Page 62 of Rascal

“That fence is huge,” Troy complained.

“Yeah, you’ve one side each, starting at opposite ends so you can’t talk and have fun!” Lavender growled out.

“Fair enough. Mine’ll be the best, Aunt Lavender; will I get lemonade and cake?” Brax wheedled.

“You suck-up!” Isla bitched.

“Can we paint him?” Louisa-Mae demanded.

“If you paint anything other than the fence, or deviate from the task given, the coal cellar needs cleaning,” Lavender stated. Horrified gasps met her.

“Oh, she’s good,” Kenny muttered. “I like the deviation rule.”

Lavender turned on her heel and came over to join us. “Rooster, please, can I have a drink?” she asked sweetly.

“Sure. You earned it. Has Chance and the rest put out the fire before it spread?”

“Yes. Little bastards used accelerant in the box on top of gunpowder,” she said to us.

“Wow, they weren’t messing around,” I replied.

“They never are. They all take after their fathers,” Clio complained.

“I’ll give them their due, though. They stick together. If more than one is involved, they’ll never snitch, never turn on each other and take the consequences as a group. The kids accept their punishment in good faith too, although sometimes that leads to more shit,” Lavender said.

“Yeah, they’re honest too; they always own the crap they do,” Clio agreed.

“We’re doing something correct,” Kenny concurred, and I wondered what it would be like to be a part of this group. Then I shoved the thought away. That didn’t matter right now. My concerns were a bit more worrying.

Chapter Thirteen.

Hallie

Unsettled, I headed up to my room after eating. King on my heels, watching my back as always. I half expected one of the kids to pop out with a rocket launcher. Although Wraith claimed the rocket launchers were locked up. That didn’t reassure me in the slightest. Dinner had been pleasant, but awkward. The six men I’d had arrested were present, and while polite, they were distant. Their women were also guarded. King and I made our excuses as soon as possible.

“That was fun,” King quipped, but I sensed his tension.

“Two days, no more.”

“Can’t disagree. The quicker we leave, the better. But we’re not returning home either. Let’s find a state that’s warm in the summer and snowy in the winter, like it should be,” I teased, and King offered me a dirty look. He hated the cold.

“Guess we need to make a decision about where we’re going to live,” King agreed.

“You’re moving?” Rascal demanded from behind.

“What’s that to do with you?” King retorted.

“Hallie, I asked a question,” Rascal snapped.

I instantly bristled. How dare he talk… “Oof,” I grunted as Rascal took two steps forward, dropped his shoulder and slung me over it.

“Put me the fuck down!” I shrieked, pounding on his back.

“Stay the hell out and go downstairs or you’ll need knitting needles in your ears. This is gonna get loud,” Rascal promised.

“Jesus!” King muttered and stomped off.

“Traitor!” I yelled.