Kentuckygirl: I work in a large office. Some of my co-workers go to this site, and I really don’t want them talking about me in the lunchroom.
Sharpshooter: Can’t blame you. I’m a private kind of man myself. What part of Kentucky do you live in?
Kentuckygirl: Central.
Sharpshooter: I live in Treepoint, Ky.
Kentuckygirl: I’ve heard of it. Never been there. Do you like living there?
Sharpshooter: I love it here. Do you like where you live?
Kentuckygirl: Yes. You ever visit Lexington?
Sharpshooter: No, too busy for me. Tell me something about yourself.
Kentuckygirl: Ok. Morning is my favorite time of day, but I like the night, too. Sometimes I like to sit outside and watch fireflies.
Sharpshooter: Ever catch any and put them in a jar?
Kentuckygirl: No, I want to watch them, not kill them.
Sharpshooter: What type of music do you like?
Kentuckygirl: Pop.
Sharpshooter: Country all the way.
Kentuckygirl: What do you do for a living?
Sharpshooter: You first… Anything that involves law enforcement?
Kentuckygirl: I’m an IT manager. You?
Sharpshooter: Self-educated botanist.
Kentuckygirl: That’s interesting. What kinds of plants do you study?
Sharpshooter: A variety. Right now, I’m trying to crossbreed some that are indigenous to Kentucky.
Kentuckygirl: You sound smart. Only thing I know about plants is how to kill them.
Sharpshooter: Seems we don’t have much in common. Nice talking to you, Kentuckygirl.
Kentuckygirl: Nice talking to you, too. Bye.
Chatroom Closed.
Sharpshooter: Why did you change the picture on your profile?
Kentuckygirl: I don’t know. I thought it was better than a shadowy outline.
Sharpshooter: Why a daisy?
Kentuckygirl: I guess because I was talking to you and it made me think of my favorite flower. Is it too lame?
Sharpshooter: I don’t think it’s lame at all.
The sound of the truck had her lifting the corner of the curtain to see outside. Carefully peeking through the curtain, Holly saw Greer climbing out of Diane’s car. He had stayed the night with her again.
Greer considered the woman his girlfriend. She considered him her toy. Despite his brothers’ and sister’s repeated attempts to beat the fact into his stubborn head, Greer refused to see that the woman was a slut and used him when she needed something. Like for a fuck buddy, or money for whatever bill she needed help paying, or a new purse she wanted.
Sickened, she watched Greer close the car door then walk around the car to bend down to talk to Diane through the open window. Holly dropped the curtain when she saw them kissing.
“Hurry up, Logan. You’re going to be late for school.” She picked up a cloth to wipe down the new kitchen island that Tate had installed.
Dustin picked up the small backpack sitting on the back of the couch as Logan rushed out of the bathroom.
“I’m ready.”
Holly stopped cleaning the island as she breathed in the strong cologne. Dustin’s eyes had started tearing up, and not in emotion.
“Uh, son, did you spill some of Greer’s cologne on you when you were brushing your teeth?”
Logan stared up at his father sheepishly. “No, I want to smell good for school.”
Dustin sat Logan’s backpack down on the couch. “I think we need to go wash some of that off.”
Logan’s lips tightened. “But I want to smell good like Uncle Greer.”
The object of his adulation came in through the door, and Holly paused in loading the dishwasher. Greer hadn’t even bothered buttoning his shirt’s first couple of buttons. His faded jeans were becoming threadbare, the uneven hem sagging across the top of his boots. She hastily dropped her eyes to the dishwasher, pressing the buttons to start the new machine.
Holly made sure never to let her eyes linger on him for too long. She had learned as soon as she had moved in with the Porter family that Greer used any and each opportunity to use his sarcasm on her. Lashing out at her had become his favorite sport, no contest, until he hit a nerve.
“Any coffee left?”
Holly didn’t answer him, letting him go to the coffee pot to check for himself.
He came to an abrupt halt. “Did a skunk get in here last night?” Greer went to the window, opening it.
“Logan decided he wanted to wear some of your cologne to school this morning,” Dustin explained. “I was taking him to the bathroom to make him wash it off when you came in.”
“Throw the cologne away when you’re in there.” Greer’s nose wrinkled in distaste. “Damn, I’m surprised I got laid last night smelling like that.”
Holly’s mouth dropped open. “Do you have to talk like that in front of Logan?”
Greer’s lips twisted in a sneer as Dustin urged Logan into the bathroom.
Greer went behind the kitchen counter to get a cup out of a cabinet, while Holly tensely waited, knowing what was coming. He didn’t disappoint.
“When I want your opinion about what I say in front of my nephew, I’ll fucking ask.”
Holly wanted to burst into tears at his harsh criticism, but like when faced with a rabid dog, she had learned not to show fear or emotion in front of the arrogant man.
“You may enjoy acting like an unmannered hillbilly, but if the same woman raised you as your brothers and Rachel, then you should know how to talk in front of a seven-year-old!”
Holly braced for the comeback when Dustin and Logan thankfully came out of the bathroom.
Dustin helped Logan slide on his backpack, saying, “I have to hurry. I have a meeting with Willa at eight thirty.” He gave her a concerned look, hesitating.
Holly brushed past Greer to smooth down Logan’s cowlick. “Have a good day at school. I love you.” Bending down, she brushed her lips against his cheek.
Logan darted a quick glance at Greer. “Bye, Holly.” Pulling up the straps of his backpack, he grabbed his father’s hand, tugging him toward the door.
Holly lowered her lashes, not wanting Logan to see how hurt she was that he didn’t repeat the “I love you” back. However, she didn’t miss the triumphant gleam of satisfaction in Greer’s eyes as she went to the freezer to pull out the stew meat she planned to make for dinner.
If he said one thing, she promised herself she would brain him with the lump of frozen roast.
She bit her lip to keep it from trembling. She wasn’t about to give him the gratification of seeing that her feelings had been hurt.
As she placed the meat in the crockpot, she ignored his muscular body taking up the breathing room she needed.
“I heard the diner is hiring. If Diamond can’t give you more hours, maybe you should check it out.”
“Maybe you should go take a shower. Between that cologne and Diane’s cheap perfume, I’m going to have to open another window.” She pulled out a knife from the knife block and started chopping carrots.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Greer scowl. Then, setting his coffee cup down on the counter, he folded his arms against his chest.
“The boy is too old to have you mollycoddling him anymore. Dustin is too nice to say anything to you, but we don’t need you here anymore.”
Holly kept chopping the carrots. “While Dustin doesn’t have your charming personality, I wouldn’t say he’s too nice. If he wanted me to leave, he would have no problem telling me.” She dropped the handful of carrots into the crockpot then reached for an onion.
“What are you trying to cook? You know I hate onions.”
“Does it matter? You’ve been eating out with Diane for the last week.”
“Jealous?”
The knife almost slipped. She barely managed to save her thumb in time.
Steadying her hand, she expertly sliced the onion before tossing them in with the meat
and carrots. “Of Diane? I’d sooner be jealous of that dog sleeping on the front porch.” She vengefully reached for another onion.
He cocked a brow at her. “I meant going out on a date.”
“What you and Diane do isn’t considered a date. She considers you a meal plan.”
Rage filled his face. For a second, Holly became afraid he would hit her.
Flinching, she raised the knife to protect herself.
Greer started laughing. “What are you going to do with that?”
“Try me.” She was beyond tired of his attitude. If she didn’t love Logan with every breath in her body, she would have left the first week she had moved in with them.
Insultingly, he dropped his eyes to her breasts that were heaving against her T-shirt. Then he scornfully roamed down to her curvy hips before lifting his eyes. “I’ll pass.”
Holly turned back to finish chopping the onion as she heard the bathroom door close. She kept her face expressionless until she heard the water running. Then, feeling defeated, she felt a tear slide down her cheek.
Finishing with the vegetables, she put on the top to the crockpot. Then she quickly washed her hands before fleeing outside.
Going to the chicken coop Tate had built for her, she grabbed the basket hanging on a hook before gathering the eggs. She didn’t wince when one of the hens took exception to having her eggs robbed. Sitting the eggs to the side, she then walked around the pen, spreading feed.
It gave her a feeling of accomplishment to see how healthy and large the chickens were growing. Holly made sure not to get attached to them, but it made her feel as if she was contributing in a small way. The money she made selling the eggs and jams wasn’t much, yet it made her feel as if she was continuing a tradition when she placed her own jams on the shelves where Porter women had stored theirs for generations.
Picking up her egg basket, she watched the chickens scrounge for the feed. Maybe Greer was right and she should ask Diamond for more hours. Logan was in school now. She self-admitted she was terrified for the day when Logan no longer needed her. The Porters would use the opportunity to do what Greer had been wanting to do since the first day they had met—get rid of her.
The front door opened, and she saw Greer come outside with his rifle. His hair was still wet as he confidently strode toward the stretch of the woods where she knew the Porters grew marijuana, despite Rachel’s protests.
Some of the Porters’ traditions would be better off abandoned, not instilled in another generation. So far, the Porters had kept their livelihood a secret from Logan. As he grew older, though, it would only be a matter of time before he found out. Greer would see to it.
He wasn’t embarrassed about what he did for a living. In fact, Greer bragged about the quality of weed he labored over, unless he thought you were an informant or a Fed.
Dealing with Greer involved a great deal of patience and a glass of wine that she gave herself every night as reward for making it through another day without killing him.
Latching the gate behind her, she was walking toward the house when Greer’s dog jumped up from his favorite spot on the porch. When Tate had moved into Sutton’s home, he had taken his dog with him, so Greer came home with a large puppy that was so ugly he was adorable, with floppy ears and sad eyes that constantly begged for treats. He had become her constant companion, despite Greer’s determination to make him his hunting dog. He had given up when, every time Greer took Hunter with him to go hunting, the cantankerous dog circled back to the house.
Despite Greer’s threats to shoot the dog after the last time he had tried to take him hunting, only to see the lazy pup sleeping on the porch, Logan’s panicked pleas had saved its life, or so Greer had said. Holly really hadn’t believed he would kill the puppy. But from the glint every time he went hunting, she couldn’t be so sure.
Holly didn’t recognize the truck that came to a stop by the house.
She swallowed hard when three men got out. Curt Dawkins, his younger cousin Justin, and Luke Baxter. They stood in front of the expensive truck, and Holly felt her skin crawl at the way Curt stared at her body.
Gripping her basket of eggs to her chest, she remained where she was standing.
“Greer around?” Leering at her, Curt’s mouth curled in a satisfied smile when she clutched the basket tighter.
“Yes, I’ll go tell him. He has company.”
When she would have taken a step toward the house, Curt and Luke moved to block the steps to the porch.
“No rush. I haven’t seen you in town lately. Greer and Dustin been keeping you busy?”
Holly’s mouth firmed at the sly innuendo. “Or maybe you haven’t seen me in town because I saw you first.”
Curt didn’t like her sarcastic insult.
Holly didn’t need anyone to tell her the man had a mean streak. It was right there in his body language.
“You insulting my cousin?” Justin’s square jaw tensed, his shoulders drawing back like he wanted to hit her for daring to disrespect the biggest bully in town.
He was easily twice the size of the older men. Holly had seen him a couple of times in town at the diner. He was usually hanging out with other members of the football team. Since he had graduated last year, though, he spent most of his time now trailing after Curt.
“It’s not an insult if it’s the truth.” Holly knew it wasn’t smart to antagonize the men when she was alone, but she didn’t like the crude way they were staring at her.
Curt placed a hand on Justin’s chest when a growl came from the porch. Hunter had stood up, and his growl had the three men tensing.
“Go on inside and tell Greer we’re here.” Curt gave Justin and Luke warning looks, which the two other men ignored.
“Bitch, you need to watch your manners, or Justin and I’ll teach you how to talk when company comes calling.” Luke’s insolent tone had her biting her tongue. One of the advantages of working in a small-town lawyer’s office was that she met most of the townspeople. Either they came into the office searching for advice to get them out of trouble, or they had a relative needing help. Luke had come into Diamond’s office to hire her to get him out of a drunk driving charge.
“Call your dog off,” Curt ordered as he took a stealthy step backward to his truck.
“You’re not thinking of shooting my dog with that gun you have sitting on your seat, are you?” Greer came from behind the truck.
The men’s faces turned ashen when they turned to see the shotgun Greer was pointing at Curt’s chest.
“We were just fooling around, Greer. Call your dog off. I want to talk to you about a business deal.”
Holly wanted to laugh at the men. Curt had lost his bullying attitude, and so had the other men when they saw Greer wasn’t lowering his gun.
“Go on inside the house, Holly, and take Hunter with you.”
She edged around the men, making sure she didn’t take her eyes of them until she was safely inside. As soon as the door was locked, Holly reached for her phone to call Tate.
Putting the phone to her ear, she went to the window to look outside, releasing a sigh when she saw Tate walking out of the woods, his rifle also pointed at the three men who were now looking as frightened as they had made her.
Holly dropped the curtain, going to the counter to take out an organic dog treat from a metal tin then giving it to Hunter. “Next time, bite them, and I’ll cook you a steak.”
2
“What in the fuck do you numbskulls want?”
Looking uncertain, Curt, Justin, and Luke stared at each other as Greer made no attempt to lower his shotgun. When they saw Tate take his position next to him, Greer thought they would piss themselves.
Scaredy cats should have known better than to show up at his door without an invitation.
Curt nodded toward Luke. “We have a proposition for you.”
“The only proposition I want to hear is for you to go fuck yourselves.”
“Come on, Greer, listen
to what we have to say before you get all blown up and mad.”
Curt’s amenable attitude had gone through a drastic transformation from the one he had given Holly when the fuckers didn’t realize he had been within hearing distance.
“You always come to someone’s home and insult a female member of their family?”
It didn’t take the dumbasses long to realize that he had heard the exchange between them.
“We were just joking. Bring her out here and we’ll apologize,” Curt offered.
“She don’t want to listen to any apology from you. And neither do we. You’ve got one minute to state your business before I save Knox the effort of arresting you for trespassing.”
“The word around town is you have a new plant you’ve been growing called Kentucky Gold. I want to buy what plants you have. It’ll save you from having to worry about who you’re selling to. I heard the State Police have been trying to catch you. We can help each other out. I’m willing to pay the premium if it’s as good as they say.”
“How’d you hear about Kentucky Gold?”
“I have my sources.” Curt smirked, becoming cocky, thinking Greer would be tempted by the money. Everyone in Treepoint and three counties over knew that he would sell his soul for a dollar.
“You know what he’s talking about, Tate?”
“Nope. But Pa always said that anyone who listens to gossip is an old woman or a bitch. You hiding a pussy behind those jeans?”
Curt’s face turned red with fury, the air around them becoming filled with tension, as Justin and Luke waited for their friend to react with the violence he had administered to those who dared defy him.
When he had been a coach at the high school, he had hidden his true character. Since getting fired for stealing money from the program, though, he didn’t worry about his true colors coming out anymore.
“So, you’re going to pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about?” Curt ground out through clenched teeth.
“Damn, Curt, I’ve never heard of Kentucky Gold. Maybe you’ve been listening to the same person who’s been gossiping about you knocking up a high school girl then leaving her when she lost your baby. Or maybe the one who said that you changed your name from Demaris to your mama’s last name, Dawkins, because you were trying the rub the shit off the bottom of your shoe when Jo came back to town and owned your ass at Rosie’s for what you did to her in high school.”