A Little Something Extra

Dougal felt his heartburn start again.

“The council can pay for that too,” Caroline said. “Any objections?”

“Aye,” Hamish called out. “I object to having dinner with Satan.”

“Overruled,” Dougal boomed. “You get your dinners,” he told Betty. “Now, are you done?”

“Nowhere near.” She grinned.

The room groaned as one.

“Number eight. I want the women of Knit or Die to make Betty banners to be hung all over town. They need to say nice things about me. And I want those crocheted flowers on all of them.”

The women slumped in their chairs but nodded at Dougal.

“Done,” he said wearily.

“Number nine. I want every baby born in the next year—”

“—to be sacrificed at her Satanic alter,” Josh interrupted.

Betty pointed a gnarled finger at Josh. “Wish I’d thought of that. No, I want them all to be named after me.”

“Even the boys?” Mitch asked.

“Aye.” Her eyes glinted with glee.

And, of course, the hall erupted with shouts of outrage. If he didn’t get control of the situation fast, they’d soon have a riot on their hands. He paused, wondering who’d own the properties if Betty died in the ensuing chaos. No. He was a better man than that. It was his responsibility to keep order.

“Everybody calm down. She feeds off the anger,” he shouted, and a semblance of order returned. He turned back to Betty. “You can’t expect everyone to name their babies after you.”

“I can, and I do. You should too if you want to build that fancy conference center of yours.” She swung her short legs in glee.

“Wait.” Mitch stood. “Who’s due to give birth within the next year?”

“Claire,” her mother, Heather, said, giving Betty the evil eye.

“It would have to be Grunt’s wife,” Mitch muttered. He turned to Betty. “There’s no way he’s going to let you name any of his kids Betty. And there’s nobody in Invertary who can make him. You’re stuffed.”

“Fine.” She glared at everyone. “Then I want Lake and Kirsty to change their name to McLeod.”

“No!” Kirsty shot to her feet.

Lake just looked amused. He strode across the floor and whispered something in his wife’s ear before returning to Betty’s side. “Done,” he said.

A ripple of shock ran around the room.

“You’re changing your name to McLeod?” Betty said with suspicion.

“That’s what you want, right?”

“Aye.” She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Then done.”

Everyone looked at Kirsty to see if she agreed. She just sat there, glaring at Betty.

“Well, I guess that one’s taken care of, then,” Dougal said. “Is that the last of it?” Please God, let that be the last of it!