Page 71 of Unstable

He lays a finger over my lips to silence me. “Yes, you were. Wish like hell it would’ve been for different reasons, and sooner, but I always knew you’d be back. It’s called faith, Hen. Never lost mine.”

WHEN WE FINALLY MAKEit out to the horse stalls, no chance for intimate distraction while shoveling shit, I ask him.

“Okay, so why were you out with Addison?”

“Intel. Set the old ‘Keaton charm’ trap, and she fell right into it,” he proudly laughs.

“Yeah, I’m familiar.” I resent the similarity, shoveling with new, somewhat jealous, vigor.

“Didn’t touch her, Hen. Didn’t have to. Just a certain voice and look, girl was singing like a bird.”

“Singing? About what?”

He stops working, leaning against the handle of his shovel. “Don’t freak out, I’ve got it all covered. Okay?”

Well of course I now stop too, staring at him. “Okayy,” I drawl.

When someone starts with “don’t freak out,” it’s the first thing you gear up to do. Just like when someone says “no offense,” they know their ass is about to offend you.

“Your mom was no fool, Henley. She knew Merrick was a shady shithead, no way in hell she would’ve gone to him as her lawyer. And she didn’t. She had that Will drawn up years ago, by his father. In fact, your mom hadn’t been into their office in ages, and never once met with Merrick.”

“So Merrick took over the file, so what?” Why I say this, I don’t know—prolonging the inevitable perhaps? Every hair on my body is tingling at its roots, aware that I’m pretending not to be dreading the upcoming, sticky web about to unfold.

“Said he did you a favor and paid your mortgage,” he scoffs. “Henley, there’s no mortgage on this farm. Your grandpa bought it decades ago, for next to nothing. The only loan your mom ever had was a small one, after her one bad calving season. I don’t know yet, but I’m sure that’s paid off too. But a mortgage? Knew the minute you said it we were dealing with some serious shit. And your lawyer, which he wasn’t, doesn’t do your banking. You deal directly with the bank on that, as Executor. Which you are, as soon as you sign. Anyone from the bank even called you about anything?”

“N…no,” I stammer, beginning to feel dizzy.

“That’s because you don’t owe them anything. And whose Daddy runs the bank? Gave her a cushy desk job and fancy title she didn’t earn?”

“I…don’t know.” I grab onto the side of the stall to stay upright, anxiety swirling in my stomach, threatening my balance.

“Krista,” he hisses, suddenly hurdling over the stall in one move.

I think he catches me just short of the ground.

When I come to, I’m on the couch. Bourbon’s head is laid right by mine, a slow, constant whine coming from him.

“Hey boy.” I pat his head. “I’m fine. No more worrying.” His tail flips once, just as Keaton, not so nicely, grunts from where he broods in his seat at the end of the couch by my feet.

“Here, drink this.” He helps me sit up and hands me a glass of ice water. “All of it. And add to the list, from now on, when I say we’re gonna sit down on the couch and discuss something, by God, that’s what we’re doing.”

“I passed out?”

“Yeah, you did. Barely caught ya before you hit the dirt, or your head.” His chest vibrates with a scary rumble. “Baby, you have all the power, you’re really the boss. Bat of an eye and you know I’d do anything for you, but keeping you safe? You’re giving me that shit. No arguments.”

“Okay,” I comply with his new rule. “I will never fight you on that part, ever again. Eating ground with my face isn’t real high on my bucket list. You win this round, Cash. And thanks for carrying me in here. Did you sneak peeks under my clothes while I was out?” I taunt, somewhat for enjoyment, but more so to assure him I’m feeling alright.

“No, you freaky perv,” he winks. “I wouldn’t accost you while you’re blacked out. Now while you’re sleeping? Maybe.”

“Stop.” I swat at his arm and grin. “So from what I remember, Merrick and Krista are working together to steal from me. Do I have that right?”

“Pretty much,” he sighs long and hard. “He’s definitely cyphering money under the guise of billing for managing an account that doesn’t need managed and he fucks Krista so she’ll help him. And he fucks Addison so she keeps quiet about it all. But bigger than that, he didn’t have those papers ready because he’s stalling. Holding out, waiting—” he looks down, petting Bourbon.

“Waiting for what?” I press for the answer I already know.

“For you to ‘lose it,’ or disappear again, give up. Until you’ve signed, he’s technically got Power of Attorney, and if he can prove you unfit, then his office would move into complete control of your assets. The farm, any savings, bonds. Whatever you’ve been left. He’d make a huge profit or billing ruse off that somehow. Not exactly sure how it’d work, but you can bet he knows. Of course I’d try to buy it all and sell it back to you for a dollar, but none of that matters because nothing he’s got planned is gonna happen. You spoiled his scheming by coming back and handling your own. Just like I knew you could, baby.”

“That fucking bastard.” I slam my water on the coffee table and sit up even straighter. Bourbon flinches from my outburst, so I adjust my tone and scratch behind his ears. “Sorry, boy. Mama’s not mad at you. And I know we’ve always said biting is a no-no, but if you see Merrick, chomp down for bone, buddy.”

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