Landry pushes off the tank, scowling. “McNerdy fits.”
Bowen clutches his chest. “That hurts so much. I’ll staunch the blood with my money.”
This could go on forever. “Circling back to the OG, can you write it down?”
“I forgot it already.” Landry shrugs. “Oops.”
It’s not the end of the world. We track the specific gravity to estimate fermentation times and alcohol content, but having that first reading helps. And makes Meredith stress less when all the logs are filled in.
“Kidding.” Landry flashes me his million-dollar grin. “It was ten thirty.”
“Then write it down. You can’t just smile at the software to have it do what you want. You have to write one point zero three zero.”
His lips twist in an arrogant smirk. “Okay, Dad.”
My irritation cranks up. “I’m not like him.”
Bowen makes a tsking noise. “We’ll see ‘bout that next Friday, when I drive a heifer right into you.”
“The reason Dad got upset is because you did it on purpose, and it was always the mean ones.”
“Nah. The mean ones never lasted long.”
For all his faults, Dad watched out for us. If there was a cow that got too aggressive, she was gone. If a horse was too unpredictable, he sold it. Even if a rooster charged us, we had a fresh bird in the freezer. It made what he did feel all the worse.
“Knock, knock,” a familiar woman’s voice calls. “You boys in here?”
I didn’t lock the door when I arrived. With the three of us, an intruder would be an idiot. Doesn’t mean I want an interruption.
My brothers follow me, and we find Shirley from the bank walking in. She pushes large sunglasses into her blonde-and-gray curls and beams at us. Her husband, Charlie, enters behind her. They’re both dressed like we’re a pit stop on the way to the golf course.
“Sorry, guys,” he says. “I told her ain’t nothing that can’t wait until Monday, but we ran across Esme in the grocery store. Said you’re working here all weekend.”
“It’s not a problem,” I reply. “Do you need one of us, or all three of us?”
“All of you, if I can get you.” Shirley pulls a chair out and sits like she’s going to hang out for a pint. “We’re dedicating the new baseball diamond to your dad during A Scandalous Affair days. Can you be there? It’d mean a lot to have all of you.”
None of us answer immediately. A Scandalous Affair is a street fair that attracts thousands. It keeps Scandal on the map. Will the brewery have a booth there? Hopefully, we’re already registered so my brothers can’t abandon the idea and tank an excellent three days of income.
Shirley is waiting for our answer. I don’t want to be the first to tell her that none of us plans to stay longer now Dad’s funeral is over, and I’m sure my brothers don’t want to announce that they would have already left if it weren’t for Carlos and the cattle. After her request, it feels like I’m letting down the town. Why would a baseball diamond be dedicated to Dad? The atmosphere turns awkward. Charlie inspects the tips of his white New Balances.
“It’s like that then,” Shirley says decisively. “I thought maybe you were sticking around. I’m guessing all of this is yours now?”
She’s being nosy, and she knows we know it. Carlos, Esme, and Bea haven’t spread the word. Might as well rip the bandage off. Shirley’s not here in an official capacity with the bank, so she’ll probably tell everyone she can.
“Yes, ours and Meredith’s.”
“A four-way split, eh?” Charlie’s grinning at the top gossip we just dropped. He smells the hint of scandal to go with the town’s name.
A smile plays over Shirley’s lips. “So who do I deal with? All of you?”
“We won’t be taking any more loans.” I didn’t mean to say that, but I don’t regret it. I want to help the community, but I don’t want to be used by them. The interest from our properties on loans is covering Shirley and Charlie’s golf afternoon.
Shirley lifts a shoulder, undaunted. “With more help, you might not have to. Ram ever tell you the something big he was working on?”
My curiosity piques, and my brothers check each other out to see if Dad said anything. Damn, they don’t know either. “Something big?”
“We talked here and there.” She doesn’t have to say about what. The debt and the failing businesses. “He mentioned he had something in the pipeline that could solve a lot of problems.”
