustin’s normally carefree demeanor disappeared. “Rachel, we told you it was safer for Holly to stay at Mrs. Langley’s house. I may not like the way Greer handled it, but in town, she’s a spitting distance from the sheriff’s office, and The Last Riders have that house wired like Fort Knox.”
Greer let Dustin take his own grief from their sister. Usually, it was him or Tate who was on the receiving end of Rachel’s tongue. Dustin was closer to Rachel in age, giving him the benefit of bearing the scolding he and Tate had to take when she was mad at them.
“I just don’t understand why we don’t just tell her someone’s been snooping around our property.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Greer snorted. “And have to listen to her bitch about what’s growing in our backyard? It’s better this way. We don’t know for sure if one of the Hayes are behind it, since Tate told them to quit growing their crop on Sutton’s property. Or it could be the person who tried to attack Holly, and they’re snooping around, trying to find out when she’s home alone. We can’t watch her every second of the day and keep an eye on the field until it’s ready to be picked. I have plans for my part of it. I didn’t make much last year after Tate made us pay for that fancy kitchen Holly wanted.”
“Me?” Tate raised a brow. “I’m not the one who picked that stove with the griddle on it.”
“It was more useful than that dishwasher you picked out.”
“Maybe to you, but Holly was the one doing the dishes.”
“I didn’t hear her complaining about it.” Greer shrugged.
“She complained about it; you just didn’t listen.” Tate’s jaw squared. “As soon as you find out who’s been sneaking around, she can come back home.”
“Let’s not be hasty,” Greer countered.
“Greer, if I find out you’re behind this just to get Holly to move out, I’ll never forgive you.” Rachel looked away from him as if she already believed he was behind the peculiar events.
Not only had several of their traps been sprung, but he had found some footprints outside the back door. More importantly, the dog was becoming skittish, walking around the house as if it was listening, padding back and forth between the two doors. So far, it had escaped Holly’s notice, and neither he nor Dustin wanted to worry her. And they never left her or Logan alone, but their plants were getting bigger and more valuable as each day passed.
It didn’t take a smart man to realize that if the perpetrators wanted the plants, they would stake out where the Porters were during the day and when was the best time to steal them without getting caught. And what if they weren’t after the plants but Holly? Pa said a wise man never believed what was under his nose. Even an onion wouldn’t smell until the layers were pulled back.
The fishing pole in his hand lowered.
“You know me better than that.” Raising the pole up, he cast his line into the water.
He was stung that his sister believed he was low enough to lie about someone sneaking around just to get Holly to move out. Everyone in town thought he was a mean asshole, but hearing the suspicion in Rachel’s voice hurt, though he would never admit it.
“He’s not lying.” Dustin walked to the water’s edge. “The dreams are coming more often. Whatever’s going to happen, it’s going to happen soon.”
Tate, Rachel, and Greer turned to stare at Dustin apprehensively. All the Porters had their gifts handed down from their great-grandmother. Most of the town knew of Rachel’s gift of healing since she had used it. Greer’s gift was rarely used, and the spirit world would always take their due when he did. Dustin’s gift was dreams of forewarning. It was different than Tate’s, who would hear the chiming of bells when Death drew close. The dreams would start as a forewarning, never showing him the victims until it was too late for him to warn them.
While Logan watched from farther away yet still within sight, Dustin wearily turned toward them, letting them see the burden he had carried over the last three months since the dreams had returned.
If not for their grandmother, Dustin would have been put on medication at a young age when they had been constantly awoken by his nightmares. They would go away then return with no rhyme or reason.
Their grandmother ha
d been the one who had noticed the correlation of the dreams disappearing when a family member passed away. Pa had never believed their heritage was responsible for the gifts that were becoming more evident as they grew, arguing with their ma that her mother was brainwashing his children. They learned never to talk about it front of their pa. He even ignored their warnings the day he was determined to go fishing with their mother.
Dustin had dreamed about drowning for six months. Each night, he had dreamed he was drowning over and over again. The dreams had stopped the night they had died. They had known their parents were dead before the sheriff had shown him and Tate their bodies.
“You still have no idea who it could be?” Rachel whispered, as if the spirits could hear them. Greer knew there was no hiding from them. They would give their warnings, but they wouldn’t let the fate of who Dustin was dreaming escape the destiny foretold.
“No. Usually, they come and go after someone died. This one is different. I’ve dreamed this one for years. It’s the same every time. I go to sleep and a masked figure comes into the bedroom where I’m sleeping and smothers me until I …” Dustin didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to. They knew how it ended.
“Do you think the dream could be you?” Rachel leaned against Dustin, stroking his arm as if to ease the worry etched in his features.
“No. I think it’s someone close. They’re preparing me to lose someone I love.”
Greer wasn’t afraid of much in life, but the thought of Dustin losing someone he loved scared him shitless. The Porters were close, so if Dustin loved them, it meant someone he loved was also in danger.
“We’ve done everything we can do. Cash is keeping close to Rachel. Sutton always has Tate with her.” Greer gently bobbed his fishing pole.
“She and Holly are alone now,” Rachel said uneasily.
“You know us better than that.” Greer didn’t break his concentration from his fishing. “I have Shade watching them. He owes us enough favors, so we have that handled if we can’t cover everyone at the same time. Once Holly moves into Mrs. Langley’s house, it’ll get easier. I won’t have to worry every time I go check on the plants. She can come back after we’re done drying and packaging them.”