“He always complained about a bad back, but it didn’t keep him from working on that still in the barn.”
“It’s still there.”
“I know. That still will be there when we’re dead and gone.” Sutton stared out the window toward the road that led to the large barn.
“You knew their parents when they were still alive. Did you like them?”
Sutton grew thoughtful. “I loved Tate’s mother. She was a generous, kindhearted woman who loved to cook and clean, and take care of her children. She loved her children more than life itself. She taught me how to cook. I’ll have to give you some of her recipes.”
“I have her recipe box, but she didn’t really give amounts, just ingredients. I keep trying to make her biscuits and cornbread, but Greer says they don’t taste anything likes hers.”
“When she was teaching me, I wrote down the amounts on the cards I made. I’ll make copies of them and give them to you as a wedding present.”
Holly blinked back tears. She would love to surprise Greer with a honeymoon breakfast with biscuits.
“How did you like their father?”
Sutton got up from the bed to close the bedroom door. Then she went to the old-fashioned radio to turn the music on.
“I hated him. Tate nor I really talk about him often, unless he is brought up in conversation. He was the meanest man in the county when I was growing up. My father had to sign the warrant for his arrest one time for moonshining, and Dad came home locking the windows and the doors. He sat with a rifle by his side until the police had him in custody.”
“Did he go to jail a lot?”
“No, he was out after a couple of months, then he seemed to stay out of trouble. That was when I was little. When I was older, Tate told me how their dad started him and Greer on delivering the weed and moonshine.”
“That bastard used Tate and Greer to make the deliveries for him?”
“Yes.”
“They were just children!”
Sutton shook her head sadly. “No, they weren’t. They were never like other children in school. Their mother kept their clothes washed and cleaned, but their clothes were old. Most of them were hand-me-downs.”
“Greer told a story about him having sneakers that stunk the classroom out.”
Sutton’s voice dropped lower until Holly could barely hear it. “Tate told me that story. His father nearly beat Greer to death for fighting with Silas in the bathroom. He missed a week of school. Back then, I thought he was just suspended for getting in the fight, but Tate said that his nose and arm had been broken, and their mother had taken off with them. He found them before they could find a ride out of town.”
“She came back home?”
“She had four kids, and he had never laid a hand on her or Rachel. He swore never to lose his temper again.”
“Did he?”
“Not to my knowledge. But Tate only tells me bits and pieces. From my own experience, I think he just became more careful so he wouldn’t get caught by their mother.” She started to turn the radio down. “This is too depressing to talk about while we’re trying to get everything situated for your wedding.”
“Can I ask more questions?”
“Of course.”
“Greer told me something. At the time, I couldn’t ask why or understand, but I’m hoping you can tell me.”
Sutton nodded, waiting.
“Greer’s father seemed to make excuses to give him a whipping. Did Tate ever mention why?”
“If you don’t want to ask Greer, ask Rachel. She’ll explain it better than I could. Or you should ask Greer.”
“They won’t tell me, will they?”
Sutton sighed in defeat. “No.”
“Please, Sutton. The Greer I talk to on the Internet is so different from how he acts in person.”
“You talk to Greer on the Internet?”
“I’m Kentuckygirl.”
Sutton sank down on the bed then fell back, laughing hysterically.
“Shh … They’ll hear you.”
Sutton put her hand over her mouth. When she could get her laughter back under control, she lowered her hand. “When …?” She started laughing again. “When…? When did you find out it was him?”
“I always knew it was him,” she confessed, feeling embarrassed.
“Did he know it was you?”
“No.”
Sutton grabbed a pillow to howl into, taking several minutes before she raised her head, wiping tears of laughter away. “You catfished … You catfished Greer?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, my God! I’m never going to let him live it down!”
“Shh … You can’t say anything!”
“Was he mad?”
“What do you think?”
“I think he was furious.”
“You promise you won’t tell?”
Sutton eagerly shook her head.
“He was furious … Then he blackmailed me into marrying him. He said his family wouldn’t have anything to do with me if I didn’t.”
“What’d you say?”
Holly lifted her hand with her engagement ring on it.
“Oh.”
“Yes.”
“I can explain to Tate and Dustin. They’ll get over it, I think. Rachel, I’m not sure. When she left home, she refused to forgive Tate for a long time, but Greer and her made up pretty fast.”