16. Wyatt #2
“Could be. I got wind they’re scoping out the Tillerman farm, and it butts up to one of our fields.”
Lee’s typically happy demeanor soured. “You know they also bought out Reed Jennings and his fishing charter. And Tootie let it slip that they made another lowball offer on the Highfield House.”
“I see the littlest one sometimes,” Dad offered from his spot on a recliner. The woman he referred to was a nurse at Haven Pines and often took care of Dad, despite the fact he was a Sullivan.
“MJ,” Lee offered with a shrug.
“They’re all scoundrels, the lot of them.” Tootie grabbed a stack of plates from Lee. She called back over her shoulder as he walked away. “But MJ is a good egg.”
“What’s the end game?” Lee asked. “Buying up all the property in Remington County. Expansion probably, but why the boats? Doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s never enough for those greedy motherfuckers.” Duke’s voice carried a hard edge, but I agreed with him. The Sullivans were hard workers and had fought for everything we got—all the way back to my great-grandfather, who’d started the farm.
A low simmer of anger bubbled in my chest. “It’s not enough they stole Great-Granddad’s patent, but they have to go run roughshod over all of Outtatowner now?” Being away for so long meant I’d missed all this. Things were changing, and not all those changes were good.
Lark looked awkwardly between my brothers and me, her eyes wide as we lamented the Kings. Tootie threw her hands in the air and blew out an exasperated breath. “I’m so tired of you boys and your grudges. Lark, come help me in the kitchen, dear?”
She looped her arm into Lark’s and guided her away from the dining room.
We all stood around, frowning and thinking about the Kings.
I couldn’t believe how much had changed in the years I’d been away.
It seemed the Kings had been busy scouting local businesses in trouble and paying low dollar to bail the owners out.
Just didn’t sit right with me.
I looked around Tootie’s house. The paint in the dining room was faded, and the floorboards squeaked under my foot. The place was literally crumbling around her, and it would be only a matter of time before the Kings got wind of it and stole her house from under her.
“Anyone talked to Katie lately?” I looked at my brothers, who avoided my eyes and shook their heads.
I lowered my voice. “You know Tootie doesn’t listen to anyone but her.” I stretched my arms wide. “Look at this place. It’s too big. She can’t keep it up. Maybe it’s time we call Katie and see if she can talk some sense into her.”
“Think she’ll come back?” Duke asked.
Lee shrugged. “Worth a shot. She loves Montana, but school’s almost done for her. I can call her tomorrow.”
Duke looked around the old farmhouse. “I can call in a favor to Beck. See if he knows anyone who’d be willing to help us out.”
Beckett was Duke’s best friend and owned a successful construction company, but his family would be a complication after what had gone down with their beloved son Declan and Katie.
We were running out of options. If we could get someone he trusted, along with Kate smoothing things over with Tootie, we could have her home up to code, and I’d worry a hell of a lot less about everything.
Sold on the idea, I nodded. “Just let me know how much.”
Duke looked at me. “We’ll all take care of her.”
In solemn agreement, we nodded at each other.
Just then Penny burst through the side door and hustled into the kitchen. When I followed her, I saw her peering into a shoebox. She clamped the lid down tight at the sight of me.
“Lark, how much did Aunt Tootie pay you to come to Bowlegs’s funeral?”
“Pickle,” I warned.
Penny dipped her hands in the pocket of her skirt and held out several coins in her little hand. “What? I just need to know. I want to hire her.”
Lark’s eyes danced with amusement. “Hire me?”
Penny shifted the box to her hip and looked up. “If you could all please come outside.”
We eyed each other warily, but over my shoulder I nodded. Tootie looked at me as I glanced at Dad, settled on the couch, and she smiled. “We’ll stay behind.”
One by one, Lark, Lee, Duke, the boys, and I followed Penny out to the backyard. Across the grass, near an old oak tree, there was a small hole.
“Pickle, did you dig up Tootie’s yard?”
“Shh.” She frowned at me. “This is a serious time.”
My eyebrows popped up. “Oh. Sorry.”
Rounding the old oak, Penny adjusted the small shoebox. She held it high above her head. “This is Eggburt the chicken.”
My stomach dropped. “Oh my god. Pickle, is there a dead animal in that box?”
Lee stifled a laugh, and I shot him a look. Duke stood stoically beside him with his hands clasped in front of him, but a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. Kevin, Michael, and Joey looked on, horrified.
“Is this what you needed my help for?” Lark asked.
Penny nodded. “I want to give Burt the burial he deserves. Can you help?”
Lark looked to me, but I had no clue what to say. “Sure.” She smiled.
Penny gently laid the shoebox in the too-small hole. “Here lies Burt. Lark will now say a few nice things.”
Surprised but composed, Lark took one step forward.
“Oh, well... okay.” She cleared her throat.
“Burt was a good chicken. His life was... peaceful here. There were many sunny days, and he was loved. Though we will miss him, I know he’s in a better place.
” She stepped back and leaned over to Penny to whisper, “How was that?”
Penny’s mouth twisted in subtle disappointment. “Can you cry a little?”
At that, I coughed to hide my laughter. Lark’s eyes whipped to mine before clearing her throat. “I’ll work on it.”
We stood, silent and staring down at the shoebox.
I really hope there’s not an actual dead chicken in there.
Lark blotted at the fresh tears in the corner of her eyes. After a moment of silence, Penny nodded, satisfied that Eggburt had been properly honored.
“Thank you, everyone.”
We slowly started walking back to the main house. “Pickle, what was in the box?”
She looked up at me. “Eggburt.”
“Okay... what happened to him?”
Penny rolled her eyes at me like I was the simplest human on the planet. “Daddy... we ate him!”
Lee’s barking laugh erupted into the evening air while Joey turned and puked into Tootie’s rosebushes.