"They were right," Lucky said sagely. "When it comes to brains, you can't even compare you two." He clapped Alvin on the shoulder as though they were old friends. "His brother-in-law's garage, huh? I don't even want to know where he lives."
"Off Route Four. By that big grain silo." Lucky looked at Devon over the top of Alvin's head and smiled.
* * *
Chapter 18
They laughed so hard that tears streamed down their faces and they kept collapsing against each other. "By the time Pat got there, Little Alvin was blubbering like a baby about the atrocities inflicted on celebrities like him in prison. I always suspected that underneath his meanness he was nothing but a chicken-livered coward. Now I know it's true."
The Tylers were gathered in the living room. Chase, Tanya, Laurie, and Sage were the enthralled audience.
"I actually started feeling sorry for him," Devon said.
"Is that why you brewed him a cup of tea?"
"Tea?" Chase hooted. "Little Alvin sipping tea?"
"She borrowed a tea bag from one of his neighbors in the trailer park, brewed him a cup, and insisted he drink it while Pat and a deputy were waiting for Alvin's attorney to get there so they could take his deposition."
"Well, I think that was a lovely gesture," Laurie said, coming to Devon's defense. "But I can't say that I feel sorry for Alvin. Those Cagney kids were allowed to run roughshod over everybody without any parental supervision. It's a wonder to me they're not all behind bars by now."
"What about Jack Ed?" Chase wanted to know once he had contained his laughter.
"They've got an arrest warrant out for him. Since he thinks he's in the clear, he shouldn't be too hard to find."
"Oh, I'm so glad you're off the hook," Tanya said.
"Hopefully things will get back to normal now," Sage said. "By the way, Lucky, I went into town this morning and saw Susan Young at the dry cleaners. She kept her eyes to the floor. That's the first time since I've known her that she hasn't looked down her nose at me."
"Her dirty, rotten trick almost backfired this time," Chase said. "It put the fear of God into her."
"Or the fear of Lucky," Sage said, grinning at her brother.
Chase stood and extended a hand down to assist Tanya up. "I'm going to the office and call the insurance company. Now that we've been cleared of any criminal charges, they can process our claim."
"What will we do with the money?" Lucky asked him. "Pay back the bank in full, or replace the equipment we lost in the fire?"
"We need to discuss how to allocate it," Chase said.
"Not right now, you don't," Laurie said. "I don't want talk about business to spoil the mood." She took Tanya's arm as she walked with her to the door. "How's the house hunting? Find anything yet?"
"This morning," Tanya reported with a smile. "Marcie took me to see one I really liked. I want Chase to see it."
"Soon," he promised.
"How are you feeling?" Laurie inquired.
"Fit as a fiddle. A little indigestion in the evenings."
They said their good-byes and left. Celebrating his brother's liberation, Chase honked his car horn as they sped down the lane toward the main road.
"Know what I feel like?" Lucky said. "A good, galloping ride. Who's game?"
"Sage and I have to pass," Laurie said. "We've got dental appointments in town."
"Oh, Mother—"
"I won't cancel it again, Sage. I've canceled three times already."