Page 22 of Redemption

“I saw Max.”

Twin spots of pink appeared on her cheeks. “Yeah? Did he say anything about me?”

“Yeah, he said you gotta stop hanging out there, you’re gonna get him in trouble if you’re underage.” I tweaked her nose. “Which you are.”

She hung her head and pushed some beans around onher plate, subdued again. “I don’t wanna get him in trouble. But...” she trailed off.

I only had a few moments before I was back to being her annoying big sister so I pushed. “Buuuuut?”

She shrugged. “I dunno, he’s just cool, I guess. He doesn’t treat me like my parents died.”

A lump caught in my throat. I had just finished school when Mama died so I didn’t have to deal with my trauma around other people. I couldn’t imagine how hard that would be and hadn’t considered it, hadn’t taken into account how hard things were for Tilly at the moment. And how absent I had been when I was meant to be her guardian.

I needed to step up, no more drinking, no more fighting. I needed to be present and set a good example.

“Well, maybe in a couple of years, you can start hanging out there again. If Max says it’s okay, of course.”

That seemed to placate her a little. Before she could reply, there was a knock on the front door and my sisters all looked towards it before frowning at me.

I stood, smoothing my hand down my overalls. “I invited someone over and I want you all to be nice. I know he’s not our favorite person but we need his help so keep your sassy comments to yourself.”

I left the girls whispering and went to the front door, stomach sinking at the smug smile I saw staring back at me through the glass.

“Hi, Duke, thanks for coming,” I said, opening the door and pasting a saccharine smile on my face. He came inside, all expensive clothes and fancy shoes, arrogance as intoxicating as his cologne. He ran a hand through his black hair, his gray eyes flitting over the house, taking in all the details with a slight smirk to his lips.

“My curiosity won out, what can I say?”His smooth voice held a layer of self-satisfied condescension that immediately got my back up. I rolled my shoulders, shrugging it off, I needed this man’s help.

I gestured into the kitchen and he entered, smiling wider as he took in all my sisters.

“Girls, you know Duke Raleigh?” I stared at each of them. They nodded, no one saying anything.

“And who have we here, let’s see if I remember. Tilly is the youngest, still in school, right? Well not at the moment, been getting in fights my sources tell me.” He chuckled to himself and I tried not to murder him on the spot. “Maddy the firefighter, that’s hot. August, right, you work at the library now that you can’t be a barrel racer?” he continued before his eyes landed on Daisy who refused to meet his stare. “And then there’s Buttercup, is it?”

“It’s Daisy,” she gritted out. “You ass,” came after it but she mumbled that.

“That’s right, sorry. I was so thrown when you turned up at my ranch, begging for a job the other day that I couldn’t remember your name, my sincerest apologies, Buttercup.”

The tension between them grew so thick I didn’t think a chainsaw would cut through it. Daisy’s nostrils flared and she still refused to meet his stare. Judging by the smile on his slimy lips as he stared at her, Duke was loving every second of it.

I made a mental note to ask Daisy when she was calmer about the fact that she went to see him. I knew she’d been trying to get a job, and those were few and far between around here.

I turned back to Duke. “You would be lucky to have Daisy come work for you, she’s just graduated with a major in marketing and event management. She knowswhat she’s doing,” I said, proud to defend Daisy.

“Took her a while to get it though from what I can remember, aren’t you twenty-five?” he said to Daisy who ignored him.

My blood fired at his patronizing manner. “There were times we needed Daisy here. With only one parent who became ill, we needed help. We don’t all have your good fortune of two healthy parents, Duke, I would remind you of that.”

He seemed remorseful, his smug smile slipped and his eyebrows dipped in. “Of course, forgive me. Congratulations Daisy, that is quite an accomplishment.”

Daisy got up from the table and began gathering the dishes, loudly crashing the china together, still refusing to look at Duke. His gaze never strayed from her for a moment.

“Shall we go and talk in my father’s office?” I suggested.

“Sure, after you,” he said, snapping his attention from Daisy. I led him through the house and settled him into my father’s office which I’d tidied for the occasion and even stocked some whiskey in here and two tumblers.

“Whiskey?” I offered.

He nodded, looking around the room. I turned to pour and heard him murmur, “What a cozy little office.” I turned back, ready to remind him of his manners but his expression was clear and he appeared sincere. I handed him his glass and he lifted it to me before taking a sip. I gestured to the other chair I’d brought in.

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