Chapter Six #2
“You cannot just kick us out. There are laws. You should know that,” my father snaps at him.
I expected my fear to swamp me when I saw him again.
Old habits die hard after all, and fear is the hardest shackle to break free from, but all I feel is pissed.
So fucking pissed that it’s taking everything I have not to set fire to this asshole right here and right now, police department be damned.
“I can assure you, legally, we are well within our rights to evict you. And if you don’t get off this land in the next five minutes, I’m going to have this lovely sheriff remove you himself,” Jen snaps.
“I don’t know who you are, lady, but you have no authority here.”
Fuck this. I step aside so I’m no longer hidden by the sheriff and step up beside him.
His arm brushes against mine. The warmth seeping through his shirt grounds me as I stare up at a man who’s had so much work done, he really does look like a perfect stranger.
But those fucking eyes make a mockery of both of us, especially as they were the only thing I got from him.
I could pretend innocence, and I will to an extent, but being the good girl never did me any favors. This town wanted to paint me as the villain. Well, now they get to reap what they sowed. Starting with him.
“No, she doesn’t have authority, but I do. This is my property, and you’re not welcome here anymore.”
Porter’s mouth drops open, his tanned face paling as recognition freezes him in place. Let the games begin.
“Calliope?”
“I’m sorry, but do I know you? You look kind of familiar.”
His expression shuts down into a blank stare I’m all too familiar with.
“No, but your father told me all about you.”
“He did? Did he tell you how he liked to beat me until I passed out? How my blood decorated every corner of this house long before his ever did? Did he tell you how many bones he broke or how I’ve had more stitches than a patchwork doll?”
Silence wraps around us. It’s as if everyone has taken a collective breath in shock.
I look around and shrug. “What? It was never a secret. The whole town knew. Isn’t that right?” I look over at the former sheriff’s son, who has the audacity to look away. Prick.
My father’s face turns red with anger. “He told me you were a murderer and a liar,” he hisses, making me laugh. I see one of the cops reach for his gun as tensions brew. I’m trusting the sheriff to keep his men in check, at least for now.
“My father told you I was a murderer before I killed him? Or can you speak to the dead, as well as out of your ass?”
Jen snorts as my father slides down off his horse. “You insolent little bitch.” He moves closer only to find Shepard right in front of him.
I swear I didn’t even see the guy move. “You don’t want to do whatever it is you’re thinking, Porter. I really don’t like bullies.”
“She’s—”
“The owner. Now you had your chance, and you blew it. You could have packed up and shipped out and avoided all this, but you had to prove you were a bigger badass. And yet all I see right now is a small man with a big mouth. Push me. I dare you.”
My father looks like he wants to wrap his hands around Shepard’s throat and choke him out, but he manages to stop himself.
I realize, in a stunning moment of clarity, that he didn’t just ruin my life.
He destroyed his own. Martin Hart had been a big deal, though not big enough to give up my mother’s last name after she left him.
But this guy is nobody. And he can’t push the issue because if anyone finds out the truth, his house of cards comes tumbling down.
Dismissing him for a moment, I look up at the second man, who hasn’t said a word.
I don’t soften my gaze or even attempt to look friendly.
Dale Larson can rot in hell for what he did.
I can see in his eyes the fear that moves behind them, not because he thinks I’ll hurt him.
As far as he knows, I’m little Miss Meek and Mild.
No, he knows I have the power to tear his life apart.
The look I give him is a silent promise that his time will come, and I’ll enjoy every second of ripping him to shreds.
“You now have four minutes,” Shepard snaps, dragging my focus from Dale.
“I’m telling you. I’m not leaving without my shit. None of this is hers,” my father snarls, pointing at me. I grin. Jenny is going to enjoy playing with him.
“I’m not sure who you think you are, Mr. Porter, but ranch manager does not trump owner. As you were hired by someone who didn’t have the legal right to do so, your contract is null and void.”
“She was a child. Her father had the right to make those decisions.”
“She was tried as an adult. This town made sure of that. You don’t get to pick and choose between the distinctions now because it suits you. As I have no forwarding address for either you or Mr. Larson, I’ve been unable to hand these to you, so I’m almost grateful you’re here.”
She pulls out two large envelopes from the folder in her arms. I never saw the thing in her car, but I should have known she’d have it with her. I swear that folder has everything in it, and she’s rarely far from it.
“I think you’ll find everything you need to know in there.
I’ve taken the liberty of issuing your final paychecks, though I have had an accountant review the finances of Corvis Wing.
I can already tell we’ll be meeting again.
Sheriff, I have a copy for you, too. I’m afraid if they don’t have the answers as to where the missing money is going, it will need to be investigated. ”
Missing money? Well, that’s the first I’ve heard about it. Jen looks at me and shakes her head subtly.
They both tear their envelopes open. I stand back as they turn a variety of colors, ranging from red to green to white. How very festive of them.
“An order of protection? Are you kidding me?” my father hisses.
“That’s correct. It says neither you nor Mr. Larson can come within five hundred yards of my client. It’s precautionary, as I suspected tensions would run high.”
“She’s the murderer, not us.”
“Then this will protect you too. Because if you stay away from Corvis Wing and Calliope, she won’t be able to hurt you now, will she?”
For a beat, nobody says anything. I can’t help but snicker at all this bullshit. I walk away from everyone and up the porch steps to the house. I press my hand to the door and feel tears prick the back of my eyes as sorrow meets sorrow.
“Good fucking luck. Nobody’s been in that house since you killed your daddy,” Dale calls out, feeling brave all of a sudden.
I look at my father for the truth. He doesn’t meet my eyes. Instead, he sniffs and looks away. I turn to the sheriff, who for some reason, looks amused.
My gaze moves to the old sheriff’s kid. “That true? I know if they really couldn’t get in, they’d have called you. Or your father, perhaps.”
When he doesn’t answer, Shepard barks his name. “Answer the question, Andrews.”
Andrews’s jaw clenches, but he glares at me and replies, “They’ve had everyone out here. Locksmiths, carpenters, police, and the FD. Nobody can get in without destroying the place, and as the place isn’t legally theirs…” His voice trails off.
I turn to look at my dad, and a grin spreads across my face.
“How unfortunate for you. Anyway, gentlemen, it’s been…
something. I’d like you to leave now. In fact, I can’t for the life of me think why you’re still here.
Maybe I should have used smaller words,” I mumble, my hand on the door handle as I brace myself. “You’re fired. That better?”
I twist the handle, and the door swings open with an ominous creak.
“What the fuck? How did you—”
I hear a thump and turn to see my father on the ground at the base of the steps, with Shepard’s knee in his back. I assume he made a run for me. Or more importantly, for the house, which Shepard seemed to take exception to.
“You got this from here, Sheriff?”
He looks up at me and shakes his head, but I don’t miss the twitch of his lips. “I think I’ll manage.”
“Okey dokey.”
“I’ll ride into town and get some things. Fifteen years locked up tight? I think we’re going to need some industrial cleaning supplies,” Jen mutters.
“Thank you,” I tell her gently before I turn my back on everyone and step inside.
As soon as I step over the threshold, the door slams shut. Something tells me that no one standing outside will be able to open it without my say-so.