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“Or I will tell everyone I can that your precious cowboy stole my darling daughter. Will people think he’s so great then?”
Lila glared at her. “You really think that people around here will believe you?”
“Maybe, maybe not, but just think how quick it would spread far and wide, especially when I tell them that you’re fucking his sons. Think people will be so accepting of you all outside of this weird town? People like to talk and they don’t like anything out of the ordinary. I think a lot of people would love to hear about how depraved this place is, and when I tell them that Clay Richards brought my only child here and corrupted her, well, we’ll just see what they say, won’t we?”
“You old bitch.” Lila wanted to tell her to fuck off. But she wasn’t so sure that Abigail wouldn’t do exactly as she promised. And there was no way Lila was going to risk any dirt touching Clay or her men. “What will it take to get rid of you?” she asked through gritted teeth.
“One hundred thousand.”
“I can’t get my hands on that sort of cash,” Lila replied incredulously.
“You will. Meet me on Monday at 5 at that old church off Branton road.”
“There’s no way I can get one hundred thousand together by Monday.”
“Fine, make it Tuesday. See how reasonable I can be? Five pm. Don’t keep me waiting, darling.”
Abigail turned and left, leaving Lila shaken and unnerved. The door opened again and she jumped, turning. But it was only Savannah.
“Oh, Lila, I knew something was wrong, you’re pale as a ghost.” Savannah stepped forward and placed her arm around Lila’s shoulders. “What happened? Who was that woman? Do you know her?”
Lila shook her head, holding her hand over her stomach. She felt sick and worried. Not for herself or about the money, but what Abigail might do to her men, to Clay’s memory.
“I really want to go home,” Lila said.
“Okay, let’s get out of here.”
Numbly, Lila let Savannah lead her from the bathroom.
*****
Colin seasoned the scrambled eggs, knowing they were Lila’s favorite. He wondered if he should go check on her. She hadn’t seemed drunk last night when he’d picked her up, but perhaps she was feeling a bit worse for wear this morning.
“Lila not up yet?” Trace asked as he walked in.
Colin shook his head. “I was just wondering whether I should go up and get her up.”
“I just heard her shower come on,” Gavin said as he strode in.
Colin set the table. By the time Lila walked in ten minutes later, he had all the food out and waiting for her. They all sat down together. Everyone dug in except for Lila who looked down at her plate listlessly.
“Have a good night, sweetheart?” Trace asked.
Nodding, she attempted a smile. “It was really good to see Laken, and Savannah too.”
“You don’t look like you had much sleep,” Gavin commented with a frown. “Maybe you should have stayed in bed a bit longer.”
She shrugged and pushed the food around on her place. The three men looked at each other in worry.
“Do you know when the money comes through from the estate?” she asked suddenly.
“Tomorrow, I think,” Colin said. “Did you have enough money last night?”
“Oh, yes, I had plenty with what you gave me.” She sent Gavin a frown. “I told you I didn’t want you paying me, you guys have already given me too much.”
Trace frowned and leaned forward. “You better not try to give us any of your money, Lila,” he said sternly. “I believe we’ve already had that conversation.”
“What conversation?” Colin asked.
