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“So, where the hell were you for the last fifteen years?”
“I was busy.”
“Let me guess, in the city. Where you should be.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Well, I’m here now. Whether you like it or not. I own this place.”
“So, owned by a woman who has no idea that it was open or how to run it?”
She winced, and I knew the answer.
I opened my mouth to curse, but was interrupted.
“Begone, bad guy!” Eric yelled. He ran in with a large branch raised over his head. “This is our house and we’re gonna defend it!”
The candle went back up and I glared again. “Donotuse that.” I looked to Eric next. “And stand down, Mr. Guard Dog. We’re not getting robbed.”
“B-but there’s a stranger here,” he said, looking at her. “Youarea stranger, right?”
“No, this is Mollie. The owner of the farm.”
“How do you know my name?” she asked.
“Bennie talked about you all the time. Said he wanted you to come back.”
“I guess I’m a little late,” she muttered.
“No kidding.”
“Are you gonna tell me your name, or should I address you as whatever sounds fun?”
“Cain,” I said through clenched teeth. “That’s my name.”
“I’m Eric!” He waved.
“Hi,” she replied before her eyes met mine. “Is this the other worker? Do farms allow child labor?”
“No,” I hissed, rolling my eyes before turning to Eric.
“How did you get in here anyway? I changed the locks years ago.”
“Credit card.”
“And how does someone like you know a trick like that?”
She crossed her arms. “I regularly rob people.” Eric gasped. “Kidding. I had a sticky door in college.”
“So, why are you here?”
“Uhhhh.” She drew out the word. “That’s a good question.One I didn’t realize I would have to answer.” Mollie looked out the window and back to me. “So, the farm is open, right?”
“If by open you mean functioning, yes.”
“Then where are the crops?”
I’d grown accustomed to never having to answer questions unless it was about when the next shipment of eggs and milk would be. “I manage the animals.”
“The ones in the back of the farm? That’s all you do?”