“Package came this morning for Devil’s Hollow,” Eli answered.
Matthew reached forward and snatched the package from his cousin. Irritated Eli would open something that was clearly intended for him, Matthew pulled off the brown paper, revealing an embellished House of Vionnet stamped atop a shiny white box. A crease formed between his brows. He lifted the lid, and found tissue paper covering something smelling of lavender. Pushing the paper aside, Matthew ran his fingertips over the mystery, never having felt satin before.
The card read:
-Feathers for little Blackbird
Realizing just what was inside, he quickly snapped on the lid, grabbing the damn thing to hide in his office before anyone saw him touching a woman’s dress.
When he got back to the bar, Eli was laughing at him. “It ain’t gonna bite you, Matthew.”
Ignoring the boy, Matthew retook his seat.
As he strolled by, Eli picked a piece of lint off Matthew’s shoulder, all the while teasing, “You better see to getting yourself a nice suit, cousin, if you plan on standing anywhere near her while she’s wearing something like that.”
Slamming down his pencil, Matthew grabbed his ledger, and retreated into the office, barking a surly, “Get back to work.”
Business grew busy and it was almost dusk before Matthew and Eli climbed into the truck to head to the stills. The entire drive Matthew was making a mental list of all the jars that should’ve been filled, preparing to lay into his brother if he found Nathaniel drunk and loafing.
The scene he arrived to was far worse.
Walking through the forest canopy to the secret shack where hundreds of dollars of necessary equipment brewed shine, he heard the muffled voice of his brother telling what had to be the raunchiest jokes in the hills.
Nathaniel sat before a fire, a man facing him, the stranger’s shoulders shaking in silent laughter.
Prowling forward, ready to tear into his brother for bringing an outsider to their stills, Matthew froze. The laughing stranger had the voice of his golden girl, Charlotte telling an equally bawdy joke that made Nathaniel slap his knee and throw his head back he was howling so hard.
“Damn, Charlie, where the hell you pick up that one?”
“Whorehouse outside of Nashville,” she answered unashamed while sipping the jar in her hand.
Right behind her Matthew growled, “And just what the hell were you doin’ at a whorehouse, Charlotte?”
Charlie choked mid-swallow and began to cough, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Jesus, Matthew, you just about gave me a heart attack!”
“Answer the question.” His tone had fallen deeper, the brim of his hat hiding whatever malice made his voice so coarse.
“Tracking a man named Franco Ramirez.” Unaffected, she rolled a shoulder and gave him a cocky grin. “I’ll let you in on a trade secret. If you slip the ladies two dollars, they tend to wear out your prey. Then all you gotta do is tie them up and drag them off. Everybody’s happy…” Winking at Nathaniel, Charlie clarified, “Well, Franco wasn’t happy. The Texas marshals hung him.”
“How much you been drinkin’?” Matthew demanded, crouching down to get a closer look.
Dressed in trousers, her hair tucked under an old hat, with dirt smeared on her face, Charlie shrugged, the blue flannel shirt gaping just enough that if he leaned forward he’d be able to see right down her…
“Leave her alone, Matthew,” Nathaniel grumbled, cocking his head toward the corner and catching his brother’s attention. “She barely even touched the jar in her hand. Besides, while you two pansies were relaxing, Charlie helped me fill the order for tomorrow. Work’s all done.”
Pale eyes darted across the darkening room, finding what Nathaniel claimed to be true. It didn’t soften his accusation. “And just how did she come to be here, Nathaniel?”
Charlie came to
his defense. “I was hunting, Matthew. He heard me shoot a deer nearby.”
“Found her walking through the woods, pleased as could be, with a doe hangin’ right cross her shoulders.” Nathaniel explained, laughing as if still struck with what an odd sight it had been. “We’ve been waiting for you two to show up so we could eat.”
On cue, Charlie rose to her feet and went out the door to where her cleaned deer hung from a tree. Hunting knife in hand, she stabbed into the carcass, sawing down the back for the backstrap and loin, smiling when Matthew eased up behind her.
“She’s a nice young doe, a little small. Still, should be plenty to feed us all and then some.” Stopping for a moment, she tried to explain, “I want you to know, Matthew, I had no idea your stills were hidden around here. I meant no harm, and I wasn’t snooping.”
“Ain’t safe to hunt alone.”