“And it is God’s own truth that, while men like to claim we’re delicate, ’tis they who are in need of a special care.” Madison turned to Kate.
“A man’s ego is a delicate thing, and the one thing we, as their wives, must strive not to bruise. They may know, intellectually, that we’re capable of handling ourselves. After all, they’ve all taken the time to see to it we know how to handle guns and have also given us some basic self-defense lessons. As they’ve done for their sons and daughters, as well. But emotionally, they have a great need to protect us.”
Pamela sat back and looked around the table. “I think I know what you’re all saying. I saw a similar protective attitude with my father. Unfortunately, that led him to do something that wasn’t, in the end, the best idea.”
“Oh, that’s men to a T,” Grandmother Mattie said. “Usually, that need will make our men do things that they often rue. It’s our job to gently let them know we appreciate their care, even if we don’t always need it. That we are thinking, logical beings and we will stand with them, not cower behind them.”
“I understand.” Pamela looked at Grandmother Chelsea. “You were irked that Adam and James didn’t think to ask me what my plans were for the day. Just as you were annoyed they didn’t ask me how I felt about…” Oh, boy. In front of Maria and Grandmother Chelsea was one thing. But then, just then, Pamela got her very first lesson in what family meant in Lusty.
“You can tell us anything, cousin,” Samantha said.
“We’re family.” Bernice’s assertion was spoken in the same confident tone Samantha had used.
She turned her gaze to Maria and then Grandmother Chelsea. Both women smiled and nodded, letting her know they were in agreement.
“All right, then, I will. Grandmother Chelsea was annoyed that Adam and James didn’t ask me how I felt about having the commitment ceremony right away. And I think they didn’t because they were feeling guilty. I think they believe they tricked me into marriage.”
“Oh, now that’s a story we have to hear,” Kate Benedict said.
“It is, indeed, a story you should all hear,” Maria said.
“Because, you see, there’s action needed.” Grandmother Chelsea sat straighter in her chair and nodded firmly. “And I believe it will take all of us, working together, to figure out what needs doing to set things right.”
* * * *
“Scooter, tell me again why we’re not in Tulsa or even Oklahoma City? Why this little town so close to the Texas border?”
After so many years spent together, Scooter didn’t really have to try very hard to be patient with Gary. He knew once his partner fully understood the plan, once he’d questioned every facet, once he’d scoped out every detail, then he’d be on board, one hundred percent. It was just a matter of Gary’s getting to that point.
“Look, Durant is a good-sized city—more than ten thousand people. This is the nicest apartment we’ve ever had, and it costs less than a quarter of what we paid in New York. The library has everything we need in order for us to learn about the area and the people. And, because it is a smaller city, the cops here are less likely to be getting notices from New York or Boston or any other city we’ve been active in. In the past, we’ve always hit major urban centers. We’re changing up our ‘M.O.,’ as the cops call it. We’ve got a fresh slate here, my friend. A brand-new start. No one has heard of the Genesis Fund.” Scooter paused and thought for a moment. “We’ll maybe come up with an entirely new investment product. We’ll have to think on that some. But the main thing is we don’t have any of our past baggage here. Like I said, a fresh start.”
“Do you know what else we don’t have? Contacts. When the time comes, we need at least three people to help us with the testimonials.”
Gary had a point. “You’re right, we don’t have any contacts yet. But it won’t take long for us to get everything set up. Another few weeks to get a good feel for the area and to find a few candidates who won’t mind taking some money to answer phone calls here. We’ll keep our cover with them, tell them we’re setting up a sales office for a new, national company. We’ll contact the phone company, give the usual spiel, and give them a large enough deposit that they won’t even question our mission to stake out new territory.”
Gary still looked worried, though Scooter thought the man was beginning to enjoy the challenge of starting all over again.
“Something else has been bothering you the last day or so. Why not just spit it out?”
“Okay. I was wondering. Do you think this is a safe place for us? On the way to the library yesterday, I saw a sign on one of the buildings. It said it was the offices of ‘the Headquarters of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.’ While you were going through the city directory, I looked that up. The Choctaw Nation is an Indian tribe, Scooter! Durant is a city of the Choctaw Nation. I thought Oklahoma was part of the United States!”
“Sometimes I worry about you, Gary. I really do. Of course, this is still the United States. And there’s no difference between the Choctaw people and us except the way our great-greats lived and our history. Yes, we are perfectly safe here.”
Gary sighed. “I know I’m being a pain, and I swear, I don’t mean to be.”
“No, you’re not a pain. You just need to know every inch of this new plan, this new territory. That’s how you’ve always been, at least since
