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“You know, growing up in Leuling, we didn’t have two nickels to rub together,” Charlie said. “My mama used to make all our clothes, my sisters all had matching dresses out of the same fabric she made the curtains with like the goddamn Von Trapps.”
I chuckled.
“For Christmas, Mama would toss us a Sears catalog and tell us to pick something out. All I wanted in the world was a pair of platform shoes, and my father would be damned if he spent his money on them. Don’t laugh—even out here there weren’t many boys my age who didn’t want some. Everybody but hayseeds had them. First thing I ever bought when I got my first job were those shoes. And growing up that poor, I knew what I wanted. A career. Stability. So I made a name for myself, and you’ve done much the same. We’re alike, you and me. And I couldn’t be prouder, having watched you work your way up like you have. It’s why I sent you here in the first place. Couldn’t let that window close without jumping on the opportunity.”
“I’m honored that you’d have so much faith in me.”
“You’re headed for big things, son. And this is the first step.”
After a pause, I asked, “Sir, I wondered… what happens if I lose?”
He turned his head to get a good look at me, his expression somber and hard. “Somethin’ you want to tell me?”
“No, sir,” I lied. “But I was curious. Poppy has a strong base, and on the off chance I don’t have it in the bag, I wondered over what would happen next.”
Charlie looked out across his land, dragging in a long breath through his nose. “From the second you finished law school, I’ve been grooming you for this moment. This, son, is your shot. And if you don’t make it, you’ll likely get benched.”
Dread snaked through me.
“The money, the resources, the support has been extensive, and at my request. I pushed for this, made way for you. And I’ll tell you right now that if you can’t win an election in your hometown, I’ll be hard-pressed to stick my neck out again.” I must have looked shocked because he continued, “It’s not personal, Duke. But this should have been a slam dunk. If you can’t beat her with all the money we’ve thrown at this thing, how could you compete on a state level? Never mind national. It never should have been this close. And the fact that it is doesn’t bode well. So I’ll ask you this. Do you still want it?”
“Yessir,” I said, my mouth bone dry.
“And you’ll do whatever it takes to win?”
I swallowed hard. “Whatever it takes.”
“Then I suggest getting back to Lindenbach and meeting with Evangeline to figure out how to stop Poppy Blum. Because if you don’t pull a rabbit out of your hat, I won’t be able to help you.”
“Will I still have my job?”
His face changed, sobered, hardened. “We’ll have to see.”
A cold wash of reality slithered through me as Charlie turned for the ranch and I followed mutely.
Once, I’d been wise enough to know that Lindenbach was a trap. But I’d sauntered into town like a fool, so sure of myself that I didn’t realize I’d lost sight of what I came to do. My stomach twisted at the thought. I’d gotten caught up in Poppy, in my old life, in the person I used to be. And in doing so, I might have lost everything.
It all rode on this.
My heart split with a painful tear, my breath coming in sips as we galloped down a hill so fast, everything was a blur.
I had thirty-six hours to secure my win, and there was only one way to do it: throw Poppy under the bus.
Just like when we were teenagers, I’d made up a whole story about how everything would work out. I concocted a future that could never exist, no matter how much I wished for it.
What I didn’t want to acknowledge was that our end would hurt. But this? Betraying her again would be the final straw. I was just out of options. If I knew her at all, I knew it was futile, but I could beg Poppy to give me the election in the hopes I wouldn’t have to use whatever horrible plan we came up with to lock down the win.
If not, I’d have to give her up again, just like I did so long ago.
But this would be a different kind of hell.
One I’d never come back from.
21
FRONTHAND
POPPY
I spent all day trying to figure out how I’d fallen in love with Duke all over again. Or never stopped. Either way, I couldn’t make sense of it.
I’d bopped around town most of the day in a string of last-minute appearances, and tomorrow would be much the same. Lots of hand shaking, lots of baby kissing, lots of pictures. And the whole time, my mind was on my enemy. I just wish I’d been thinking about how I’d annihilate him in a couple of days rather than whether or not I should tell him I loved him.
