Chapter Thirty-seven
June climbed out of the Gator and came around to help Vaughn. They walked slowly to the front gate where they stopped and stared. Dawn had broken and the sky was a pale gray, light enough for them to see. In the distance, Diablo crowed his morning tune, waking the rest of the ranch.
She and Vaughn had already examined the tires on Vaughn’s truck and discovered they’d indeed been slashed with a sharp object. And now they stood at the gate, which hung open at an angle where it had obviously been tampered with, the two cameras that had been posted, dangling in the breeze, hung by the wires that had helped to secure them.
“You get any feed from those cameras?” June asked.
Vaughn looked pale, sick with disgust and pain. She staggered a little as she dug her phone out from her back pocket. She brought up the feed from the cameras and stood closer to June so she could see. They watched as a small pickup truck approached the gate and someone climbed out, dressed head to toe in black, and sprayed something on the lens. They weren’t able to see anything, then the feed flashed and went off as the cameras were destroyed.
“Look like one of the boys?” June asked.
“I can’t tell.”
“Me neither.”
Vaughn put her phone away and pulled on the gate. It swung haphazardly and squeaked in protest.
“I understand the cameras,” Vaughn said. “But did they really have to destroy the gate too?”
June kicked at the dirt. “Come on, let’s get back to the house. You need to get off your feet.”
“Getting me off my feet ain’t gonna do anybody any good.”
“It’ll do you good. Now come on.”
June helped her walk back to the Gator where they both climbed in. June drove the long way back to the house so they could check the fence line for possible damage. Thankfully, they found nothing else amiss.
June pulled to a stop in front of the house, but Vaughn didn’t move to get out. “We need to check the horses,” she said.
“Natalie and Vivian already did, remember? They did that right away.”
“I want to see for myself.”
“Vaughn, they’re fine.”
“Gram, you either drive me over there or I walk.”
June sighed. “Child, I don’t know who you’re gonna kill first. You or me.” She drove the Gator over to the stables and climbed out to help Vaughn inside. They checked each stall, made sure each horse was okay before June could talk her back outside and get her back to the house. Once there, Vivian helped June get Vaughn onto the couch, boots off, and an ice pack secured at her lower back. June then handed her the remote control.
“What’s this for?” Vaughn asked.
“The television, what else?”
Vaughn tossed it aside.
“You gonna pout all day?”
“Maybe.”
“Lord help us all, Vaughn’s pouting.” June walked away as Vivian passed her with a mug of black coffee for Vaughn. “Careful, she’s being difficult,” June said. She entered the kitchen, switched on the oven to preheat, and pulled her bowl of flour out from under the sink for biscuits. She got the milk, poured some in the bowl, opened the container of Crisco, and dipped her hand in, scooping out a couple of dollops to mix into the flour as well. She stood there mixing with her hands until she had herself a good dough and then she scooped out small handfuls to put on a greased pan. When she finished, she slid the pan in the oven and washed her hands. Natalie walked in, holding the basket of fresh eggs, which she set on the counter. She smelled of the earth and the morning chill, her face flushed with it. She took off her ball cap, one June recognized as one of Vaughn’s, and ran her hands through her short dark hair before returning the hat to her head.
“Well, how are things? Was anything else damaged?”
June restarted the coffee pot and took the eggs to wash them. “The front gate and cameras. They’re a total loss.”
“The cameras? Shit, I had forgotten about those. Were they able to pick up anything before they were damaged?”
“Just some man climbing out of a little pickup. He was covered in black. Couldn’t make out nothing.”
“Damn.”
June turned, placing the eggs in her apron. “Your man, he doesn’t drive a little pickup, does he?” She didn’t think it was Natalie’s ex, but she wanted to be sure and she wanted Natalie to be sure. Maybe it would help to put her mind at ease.
“Allen? Gosh no. He drives a black Mercedes. Among other luxury cars.”
“Oh, right. Well, see then? It’s not him.”
“Allen would never bring his Mercedes out here on the dirt roads.”
“I don’t think it was him, Natalie. He would’ve tried to do something to you, wouldn’t he?”
“I wasn’t in the guesthouse though. I was in here.”
June grew quiet. She knew she couldn’t convince her. She stood at the island and cracked the eggs into the mixing bowl as the kitchen began to smell like fresh biscuits. Natalie came to her side. “Want some help?”
“You can get the bacon out.”
Natalie opened the fridge and got out the bacon. Next she retrieved two frying pans. One for the eggs, one for the bacon. “Thank you, darlin’,” June said. “Why don’t you go check on Vaughn? She might like a refill on her coffee.”
“Where is she?”
“I’m in the living room,” Vaughn called. “And I can hear you, so don’t say anything bad about me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” June said, laughing.
Natalie disappeared into the living room as Vivian entered the kitchen.
“Need any help, Mama?”
“You can put that bacon on to fry.”
“How much?”
“Enough to feed an army. Benny and Greer will be here.”
“Say no more.” She got busy turning on the stovetop and frying up the bacon. “You call the doctor yet?” she asked softly. June stood next to her at the stove and readied the eggs for the pan.
“Too early still.”
“How are we gonna get her to go?”
“Knock her out if we have to. But she’s going.”
Vivian laughed. “I dread the fight already.” She shook her head. “She doesn’t look good, Mama. I think you’re right. She’s overwhelmed.”
“She is.”
“I should’ve come sooner.”
“What could you have done? She won’t listen to no one.”
Vivian turned to look behind them. “She seems to listen to Natalie pretty well.”
“That’s because she’s got a soft spot for her.”
“She likes her? I knew it!” she whispered.
“She just doesn’t know what to do about it yet. She’s fighting it some I think.”
“That’s Vaughn. Always the stubborn one.”
“Well, after Jeanie and that mess, I can’t say as I blame her.”
June waited while the bacon snapped and fried before she poured her egg mixture into her pan.
Vivian glanced over at her. “So, what’s Natalie’s story?”
June hesitated. “I’ll fill you in later.”
“Uh-oh. That bad?”
“It’s not her. It’s her ex-husband. Think Sissy all over again.”
“Oh, no. Poor thing.”
“She’s having a time of it.”
“He’s not coming around here, is he? You don’t think last night was him do you?”
“No, no. It was those boys, I’d bet on it. No, Natalie’s husband doesn’t know she’s here. She’s sort of hiding out.”
“Ah. Gotcha. Probably smart if he’s anything like Aunt Sissy’s ex.”
“What are you two gabbing about?” Natalie asked as she walked back into the kitchen.
“We’re talking about you,” June let out, causing Vivian to guffaw.
“Well, don’t let me stop you,” Natalie said with a smile.
“We were just saying that you seem to have an effect on Vaughn. A positive effect.”
Natalie glanced back toward the living room. “You hear that, Vaughn?”
“Yeah.”
“I have a positive effect on you, so that means you’ve got to listen to me.”
“Not a chance.”
Natalie laughed. “So much for that positive effect.” She refilled the coffee mug and returned to the living room.
“She’s adorable,” Vivian said, turning the bacon. “I hope Vaughn can see that.”
“Oh, I think she does. She just needs time to work it out. They both do.”
“Well, let’s hope that time comes sooner rather than later.”
“From your lips to God’s ears, honey.”