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“We’re not going anywhere,” Josh said. “They want to startsomething, we can finish it.”
“That’s your stepfather?” Nicole asked.
Grim nodded. “Yes, and if I walk out, he’ll leave you alone.He likes to cause scenes. It makes him feel righteous.”
His stepfather had a gleam in his eyes, the one he hadbefore he started a sermon on how the world was evil and only he could protecthis flock.
“Here we go,” a deep voice said.
That was when Grim realized the minister of the Presbyterianchurch was sitting at a table to their left with his wife.
“I know I’m supposed to love everyone, but some people makeit hard,” his wife declared.
Pastor Mike looked over Grim’s way. “You okay, son?”
Grim nodded.
“He’s going to be.” Josh’s eyes had gone flinty.
“Is now not a good time to remind you Jesus wants us to turnthe other cheek?” Pastor Mike offered with a sigh.
“What’s happening?” Nicole asked again.
“Well, if it isn’t the reason we’re all in trouble.” Ezekielstopped at the head of the booth, his sons flanking him.
“What kind of trouble are you talking about?” Josh asked,looking bored. He sat back as though he wasn’t ready to kick someone’s ass.
Which Grim knew damn straight he was. “Move along. There’snothing you could say to me that matters.”
“We know you don’t care,” Peter sneered. “You gave in toevil long ago.”
“Evil?” Nicole asked, obviously confused. She looked hisway. “Babe, I thought you were kidding or overstating things. They really usethe word evil?”
“Hey, you should move along.” Christa couldn’t get to thetable because his relatives were crowding her out. “They’re having theirdinner.”
Ezekiel’s frown deepened. “And you’re fine with servingdegenerates. If you ever wonder, woman, why no one of good reputation willpatronize your establishment, it’s because you don’t have any standards.”
Christa glanced around her crowded café. “I think I’ll stickwith the degenerates.”
If she thought a logical comeback would do anything to getrid of his stepfather, she didn’t know him at all. “If you want to talk to me,let’s go outside.”
Josh’s head shook. “You’re not going anywhere with him.”
Ezekiel turned, and his arms came up. “People of WillowFork, there is a devil among you. Has anyone wondered why the good, God-fearingranchers of this town have lost so much lately?”
They were back to this. Grim groaned.
“Is he talking about the beetles in the feed?” Pastor Mikeasked. “I thought Grim was the one taking care of that.”
His stepfather had everyone’s attention now, and he preenedunder it. “Jared is the very saboteur who placed the bugs in the feed. He doesit because he’s got Satan in him. It is a sad fact of life that some of us areborn evil, and my stepson is one of them. He is here on earth to harm real men.To do Satan’s work.”
“I’m sorry. Are you fucking kidding me?”
Grim’s brows rose because it hadn’t been Josh who asked thequestion. Nicole had slid out of the booth and was standing in his stepfather’sspace. He started to go after her. Josh held him back.
“No, you let her have her moment. She can handle this,” Joshsaid with a surety he didn’t feel.
“You think that man who spends all of his time helpinganimals is making them sick?” Nicole asked.
