Page 83 of Cautious Love

Fletcher claps my shoulder. “We’ll help you get them installed.”

“Thanks, brother.”

He hums and looks down the hall. “Is she okay?” he asks.

“Yeah, I think she’s shaken up. But she handled it like a champ.”

“Do you know who did this?” Fletcher asks.

“I have an idea.”

“One you’re willing to put money on?” he asks.

“No question.”

He pauses and looks me in the eye. “Should the family be concerned?” he asks.

I sigh, scratching my chin. I’ve been asking myself that question since I got here. Part of me doesn’t think he will take itthat far. But that’s assuming I have all the facts. Hopefully, Will can bring us new information.

“I wouldn’t sayconcerned,but maybe keep your head on a swivel. I don’t know how far these people are willing to go,” I tell him.

“Alright, I’ll let everyone know.” He’s quiet for a minute. “Should we be concerned about you?”

“It’s part of the job, Fletch. I was bound to piss someone off eventually.”

He nods thoughtfully and saunters over to my broken window. He picks up the rock that was used to throw through it and holds it up. “I have a feeling you didn’t just piss off some teenagers because you confiscated their weed.”

“What gave it away?” I say deadpan.

“Should you be living here?” he asks.

Shiloh’s footsteps grab my attention, and she slows her stride, eyes flicking between me and Fletcher.

“I won’t let some punk ass run me off my land. Next time he wants to try it, he’ll meet the end of my shotgun.”

“Fair enough,” Fletcher says, dropping the subject.

He crosses the living room and holds his hand out to Shiloh. “I know we already know each other, Shiloh, but you’re married to my brother. If you need something, you let me know. Okay?”

She takes his hand and nods. “Thanks,” she says quietly, and slides her wide eyes to mine.

“We’re going to get the window boarded up. Did you get your things cleaned up?”

“Yeah, I’ll start on yours next,” she says, slowly trying to read Fletcher.

“You don’t have to do that,” I tell her.

“No, I want to.”

I kiss her forehead and follow Fletcher outside to his truck.

It doesn’t take us long to get the plywood up and screwed into my siding. It’s going to suck getting all of this fixed, but it is what it is.

When we’re done, I wave goodbye to my brother and hose off the front stoop. It wasn’t paint. It was blood, probably pig’s blood. I take a rag and get most of it off the front door. It’s going to stain the sidewalk though.

Heading back into the house. Things are picked up in the living room and kitchen. She must have finished it for me. Going down the hall, I find her sliding my dresser drawers into their places and folding my clothes, putting them back into the wrong drawers, but I don’t correct her. I can fix it later.

“I think they pooped on the porch out back,” Shiloh whispers.