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Sounded like the changes weren’t lost on my folks either.
“Sure hope you got video. I bet it’ll never happen again.”
Justin stood and grinned down at me before he held out his hand. “Oh, I got video. At the very least for blackmail.”
I reached up and Justin dragged me off the ground. “That’s our mother you’re talking about.”
“You didn’t see her with Kain. Good thing Dad was half cocked with Hayes in the back of the room. It was embarrassing.”
“What happened to Hayes and the girl he was crushing on?”
Justin slapped my back. “His size thirteen ended up in his mouth. If he’d just let her talk, he’d have been in in like Flynn.”
I sighed. “What did he geek out about?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Probably the properties of moonshine or some shit. All I know is that Jenny chick’s eyes glazed over and she wandered over to George.”
“No.”
“Yep. And that’s how Jolene ended up in the spring. He was showing off for the hot chick.”
“So we can blame this all on Hayes then?”
Justin scratched the back of his neck then hopped onto the tailgate of my truck. “Kinda.”
“Good, then he can pay for it.” I reached into the back of my truck for the cooler of water bottles I kept there. I tossed one to my brother.
He caught the bottle and unscrewed the top. “You’re a cruel dude. I like it.”
I sat beside my brother as the sun tipped past its zenith. The smile I’d managed slid away by the time I’d drained the bottle. I glanced at what once had been our pristine picnic spot. Muddy tracks zigzagged over the exact spot we’d enjoyed the day before.
Even that had been ruined.
“I’ll have a few of the guys come out and turn over the grass. It’ll be as good as new in a few weeks.”
“Yeah.”
“You good?” Justin took a sip of his water, but he kept his eyes on the spring.
“I will be.” I hopped down to unhook the cable from Jolene. “Let’s get the trailer so we can haul her in.”
A few minutes later, both winches were stowed and I whistled for Casey.
Justin slammed his tailgate closed. “Hey, at least we didn’t have to hire Butch to get her out.”
I grunted. My soggy jeans were worth not calling the local tow truck guy. “Yeah, I’m out of favors there. He’d charge me a damn kidney.”
“You mean Hayes’ kidney.”
“Damn fucking right.”
“I’ll meet you at the barn.” He gave me a salute before driving off toward the main part of the orchard.
I held the door for my dog and got in my truck to put the spring in my rearview one more time.
Chapter13
Helena
