Tacoma Falls: Home and Heart

Nothing like catching a snake in the grass

Mary

I peeled my eyes open and groaned while tangled up with Beau.

"Go back to sleep, Little Lamb," Beau mumbled with his eyes closed.

"I would if I didn't have to pee." I untangled myself, crawled over him, and headed to the bathroom.

After taking care of business, I peeked in on Patsy and Waylon. Patsy was using Waylon as a body pillow with their clothes rumpled. I checked on Morgan and Hank and found them sprawled on each other. I didn't bother Shep and Maury. My guess is they were naked.

I shuffled to the bedroom to find Beau lying on his stomach asleep. I shook my head and padded down to the kitchen for some coffee. I needed it after last night's shenanigans.

While the coffee was brewing, someone pounded on the front door. I answered it with a finger shoved into my face.

"You! I know you did something to my cows! Fess up!"
Old Man Gilroy shouted.

I cocked my head. "Why would I do anything to your cows?"

"My cows are gone! I want them back! I know you're hiding them here!"

"Do you see any cows around here? No. It's not nice to accuse an innocent person of taking your cows." I folded my arms, getting plenty annoyed with Gilroy.

"I have the right to search for my cows!"

"In what aspect? You're not the law. Any lawyer would tell you that."

"You're always messing with my cows! You and those other hooligans! You're just like Rhett Shaw! He could never accept defeat!"

I arched my brow. "Rhett had good quality cattle. A man doesn't accept defeat when there is none. Unless someone sabotaged him on purpose."

"I won those ribbons fair and square."

I stepped toward Gilroy as he backed up. "Mr. Gilroy, the county fair gets heated with farmhands. You and others have accused my family of animal cruelty when there was none."

Gilroy stared at me as he pressed his lips into a thin line.

"How much did you pay the county officials and livestock agents to look the other way?"

Gilroy blustered at my question. "I would never do that! I'm an honest man."

"Well, now, I know you're lying."

Gilroy's face turned three shades of purple as he sputtered his words. Every dribble that leaked from his mouth was a declaration of guilt. And I know guilt. Beau has plenty of it.

I put up my hand to Gilroy to stop his nonsense. He stopped spewing his lies. I lowered my hand. "Do you know why a rattlesnake is dangerous? You don't hear it until it strikes."

A fist flew past my head and landed in Gilroy's face, knocking him off his feet. Waylon stepped past me and leaned over Gilroy. That boy was hopping mad. "I'll be more than happy to bury you after the lies you spewed. How do I know their lies? You lied about your cows being here. They're not here."

Gilroy stared at Waylon in dead silence. If you accuse someone of a crime, you better have proof.

I left Waylon to deal with Gilroy while pouring a coffee. Patsy sat at the kitchen table with her head on it. Morgan wasn't fairing any better. Luckily, the guys didn't feel as lousy as we did.

Hank poured two cups of coffee and gave them to Morgan and Patsy. Beau grabbed food from the fridge to make breakfast. Shep and Maury were trying to keep Waylon from going to jail. I leaned against the counter and sipped my hot coffee.