Broken Shadows (Shadows Landing #5) - Kathleen Brooks Page 0,39

of the sunken pirate ship. Darcy was a badass. There was a movie right there. While Wade played a role, it was Darcy who was the heroine of her own story. But then Darcy also told them about Olivia Townsend and how she’d helped them.

“I wonder how she feels about public castration?” Skye mused absently. Ellery snickered and Savannah blinked in surprise.

Darcy laughed as Karri shook her head. “What is it about you and men’s balls?”

“I have a better question,” Skye continued as they walked down the street toward Tinsley’s gallery. “I mean, we kick a guy in the balls, roast his balls, cut off his balls, feed him his balls . . .”

Karri groaned and rolled her eyes, causing everyone to crack up. “Again with the balls. What’s your question? If we can deep-fry them?”

“Sure you can,” Darcy said with a nod. “What do you think Rocky Mountain oysters are?”

A collective groan went up among the ladies before they broke out in laughter at the strangeness of the conversation.

“See, this is my question,” Skye said through the laughter. She was having a great time. She couldn’t remember the last time she had more than just Karri to laugh with. “What about women?”

Ellery cocked her head. “What about women? Aren’t they busy cutting off and deep-frying said balls?”

Skye giggled again and shook her head. “I mean, what’s the equivalent for a woman? Deep-fried boobies?”

Everyone stared at her and Skye wondered if she’d been too much herself with her new friends, especially when Ellery clutched her belly. But instead of chiding her, Ellery laughed. In fact, she laughed so hard, her little rounded belly bounced. Tears sprang from her eyes as she used one hand to grab onto Savannah who was next to her.

Karri took a deep breath and held up her hands in surrender. “Okay, that was a legit question.”

“Right? See, if I want Olivia to go after Rebecca, do I tell her I want her to punch her in the tits? It just doesn’t have the same effect.” Skye looked over at the building that housed Tinsley’s studio and gallery on the first floor and Savannah’s interior design company on the second. Skye glanced inside the window and all laughter stopped. “Is that new?”

Tinsley looked through the gallery window and nodded before unlocking her door. “I just hung it last night. Do you like it?”

Skye took in the painting, full of color. It wasn’t fully abstract, but the knifing technique used to provide texture gave it that appearance. She could make out grass, the large oak trees festooned with Spanish moss, water, a vibrant evening sky, and then what looked like a sailboat. Along the shore were people and boxes that shone with jewel tones.

“Oh, Tinsley,” Savannah gasped.

“It’s stunning,” Ellery told Tinsley seriously.

Meanwhile, Tinsley looked embarrassed at the attention. She shouldn’t be. The large piece spoke to Skye and she instantly knew what it was. “This is how Shadows Landing started, isn’t it?”

“It is,” Tinsley said, opening the door so they all go inside to see the painting closer.

“It reminds me of one of those live photos where everyone is moving just a little and they freeze for the perfect picture,” Skye told Tinsley, hoping she was explaining it well. “It looks like they’re somehow frozen in motion, if that makes sense. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the tree branches swaying.”

“Thank you. These were the paintings that sold best in Paris, and I have to admit they’re the ones I have the most fun making. I love being inspired by what’s around me,” Tinsley told the group as they all praised the painting.

Skye walked around the gallery and was drawn to several of the pieces. The watercolors were in soft contrast to the knifing work, but they both seemed to reach out and grab Skye.

“Tinsley,” Skye said quietly as she drew Tinsley aside. “When I have access to my accounts again, I want to buy several of these. Would you mind holding them? I can put some cash down for a deposit or I have a watch that’s worth fifty thousand dollars you can hold on to. I have the cash with me now, but I’d prefer to hold on to it since I need to pay Olivia.”

“You don’t have to buy anything,” Tinsley protested.

“Tinsley, I know I don’t have to. I want to. They speak to me. They reach out and pull me in. It’s not a choice. I have to buy them. I promise I’m good

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