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That heart attack abated, I took the looks of disbelief from the two of them and went to my own favorite place, the barn.
That day was the day the spring animals came in and Devlin installed them himself while the rest of his crew was working on the main house. He was working on the second horse when I went in, laughing as he waved a hand over it. “These? Really?”
“Mostly for a funny, but there are littles that will love them. Their daddies will be forever grateful.”
“They’ll be done soon. I had to reinforce the spots under them with metal, though.”
“It’s fine, it looks great. Got the one I asked you for?”
He pointed to one of the boxes, chuckling. “A bull. He’s gonna kill you.”
“I’m going to take a ton of pictures before my death.”
Ropes were on the walls, the bar was finished and ready to stock with juices and waters of every caliber, the bathrooms were set, and the rooms upstairs were only awaiting the beds and furniture. “That shipment from Bear Lake, is it in yet?” he asked, as if reading my mind.
“No, should be later today.”
“Perfect, I’ll start on that stuff once this job is done. How’d they like the cage?”
“They loved it.”
“Sick fuckers,” he accused, laughing.
“Burke, come out here, please,” Damon said from the door.
I hurried, hearing fear in his voice, and thought something was wrong with Joel. I had no idea. There was a car in the yard, and Joel was walking toward it. “Who is that?”
“He about shit himself, Burke. It’s his dad and stepmom.”
“ Fuuuuck . What the hell do they want?”
We weren’t close, and the sun was shining on the windshield, so we couldn’t see them, but we saw Joel. He leaned on the door at first, after taking off his hat. Everything looked calm for about a minute, but then, all hell broke loose.
Joel moved from the car, his hands waving in the air, and he started screaming for them to leave. Damon and I broke at once, running over to the car and our boy. Once Damon grabbed Joel, taking him from the car, I looked in to see a pinch faced woman driving, and the man in the passenger seat, blond hair in a combover, clean shaved and wrinkled. He looked too old to be Joel’s father.
“May I help you?” I asked, trying and failing to keep my voice from being too clipped.
“I was talkin’ to my boy. He needs to come wit’ me now.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because that’s his son, Mister…?” The woman said, her chin raising.
“Mr. Monteleone, and I own this place, along with the two that just walked away. So, since Joel didn’t look too welcoming, I’d suggest you leave.”
The wife’s eyes narrowed at me. “Mr. Monteleone? What kind of name is that? Jewish?”
I felt the hatred coming off the woman, and the man next to her was simply clueless. Instead of answering her, I asked her husband, “Did you have something to say to Joel? Without her? If so, I’ll ask if he wants to speak to you.”
“Anythin’ he can say ta me, she can hear.”
“Sorry. I’ll have to ask you both to get off our property.”
She started to open the door of the car, but I placed my hand on it, pushing it closed again. Her face paled as she glared at me with her mouth a perfect O. “Now see ere,” the man started, but I cut him off.
“No, you see here. This is our property and you’re currently trespassing.”
“Y’all need to get right with the Lord,” the woman yelled.
