A Thin Line Between Love & Hate (Love Conquers All series) ORIGINAL VERSION

Chapter 41: "First & Forever"

Patty came out of the house and walked toward the barn. Uriah watched her from the roof, eyes hard and narrow. He looked away when she glanced up at him and Elijah.

"It's going to be too late to goop on the tar today." Elijah twisted around and sat on the crest of the roof. "We still have the other side to paper, and it'll be almost dark by then."

"You put down the roofing on the other side," Uriah said. "I'll start tarring this side."

"We can do it tomorrow," Elijah told him. "We'll get the paper down quicker if we're both stapling."

"Father wants as much as possible done by tonight."

"Yeah," Elijah said. "And that will be covering the entire roof with the paper. We can start again early in the morning."

"We have to shingle the roof tomorrow, and work on the inside."

"The others can work on the inside," Elijah said. "We can tar and shingle the roof tomorrow. And have it done before dark."

"Why can't you just do what you're told?" Uriah muttered.

"Why do you have to be so damn stubborn?"

Uriah stared at him rigidly then looked away. "We need another roll of roofing." He stood up and walked effortlessly across the slanted roof, back to the ladder. "George!" Uriah tossed down the rope when he got the older man's attention. "Tie off another roll! And we'll need a bucket of tar!"

Behind him, Elijah groaned. "Stubborn ass."

Patty came through the rear door of the barn. "Dinner's almost ready." She walked over to her father and wrapped her arm around his waist.

Harlan Hecke kissed the top of her head. "We'll be in to wash up right away."

Glancing up at Uriah, she smiled smartly and looked around. "Josh isn't home yet?"

Abraham Waylon grew visibly tense but ignored her.

"Why does it take this long to go gather a few rocks?" she asked to no one in particular. "Wiley said they probably went to the underground caves. Way down in the dark...all alone."

"What the hell is she going on about now?" Elijah was suddenly right next to Uriah, startling him. "I'm about sick to fuck of her insinuating that Josh is a fucking faggot."

Uriah swallowed hard, his jaw set. "You need shut her the fuck up." He looked hard at Elijah. "Before father starts buying into her bullshit and Josh suffers for it."

"What the hell am I supposed to do?" Elijah stared at him. "She don't listen to me."

"Maybe you should persuade her to listen."

"How?"

Uriah just looked at him.

"What?" Elijah shook his head. "No way. Are you out of your mind?"

"She's still got a thing for you, so use it to your advantage and give her something better to do with her mouth than talk shit about Josh."

A sick look came over Elijah's face. "That's disgusting."

"Do you want father to start thinking Josh is a fag? Do you have any fucking idea what he would do to him? I don't give a shit how you do it, but shut that bitch up."

"Boys!" George hollered up. "Come down for dinner. You can finish up after. We still have a few hours of daylight."

Elijah moved to the ladder and climbed over. "You coming?" he asked when Uriah didn't follow.