Page 8 of Crow Me A River

Glancing back toward Misty, he watched as she grabbed a broom and started helping Billie Ann and Macy clean up. She hadn’t been asked. She’d just gotten up and started helping, which for some reason made him grin.

Bruce, on the other hand, was making his way toward them and not doing nearly as well. The cat jumped onto one of the stools, missed the seat with his back legs and scrambled for a second before finally hauling himself up.

“What do you know about her?” Rafe asked before Vin could.

Bruce stared at him. “Who?”

Rafe nodded toward Misty.

“Ohhhh.” Bruce turned his head, almost lost his balance, then quickly faced forward again. “Crow.”

“We figured that part out,” Vin replied with a cocked brow.

“She’s my friend.” Bruce gave them both a serious look, or at least tried to. “So don’t be assholes.”

Vin glanced at Bruce shaking his head. “Good talk.”

“I’m not done, asswipe.” Bruce frowned at him. “Her stepbrother sold her.”

That wiped the amusement off Vin’s face. “What?”

“Sold. Her.” Bruce emphasized each word. “Her stepdaddy owed Jack money, then disappeared. Jack went looking for the money, stepbrother didn’t have it, so...” Bruce waved one paw toward Misty. “He gave him her.”

Vin’s eyes immediately went to Misty.

“She’s an unmated female Crow,” Bruce continued, some of the drunken humor leaving his voice. “Apparently that makes her valuable to a Murder. There’s more male Crows than females, so they court them whether they’re beautiful or look like they flew face-first into a fucking windshield. Doesn’t matter. They barter with their women like they’re property. Fucked up if you ask me.”

Vin and Rafe glanced at each other with matching frowns, both trying to decipher what in the fuck Bruce had just said.

“Who flew into a windshield?” Vin asked sounding as confused as he felt.

Bruce looked at him for a long minute, gave an exaggerating sigh then gagged and coughed. “Damn, I need to give up drinking.”

“Focus Bruce,” Rafe rolled his eyes.

“I am focused dipshit,” Bruce said, then shook his head as if trying to get his brain working right. “No one flew into a damn windshield. I swear no one gets my hilarious humor. Male Crows will court women Crows no matter what in the hell they look like, insert my windshield commentary. They are that hard up. Misty there, isn’t bad looking for a Crow, so that makes her valuable to Jack Crow to mate her off to one of his men so they have little Crows. Then his Murder will grow. Holy shit man, keep up.”

“You call me dipshit again; I will eat you and spit out your bones.” Rafe growled as he glared at Bruce.

“The way I’m feeling right now I may welcome that gruesome picture you just painted.” Bruce burped, then gagged again.

“What about the house?” Vin asked. “Griffin said Jack gave her a place to live.”

Bruce snorted. “Gave her? She’s paying rent for that shithole.”

Vin’s frown deepened. “She’s paying him rent?”

“Yep.” Bruce nodded, then swayed a little before catching himself. “For one room. No bathroom. Outhouse that smells like Satan’s asshole.” He leaned closer, lowering his voice like he was about to share some highly classified information. “She has to bathe in a pond.”

“We heard that part,” Vin replied backing away from Bruce when he gagged again.

“Pond.” Bruce nodded solemnly. “Outside. With fish and shit.”

“We know what a pond is, Bruce.” Rafe said, then ran a hand down his face.

“Just making sure.” Bruce swayed slightly. “Vin looked confused.”

As irritating as this fucking cat was, he was entertaining and funny. Vin started to ask him something else, but Bruce started talking again.