Page 53 of Barry

“I’ve been told not to talk about what happened until the investigation is done.” That was the truth. The doctors had stressed that before they’d released her. She owed it to the people who rescued her, and Barry was at the top of that list to keep her mouth shut. She wasn’t clear on what had happened, but she was positive Jackson was dead. Obviously, that fact had not been made public.

“See, I told you she couldn’t talk about it.” Kate shook her head. “Now, behave yourself, madam.”

Edna snorted. “I’m not a madam. Didn’t you know a madam was a harlot in charge of a house of ill repute?”

Both Kate and Kathy laughed. “I hadn’t heard that.” Kathy took another bite of the roll after the first stayed in place. The nausea and sweats from the snake bite had abated, thank goodness.

“Well, it’s true. I’m an old woman trying to live vicariously through the young women in this town. Besides, Ihaveto get my information from the source; otherwise, I’dbe accused of spreading rumors. I don’t. I spread the truth.” She preened a bit and then laughed.

Kate shook her head. “You’re a mess, Edna, but I love you anyway.”

“And I love you, kiddo,” Edna replied. She turned her attention back to Kathy. “So, when do you think Barry will ask you to marry him?”

“Edna.” Kate reprimanded her.

“What? She said I couldn’t pushhimabout it. She didn’t say I couldn’t pokeherand why doesn’tsheaskhimto marry her? That’s acceptable these days. Women don’t have to wait around for the man to get their selves together and gather the nerve anymore, do they?”

“Well, no, women don’t have to wait, but I will in this case. I’ve always taken my cues from him. His past still haunts him. I love him, and he loves me. We’ll move forward when we’re both ready.”

Edna stared at her and then smiled. “So, tell me what kind of wedding you want.”

Kathy took another bite of the roll and explained what she wanted. Edna sighed. “That would be beautiful.”

Kate nodded. “I can see it in my mind’s eye. Promise me you’ll go for it.”

Kathy took a sip of her coffee. “My mom and I have talked about it for as long as I can remember. It isn’t elaborate or fancy, but … It is perfect.” Kathy smiled. “Absolutely perfect.”

CHAPTER 22

Head down, Barry didn’t hear the men who entered the barn. He was helping build the new stalls inside the big barn the Hollisters had been constructing.

“Barry, got a minute?” Andrew’s voice pulled him away from the job. Ryan took his place, holding the wall in place as Dusty screwed the bolt into the wall. “What’s up?” He extended his hand to Ken and winced at the man’s face. Even five days later, the bruises under his eyes were dark purple, although yellow tinged his cheeks. “I am so sorry about that.”

Ken shrugged. “Shit happens. We need to talk. Come outside?”

“Sure.” He accompanied the men out of the new barn,which was nothing more than an echo chamber at the moment.

Ken turned and leaned against his SUV. “The FBI got involved in the case. It seems the Deputy Director, Cole Davis, flexed and claimed the entire investigation. I asked if the FBI needed to talk to anyone to line up interviews. The answer was a resounding no. Seems whatever he’s done here, Jackson Gill has done worse elsewhere. They’re fencing everything to do with the man. Domestic terrorism is the term they slapped on the case. I got the sense he was involved with a group of disgruntled ex-military. Extremist is a word I’ve heard more than once. I have a feeling we’ll never hear about him again.”

“Or if we do, it’ll be on the national news,” Andrew added.

They all nodded at that. The military was a microcosm of society. There were the good and the bad. Barry kicked the ground with the toe of his boot. “Can’t say as I’m sorry about that. I liked Fish and wish I could’ve told someone what I saw, but I couldn’t. I can’t change the past. We were pawns in a war game. The enemy took too many, too young.”

Ken nodded. “I’ve never been to war. I can’t imagine what that’s like. I know it can mess someone up, but the evil Jackson Gill brought to this place was dark, man. Kathy’s statement about what he was planning about Gen and Sev.” Ken shivered. “Fuck, how messed up do you have to be to do something like that?”

Barry shrugged. “Don’t know. More messed up than I was—am.”

“You’re getting better,” Ken said. Barry lifted an eyebrow and pointed, circling his face, causing Ken to laugh. “Shit! Don’t make me laugh. It hurts.”

“Sorry.” Barry laughed with Andrew and Ken. The humor released the tension the talk had caused.

“I heard you’re going to go to work on the Prentiss place.” Ken crossed his arms, leaning against his SUV again.

“Yes, sir.”

Ken narrowed his eyes and stared at him. “I wanted to ask you something. Feel free to tell me to jump off a bridge.”

“Not many of those up here,” Barry replied.

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