“What brings y’all out to the farm?” Max demanded. He seemed a bit unsettled by their appearance.
“If you don’t want us here we can leave,” Krum peevishly snapped.
“We just wanted to see the place and get some measurements for the reception set up,” Marvella chimed in. For a moment she thought she saw a shadow of panic cross Max’s face. Then he was smiling again, making introductions and offering to give them a tour via buckboard and a tractor.
“You seem a might nervous, Dad,” Krum commented. “What are you up to?”
“Now, why would you ask me a thing like that?” Max sniffed. “You make it sound like I’m doing something illegal, like growing me a big old patch of marijuana or something.”
“You forgetting who you’re talking to old man?” Krum growled. “I know you, Max, I know your behavior traits. Right now, you’re acting like a boy with his hand in the cookie jar. What gives?”
“If you came out here to insult me…” Max sniffed, looking like Krum had truly hurt his feelings.
“Please, let me assure you that the farm is not harboring anything of an illicit nature,” Summer Rains spoke up, her voice like a gentle breeze. “Maxwell is working on a surprise for your wedding, he doesn’t want you to see it and ruin the magic of the moment.”
“A surprise?” Krum snorted, “Dad, you had better fess up to whatever it is right now. I’m marrying a cop you know.”
“Hey, don’t drag me into this,” Callahan interjected. “I just came along for the ride.”
“Why don’t we start over and try to get things off on a friendlier note,” Marvella suggested.
“Can we ride around the place?” Sasquatch asked, nervously eyeing Krum. He knew better than to get into the middle of any of Krum’s family discussions. They always ended badly.
“Why?” Max demanded, crossing his arms and glaring at Sasquatch. “You want to scope out the place so you can come back and rob it later?”
“DAD,” Krum yelled.
“Shit,” Sasquatch grumbled, shaking his great shaggy head. “Why you got to always give me grief every time we meet?”
“It sounds like you two have met on more than one occasion,” Marvella commented
“Course I’ve met him before,” Max snapped, “He’s always getting my Sugarpop to bail him out of his criminal endeavors,”
“I ain’t no freaking criminal,” Sasquatch roared, leaning menacingly across the handlebars of his bike.
“Everyone needs to calm down. Take a deep cleansing breath, you’ll feel better,” Summer Rains instructed. Rising on her tiptoes, she began loudly inhaling breaths of air through her mouth.
“Oh, can it you twit,” Krum snapped, slapping Summer on the shoulder so hard she staggered back into Callahan. “We are so out of here. The wedding will not be taking place anywhere near this shit hole.” Sauntering back towards her bike, Krum turned to see if the others were following.
“Maybe we should all come back another time,” Peggy piped up. She and Clarice had been standing off to the side, keeping silent, observing the brewing melee with wide-eyed disbelief.
“I did this for you! Moved up here, bought this farm,” Max bellowed at Krum.
“Did I ask you to? Did I?” Krum snarled back at him, moving over to stand toe-to-toe with her father.
“Sugarpop, why do you have to make everything into a wrestling match?”
“It’s not me dad, it’s you,” Krum yelled, “You always have to have everything your way. Well, this is my wedding - my life - MINE! It’ll damn well be done my way or not all.”
“Hey, don’t I get a say in this?” Callahan asked.
“NO!” Krum and her dad both shouted at him.
“Let’s go, before I do something I regret,” Krum snarled at the group.
“Why do you hate me?” Max demanded, following after his fuming daughter.
“Max, maybe you should let her go for now,” Marvella suggested, easing up to block his path.
Max gazed down into Marvella’s face and she could see the heartache in his eyes. “Oh, Maxwell,” Marvella sighed, “I’ll talk to her. Just let her go for now.”
“You going to stay with him?” Krum demanded.
Shaking her head, Marvella moved away from Max, tripping over her own left foot in her hurry to catch up with Krum. Stumbling forward, trying to regain her balance, she saw Max moving in to help her at the same time that Krum leaped forward to try and break her fall. That was when the bullet slammed into Krum’s back.
The echoing crack of rifle fire mingled with the horrified screams of the onlookers. Krum gazed into Marvella’s eyes for a second before sliding soundlessly to the ground, pulling Marvella along with her. A blossom of bitter red bloomed across the front of her shirt.