Chapter 31
Chapter thirty-one
Dakota
“You can’t be serious.” Arizona practically bounces in the front seat of my truck.
It’s almost midnight, and we’re both dressed in all black. Down to the socks I picked up at the Smart Mart this afternoon.
“Deadly,” I deadpan as I pull the black beanie over my hair. “You don’t mess with my sister and get away with it.”
Arizona smiles, her hands wiggling their way into a pair of black gloves.
Cooper is in the bunkhouse tonight playing poker with Clyde and the guys, which gave us the perfect opportunity to execute plan Red Devils.
“Now explain to me again the purpose of those.” She nods her head to my back seat that currently holds approximately fourteen bags of fruit loops.
“I can’t believe you’ve never heard of fruit looping.” I grab my tote sack and start to stuff the bags inside.
“Revenge is served a different way in my generation.” She laughs.
“Well.” I point up the road. “That house on the end of the street belongs to miss Lilith and Molly Whitehouse. The one with the perfect yard and overcompensated shrubbery.”
“Isn’t her dad the mayor?” Ari asks.
“Yes, but that’s not important.” I kill the ignition. “I have accurate inside information that tells me Molly is a bit of a yard nut. Has a special grass planted yearly, mows at least twice a week. You get my drift.”
Arizona peers out the windshield. “So, what’s the purpose of the cereal?”
“Look at it as a colorful dye job. Once these tiny circles are spread through the grass, then the morning dew sets in, its soggy city. The rain chance is just a cherry on top.”
“Uh, I hate soggy cereal.” She wrinkles her nose.
“As one does,” I continue. “Once the cereal gets soggy, and wet, the color from the dye will then bleed into the grass, creating a colorful display of St. Augustine.”
“No way.” Ari snorts. “That’s fire.”
“Dang right.” I wiggle my brows. “Now, let’s show those goody two shoes just how trashy we are.”
Arizona is peacefully drawing at the dining table while I’m whipping up some lunch. It’s the second Saturday of the month, which means the advocacy center brings the kids out to the ranch in the afternoon for horse therapy.
The screen door slams, signaling Cooper’s arrival. I glance up to see him remove his hat, a serious expression on his handsome face.
“Girls. The living room. Now,” he barks as he stalks to the sofa.
Ari and I exchange glances before I set aside the loaf of bread, and we weave our way to the couch.
Cooper’s forearms press down on his knees. “Heard a rumor this morning.”
I tense as Ari shoots me a side glance.
“About?” I ask.
“Lilith Whitehouse was bullying Arizona?” He questions.
“It wasn’t a big deal,” Ari says quickly.
“You heard correct. And I handled it,” I assure him.
He nods, his eyes meeting Arizona’s. “I’m sorry. And I want you to know you can always come to me if you need to talk.”
Oh, my heart. His kindness knows no bounds.
“Thanks, Papa C.” She smiles.
“Well, you hungry?” I push to stand, but he holds up a hand.
“I’m not finished. I heard another rumor. Someone tie-dyed the Whitehouse lawn last night. You know anything about that?”
“Nope.” Ari quips. “Zero knowledge.”
I glare at her before facing Cooper. “Not sure what you’re talking about.”
“Really?” He stands, then struts to the front door, before reaching outside for something on the porch. “Must be a coincidence that I found exactly fourteen empty bags of fruit loops shoved in the barn dumpster.”
Arizona’s hand flies to her mouth, trying to contain her laugh.
Damn it. I thought I hid those far enough down. A freaking empty deep freeze box was on top of them.
“So, correct me if I’m wrong. Either you two were the culprits, or someone has a very unhealthy addiction to fruit loops.”
I straighten my shoulders. “They’re tasty.”
He lifts a brow. “You fruit looped the mayor’s lawn, Kota?”
“They deserved it,” I shot back.
He drops the trash bag full of evidence, before he calmly walks back to the sofa. He eases down with a dramatic sigh. “I have to say. I’m extremely disappointed in you two.”
My lungs pinch, the feeling of him being disappointed in me making my breath hitch. I hate it. And now I’ve dragged Ari in the mix.
“And I only have one question for both of you.” He levels us with a pitiful look of hurt.
“Why the hell didn’t anyone invite me?”