“I just hope the sheriff finds something they can use.”
“He will,” she said. “I’m sure of it.”
“Can I ask you a question now?”
She smiled. “Of course.”
“How did you wind up in Bootleg Springs?”
“In a way, because of you. After the case was reopened, the media descended on this place like locusts. I found it fascinating the way the town came together to get rid of them. I’ve always been interested in community dynamics, so I came here to do my dissertation research.”
“And now here you are.”
“I met Jonah, and those Bodines are hard to resist.”
You’re telling me. “I’m glad Jonah found his way here. Jenny, too.”
“So am I,” she said. “He belongs here, even if he didn’t always realize it.”
Billy Ray jumped up and put his front paws on my leg. I scratched between his ears and his tongue lolled out to the side.
“Sweet boy. Who’s a good boy? You are, aren’t you, buddy?” I cupped his cute little dog face in my hands. “He’s so handsome.”
“I’m kind of stunned that Gibson got a dog,” Shelby said. “Was that planned?”
“No. He told me just this morning that he’s not cut out to take care of another living thing. But I guess I put the notion in his head and when he saw Scarlett with Cash, he took the leap.”
“I think it’ll be good for him,” she said. “He’s so…”
“Grumpy?” I asked with a soft laugh.
“Okay, I have to ask,” Shelby said, straightening her glasses. “Is he like that all the time? Or just around other people? I mean, you’re another person, but maybe he’s different when you two are alone.”
“No, he actually softens up when we’re in front of other people. He’s very closed off when we’re alone.”
“Are you kidding, or do you mean that?”
I laughed again. “I mean it.”
“What was he like when he was younger?”
I took a sip of my sweet tea. “The same in a lot of ways. He did that brooding bad boy thing well.”
“How did you become friends?”
“We knew each other by sight, of course. I’d been spending summers and holidays in Bootleg for years, and this is a place where everybody knows everybody else.”
“Very true.”
“One afternoon, I took a walk by myself down the beach. I found him sitting alone, quietly strumming his guitar. He was so intimidating—older than me with a reputation for being mean and causing trouble. But he just looked at me without saying a word. Didn’t stop playing. Just kinda watched, like he was curious to see what I’d do. So I sat down next to him.”
“That was brave.”
“Yeah, I suppose so. I’m not even sure why I did it. I didn’t usually feel very brave back then, but there was a spot on the log next to him, and I just sat. He started playing a Johnny Cash song, so I sang the words. We both kind of lit up. He came in on the second verse and I tried, and failed, to harmonize. We got a lot better after that. But that was how it started.”
“It’s so sweet,” Shelby said. “And so un-Gibson-like.”
“I keep wondering where that guy went. He was just as surly back then, but when we were alone, he was different. His edges weren’t so hard.”
“I think he’s been through a lot.”
“I’m sure he has.” And how much of it was because of me?
“So have you,” she said quietly.
“It hasn’t all been bad. I learned to let go and be happy. And I’ve been all over the world, working with amazing people.”
She rested her chin in her hand. “That does seem really exciting.”
I nodded and took another sip of my tea. “Life on the road has its disadvantages, but it works for me.”
The door opened and Scarlett came in. She smiled and Shelby waved her over.
“Hey, y’all,” she said, pulling up a chair. “I’ve got food out in my truck, but I think Cass is still waiting on June. Katherine got out again.”
“Katherine?” I asked.
“June’s pet pig,” Scarlett said. “She’s real sweet.”
I decided it didn’t surprise me that June Tucker had a pet pig. “Oh, of course. I saw her at your bonfire.”
“We were just talking about Maya’s glamorous life,” Shelby said.
“I wouldn’t call it glamorous,” I said. “But I do travel a lot.”
“Do you know anyone famous?” Scarlett asked.
I lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Yeah, I’ve worked with a lot of artists over the years. Some are well-known.”