Page 82 of Property of Legend

Blackmail dressed in scripture.

And then Becki speaks, soft and slow like she’s reading from a eulogy."Me and Legend lost a baby, you know.A little girl.He promised me forever.We buried her behind the church."

I stop breathing.

"He named her," Becki adds."Said he’d never love another woman like he loved me."

It’s a gut punch.One that hits so deep.I don’t know if I’ll ever come up for air again.

And in that moment, standing in that room with my daddy half-conscious, my enemy in my mama’s gown, and the devil himself preaching scripture wrapped in chains, I make a decision.

But I don’t say a damn word.

Not yet.

James walks into the room like he feels right at home, like he hasn’t just let the devil in the front door.

I round on him, teeth bared.“How could you let them in here?”

He doesn't look me in the eye.“I didn’t have a choice.I’ve been getting letters.Threats.Someone’s blackmailing me, Soph.Why do you think I sent Lucy to her mom’s?”

“So, you let them put Becki in Mama's dress like they already own’s the farm?”

The Reverend clears his throat behind me.“No one owns anything yet.That’s what we’re here to discuss.”

I spin around, nostrils flaring.“I won the Derby.I saved this farm.What more do you want from me?”

“That race was a test,” the Reverend says smoothly, folding his hands.“Your daddy doesn’t have the strength to run this place.We had to see which of you had it in you.”

“And?”

“You passed.You’re strong.You’re capable.And with the right influence, you could keep Paradise Falls alive for another fifty years.”

“You’ll be dead and gone by then.”

“But Becki won’t.And then her kin and so on...You’ll still own the farm.”

“But only if I swear off Legend.”

The Reverend smiles like I’m a child who finally did the math right.“Exactly.”

“No.”I shake my head.“I won’t make deals like that.I’m not selling off pieces of myself just to keep the lights on.”

“Then you better ask yourself what daddy will do when people learn the truth,” the Reverend says darkly.

James shifts, guilt plain on his face.“Sophie, Dad… He’s the one who mutilated those animals.The monster people keep whispering about?That was him.”

I scoff.“From his death bed?”

“No.Not recently.We hired out for that.Some big, slow fella that does odd jobs around the farm under the table.I’m talking about Midnight Glory.”

“He framed Legend’s dad.”My voice is hoarse.“He ruined his life.”

James can’t even deny it.“It was supposed to be a clean job.Insurance money.A win.But the Reverend...he used it.”

The Reverend holds up his hands like a preacher at the pulpit.“Your father made promises back in the day.To me.To the community.That land, your horses, your legacy, they were pledged to Pearly Gates.When times were tough, we helped.”

“You brainwashed him.”

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