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"PawPaw, why you got a gun at the table just 'cause we got guests? That's not polite," she said, her adoring eyes glued to the young man Real introduced as "Juvie."
"Lanthe, stay out of grown folk business, now," PawPaw warned, his eyes surveying the table.
"It ain't like he the only one with a gun," Shep muttered, looking at Targen crazy.
PawPaw's eyes shot to Prime as his grip on the sawed-off tightened.
"I usually trust yo' judgment, son, but you let these strangers come inmyhouse around all these women and they armed? I need some explanations."
PawPaw's huge fist slammed on the table, rattling dishes and my nerves. He started to stand, but Granny put a hand on his arm.
"Now, Lee Earnest, calm down," she chided.
He shook her hand off gently, rising to his full height.
"Naw, now, Annette! We supposed to be protectors. Can't be that with unknown men with guns up in here!"
"And this clown pulled one on me," Shep accused as he inclined his head toward Targen, adding fuel to the fire already lit in my grandfather. His shotgun was leveled on Targen in seconds. The big man didn't even blink. His eyes drilled into Shep's.
"Next time, it won't just be a warning," he said calmly before buttering another biscuit.
A low growl erupted from PawPaw as he perfected his aim. Theory threw an arm in front of Targen and leaned in front of him. My jaw dropped in surprise.
"PawPaw, no! Shep brought Kemp in here and he talked crazy to me. Targen was just defending me," she explained.
Targen reached to touch her but then stopped like he knew better.
"Don't ever put yourself in front of a gun for nobody. It ain't a person alive worth yo' life. You too fuckin' precious to lose," he said.
His voice was low, but his passion and sincerity were unmistakable. I swear all the women in my family sighed. Theory didn't say anything, but her blush was evident.
"Theory, if yo' little short ass don't climb this tall ass tree of a man immediately... whew!" Aunt Cynt fanned herself.
"Cynthia!" Granny scolded.
My aunt shrugged. "Let Daddy say something like that. You know you would excuse yourself from this table instantly," she said before picking up her forkful of eggs.
"I'm tired of telling you to watch yo' mouth, Cynthia,” PawPaw fussed at his daughter. “Told you we shoulda whooped her ass more," he said to Granny before swinging his gun on Shep. "I oughta blow a hole in yo' head but nothing would come out. I done told you that boy is a snake. He come from a line of snakes. You bring him in this house where my babies are again and I'ma beat yo' ass like I don't know you. Understand?" he spat.
"But PawPaw?—"
"You understand or you get the fuck out, Shepherd. It ain't hard."
Shep glared at Targen one last time before grumbling, "Yes, sir."
PawPaw nodded once.
"You might be all right but be careful where you aim that gun 'til I make up my mind," he said to Targen.
I froze as his light brown eyes fell on Real.
"Why you here?"
"He's Everly's boyfriend. They had a fight before she left Texas. He came to make up," Emory said slyly before Real could speak.
My sister was mad. And Lord, she was hell when she was mad. I knew she thought I'd hidden something from her, but I hadn't.
PawPaw's gaze swiveled to me where I sat, my face feeling redder than Theory’s had just been.