to Nigel. To the girl, she said, âI just mean heâs with me. Keep your hands to yourself. And any other body parts that might be inclined to trespass.â
âLetâs not be too hasty,â Nigel said, and stepped forward. With British formality, he said, âIâm Nigel Hawtrey. Iâm Ms. Wisbyâs executive assistant.â
âListen to him talk all fancy,â Tain said. âWhere you from, boy?â
âManchester, originally.â
âThat in England?â Tain asked. The word came out, Aingland.
âIt is. A beautiful place.â He looked her up and down appreciatively. âThough not as beautiful as some of the scenery around here.â
âStop it,â Bo-Kate said to Nigel.
âNo, let him keep going,â Tain said. âI like the way he talks.â
âTain is my cousin,â Bo-Kate said. âMy folks took her in after she got into some trouble.â
âWhat sort of trouble?â Nigel asked.
âOh, not that kind,â Tain said. âWhat can I say? The trouble with trouble is, it starts out as fun.â
âNow Mom and Dad are trying to teach her the straight and narrow, to make up for me turning out like I did. Right, Memaw?â
âWe took her in âcause sheâs family,â the old woman said, still seated.
âThatâs right,â Tain said. She stood in such a way that her long legs and slender figure were highlighted against the bright glare from the kitchen. âBut Iâm not too straight, and Iâm definitely not narrow.â
âDonât make me throw a bucket of water on you,â Bo-Kate warned. âWhere are Snad and Canton?â
âTheyâre around,â Paw-paw said evasively.
âSnad is out trapping coyotes,â Tain said. âCanton is tomcatting around with that middle Adams girl. Iâm sure theyâll come running when they hear their baby sister is back.â
âDonât be telling her nothing, Tain,â Paw-paw snapped.
âIt ainât like itâs a secret,â Tain said.
âWeâre here to stay for a while,â Bo-Kate said to her parents. âWeâll take my old room. No need to do anything special for us.â
â Why are you here, Bo-Kate?â Paw-paw said. âAnd donât bullshit us by saying you missed us. The only way youâd miss us is if you were shootinâ at us.â
âI see where you get your wit,â Nigel asided to her.
Bo-Kate ignored him. âPaw-paw, Iâm here to do what Rockhouse Hicks never could: draw us all back under one pair of wings.â
âThat canât be done, Bo-Kate.â
âSure it can. It just needs a little outside perspective. And believe me, Iâve got that now.â
Memaw raised one gnarled hand and folded her fingers into a series of gestures. Bo-Kate raised her left hand and pretended to turn a crank on it with her right one; her middle finger rose. âYour signs donât mean a thing to me, Memaw.â
âYou thinkââ
âI think Iâve been on the road all day today, and Iâm tired. Come on, Nigel, before Tain makes your dick bust out and go dancing across the room to her.â
âThank you for your hospitality,â Nigel said to Paw-paw and Memaw. âMiss Wisby,â he added with an extra nod to Tain.
âStop it, before you boldly go where every man has gone before,â Bo-Kate said, and dragged him away from the kitchen.
âI see heâs a personal assistant, all right,â Tain called after them. âYâall have fun. Try not to bust the bedframe.â
Bo-Kate led them up a staircase Nigel hadnât noticed when they came in. Nigel flashed a smile back at Tain as he followed. She was already watching for it, and simply nodded in response, like it was no surprise at all.
âSharinâ the same room?â Tain called after them with a mocking smile.
The
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