SWNOVELS Chance: Chapter 34
Chance’s truckwas named Chuck Norris. Rory knew after her drive to town. Chuck was badass. It was the only name that fit for a big truck that chewed up the pavement and had all the bells and whistles, which Chuck did. He had a huge screen in his center console that could show a map. It could also show all her podcasts in one place, or her playlists—pretty much whatever she wanted to display. Chuck was also powerful, which she enjoyed as she pressed the accelerator and flew down country roads.
She’d finished breakfast, cleaned up the dishes, and decided to head to the Dawg. The health inspector was supposed to arrive by eleven, though she didn’t plan on holding her breath. In her experience, any estimation of when an inspector would be around was more of a guideline.
Maybe they’d get lucky today. She certainly hoped so.
But the knot in the pit of her stomach wouldn’t ease. She’d texted Carl back, said she was sorry to hear he couldn’t cut the hay and could she perhaps offer him a discount. Of course he hadn’t responded. She really hadn’t expected he would. If Ronnie Davis had offered him money to go elsewhere, then Carl wasn’t going to want her hay no matter what kind of deal she offered him.
It hurt that someone she’d known since she was a little girl could betray her that way. On the other hand, Carl had been raising cows for decades and anything that made life a little easier was bound to be welcome. Going to Madison to buy hay wasn’t a betrayal in his book. It was very likely business and knowing the value of a dollar.
Rory parked Chuck, gathered her backpack and her giant steel cup of water, and opened the door. Colleen had the hatchback to her Volkswagen open. She looked up as Rory alighted on the pavement.
“Morning, Rory.”
“Morning, Colleen. What’ve you got there?”
Colleen was hefting a black duffel bag that clanked as it shifted. “Oh, these are my new chains. For the exorcism chair.”
“Uh, okay. Do you do many of those?”
“Not too many, but enough. You have to get new chains every few cycles. The demons are hell on steel.”
“I did not know.”
“Most people don’t.” Colleen shrugged. “It’s only important for those of us who guard the portals and keep humanity safe.”
“Well, thank you. For your service, I mean.”
“You’re welcome. I’ve been called to serve by the Almighty, so I do.”
“How do the aliens fit into it?” Rory asked. Because she really wanted to know. As long as she could remember, Colleen had been either seeing aliens or relieving people of demonic possession. In between, she did seances, told fortunes, sold crystals, and gave ghost tours of Sutton’s Creek. She was a busy woman with all her enterprises.
“They don’t fit. They are simply aliens.” Colleen blinked like this was sufficient.
“Oh, okay. I didn’t realize.”
“Again, most people don’t.” Colleen frowned. “I’m getting a message from my spirit guide….” There was some quiet chanting, or mumbling, before she spoke again. “It’s time for you to be very careful, Aurora. There are forces out there that would do you harm.”
Rory shivered from the chill that slid down her spine. It was May, not October, but it seemed that Colleen could be spooky whenever she liked.
“I’m always careful. I don’t trust anybody.”
Colleen’s expression turned solemn. “You will have to make a choice very soon, I think.”
The chains clanked again and Rory jumped. Then she was mad at herself for doing it.
“Well, better get going. Work to do. Have a good day, Mrs. Wright.”
“Thank you, dear. You too.”
Rory headed through the back door to find Theo at work in the kitchen, prepping his ingredients for the lunch service. “Do you know something I don’t?” she asked, still trying to shake off the chill of what Colleen had said. A choice? What the heck was she talking about?
As if Colleen was an oracle. Rory nearly rolled her eyes. Kooky old woman. That’s all it was. All it’d ever been.
He looked up and grinned. “Nope. It’s the power of positive thinking at work. Besides, if they don’t let us open up, we need to use this stuff anyway. I’ll pull out the grill and have a cookout in the parking lot. We’ll give it all away but I’ll put up a tip jar for those who want to donate. Maybe it’ll help us with expenses.”
Rory blinked. “I wouldn’t have thought of that. Since you aren’t selling the food, I don’t know why it wouldn’t fly. Good plan.”
He shrugged. “Thanks. Guess we’ll find out soon enough.” His gaze narrowed as he studied her. “Something’s different about you.”
Rory felt herself coloring. “Nothing’s different. I’m pregnant. Hormones are a thing, you know.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
“I am not blushing. Stop being annoying.” She cleared her throat. “Here’s what’s different, though it’s not about me. Carl’s getting hay in Madison. He won’t be cutting and baling for us.”
Theo looked as shocked as she’d felt. “You’re kidding. He’s been doing it since before Gramps died, when Gramps no longer could.”
“I know.”
“Fuck. It’s the farm, isn’t it? They want to buy it and they’re doing whatever they can to squeeze us. They got to Carl.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised. But we don’t know for sure, so we can’t go confronting anyone about it. We have to be cool and stay in our lane and hope, if it’s them, they do something that gets them caught.”
Theo’s eyebrows climbed his forehead. “Wow, listen to you being all reasonable. What happened to my firecracker sister who charges into situations breathing fire and ready to knock heads together?”
“Pretty sure it’s hormones. And maybe Chance. He says he’ll come up with a plan. I’m trusting him to do it.”
Theo put down his knife and came around to hug her. Rory hugged back, laughing. “What’s this for?”
“Congratulations, Pix. Never thought you’d fall for a guy again, but I guess I was wrong.”
“Who said I’ve fallen for anybody?” Her heart started to thrum. “He’s in the security business and I trust him. That’s all it is.”
Theo let her go, laughing as he went back to his chopping. “Sure, you tell yourself that. But I’ve never known you to let anyone tell you what you needed to do and then for you to actually do it. You don’t let people take care of things for you. Never have. This is new.”
Rory’s blush was a full on fire. “I’m an adult. I’m not unreasonable. This is his area of expertise, not mine, and I intend to take his advice. That’s all it is. Now if you’re done analyzing everything I say, I’m going to the office. Let me know when the inspector arrives.”
“And now you’re running away because you know I’m right,” he called out.
Rory held up her middle finger and kept on walking. Theo’s laughter followed her up the stairs.