Page 23 of Tempest

“What Mama is saying is that Tommy is better suited to giving traffic tickets, finding cows that wander, and breaking up any fights down at the VFW. Coming up with a protection plan might be difficult.” Ivy shook her head and then shrugged. “We’re kind of on our own.”

“Which is why I’m here,” Ryan responded, as he put his hand on her leg and winked.

“What would Dolly do?” Grams asked.

This question was posed more often than not in their house. Grams believed that Dolly Parton pretty much had the answer to everything. Ivy couldn’t really argue, because she had tested it out several times, and channeling Dolly Parton had often given her the answer she’d been looking for. “I think Dolly would act like it didn’t bother her.”

Bea and Grams nodded simultaneously. “Hold your head up high and don’t let anyone know what you’re up to,” Bea said firmly.

Ivy lifted her glass in a toast. “Dolly never steers us wrong. There’s a reason for everything, and it is just a matter of figuring out what that reason was.” Eating a chip, she smiled. “I haven’t been home long enough to make anyone mad enough to shoot me, so it must have something to do with Daddy’s will. I guess we’ll find out more when we go to Austin tomorrow. Maybe Daddy had a floozy who thinks that Colin and I are going to steal everything from her.”

Grams nodded and tapped her nose. “You’ll be lucky if there is only one floozy out there.”

“That man is causing trouble even when he’s six feet under. Are we never going to be free from him?” Bea asked quietly. “I hope to God that he’s not the reason for someone shooting at you.”

Ivy patted her mama’s hand and grinned. “This is the end of it. One way or another.”

“We’ll make sure of that,” Grams added. “Ryan, you look like you were thrown down the rabbit hole. All of this probably doesn’t make a lick of sense.”

“No, ma’am. It makes a lot of sense. Except for the Dolly part. I’m not sure how that works, but I expect before too long it’ll be made clear.”

Grams slapped the table and smiled. “I like you. I’m going to make you a cake tonight.”

Ivy stared at her mama and asked herself what the hell was going on. Grams hardly approved of anyone. Ryan had gotten a cake out of her in less than thirty minutes. There were people in town who were still waiting for one. And they’d been on the list for years. When Mama shrugged and then studied Ryan closely, Ivy knew that everything would be revealed sooner than any of them expected. She placed another sandwich on Ryan’s plate. “Have another sandwich.” The man was going to need his strength. That was for damn sure.

“Thanks, honey.”

Ivy threw him a wan smile and silently told him not to thank her yet. Lord knew what they were in for.

***

“I need to get out of the house. Let’s go for a walk over to the Tastee Freez. I could use an ice cream cone,” Ivy said as she sipped her tea. “I also need some mascara.”

Mama turned away from the sink and gave her the gimlet eye. “I don’t think you should be out and about. Why don’t you go lie down and rest?”

“Mama, I have ants in my pants. I’ve been in bed for a couple of days. Ryan’s here, so he can protect me and walk me into town.”

“Nothing has changed since you were ten,” Bea said, as she turned back to the sink.

Ryan laughed and looked down with a smile. “What was Ivy like when she was little?”

Grams sat up and straightened her blouse. “Ivy had more ideas than sense. Half the time she ran around with her hair on fire. She had so many things she wanted to try, see, and do. I often thought she was like Curious George. She had a lot in common with that crazy monkey.”

“It’s true,” Ivy said as she finished her tea. “Good thing that I grew out of most of it. Now I’m a responsible, hard-working adult, and I hardly ever run around like the hounds of hell are on my heels. I’m wrestling maturity down with both hands.”

Bea dried her hands and then kissed her daughter on the cheek. “Be careful and don’t overdue it.”

“Yes, Mama.”

Grams heaved herself out of her chair and collected her shotgun. “I’ll take this home since Ryan’s here.” She patted Ivy’s shoulder and walked to the door. “Have fun in town. Keep your eyes open.”

“Thanks, Grams.”

Bea checked her watch and then started gathering her things. “I’d best be on my way. My clients are going to meet me at the house, and if I’m lucky this will be their dream home. If I’m not back by five, pull a casserole out and I’ll do the rest when I get home.”

“Mama, you don’t have to feed us.”

Mama ignored her and fluffed her hair. “The guest room is clean, so when you get back, get Ryan settled.” Picking up her things, she walked out. “Behave,” she called as the door closed.

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