Page 60 of Sterling Clay

When Stone went off to college, I didn’t last much longer in this place, deciding I needed my own space somewhere else if I was going to face our father every day at the Seed & Soil. Unfortunately, that left Judd next in command of our younger siblings as our father grew worse and worse in his drunken insults and physical abuse. For years, I’d bounced around in apartments, which I found too confining, and then rental houses before finally finding my plot of land and building my small dream home.

As for this house, it still looks like something out of a classic television program with its white clapboard siding and green roof filled with dormers, plus a wide front porch. A few years ago, the once weather-beaten exterior was brightened by fresh paint and the roof was replaced, restoring the place to its original glory. Perhaps even making the house better. The inside has been remodeled in stages as well, especially the kitchen which is rather open and airy now.

As the kids remain in the living room coloring, and most adults converge in the kitchen around the large island or the newish table, I need a minute with Stone. He isn’t surprised by the nod of my head signaling a former bedroom off the kitchen that’s been converted to an office for him, nor does he hesitate to follow me.

“I’m assuming you heard about last night,” I begin when he closes the door behind him. The dark paneling in the space adds to the dimness of the day and the shadow of yesterday evening’s happenings.

“Halle called me. She was worried Knox would get into it with that man. More worried Sebastian would, and then be arrested again.” Stone runs a hand over his head and softly chuckles. “Who’d a thought Judd would be the one to clock a man?”

I chuckle as well, although it isn’t funny ha-ha. “He was defending Dutton.”

Stone peers at me with eyes a shade deeper than mine. A little kinder, I imagine. The color of his matches our mother’s while I have the icier shade of our dad’s.

Stone leans on the edge of his desk while I take a seat in a leather chair that’s seen better days.

“You know a little bit about Mavis, don’t you?” Concern fills my voice. I hardly slept last night considering what she told me. How she came about Dutton. How her family has some sketchy connections.

“What all are you worried about?” Stone casually asks, crossing his ankles and his arms, rubbing his forefinger and thumb around the thicker hairs at the corner of his mouth.

“What should I be concerned about?”

“If it’s Wesley, I doubt he’ll show his face around here again. There is a warrant out for his arrest. Attempted double homicide.”

The words alone send a shiver down my spine.

I don’t want to expose too much of what Mavis shared with me, but she admitted she told Stone about Wesley’s wife and the suspected other girlfriend.

“Plus, his wife wants to file for divorce.” Stone continues. “Abandonment. He had a year to show, and it’s about time that petition will be granted with or without him present. As for any girlfriends, only one was found. She hadn’t dated him long and hadn’t seen him since a week before the fire.”

Stone and I exchange a look before he speaks, “Speaking of. The rubble has sat there long enough.”

“She’s going to sell the property.”

Stone’s brows lift. “She should talk to Trudy Wallace.”

I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of Trudy myself. She handles most of the real estate deals around the county. Hopefully she could get Mavis at least a little money for the loss of her place.

“Good idea.” I hoist myself upright to stand and Stone presses off the desk at the same time, stopping me from exiting.

“You know what you’re doing with her?”

It isn’t like my brother to pry into any of our lives, but concern is etched in the fine lines of his forty-four-year-old face. He’s worried about me.

“I got her.” I’m keeping her, I just don’t know how to convince her to stay yet.

Stone nods once, not exactly liking my answer but he doesn’t have to like it. We’re both grown men, who have been alone for a long, long time. I want him to be happy for me, but if he can’t, or won’t, that’s on him.

He moves around his desk and pulls forward a stuffed animal.

“What’s that?”

“We’re calling them bravery bears.” Stone chuckles at the brown animal in his hands with a star near its heart. “I thought Dutton might like one. I heard about his costume.” Stone tips up one brow but doesn’t expand. “Thought he might appreciate being recognized for his bravery, especially after what happened to him last night.”

“Marcie come up with this idea?” The dispatcher in the sheriff’s department was always coming up with new concepts to soften the gruff officers.

“Actually, Emerson did.”

“Oh. Emerson, huh?” The town’s mayor and my brother the sheriff’s on-again, off-again, publicly acknowledged, friends with benefits situation. While her mother makes it her mission to broadcast that Emerson and Stone intend to marry someday, I’m not certain Stone has gotten the memo. Personally, I don’t see Stone ever settling down. He was burned by love once before and carries the branding of that failed relationship like the badge he wears to work.