Page 33 of Honey Be Mine
EVERETTTOOKAdeep breath and sat at the mostly empty table reserved for local government. He glanced back at the table where Rosebud was sitting, glad he’d taken the time to set things right between them. Theirs was a lifelong friendship—but he didn’t want to take that or her for granted. When her gaze met his, her smile was as warm as ever. Things were fine. They were fine. And that mattered.
When she turned toward Kerrilynn, he pulled out his phone. No alerts. No videos. Nothing had happened last night? On the one hand, these vandals were likely teens. Last night, Friday night, meant football games and bonfires and hanging out with friends. If they’d been paintballing, they’d miss out on the fun. Maybe he’d caught a break, and this damn headache was over as quickly as it had begun.
“You’re that bachelor guy from the newspaper, aren’t you?” There was a teen boy sitting opposite him—someone Everett didn’t recognize.
“Everett Taggert.” He nodded.
“Yeah. I thought so. And that’s your secretary?” The boy was openly staring at the refreshment table and, likely, Libby.
Libby.That was a whole other headache. “Yes.” He felt bad for snapping at her, but she’d caught him off guard. She hadn’t needed to stand that close to him or hold on to his hands while she handed over the cup of coffee she’d made him. That sort of thing got people talking—which was the last thing he needed.
“Yeah, well, that makes sense.” The boy blew out a low whistle. “I’d stay single. She ishot.”
Who the hell did this kid think he was? His sleep-deprived brain came up with a whole slew of inappropriate things to say to put this kid in his place, but he knew better than that. “She’s a good secretary.” He bit out the words, not bothering to hide his temper.If this kid is smart, he’ll shut up.
“I bet.” The boy’s smile was oblivious. “Like it matters. I mean,lookat her.”
Everett stared at the boy. Growing up, this sort of disrespect would have had him shoveling up each and every bit of goat poop on their family’s property. It had taken him a while to realize not all parents took such a hard line when it came to how to treat, talk to, and talk about a woman. Namely, not to objectify them or make disparaging remarks, especially in public—like this dumbass kid.
Since he couldn’t pack this kid off to his folks’ place and hand him a shovel, he’d have to swallow his anger and try talking. “It does matter.” He took a steadying breath. “It’s not how she looks or dresses that matters—”
“It’s what’s inside?” The kid glanced at him then. “Come on, man. Really? No one else can hear you, so you can save the whole women-equality crap.”
Everett saw red. He didn’t have the bandwidth for this.
“Everett.” Dennis Hobart chose that moment to sit at the table next to the kid. “I hope this isn’t a waste of my Saturday.”
Things keep getting better and better.He glanced back at Rosebud’s table, seriously regretting his decision to make himself available to Sheriff Myers and Mayor Contreras. They knew just as much as he did.
Dane saw him and waved. Then the whole table waved at him.
Everett grinned.
“Wes,” Hobart barked at the boy. “Where’s your homework?”
“At home.” The boy glared at Dennis Hobart.
“I told you to bring it. Your mother told you to bring it.” Dennis ran a hand over his increasingly red face.
“Guess I didn’t hear you. Or her.” Wes shrugged. “Or I didn’t care.”
Everett was stunned silent. This kid was Dennis Hobart’s son? He wasn’t sure who to empathize with, the father or the son. Either way, it wasn’t pretty.
Thankfully, Mayor Contreras walked up with his wife, Lisa—ending any further exchanges from the Hobarts. Mayor Alex Jimenez and a city council member joined them, representing Glendale. Willow Creek’s mayor, Midge Ludwig, Elginston’s Christina Rivas, and Rose Prairie’s Joe Kerr filled up the rest of the seats. When Everett tried to offer up his chair to Sheriff Myers, the sheriff said he preferred to stand. Everett was stuck in the middle of it when the ranting started.
“I don’t understand why these little sonsabitches haven’t been caught yet.” The vein running across the middle of Dennis’s forehead seemed to swell with every word he said. “Why’s the rest of Lewis been left alone? Honey, Glendale, and Willow Creek haven’t been targeted by these...chicken-sh—”
Christina Rivas held up her hand. “Language, Dennis, please. I understand you’re upset, but let’s keep this professional.” She shot a pointed look at Wes Hobart—who was still staring at the back of the room.
Midge Ludwig sneered at Dennis—the long-standing feud between the two mayors was no secret. Dennis Hobart was a pill, but Midge Ludwig was almost as grating and outspoken as Willadeene Svoboda. “Christina, remember who you’re talking to.”
“Fine.” Dennis practically spit the word. “Criminals. What’s the reason some of us have been vandalized? And you all have not?” He pointed at Mayor Contreras, Mayor Jimenez, and Mayor Ludwig.
“It’s nice to hear you’re so concerned.” Midge rolled her eyes.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen next, do we, Dennis? I’m sure we all hope Honey and Glendale are left alone.” Sheriff Myers shook his head. “But since there’s no guarantee, here we all are. We’re going to have to stay vigilant. All of us.”
“You’re not up for reelection any time soon, Myers.” Dennis sighed. “I don’t need fancy speeches, I need results.Anda way to pay for the damage those little shi—um, vandals caused to our new park equipment.” He turned to Everett then. “Any luck finding funding?”
