As soon as Riley sat down, Jessica moved to sit beside him.
“It may need some salt …” she said, handing the salt shaker to Riley.
“Thanks.” He said taking it, and staring at Jessica.
She managed a feeble smile. He smiled back. He could see what Scott meant. Maybe she would be training the dogs with him the next day after all.
What the fuck was going on? Angus wondered watching the exchange. Was he in the middle of a bad dream? Had he morphed into some kind of alternate universe? He took a bite of the stew, and it was good. But Jessica had been right, it needed salt. And she hadn’t offered him any. And then Scott, Jim and Josh were all weird. Scott was still flashing him dirty looks. Jim was more or less himself but Josh looked like he was concentrating really hard on something. Like every movement he made required a conscious decision.
“Something’s wrong.” Angus growled. He threw down his spoon, pushed back his chair and coiled his muscles, ready to jump up.
“Like what?” Jim demanded. “Is the fact that Jessica’s doing exactly what we demanded of her a problem for you?”
“When it happens overnight, yes!” Angus retorted.
“But it wasn’t overnight.” Jim replied trying to keep his voice calm. He glanced at Riley, trying to read which way he was going with this … but Riley seemed curious more than hostile. He was still studying Jessica. “It was over many nights. You’ve been gone for over a week Angus. And before you left, things were on an upswing. It’s not that inconceivable that Jessica has come around to our way of thinking.”
“Riley. Something is wrong!” Angus repeated.
Riley looked over at Angus and sighed.
“Something is different.” He said.
Angus glared at Riley. Riley took a final look around at the other men … at Jessica, who now was looking at him full on, pleading with her eyes. Change was never easy for Riley and Angus, but the difference was that Riley could adapt if he had to. Angus had to be cajoled.
“I think we need to see where this leads us Angus.” Riley said, turning his gaze back to Angus’ now bright red face. He faltered for a moment, afraid Angus would give himself a stroke … the veins in his neck, forehead, bulging. But Scott’s comment about coercion made even more sense to Riley now. Angus was all about coercion. That had to be handled. Angus stared at Riley for a moment more and then stood up, kicking his chair back, and walked out the front door, slamming it with extra force on his way out. Everyone winced. Jim got up and went to the window.
“He’s gone to work on his car.” He reported, relief obvious in his voice. Everyone exhaled, including Riley.
“I guess I better go talk to him.” Riley said, getting up and heading out the door. No sooner had the door closed than Jim went to it and locked it.
“Plan B” Jim said, grabbing a gun off the rack and double checking that it was loaded. Scott and Josh were at the gun rack moments later.
Jim went back to the window and watched Riley approach Angus.
“What’s plan B?” Jessica asked feeling like a bundle of nerves … her anxiety growing as she watched Josh and Scott gather more bullets from the safe.
“We get the hell out of here.” Jim said.
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