Page 10 of Reaper
“Dad, I was just—”
“It’s too far, baby girl. I’ve told you this before.”
“Danny,” Reaper’s tone lowers, “the girl is twenty-five years old. It’s time to let her go. She needs to live.”
I glance toward Reaper. The sound of his voice standing up for me only makes me want him more. It could never happen. God, I can’t even imagine what my father would do.
“I’m just looking, Dad. Nothing is—”
“Looking leads to leaving. You won’t look at college. It’s a money grab. You’ll stay here and work on the farm. When I’m gone, all this is yours. It’ll be worth more than any college degree could earn you.” He waves his hand over the land as though it’s a prize.
In a way, it is. Generations of my family have worked this land. Generations of my people, my blood, my heritage… all of it is right here. That in and of itself is a beautiful thing.
In another way, it’s a life sentence.
I glance toward Reaper, hoping for quiet emotional support, and he gives it to me. There’s no outward movement in his face, but his eyes speak volumes.
“You two are looking at each other funny,” Dad groans. “What’s going on? Did you know about this?”
Reaper stands taller. “Yeah, and I think it’s a good idea. She’s here because she’s worried about you. Is that how you want your relationship to be?”
Dad kicks the toe of his boot into the dirt and looks away, huffing and puffing like a child who’s been left out of a kickball game. “You knew this, and you didn’t tell me?” He grabs his heart. “What was the plan, friend? You gonna let my daughter run off and join the circus while I sit by like a fuckin’ idiot?”
“She’s not joining the circus, Danny. She wants to go to college. I’m proud of her.”
“You would be.” He coughs and bends forward. “You were always a terrible fuckin’ influence on everyone.”
My heart tightens as I watch my father bend forward and clutch his chest. Stress always brings on the attacks, and they’re always induced by me.
I grip his arm and lean into him, helping him up toward the house.
“He’s faking, little cat. It’s a manipulation.” Reaper’s tone is heavy and hard. Clearly my father is not faking it. He couldn’t fake something like this.
I grab hold of Dad’s arm and help him toward the house.
Reaper follows after us. “Stop this right now, Danny. You’re killing her. She needs space to live her life.”
Dad turns back toward Reaper, his hand still clenched over his chest. He’s breathless now. “She has a life, and it’s none of your damn business.”
Dad coughs and collapses against the porch. “My meds. I need my meds, baby girl.”
Heart racing, I dash into the house and grab the bottle from next to the kitchen sink. They’re nitrates and he’s supposed to chew them if he feels a heart attack coming on.
When I come back out, Reaper is standing with his arms crossed, staring down at my father like he doesn’t give a shit what’s happening.
I glance up at him, angry as hell. “Are you sick or something? He needs help! Help him!”
Reaper rolls his eyes. “That man needs help, but it’s not coming in that bottle. I know that man like I know myself. He’s using this to get you to do what he wants, little cat. I promise you. I wouldn’t steer you wrong.”
My father doesn’t answer. Instead, he stares up at me with wide eyes and the look of a tired man. “Help me inside, baby girl. I need to rest.”
I lean down and wrap into my father’s arm, helping him up from the ground and into the house.
Reaper says something from the porch, but I let the screen door slam behind me.
I was wrong to think about college, and I was wrong to leave today. This farm is my life, and my father needs me.
Chapter Four