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“No,” he said, and he did the last thing I expected. He satnext to me and let out a sigh. “Thank you for sticking up for me with Waldren. I didn’t deserve that.”
“Probably not,” I replied. “But Eric does. You raised a good kid, which must mean that somewheredeep down, you’re not so bad.”
“I guessdeep down, that’s a compliment.” His eyes looked up at the stars and we lapsed into silence.
“You must be really out of sorts if you’re out here with me.”
“You could say that,” he muttered. “I mostly came out here to thank you.”
“I appreciate it, but we’re even. You got him out of my space.”
“Do you really think I need a lawyer?”
“Depends on how serious he is. He knew your address.”
“It’s not that hard to find me. I made a website with my name on it for orders for the farm.”
“Smart, but still. This may turn into nothing, but it can’t hurt to have backup.”
He slowly nodded. He didn’t even look at me as he spoke. “I’ve lost a lot of people in my life. I won’t let Eric be one of them.”
I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or himself.
“My dad knows a lot of lawyers,” I said. “Big ones. I could see who he knows.”
“I’m not asking you for help.”
“I know. I’m offering.”
“I’ve been nothing but an ass to you since you got here.”
“Yeah, you have. But you’ve not been an ass to Eric. And I think that matters more.”
He looked over at me, and I wondered if we were having a moment. Everyone I’d talked to had said that Cain was impossible to get through to, but were they right? Or had I managed it?
But he must not have liked what he saw, because his gaze cut from me and he stood, going inside without another word.
I let out a sigh and dropped my elbows to my knees as I looked up at the sky again.
So much for that.
10
CAIN
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Kerry Winsor
Has anyone heard about the house sharing situation on Bennie Grove Farm? I bet the drama is to die for.
Comments:
Kerry Winsor:@Jackie Anneyou have to know something.
Jackie Anne: Nope. Nothing.
Kerry Winsor: Oh, come on. You can’t hand me something like this and not expect me to ask! I bet the fights are legendary!