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“Nothing.”
Someone else called Hendrix’s name, and he turned to see Jay Haslem walking toward them. “Hey, Jay.”
When his neighbor got close enough, he gestured toward Leo. “I see you’ve found your cousin.”
“Yeah.”
“I hope you don’t mind that I gave him and his dog a ride. I just couldn’t leave them on the side of the road, you know? When I passed them, they seemed to be okay, but they didn’t have any water or anything. And I was afraid he’d wander into the street and get hit—or his dog would.”
Hendrix turned back to Leo. “I thought you said you walked...”
“Ididwalk—until Jay picked me up,” he replied. “Can I live with you, Hendrix? We could get donuts every day. And I could help you work. And we could watchAladdinat night. And I could visit Ellen whenever I wanted to. I have all my stuff right here, even my toothbrush.”
He had it all figured out—except the part where his parents would never allow it. “Leo, you can’t live with me,” Hendrix said. “You know your mother would be too sad if you moved out.”
“Don’t tell her where I am, Hendrix.”
“I have to tell her, or she’ll worry. So will your dad.” He pulled out his phone to do exactly that. It sounded as if Leo had left a few hours ago, so Lynn and Stuart had to know he was gone by now. But before Hendrix could even call, a white Fetterman truck came rumbling down the long dirt road leading to his place and turned into the drive.
There was only one person inside it—Lynn.
Thirty
Steeling herself for what could only be a negative encounter, Ellen caught her breath as Lynn got out of the truck and came stomping up to Hendrix’s house. “Leo, what are you doing here?” she asked, drilling her son with a remonstrative look. “Do you know how badly you scared me? I’ve been looking all over for you! I thought I could trust you not to wander off. Am I going to have to fence the backyard and make you play there?”
Obviously feeling out of place in the middle of this family squabble, Jay excused himself and beat a quick retreat, and Leo began to cry. “I don’t like it when you’re mad,” he said. “Stop yelling. Stop yelling!”
She wasn’t yelling. She was talking sternly, but he clearly knew she was upset, and all that emotion seemed to be hitting him hard.
“He didn’t wander off.” Hendrix went in the house and brought out Leo’s luggage. “He ran away.”
Lynn’s mouth dropped open. “You packed a bag, Leo? You left on purpose? You’ve never done anything like that before! What’s going on with you?”
“He’s only reacting to what’s going on withyou,” Hendrix said.
He figured she’d been trying to avoid interacting withhim—and she obviously wasn’t happy to see Ellen there—but this must’ve caused her to reconsider speaking to him. “And I’m only reacting toyou,” she snapped.
“What haveIdone?” he asked, spreading out his hands. “I’ve become friends with Ellen. That’s it. Is that so unforgivable?”
“Ellen’s nice, Mom,” Leo said. “Ellen didn’t do anything wrong.”
Ignoring her son, Lynn stabbed a finger in Ellen’s direction. “She poured cement down Jay Haslem’s well and tried to blame it on me. Then she drilled it out for free, so Jay and everyone else would think she was some kind of hero. And this was after she used you to help her drill that well in the first place—which you did, secretly, when you were supposed to be on the clock for Fetterman Well Services.”
It was hard for Ellen not to defend Hendrix, if not herself. But she bit her tongue. She didn’t want to make things any worse for him—or Leo.
“I only did it secretly because I knew it would cause a fight,” Hendrix said. “You’ve proved me right on that. And Ellendidn’tsabotage the well, Lynn.” He pulled out his phone and showed her the tire impression. “Whoever was driving the vehicle that left this track on the property did. I’ve checked the tires of everyone in town who’d have the opportunity and the motivation to harm that well—everyone Ellen and I could think of, anyway—and through a process of elimination, we think we know who did it. Ellen and I plan to drive to Libby tomorrow to see if we’re right. If we have evidence to prove it wasn’t Ellen, will you finally believe us?”
“Libby...” she said, confused, so he explained why Jordan might’ve wanted to damage the Haslem well to cause problems for Ellen.
“You’re wrong about her,” Lynn said with apparent disgust when he was done. “She’s got you in the palm of her hand, and now she’s calling all the shots.”
Ellen expected him to deny it and continue to try to convince his aunt that she was making a big deal out of nothing. But he stepped back and shook his head in disgust just like she had. “The way you’ve been calling the shots since you married Stuart?” he said. “You used the power you held to shut out his little girl. At least she’s been asking me what she can do to heal the rift between you and me, instead of trying to use her power to hurt you back. I think that says it all, don’t you?”
Lynn looked stunned. “I can’t believe how you’ve turned on me...”
“Ihaven’tturned on you,” he said. “You’ve turned on me simply because I like someone you don’t.”
“Are you okay?” Ellen asked as soon as Lynn made Leo get in her truck with Zeus and his suitcase.
