“I don’t know what to do.”

“Don’t think of yourself,” Bentley said. “Think of how many people you can help.”

Caddy closed her eyes for a moment and opened them, nodding, picking up the check, the paper feeling thick and heavy in her hand as she folded it and placed it in her purse. The waitress returning with Bentley’s cheeseburger, asking if he needed any ketchup.

“No, ma’am,” Bentley said. “Appreciate it.”

The check in her purse felt like a damn boulder had been lifted off her back. She breathed a little easier, already running down what she needed to do once she got back to Tibbehah. First order of business was to pay the electric and propane and then maybe ride on up to Costco past Olive Branch for some much-needed supplies. Maybe even pay the contractors to finish dozer work behind the new outbuilding. This was too much. But exactly what she needed.

“Just promise you won’t put on any role-playing exercises,” Bentley said, holding the burger with both hands and taking a large bite.

“Like Delores Taylor in Billy Jack?” she said. “Sure. I can imagine getting Skinner and the supervisors out to The River to explain ethnic diversity and other words those old boys can’t spell.”

Bentley finished chewing, looking at the waitress to bring him more Coke. Charlie Rich now on the jukebox, My baby makes me proud . . . “Behind Closed Doors.” The album so damn familiar as it was only second to anything Elvis Presley recorded in the Colson household. She saw Jean standing in the kitchen, washing dishes and humming the song.

“I had another reason for seeing you.”

Caddy reached under the table and pinched his knee. She was smiling so big Caddy felt her face might just freeze that way. She should really slow this down, make some sense of it. Six years’ difference.

“I don’t know any other way to say this but to say it,” Bentley said, putting down his cheeseburger and leaning into the table. “Your brother needs to watch his back,” he said. “He’s in some danger and needs to know about it.”

Caddy stopped smiling, a tense feeling spreading across her neck and shoulders, looking up at Bentley. She started to speak but stopped herself, her breath caught.

“Please don’t ask me to explain how or why I know this,” he said. “But I do. Quinn’s making trouble for some important people. He understands better than anyone how just lies and rumors can muck up the water.”

Caddy swallowed.

“People I know,” Bentley said. “I know people.”

“What people?”