Page 72 of Making It Up

Which means I can immediately turn to Scott and demand, “What the hell?”

He frowns. “What?”

“I wanted to give them consequences. I’d already decided on community service. Then you show up and change it? That is not okay, Sheriff. That’s not how this works.”

He looks seriously confused. “I was called by the property owner. Why are you here?”

“I saw them from the road.”

“So you just stepped in.”

“Yes. As is my job when I see something.”

He nods in agreement. “Fine. But…I’m here.”

I feel my eyes widen. “Seriously?”

He holds up a hand. “I didn’t mean it like that. But Brett called me. He just wanted me to scare them off. He isn’t going to want anything else to happen.”

“They were mudding.”

“I know.”

I plant my hands on my hips. “That’s dangerous.”

“Can be,” he agrees.

“And bad for…lots of things.”

“Yeah. I’m glad you told them about that.”

“Scott!” I finally yell. “What the hell?”

“What?”

“You hauled me and Henry and Charlie and Jack home practically by the scruff of our necks! You put it on our records! We had to do community service!”

He shakes his head. “I didn’t put it on any records. And you were the only one that did community service.” He points a finger at me. “And you liked that project.”

I stare at him, speechless. What the fuck?

He clearly reads my confusion.

“I didn’t make your brothers do anything extra. Your mom, dad, and grandparents worked them hard on the farms and we agreed that was enough. But I knew that if you understood why it was so harmful, you’d teach your brothers, and I wouldn’t have to worry about any of you again.” He gives me a little smirk. “And I was right.”

“Seriously?” He knew that? Even back then? And my parents had been in on it? And…

Dammit, he had been right.

I look in the direction the boys disappeared. “And that’s not worth trying with those guys?”

“They’re not out here tearing things up because they love the outdoors and can’t stand to be cooped up. They’re just out here fucking around.”

“So you don’t think they’ll really care what they’re doing?’

He shrugs. “I think they’ll think about what you said. Maybe it will sink in. But…”

“But what?” I press when he trails off.