My gaze snapped to my brother. “What? Why would you think Mac would do such a thing?”
MacKenzie and my brother had been at each other’s throats since birth. I didn’t really know why, but they had a long history of pranks, torture, and general mayhem. However, I couldn’t see the opinionated and sassy Clark cousin doing anything like this. Mischief and shenanigans were one thing—especially in the name of my brother’s suffering—but this was something else. This was the destruction of property. This didn’t impact just Brady. Paintballing our building affected Judd’s Orchard and my family as a whole.
“Because she is a demon from hell. Plus, I’ve seen her shoot a paintball gun. This has her poor aim and indiscriminate attack pattern written all over it.” He approached the splatters and gestured with his arms. “And if you look right here, it clearly forms anM.”
I squinted and tilted my head. It didnotclearly form anM.
“This is her calling card,” Brady added. “She wanted me to know it was her.”
My sister tipped her head up to the sky.
“Well, I don’t see it,” I said.
“Because it doesn’t exist,” Mark mumbled from where he’d covered his face with his hands.
“I don’t have time for this,” Joan said.
“That’s right,” Brady remarked decisively. “I’ll handle it. You and Mark have Evercrisp and Cameos on the picking schedule this week. You go take care of that. And, Candy, you have the kids’ pumpkin patch to finish up. I’ll deal with the sheriff’s department and give a statement. I’ll get to the bottom of this. Don’t you worry.”
I winced. “Well, I wasn’t really worried until you said that. But let me know when they’re done. I have time this week. I can paint the exterior wall today and cover up the damage.”
Brady ignored me at the sound of gravel crunching. Sure enough, it was an SUV from the sheriff’s department. My brother took off in the direction of the vehicle, arms waving.
“Candy, do you think you can stick with him?” Joan asked. “I don’t trust him not to be an idiot about this, and I don’t want to worry Mom and Dad. They’re taking the day off.”
Shock flooded my system, but also a tiny little burning ember of hope. Joan asked me for help. Joan wanted me to handle something. She was still pretty standoffish in general since my return. After the tiny-pumpkin debacle, I was pretty sure she’d lost all faith in me.
“You—you want me to take care of it?” I stammered out.
She eyed me like she might be changing her mind already. “I have too much on my plate right now. Even you should be able to handle this.”
I saw Mark flinch at my sister’s statement, and admittedly, felt a pang of disappointment myself.
Even you.
That little flickering flame of hope felt a gust of wind, but it stayed lit.
Then Joan continued, “I figured you’d be able to help Boy Wonder over there deal with the sheriff’s department. MacKenzie didn’t do this. Probably some kids with nothing better to do, but I’d feel better if you kept an eye on Brady.”
“I can do that,” I readily agreed. “I’ll head over now. You got it.”
“Thanks,” Joan said with a nod my way before she took off to start her day.
With a glance in Mark’s direction, I saw he was watching me closely. “Good luck.”
“Thanks,” I said quietly.
Mark stuffed his hands into the front pocket of his jeans, a sympathetic smile lingering on his face. “I’ll see you later.”
Throwing a thumb over my shoulder, I said, “Yeah, I better get going too.”
Rationally, I knew Joan only thought I was slightly more trustworthy and capable than our brother. But she’d still entrusted me with something. I was self-aware enough to know there was hope and sisterly devotion mixed up in there. Joan’s attention was a spotlight burning a hole through my heart at center stage, and I didn’t even care.
I would suffer through whatever stupidity Brady had locked and loaded and ready to go. I wouldn’t let Joan down. She hadn’t felt the need to handle it herself. She’d given me space in her life and the orchard, and I would take it—minimal as it was. Maybe it would lead to more. Conversations. Trust. A sisters-only group chat.
Okay, probably not that last one.
I just hoped I didn’t crash and burn.
