Page 2 of Stone Cold Savage

“Those were the days. Not a care in the world other than passing classes so I could play in the Friday night football game.” He shared.

“Remember how rough we thought we had it back then? If only I could go back and tell younger me to suck it up and be grateful that my only worry was whether or not you were going to ask me to homecoming or prom.”

“What? You wondered if I would ask you? We were dating. Who else would I ask?” He questioned.

“Precisely my point.” She grinned.

“I don’t believe it’s prom season, so what brings you out here tonight?” he asked, taking another pull from the bottle before handing it back to her.

“I would imagine the same thing that has you out here. Can’t sleep. Can’t figure out the who and why behind everything happening these past few days. Wondering why Lilah changed her will and didn’t tell anyone.”

“You heard about that part, huh?”

“Dillon filled me in when I got back with my things.” Kenzie took pause, “You know, it’s odd and suspicious, but I can’t help but come back to the fact that your mother was one of the best people I’ve ever known. She was honest, loyal, trustworthy, and honorable. Not sneaky. This just doesn’t fit.”

“I couldn’t agree more. But then I remember how long I’ve been gone, and people change. Talking on the phone every chance you have isn’t really knowing someone. It’s talking to someone you once knew… She could have changed, and I’d never been the wiser.”

“I doubt that, Coy. You’re too attentive and intuitive. You’d have picked up on something.”

“She was sick, Kenz. Dying. And none of us noticed at first, not even my two brothers who lived here on the ranch with her. What does that say about us? What does it say about her?”

“That she was good at hiding it, protecting you from it. And you’re all busy building the lives she dreamed up for you, and she didn’t want to interrupt that. Besides, Nash did notice and figured it out. I think if you were here, you would have too. Whether it be from watching her or picking up cues from Nash… you would’ve known.”

“That in and of itself bothers me. You know, I always thought we were all close and stayed in touch, but I can’t tell you the last time I talked to Nash. I kept up with him through Mama, and he kept up with me just the same. Ending a call with everyone and telling them hello for me and that I’m thinking of them isn’t the same as telling them yourself, you know? That’s not a relationship, that’s…”

“Sad.” Kenzie deadpanned. “You all were so close, but it’s easy to get lost in a busy life and keep up with each other through each other, but it doesn’t mean you still don’t love one another deeply. I think that’s pretty common. I moved away and lost touch with my family here, small as it is, but I didn’t realize just how much until I came home, and they felt like strangers. I talked to my dad at least once a week unless I was deployed somewhere I couldn’t, and getting an update about what everyone was up to felt like I was keeping up with them directly, too.”

“Growing up sucks.” Coy reached for the bottle of liquor, and Kenzie happily handed it over.

“Amen to that. How did we get to this point? It’s wild, right? One day, we’re all down at the river eating junk food and drinking whatever we could sneak out of our houses undetected, having the best summer of our lives, and the next… well, we’re here. Sitting on a balcony at an ungodly hour, pondering life and all of its new troubles.”

“I think they call that the circle of life,” Coy said, enjoying another drink from the bottle.

“I don’t think that’s what that is… or we’d be dead.”

“What if we are?”

“I think you need to hand that bottle back. You’re cut off.” She teased, taking the bottle.

“I don’t mean that literally. I mean, what if this is it? We’ve… peaked. These are our lives now and how it’ll be until…”

“Don’t finish that sentence. I refuse to believe this is it. It’s too… sad. Lonely.”

“And dangerous,” Coy added.

“And that. Yes. I guess that’s why we’re both up still and unable to sleep –– trying to dissect the danger. I can’t let this leak into the town, Coy. I’m responsible for everyone’s safety here and trying to figure out just how to do that when we’re chasing… a ghost. At least your family is safe at the moment with everyone together in one house, and Ransom’s detail sure comes in handy, or as safe as possible, given the circumstances, but…”

“I know. I feel the same way. All we can do for now is try to see trouble before it gets here. Until we start getting answers, I don’t see how we break this thing open and stop it in its tracks.”

“So, what… do we pray? Cross our fingers? Dare to dance with the devil?”

“Pfft. Whatever it takes, I guess.” Coy crossed one ankle over the other and linked his fingers behind his head, “How did we get here? I know I sound like a broken record, but I really can’t figure that out. I came home for my mother’s funeral, and here we are, trying to figure out what she was up to and figure out who this new enemy is and if it’s all related. Or worse if I brought this here.”

“It’s hard to wrap your mind around because this isn’t just another case. This is your home. Your family. It’s natural to worry, Coy. I’d be concerned if you weren’t.”

“I suppose you’re right. It’s just… Dev. Of all people, the most fragile of us all, and she’s the one who gets hit like that. The rest of us have been through our fair share of shit, but we’ve always kept Dev safe and protected. She isn’t like us, ya know? She’s special. The smart one. All she’s ever done is be smart.”

“Oh, I think you underestimate your little sister. She may not have the experiences you all do, but she’s tougher than you realize. You forget she’s been watching the four of you her whole life. She’s tough. She’s definitely the smart one. And she can handle herself.”

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