Page 127 of First Chance

I hear his steps retreating. “I’d like to have it. If you don’t mind.”

“Sure. Hey, Loch, go put this in the guesthouse for Jo.” She hands him the painting, and a wave of embarrassmentwashes over me. I feel silly, holding onto memories of this place when he wants me to forget it altogether.

“I’ll get the other ones loaded into your trunk,” he grumbles to his sister.

“Are you sure this is going to help this place?” Becky asks once Lochlan is gone.

“Definitely. My friend is going to sell some of the originals as authentic one-of-a-kind, and the others will be distributed commercially. Money should continuously flow into this place as long as they’re selling.”

“That’s nice of your friend to help us.”

I shrug. “I have a lot of friends, none of whom call me Jo.”

“Yeah, I get it. Anyone who calls me Rebecca is backhanded. In my mind,” she clarifies, laughing as she thumbs through the paintings Emory has already gone through. “My mother’s name is Rebecca. She thought it was quirky to name her daughter in her honor. Which is weird since she dipped when I was five.”

“You never saw her again?”

“We saw her on holidays. When she wanted to introduce us to her husband of the month. She’s never met Emory, and I plan to keep it that way.”

“How old was Lochlan when she left?”

“He was nine. It was a lot harder on him, but he was brave for me. He always is.” She sighs. “I was a mess at our grandfather’s funeral, but he was stone-cold and just held me throughout the entire service. I came back the next morning to pick something up when he was still asleep, and the house was destroyed. He must’ve unleashed everything once he was alone. I cleaned up shattered glass, mopped liquor off the floor, but I never said anything and I never asked about thedoors.” She knocks on one that’s propped against the wall. “I assumed they made him feel trapped, again.”

“I can only imagine how much pain he carries from those years,” I utter.

“He can’t seem to escape it.” She starts to say something else, but we both hear the steps creak as he returns to where we are.

“Jo, Jackson’s here. He wants to talk to us.” He leans into the doorway, looking at me finally, and my heart aches. His eyes are heavy with his burdens.

“We’ll get out of your guys’ hair.” Becky ushers Emory out as we meet Jackson on the porch. I use my last bit of energy to keep up my facade, waving to Emory as they pull out, and letting my smile drop as soon as they’re gone.

“What’d Frank have to say?” Lochlan asks immediately.

“It took him a few hours to sober up, but he finally admitted that he was blabbing his mouth in a bar, complaining about you and this place when a guy offered him 200 bucks to ram your gates.”

“Someone paid him off?”

“He was too drunk to remember who it was, and after grilling him on it, I believe him. I think he was pissed offenough not to ask questions, and cash was cash. The truck he used was unregistered, supposedly part of the deal.”

“Do you think it could have been my family? They’re pissed that I’m here. My mother stopped by this morning,” I admit.

“No, I think it’s someone local. Frank was at a hole-in-the-wall bar. No chance your family would be there to randomly overhear him.”

Lochlan’s gaze is distant when I look at him for his input, but I’m too unsure of things between us to touch him and offer support.

“Randall Porter’s local,” he finally says.

Jackson’s face turns stormy. “Please, elaborate. I’ve been trying to take down this guy’s whole crooked family, and you could make my day.”

“I don’t know, he’s a mayor. I never thought he could be involved with anything illegal, but his name is stamped on every letter concerning my license and property. He’s made it known that he wants me to sell, and I’ve seen him in Conrad’s ear.”

“Seedy politicians,” I utter. “Men who associate with Conrad are worse than criminals. They do horrible things and get away with it all the time.”

“Let me look into it.Don’tdo anything unhinged.” He points at Lochlan sternly. I’ve never seen him use his cop voice on him. “If Randall Porter is behind this, then I’ll nail him.”

He takes off in his SUV without a goodbye or a wave or anything. He’s amped up about the possibility of getting this guy, but unfortunately, that means Lochlan and I are alone again.

“I need to go check the fences,” he mutters, looking at my feet.

---