to go to Ava’s pop and your dad for taking care of the speaks and blind pigs down here,” Gabe answered.
Silas smiled and motioned his hand for him to continue talking.
“Okay,” Gabe breathed deeply unsure if he was scared or angry. “The books were short because James had fronted the ’shiner a lot of cash for moonshine that was never delivered.”
“Right again, my boy. Keep going,” Silas said.
“Your dad told us we couldn’t come home till the money was back,” Gabe said. “But we never found it because…” Awareness shown in Gabe’s eyes as he trailed off. Ugh. He told Vince Silas was going to be pissed about this.
“And there it is…” Silas smacked his hands together dramatically in the air. “Finish.”
“We never found it because the ’shiner was killed the night we got to town,” Gabe’s voice came out barely a whisper. “Look, Silas, I told Vince we needed to tell you but…”
“And what was the bootlegger’s name?” Silas asked refusing to listen to Gabe’s excuse.
Gabe shook his head and looked down again. When he started to apologize Silas cut him off again.
“What was the fucking bootlegger’s name?” Silas shouted, flipping over the chair he was standing next to.
“Ronnie Talbot,” Gabe answered.
“So, answer me this, Gabe. Why in the hell didn’t anyone tell me Emmie’s family was involved in all this shit?” Silas shouted.
“Silas, we don’t think she’s involved. You’ve met her. She’s one of the most naive people I’ve ever met. Ronnie was no good but that’s got nothing to do with her,” Gabe started.
“He was her father! I don’t care if she knew about it or not—she is too close to it for me to be with her.” He turned back to the wall again.
His friend walked up behind him. “You know how Ava’s family treats her. They really don’t believe she had anything to do with any of it. That’s why Vince didn’t want you to know. They want her left out of it. Besides the trail ended with Ronnie. Whoever killed him that night probably took the money. Vince searched Ronnie’s ground for days afterward and found nothing. But that man waiting out there… he might know something—that’s what we need to focus on, not this.” Gabe tried to refocus the conversation.
“Did they really think I wouldn’t find out who she was? Stupid…” Silas started but Gabe cut him off.
“Look, don’t get involved with her then, if you don’t think it’s right, then don’t do it,” Gabe shouted.
Silas rubbed his brow and paced the length of the table. “I’m already involved.” Then he turned and walked out the door slamming it behind him.
Chapter Nineteen
S potty lay in a pallet in the corner chewing on an apple core. Emmie simmered the last of the apples in a mess of sugar and cinnamon. Her house would smell like heaven for at least a couple of days, maybe a week with as much applesauce as she had canned this morning.
Max was getting a couple jars as a thank you for all the apples he had picked. Since Ava had ruined Emmie’s last batch, she made him some more. Well, maybe she couldn’t quite say ruined, especially after she had the Georgia peach ’shine last night it had given her a new idea. She had a plan that was going to help her and Walter sell all that moonshine quickly.
Walt showed up at nine o’clock on the nose in his old truck.
“Whoo-ee, Emmie your house smells good.” He walked in and put his hat on the kitchen table. “Max would die if he was here right now. Not much he likes better than your applesauce.”
“Well, it was Mama’s recipe and, of course, I’ve got some for him.” Emmie produced a basket with two big jars full of the warm applesauce. “He picked all these apples, it’s only fair.”
“Thanks, Emmie. I appreciate all you are doing for him,” he said.
“You know I’m happy to,” she said. “I’ve got something else to share with you too.”
She walked over to the counter and strained what
Silas smiled and motioned his hand for him to continue talking.
“Okay,” Gabe breathed deeply unsure if he was scared or angry. “The books were short because James had fronted the ’shiner a lot of cash for moonshine that was never delivered.”
“Right again, my boy. Keep going,” Silas said.
“Your dad told us we couldn’t come home till the money was back,” Gabe said. “But we never found it because…” Awareness shown in Gabe’s eyes as he trailed off. Ugh. He told Vince Silas was going to be pissed about this.
“And there it is…” Silas smacked his hands together dramatically in the air. “Finish.”
“We never found it because the ’shiner was killed the night we got to town,” Gabe’s voice came out barely a whisper. “Look, Silas, I told Vince we needed to tell you but…”
“And what was the bootlegger’s name?” Silas asked refusing to listen to Gabe’s excuse.
Gabe shook his head and looked down again. When he started to apologize Silas cut him off again.
“What was the fucking bootlegger’s name?” Silas shouted, flipping over the chair he was standing next to.
“Ronnie Talbot,” Gabe answered.
“So, answer me this, Gabe. Why in the hell didn’t anyone tell me Emmie’s family was involved in all this shit?” Silas shouted.
“Silas, we don’t think she’s involved. You’ve met her. She’s one of the most naive people I’ve ever met. Ronnie was no good but that’s got nothing to do with her,” Gabe started.
“He was her father! I don’t care if she knew about it or not—she is too close to it for me to be with her.” He turned back to the wall again.
His friend walked up behind him. “You know how Ava’s family treats her. They really don’t believe she had anything to do with any of it. That’s why Vince didn’t want you to know. They want her left out of it. Besides the trail ended with Ronnie. Whoever killed him that night probably took the money. Vince searched Ronnie’s ground for days afterward and found nothing. But that man waiting out there… he might know something—that’s what we need to focus on, not this.” Gabe tried to refocus the conversation.
“Did they really think I wouldn’t find out who she was? Stupid…” Silas started but Gabe cut him off.
“Look, don’t get involved with her then, if you don’t think it’s right, then don’t do it,” Gabe shouted.
Silas rubbed his brow and paced the length of the table. “I’m already involved.” Then he turned and walked out the door slamming it behind him.
Chapter Nineteen
S potty lay in a pallet in the corner chewing on an apple core. Emmie simmered the last of the apples in a mess of sugar and cinnamon. Her house would smell like heaven for at least a couple of days, maybe a week with as much applesauce as she had canned this morning.
Max was getting a couple jars as a thank you for all the apples he had picked. Since Ava had ruined Emmie’s last batch, she made him some more. Well, maybe she couldn’t quite say ruined, especially after she had the Georgia peach ’shine last night it had given her a new idea. She had a plan that was going to help her and Walter sell all that moonshine quickly.
Walt showed up at nine o’clock on the nose in his old truck.
“Whoo-ee, Emmie your house smells good.” He walked in and put his hat on the kitchen table. “Max would die if he was here right now. Not much he likes better than your applesauce.”
“Well, it was Mama’s recipe and, of course, I’ve got some for him.” Emmie produced a basket with two big jars full of the warm applesauce. “He picked all these apples, it’s only fair.”
“Thanks, Emmie. I appreciate all you are doing for him,” he said.
“You know I’m happy to,” she said. “I’ve got something else to share with you too.”
She walked over to the counter and strained what
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