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“Better off to just hang on until everyone is settled,” I said to Zegas and the judge.
Mama set a plate in front of them. Gabby and Leona brought them each a glass of tea.
“I told you keeping this from everyone would come back to bite you,” Grandmama said to Granddaddy.
“Does this have to do with that napkin nonsense?” Dad ran a hand through his hair.
“Started that way. We hadn’t settled it in all these years. I don’t know why that boy thought we’d do it now,” Granddaddy grumbled.
Mitch stalked straight over to me and shoved his finger in my face. “I knew you were lyin’. You said this thing with Hedley was nothing. We were going to lose the ranch?”
I swallowed hard as I stared at him. Juliana grabbed his arm and tugged. “Let him explain.”
“I’ve already given him the opportunity,” he said without taking his hard glare off of me.
“Give him another one.”
Zegas took a swig of tea. “I have to say this is the best fried chicken I’ve ever eaten.” Who knew he was decent at diplomacy?
“There’s plenty more,” Mama said with a polite smile.
Mitch stood with his arms folded as he leaned against the opening between the dining room and the kitchen. Juliana hooked an arm around his waist, and his shoulders lowered a fraction.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this? I know some asshole lawyers that would put Randall Hedley where he belongs.” Mulaney leaned back in her chair on two legs.
“This one got the job done,” Zegas shot back.
Granddaddy rested his arms on the table. “Thought Randall was just stirring up trouble. Next thing I know, I get a written offer in the mail from the state saying the property has been condemned for eminent domain.”
“And you went to Stone but none of the rest of us?” Mulaney asked.
Granddaddy and I exchanged a look. They didn’t know what we’d done to save the ranch the first time.
“I didn’t want to worry the rest of you,” he said by way of explanation.
“I only found out by accident,” Grandmama said. “From now on, nobody touches the mail but me.” She pointed a finger at everyone around the table.
“If any of y’all paid attention to the news, you’d know Stone’s been all over it for threatening Randall Hedley,” Mitch said.
Everyone looked at me. “I didn’t threaten him,” I defended. “Not really.”
“Is that why all those vultures were here?” Mama asked, a line creasing her brow.
“Yeah. I’m sorry about that. I thought I could talk some sense into Hedley. Instead, I lost my cool.” I drummed my fingers on the table.
Dad patted me on the back. “Happens to the best of us.”
“What about the hearing?” Granddaddy zeroed in on Zegas.
“Based on the evidence, I’ve thrown out the case. I came to deliver the news in person.” The judge wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“Daniel had the idea to run forensics on that bullshit napkin.” Zegas glanced toward my friend, who remained stoic. “Turns out the ink and paper are from the sixties.”
“When did old man Hedley give you that thing?” I asked.
“Oh, somewhere around 1967, I believe.” Granddaddy scratched at his temple. “He did a damn good job of making it look old, but I wasn’t buying it back then any more than I do now. Thank the Lord I kept it.”
“That doesn’t fix the eminent domain issue. All it proves is the Hedleys never had a claim to this property,” Mitch said.
