Page 36 of Rough
As the bartender sets his drink in front of him, he grabs it without thanking her and spins his stool around to study Betsy and his brother right along with us. Taking a sip, he takes histime, knowing he has us hooked. I’m just about to snap at him, but click my jaw shut as he starts talking.
“Anythin’ and everythin’. That fancy little solar farm she’s got out there is all him. Got her some grant from the state or somethin’ to put ‘em in. She got a real nice payout from it too. Pretty sure that’s what they’re talkin’ about right now. Had to sign everythin’ over now that she owns all the land from your daddy.”
My head tries to catch up with what he’s saying, because that doesn’t make any sense. “Wait, those panels are on my land.” Remembering what Murphy told us when we first arrived, I realize I already knew this, but it didn’t click. “You’re sayin’ that my dad signed that shit, and she got the payout from it?”
He gives us another shrug. “I assume so. Once those things went in, she did a whole lot of repairs aroundherfarm. Money had to come from somewhere. We broke up before I found out everything and Henri says it’s none of my business.”
“When’d you and Coun—Bets date?” Clyde asks, his voice low and rougher than normal. I eye him, but he’s got his Stetson pulled so low, I can’t read whatever’s going on with him. All I can tell is that he’s got his head tilted to watch our former friend right along with us.
Betsy leans over the table and says something to Henri, the fuckingmayor, who grins and shakes his head. He then pulls a pen from his breast pocket and hands it over to her. She signs page after page without taking the time to read any of it. I barely register that Andy is answering Clyde’s question.
“‘Bout a year ago, for a few months. Bitch was a cold fuckin’ fish the whole time, then runs to my brother once she got from me what she wanted.” When he calls her a bitch, I feel my muscles tighten and I want to lay him out for speaking about any woman like that, let alone her, but restrain myself because I want more information.
Wilder puts a hand on Clyde’s shoulder when he takes a step forward, but I notice that all of us are glaring at Andy now, who is clueless about the aggression surrounding him.
“Whatever, though. Saw that gorgeous piece you all were draggin’ around the other night. Where’dshecome from and why ain’t she here?”
I honestly have no idea who he’s talking about, my mind focusing on Betsy, but when Wilder says, “Trina stayed in tonight,” I remember she did, in fact, come to the bar with us the other day.
“Shame. She, uhh… is she single? Or are one of ya’ll fuckin’ her? Don’t wanna step on any toes or anythin’.”
I wave him off, more concerned about what Betsy and Mayor Henri are discussing with their heads so close together. “You’re not steppin’ on anyone. Pretty sure she’s single.”
As she continues signing, I see that they’re getting close to the bottom of the stack and I can’t contain myself anymore. Marching over to their table, neither of them notices me until my shadow falls over the paperwork they’re so interested in.
Henri looks up first, an easy smile on his face. But when Betsy meets my eyes, the small smile she had quickly falls from her face.
“Hey there, can I help you?” he asks me, but when he glances at Betsy, his friendly smile turns forced.
“What are yo—”
I cut her off. “What’s goin’ on over here? Looks like some serious business.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t think we’ve met. I’m—”
Without feeling bad, I cut him off as well. “Remington Landry. You’re Mayor Henri Boyd. My farm butts up next to Betsy’s here. Heard rumor that she’s the owner now, and I got worried ya’ll were signin’ some stuff that is gonna be contestedin court in the near future concernin’ my farm. Thought I’d save you some headache. So, what are we workin’ on?”
“Rustic,” Bets hisses from under her breath, and I shoot her a scathing look.
“It’s Remy, or Remington.” I can hear how cold I sound and have a small ounce of guilt at the way she sits up straight, the hurt written all over her.
“Rem…” Wilder trails off behind me, voice filled with warning, but I ignore him.
When Bets sees the other two, she narrows her eyes. “So, we got the three of you now.Perfect.” It’s clear she’s not happy when she snaps her eyes back at me. “Why don’t you let us finish up here? I’ll be home soon. We can talk then.”
“Not happenin’, Country,” Clyde mumbles, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“It’s Bets or Betsy,” she grits out, fingers twisting together in her lap. I know she wants to haul off and hit me, but she won’t. Not in front of someone so important.
“I just think you need to take a step back for a minute and think about what you’re doin’ before signin’ shit you know nothin’ about. Dad’s not even in the ground yet.” My voice is gruff at the end, and I shove the emotion down quickly, clearing my throat.
“Why don’t we meet up early next week, Betsy? We have a few days before these need to be submitted.” The mayor’s voice is gentle as he speaks to her, filled with more familiarity than I am comfortable with, and I want to wrench his hand away as he reaches out to squeeze her arm.
Her face is completely void; the anger she had wiped clear. She’s like a robot when she forces a smile. “No. We can finish this up in the lot. I’ll walk out with you.”
“Count—Bets,” Clyde calls to her, but she ignores him, shoving her chair back and turns her back to us.
“Gentlemen,” Henri says, nodding to us once he’s got the papers gathered. When Andy starts chuckling behind us, Henri looks over my shoulder and furrows his brows. Without greeting his brother, he follows Betsy out of the bar, and it takes both Clyde and Wilder to stop me from chasing after them.
