42. Chapter Forty-two
Chapter Forty-two
Libby
“You don’t have to stay here, Lib. I’m fine.” Devon whips his hair out of his eyes. “Just because Dad’s gone, and Blue is leaving, doesn’t mean I need a babysitter.”
I’m still pissed Dad left. The only redeeming factor is he made sure all the household bills were on autopay from his account.
But he still left me a teenage boy to feed. And he can’t drive yet, so I’m back to running him to all of his practices and events.
Parent of the fucking year.
“Well, since I’ll still be cooking for you, I thought it’d just be easier to stay here for the next few days. It isn’t going to be forever.” I don’t want to sleep in the camper by myself anyways.
His lower lip sticks out slightly. The baby fat on his cheeks is starting to thin, but he still carries the hint of how young he really is .
“It isn’t your responsibility to take care of me. Dad must think I’m old enough since he left.” His chin gives the tinies of trembles.
Maybe it’s the hormones coursing through my body, but seeing him fight the emotions has me wrapping my arms around him and pulling him close.
“I love you, Dev. I always will. I’m not going anywhere, I promise. This is my forever home, and yours too as long as you want it, okay?” I struggle to hold back my tears.
They just come so damn easy nowadays.
He stands stoic and still for a long moment before I feel his palms land on my back.
When his face buries into my shoulder, and the first sobs shatter his poise, my own cries join him.
“We’re in this together, bud.” My words shake as I hold him.
“I miss Mom,” he sniffles. “Why is Dad such an asshole?” His voice cracks, his age betraying him.
“So we’d learn to rely on each other,” I answer quietly.
I let him hug me until he’s the one who pulls away. Hanging his head, he wipes his nose while looking at the floor.
“I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if you stayed.” He shuffles his feet. “Maybe you could even gut Dad’s room?” His hopeful glance shows the raw struggle that’s going on within him .
I give him a small smile. “I really like that idea. But what about when Dad comes back?”
“Fuck him.” His rapid answer tells me everything about the hurt he’s feeling.
I don’t even chastise his language.
It’s the truth.
Darla would roll her eyes at me so hard they’d pop out the back of my head if she saw me crying all night.
I’m such a wuss about Blue being gone, and he’ll only be gone for three days. I just have to sleep alone twice until he gets back.
But that didn’t stop me from curling around his pillow and bawling like I was never going to see him again.
I’d rather have morning sickness than these crazy mood swings.
“Devon? Did you double check and make sure everyone in Bay A was brought in?” I’m in the middle of scrubbing an udder, but can clearly see at least four empty spots in the line.
“Lemme check.” He darts out through the loading door, then pops back in. “Yep, they’re all in. None in the whole section.” He picks up his sprayer again, resuming cleaning the next cow.
Something seems to have shifted between us. He doesn’t act like he has a chip on his shoulder since two days ago.
He’s almost more appreciative?
Being abandoned by your fucking father will do that.
It makes me grit my teeth that Dad did that. But maybe it’s for the best?
Devon is safe with me, and I know he’ll be taken care of.
In the meantime, where in the hell is Lucy?
“Can you finish up? I need to find Lucy.” I swear that cow causes me more headaches.
“Of course it’s her,” he groans, waving me away. “Yea, I got it.”
He’s more mature than he realizes. I need to make sure he’s a partner once he’s old enough if he wants to be.
Trudging the length of the barn takes several minutes. I only have to make cursory glances. She’s a giant black and white cow. She stands out like a sore thumb, even if she was out in the thick green grass of spring.
This wouldn’t be the first time she’s escaped. But she usually doesn’t take other cows with her.
I’m halfway to the far fence past the building when I spot her pattern in the grass.
Is she laying down?
Oh shit, did she get hit with the Lutalyse? Fuck, I don’t have gloves with me .
Hesitantly, I approach. The darker forms of the three other girls come into view from the lush growth.
No!
Blood coats their noses and mouths, and their eyes are all fixed and glazed.
They’ve been dead for a while.
God damn it.
I feel like I’ve been punched in the stomach as the first grip of their death chokes the breath from me.
Why? How?
Glancing around, I think I find the culprit.
An opened bag of grain.
That shouldn’t have killed them though. Over half the package is still here. They get nearly that much every day during milking.
Holy.
Oh.
My.
God.
Small metal shapes. They look like treble hooks? But pointy on all sides?
That thing looks lethal. Mixed with the lure of the sweet cob, I bet they gobbled them up.
And it tore them from the inside out.
I don’t stop the tears, but fumble for my phone.
“Blue? Something bad happened,” I sob when he answers .
“Are you okay?” Panic laces his tone.
“I am. But that fucking cunt, Lucy broke out.” My voice cracks in anger.
If she hadn’t been so damn stupid and stayed in her pen, she would have been fine.
“Someone put out a bag of molasses feed and it had spikey things in it. She ate it, Blue. She’s dead.
So are three others.” I take a shuddering breath and step away.
I can’t even look at them.
“Libby. I need you to go back to the barn and call Wade right away. Make sure you have your pistol. Do you have it with you?” He sounds pained, like every word is through his teeth.
“No. I don’t have it, I was in the parlor.” But I follow his advice and start walking briskly back towards the barn.
Is the person out there now, watching?
I’m out in the open.
It makes my skin crawl thinking they could be staring down the barrel at me.
That prods me to trot faster.
“I got you on the cameras now, baby. I need to put some out over that pasture.” Pain bleeds through his words. “I’m sorry.”
“This isn’t your fault.” But if I ever find out who did this…
“Libby, it’s my job to protect you, especially since your dad isn’t around anymore.” He pauses. “I’m leaving now. I’ll be there in a few hours. ”
Damn it. That isn’t what I meant to happen.
“Blue, I’ll call Wade. Finish what you need to do.” I hate that it’s just Devon and I, but it’s not the first time we’ve been the only ones here.
“I love you, Libby. I’ll see you soon.” He hurries off the phone as I reach the parlor.
“Everything okay?” Devon calls over his shoulder as he sprays shit off the udder of the cow in front of him.
“No,” I say shortly. “Lucy’s dead, along with three others.”
The water stops as he turns. “No shit? How?”
All I can do is shake my head. Anything more and I might break down.
Dialing the number to the sheriff’s station, it seems like it takes forever before someone answers.
Then twice as long before Wade comes on the line.
“Hey, Libby. How are you?” His words barely register before I’m spilling what happened in one long breath.
“Shit,” he exhales. “I’ll be right there.”
Devon and I manage to finish the morning chores by the time Wade arrives.
He walks with me out to the dead cows, then squats next to the pile of grain and pulls off his aviator sunglasses. “Fuckers.” He picks up one of the spikes, prodding it carefully with the tips of his thick fingers. “Yea, this would definitely cause that. You say you haven’t seen anyone?”
I fight the bile that rises in my throat .
The bodies are starting to stink in the heat of the sun.
“We have new cameras, but I couldn’t find anything on them except the side of a Jeep as it drove by.” I paused and replayed the tiny clip a million times in the last half hour.
It shows only the briefest glimpse of the front tire and side of the car.
Nothing else.
“Show me.” He holds out his palm as I key up the footage.
“Hmm,” he rumbles as he towers over me. “You’re right.”
“Of course I am.” I risk a smile.
He glances around, then focuses on the far gate. “Can I bring my rig in here? I want to gather samples of this grain.”
“Anything you need. I’m heading to Char’s for a while.” I already made sure that Devon made it to the bus this morning.
I don’t feel comfortable being here completely alone. And Char needs my help.
When Jeb and Darla get here for their afternoon shift, I’ll be back.
“How was school?” I ask Devon as blandly as possible.
Like I haven’t been worried sick all day about every little thing.
Char said she’s been crampy, so Dixon decided to take her into the clinic and have her checked.
Which left me driving in circles in town, fearful to return home. It was hard not to call Blue, but I know he’s working and there isn’t anything he can do from the other side of the state.
“What’s going on with the cows?” he asks without acknowledging my question. “What did the sheriff say?”
Devon is more mature than his age.
I guess I should start treating him like a peer instead of a child.
“Someone put down booby traps and killed them. But they don’t know who. So we need to be twice as watchful.” I pour myself a cup of tea, and slide the plate of baby carrots with peanut butter across the table towards him.
There is a sense of comfort being back in the house.
Mom used to make us snacks on this very table when I got off the bus.
Those are some of my favorite memories.
His jaw works as he chews, but he side-eyes me warily. “Are you sure we’re safe? ”
I make a pointed glance to the pistol sitting on the end of the counter. “As much as we can be. Strength in numbers, right?”
He grimaces. “I wish Blue was here.”
“Me too, buddy. You finally liking him more?” I hope so.
Devon is slow to warm up to anyone.
But he nods, dropping his gaze to the floor. “He’s been showing me how to play guitar. He’s really good.”
I’ll agree with that. Blue’s fingers are magic.
Not exactly something I can share with my brother, though.
“It makes me happy knowing you get along.” I take a deep breath. “You’re going to be an uncle.” I rush the words.
Why was it harder to tell him than Dad?
Devon’s nostrils flare as he continues to stare at his feet.
We sit in weighted silence until I notice the very corner of his mouth drift up.
“I think that’s pretty cool. None of my friends have nieces or nephews. Do you know yet if it’s a boy or a girl?” His blue eyes light up.
It’s the first sign of happiness he’s shown since Dad left.
“Not yet. It’ll be a surprise.” I’m torn on if we want to know yet .
“You could turn your old room into the baby’s room. Then I’d be close enough to help.” His voice is more animated as he starts laying out the plans.
I swear I have reasons to cry nearly every day now.
But these happy moments are worth it.
“I’d love your help renovating. I bet Blue would love the idea too.” I want Devon to be involved.
I wish Dad wasn’t such an ass.
He should have been excited.
A ding on my phone distracts me.
Shit, one of the cameras.
“Dev, there’s someone there,” I whisper, flipping the screen around so he can watch the dark hooded figure with me.
Whoever it is, they flit from the refrigerated storage room and disappear through the side entrance.
“What the fuck?” He pinches the image down, and tries to flick to the next view.
But they’re gone.
“What do we do?” His rounded eyes look up to me.
Panic races through me. “Call the sheriff.” I grab the pistol and race outside into the darkness.
“Libby! Stay here!” Devon calls before the door shuts behind me.
I can’t.
My world is at stake. I have to stop whoever this is before they ruin everything I’ve worked for .
This asshole is putting my farm at risk.
My family.
Everything I love.
I’m halfway to the barn when a dull thud echoes across the lot, followed by the sound of crackling and a wave of sour air washes over me.
What the hell was that? Smoke and dust billow from a broken window above the storage room.
Running as fast as I can, I cut the corner of the barn to see a wave of white pouring from a hole in the concrete wall to spill over the green earth outside.
Milk.
Thousands of gallons.
Hundreds of cows, hours of work.
All that money.
Flushed into the soil.
It drops me to my knees.
Wait. Is that…an engine?
Leaping back to my feet, I sprint around the far end and catch the tail end of a Jeep fishtailing across the gravel.
Fuck you.
I raise my gun and aim for the tires, pulling the trigger like I’ve practiced so many times before.
I always thought I’d be shooting Char’s toxic ex, Matt. Never a car .
They veer hard to the left, cutting behind one of the storage sheds.
No way asshole.
I backtrack, my legs pumping so fast I feel as if I’m flying.
Barely beating the speeding vehicle, I plant my feet in front of it’s only way out.
“You’re gonna have to kill me,” I grimace, raising my pistol.
The world falls into slow motion as I point my weapon at the windshield.
I’m playing for keeps.
No one messes with me or mine.
They killed my cows.
They could have made me lose my baby.
Dropping the front sights to just above the curve of the steering wheel, my finger tightens on the trigger.
This ends now.
Whoever is driving hunches forward, nailing the accelerator so I can hear the whine of the engine as it builds up.
With a final squeeze, the hammer drops as a body flies at me from the side, tackling me to the ground.
The Jeep narrowly misses me, but then crashes against the concrete divider in the loading lane.
“Lib—” Blue coughs from the ground next to me.
“What are you doing here?” I drop my gun, bad guy forgotten when I see the bloom of red spreading across his shoulder .
I fucking shot him!
“I had to…make…” He writhes in the dirt, his fingers mashed over the wound as blood seeps between them.
“Blue! My god! Help!” I cry out, hoping Devon hears me.
Sirens approach as the sheriff’s truck skids to a stop just a few feet away.
Wade and one of his deputies jump out.
He hollers and points towards the wrecked Jeep, then runs to me.
“Are you okay?” His heavy hand rests on my shoulder.
I nod, the lump in my throat too heavy to talk around.
Blue groans, falling flat. “Lib,” he chokes out, holding up a bloody palm.
I scramble to his side, smearing his fingers across my face as I press them to my cheek. “I’m here.”
“Libby, I love you,” he whispers before his eyes close.