Page 83 of Moonshine Lullabies

I looked at J.P. for help and he just grinned at me and asked, “What’re you lookin’ at me, for?”

I shook my head in disbelief an’ leaned against the counter and told the God’s honest truth, “I think I’m gonna faint.”

* * *

It was sometime after dinner,which had been pleasant enough, when the dishes had been done and everyone was doin’ something to relax. Mamma had gone in to lay down, takin’ to her airs and graces, proclaiming she had a headache when really, I think she was still embarrassed and just wanted to be alone and wait us out on leavin’.

Tate was in his room, playin’ some game on my brother’s old Nintendo from when he was a kid, which still worked.

I stepped out onto the back porch with a big Mason jar of sweet tea in my hand while my dad, J.P. and Col stood around the lit firepit tellin’ stories and cuttin’ up. I admit, I was still feelin’ outta sorts and kinda shell-shocked.

“Hey, baby,” Col called out, and he waved me over to his side. I smiled and went to him, and he tucked me into his side with an arm around me and a hand on my hip.

The guys kept talkin’ and I just sorta did what I did which was passively stand by, sipping my tea and enjoying the fire.

It’d been a real good couple of days, and I was just starting to feel at peace, and so of course, that meant that somethin’ had to come along and ruin it, didn’t it?

CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

Collier…

“Well, hello there!”

Jessie-Lou immediately stiffened at the sound of the voice comin’ from the side of the house, walkin’ in our direction back here and that only meant one thing.

“Yo, Ham Bone!” her dad called out and there was nothin’ about her daddy to say anything was amiss. Jessie-Lou, either. Her expression maybe a little wooden, but hadn’t changed a bit. I tightened my hand on her hip where it rested imperceptibly and she looked up at me and smiled, but it was there in her eyes. A haunted sort of fear, buried deep, and something you wouldn’t notice at all unless you knew to look for it.

“Col, this here’s my daddy’s best friend,” Cy said. “Ham Bone, meet Collier. One of my brothers and Jessie’s new squeeze.”

“Nice to meet you, man.” I hated taking my hand off her to hold it out and shake with this fuckin’ pedo. I wanted to pull my piece out the back of my waistband and blow his pudgy face out the back of his fuckin’ skull so bad – but all I could do was smile.

He grinned from beneath his Chester the molester ‘stache and said, “Nice to meet you too!”

He peered past me at Jessie-Lou and licked his bottom lip in a way that was too fuckin’ insidious, too fuckin’ intent as he said, “Jessie-Lou.”

She forced a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, but boy was it a million watts, as she greeted him back. “Uncle Hammy, good t’ see you.”

“What ‘cha doin’ out this way?” her dad asked, scratching the back of his arm.

“Bringin’ back them tools you lent me,” he said and eyeing the bottle in his buddy’s hand asked, “Y’ got a spare one of those for me somewhere?”

“Aw, yeah! Jessie-Lou, why don’t you go on an’ get ol’ Ham Bone a beer out the fridge.”

“Sure thing,” Jess said, and she detached from me and went on by into the house.

“Thank y,’ cher,” Ham Bone said.

I traded a quick glance with Cypress who was behind the way Hammy was facing and his look was a familiar one. Cold and predatory.

“So, what ‘cha all talkin’ about?” Ham asked.

“Huntin’.” Cy said and took a pull off his beer. It took a fair bit not to laugh at the cold calculating look in his eyes, the fire pit glintin’ in ‘em like the fires of Hell that was comin’ for ol’ Ham Bone. This motherfucker was livin’ on borrowed time and didn’t even know it.

“Only just about my favorite pastime,” Hamblin said, slappin’ his knee. “When’re we goin’?

“We were just gettin’ to that. I was just about to invite ol’ Col’ here deer huntin’ with us come the fall.”

“Aw yeah?” Hamblin eyed me.

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