“Right.” Gideon smirked at me. “I’m still new around here too. I don’t know everyone’s name and business yet.” He pointed next at the other man. “Silas Bright, my sexier half.”
I glanced sideways and up at Silas. “Nice to meet you both,” I said before looking at Stephen in confusion.
Stephen removed a hand from his pocket and waved it at the two other men. “Silas and Gideon have been dating for a bit.” He glanced up at Silas, who seemed to be the strong, silent sort. “Bowen and Felix have encountered a problem.”
Silas removed his winter cap and ran a hand through his dark hair. “What sort of problem?”
“Well… if either of you experienced homophobia in town as a couple, would there be a likely source?” Stephen asked for me.
Silas raised his eyebrows and looked down at Gideon. “Bucker?”
“Definitely Bucker,” Gideon agreed.
“What’s a Bucker?” I asked.
“He’s the creep who owns the bar down the road,” Gideon said, jutting a thumb over his shoulder. “Attracts the scum of an otherwise quaint community. Homophobes, sexists, racists. You know, a real pleasant crowd.”
“Have you had a run-in with him?” I continued.
Gideon made a so-so motion with his hand. “Not the man himself, just some of his sleazy patrons a while back. That’s why I keep this mountain man around,” he finished, winking at Silas. “Why you guys asking?”
Stephen said, “Snowy Ridge caught fire this morning.”
“No shit?” Gideon replied.
“Fire department suspects arson,” I muttered.
“The hell? And you think it was Bucker because you and Mr. Apples are doing the nasty?” Gideon continued.
My instinct to reprimand this young guy and his sailor mouth was strong, but both Silas and Stephen didn’t seem fazed by it.
“There was some offensive graffiti found at Snowy Ridge,” I answered.
“You’re a teacher, though, aren’t you?” Gideon asked. “You don’t think it’s a pissed-off teenager?”
“It was directed toward Felix,” I said. “He’s nearly fifty. Stephen doesn’t think a kid would be screwing around with him, you know?”
Silas crossed his huge arms. “Felix and Bucker do have a history…,” he said thoughtfully.
We all looked up at him.
“Gross,” Gideon muttered.
“Not that sort of history, Gideon,” Silas chastised.
“Oh. My bad.”
“It was a while ago,” Silas said. “Seven, maybe eight years. When Felix was looking to expand his property for the Christmas tree farm. Bucker tried to buy out the property from under him.”
I turned in my chair. “What happened?”
“If Bucker had succeeded, he’d have raised the price and forced Felix to pay a lot more than it was worth. Felix’s orchard sits up against a state forest, so his only option for expansion was that one plot of available land.”
“So… this asshole held a grudge because he couldn’t fuck Felix over then, and resorted to arson eight years later?” I asked. “That’s hard to believe.”
Silas didn’t seem bothered by my tone. “Bucker enjoys scaring new folks and keeping them under his thumb. Felix wasn’t having any of that. The two have been at odds for years.”
“But, today, Felix told the fire chief he didn’t have any enemies.”
