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The men stared at the little girl who was eating as if her life depended on it. Lydia felt well enough to get out of bed, get dressed, and take a seat at the big conference table. She was enjoying some food as well.

“Mama, who is this child?” asked Gaspar, staring at Irene.

“I can talk,” said the pre-teen. Gaspar raised an eyebrow at her, and she looked down, blushing. “Sorry. I can speak, sir.”

“Okay. Who are you?”

“My name is Yarrow Sumrall.”

“Sumrall?” frowned Antoine. “You related to Yaz?”

“He’s my daddy,” she said, nodding.

“Why are you here, Yarrow?”

“My daddy dropped me off with the church ladies and told them to find Miss Irene and give me to her for safekeeping.” The men all frowned, staring at the girl, then at Irene.

“Why would he do that, honey? What do you need safekeeping from?” asked Ghost.

“That man she was talking about,” she said, pointing to Lydia. “Mr. Hugo. Daddy told me that he was saying real dirty things about me. Daddy has been trying to make a go of that little bar for a few years now. Ever since Mama left us and went to live with Mr. Hugo. She got used to the moonshine and died from it, I think.

“Sometimes, I clean the tables and stay with him ‘cause I don’t like staying at home alone. The bar wasn’t doing so good, and then Mr. Hugo came in.

“A while back, we got cameras at the bar, and I love to dance to the music. I guess, I guess he saw me and thought I was trying to do something else. Something grown-up. I didn’t mean to dance that way. I was just having fun.”

“Where is your daddy now?” asked Antoine.

“I-I’m not sure. He said that he needed me to be safe. If he couldn’t come up with more money for Mr. Hugo, Mr. Hugo said he was going to take me as payment. I ain’t got no money.” Irene smiled.

“You don’t have any money, child.”

“That’s what I said.” She took another bite, and Lydia smirked at the little girl. “Daddy said Mr. Hugo told him if he didn’t have all the money for the still, he was gonna take the bar, our house, and me.”

“I see,” nodded Ghost. He knelt beside the young girl. “Listen to me, Yarrow.”

“You can just call me Yar,” she smiled.

“Okay, Yar. Listen to me. That man isn’t going to touch you, but we need to know where your father went so we can help him.”

“I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “That’s the truth. He said he was gonna try to get the money for Mr. Hugo but wasn’t sure he could. I don’t have a phone, but he said he’d call Miss Irene when he was able. I-I’m real worried about him. Mama left a few years ago, and it’s just been me and Daddy. We were doin’ okay, then Mr. Hugo told him he could make a lot more money if he had the still. It was a lie. We’re still barely makin’ enough to keep the bar open, and lots of people get sick by the stuff.”

“Lydia? I need for you and Yar to stay here on the property for a few days until we get this settled,” said Gaspar.

“Can you at least say please?” she smirked.

“I’m not in the habit of it, but for you, yes. Please. Stay on the property.” She shrugged, laughing.

“I can see where he gets it,” she said, pointing to Trak. “I’ll stay, but I want my land. I’ll do whatever you ask if you can help me with that.”

“I’ve got a solution to that,” said Katrina, walking into the room. “My name is Katrina Redhawk, and I’m one of the attorneys here on the property.”

“Why do you need attorneys on your property?” she asked. “You know what? Never mind.”

“Good thinking,” smirked Katrina. “This document will actually sign over your land to Robicheaux Oil and Gas.”

“Wait!”

“Hold on. Let me finish. Mr. Matthew owns Robicheaux Oil and Gas. He’s willing to drill for the natural gas, then connect it to his pipeline, taking only five percent of your haul. You will run all decisions on the line, if…”

“If. There’s always an if,” she said sadly.

“If you go to college and get your degree, which Mr. Matthew will pay for.” Katrina smiled at the young woman as she stared at the room of people.

“Wh-why? Why would he do this? I’m no one.”

“You’re someone very special,” said Matthew, walking into the already overcrowded room. “I’d like you to get that degree in engineering, if possible, and then come to work for me. If you don’t want an engineering degree, do what you want, but I could use a young woman with your spunk. I don’t have nearly enough of those around here.” The room chuckled, and she stared at them.

“How many do you have?”

“Oh, two or three hundred. But I could use a few hundred more,” he smiled. “What do you say, Lydia?”

“What about my stepfather and the document that Hugo had drawn up?”

“You let me take care of that. We’re going to make sure that everything is legal. I found the original documents filed with the parish stating that the land belonged to you and was leased for use as a bar to the elderly woman you spoke of. There was never any exchange of land to your stepfather, and he has acted on your behalf without legal counsel or consent from you. That won’t bode well for him,” smiled Katrina.

“Sign this, and we’ll file it with the state then I’m going to send some friends out to your land to wait on Mr. Hugo.” Lydia smirked at the older woman, nodding.

“Will you take pictures?”

“Definitely.”