Merriton

“That fucking Ricky Townsend is back in Emigration!” Roscoe was at the door, but John refused to let him in the house. “You can’t come in here if you’re gonna talk like that. We don’t allow language like that in here.” Roscoe pushed John aside, entered the parlor and looked around the room. “I don’t got time for your religious crap, John. I need to talk to Kevin. Where is he?” Bree came into the room at the noise. “What’s goin’ on in here?”

John’s large figure darkened the doorway, but even he was dwarfed by Roscoe’s long legs. “Kevin and James are changin’ the water. They’ll be back soon. Just hold on tight. I’m sure he’s too high to do anything ambitious.” Roscoe plopped into the couch, his legs folding up onto themselves. “Last time I saw Ricky Townsend, I nearly shot the guy I was so mad. We gotta beef up our security on Mount Zen. Nobody’s safe with Ricky Townsend back in Emigration.” John held up his hands. “Roscoe! Listen to yourself. He’s not that bad. We’ll just tell the county sheriff’s office to keep an eye on him and they’ll toss him in jail the first time they see ‘im.”

Roscoe stood up again, his full height jutting up like a rocket. Bree backed away from the two arguing men. “You don’t understand, John. Last time I saw ‘im, I nearly shot ‘im. If I see ‘im now, I don’t know if I won’t shoot him. He coulda got a buncha tourists killed and he was just laughin’ at me. I need reinforcements, John. I got approval to hire Kevin all summer to watch over Wildwood. You hear me?! Edith and Buster ain’t gonna cut it. I gotta have someone who can handle someone like Ricky Townsend. I’m takin’ Kevin and you’re just gonna hafta deal without him. Understand?”

John shook his head. “It’s not that easy, Roscoe. From what I heard, Kevin used to date Mira. Maybe he’ll be on Ricky’s side.” Bree jumped in. “Mira? Mira Mu? Is THAT the one Kevin was dating at Sierra’s law firm. I heard about her. That bitch broke his heart and married some big doctor with a ton of money, like right after the breakup.” John turned on Bree. “Don’t talk about Mira like that! If she broke up with Kevin, then he deserved it.”

“What’s going on here?” Kevin was standing in the door frame with James right behind him. Roscoe, John and Bree stood still and it seemed as if they were frozen for a second. James hung behind Kevin, waiting to see what would happen. Roscoe finally broke the silence. “Ricky Townsend is back in Emigration.” Kevin stayed in the doorway, watching his frozen friends who, seconds before had been screaming about him. “Oka-a-ay.” Roscoe put his hands on his hips. “I need to know right now where your loyalty stands.”

Kevin’s face contorted with confusion. “Loyalty? What’s all this about? Who’m I supposed to be loyal to?” Roscoe crossed the room and towered over Kevin. The little guy smelled like sweat and water and earth. “Listen, you mighta dated Mira. She’s a good girl and we all love her, so whatever you did to make her break up with you, that might be somethin’ that we’d hate ya for, but Ricky is someone we gotta watch out for. I got approval to hire you full-time this summer to watch Wildwood, but if you’re gonna side with Ricky or think for even a second that he deserves a second chance, then I’ll get Jeff to come out of retirement instead and put Moe on Wildwood. What’s it gonna be?”

Roscoe felt Kevin’s eyes go from him to John, over to Bree and back to Roscoe. “Mira’s brother is in town?” Roscoe nodded and replied, “Yeah, and I’m tempted to just shoot him the minute I see ‘im. I gotta wife and I don’t wanna go to jail for just killing the guy outright, but I’m still so angry at ‘im that I just might. That’s why I gotta stay up on the mountain and you gotta watch Wildwood and keep ‘im away from me.” Kevin crinkled his brow. “What about that older couple that’s managing the campsites. Don’t they watch Wildwood?” Roscoe shook his head. “They’ll still be in charge of the campsites, but I need ya to parole the area. I don’t want Ricky stealin’ any stuff from the campers or shootin’ up behind the bushes. Did you finish your firearm trainin’ yet?”

Kevin’s eyes widened with fear and he looked to John’s face for answers. “No. I thought I had until September, so I’ve been focusing on the farm.” Roscoe shook his head. “Well, I’m gonna take you Up North so you can finish up your training. I need ya, buddy. Are you comin’?” Kevin looked at John, who nodded. He turned to James and the quivering scar told him all he needed to know. “Yeah. I’m coming.”

James finally spoke, breaking the illusion of security that Roscoe was trying to build, “Has anyone told Curly, yet?”