Page 88 of Big Britches
“No.” She hesitated. “There was a gas-powered leaf blower and hedge-trimmers in the bed of Pedro’s truck.”
Titus scoffed. “Junior planted that shit. You know that, right?”
“Of course I know, T. Pedro’s not a thief.”
“They’re trying to scare him.”
“Well, they’re doing a pretty good job. When he got here he was upset enough, worried he’ll be deported. He said something about Silas doing the same to others. He was in tears, trembling when Junior put the cuffs on him.” She regretted the words before she even finished saying them, but she knew she shouldn’t downplay the situation. Titus was silent. “Please be careful, T,” she added. “They’re playing you as much as they are him. They want you to do something foolish.”
“I’d like to break both their necks—Silas-Shitbag-Compton and that brown-nosing half-wit, Junior Sikes.”
Barb let him vent, hoping he would simmer down.
“It’s like we never graduated,” he grumbled further. “Silas is still taking advantage of the meek and Junior is just falling in line behind him, both using fear to manipulate people.”
“Sounds like politics as much as it does high school.”
“It’s the same. It’s fucking life. People suck. And you wonder why I don’t leave the house.”
“Not all people, T. You gotta remember that.”
“I want to squash ’em.”
“Well, you can’t. You can’t help him if you’re in jail, too.”
He paused for a long time. Barb was preparing to speak further when he said, “No. You’re right.”
“What’s the plan, then?”
“I need to get off here and get Tuttle on the phone. He should be in his office by now.”
“Good thinking. Use a lawyer to put a scare in them.”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“OK. I’ll hang up. But, T, if there’s anything else I can do—I mean anything—please let me know. I’d lasso the moon for you if I could.”
“How about marrying a Mexican man to keep in the States?” His words were fast, the message jarring Barb. Clearly, Titus had been contemplating ways of keeping Pedro here more than she knew. “Relax,” he chuckled. “I don’t think it’ll come to that. But the thought has crossed my mind.”
“I would,” Barb answered. “You caught me by surprise, but I would. You’re my brother, T, and it’s not like I’m going to be marrying a man anytime soon.”
“I would marry him if I could.”
“Really? You know that already?”
“Yeah. I do.”
Barb heard the love in his voice.
“Then go get him out of jail.”
Tuttle picked up the phone on the third ring. “Tuttle Broxton, Attorney at Law.”
“That’s weird. Do you always answer that way?”
“It’s Rosemary’s day off. What am I supposed to say—Hello, it’s me. Need a lawyer? I’m running a business, for God’s sake.”
“It’s Titus.”