Chapter 1 - THE DIRT PIT
Evelyn Cole was already on the muddy ground when Victor grabbed her shoulder and dragged her upright.
“Stop!”
He did not.
The wooden handle of the shovel struck her guarded upper arm.
Once.
Hard enough to make her recoil.
Grant caught her from behind.
Together they dragged their mother toward a shallow dirt pit beside the country road.
“You’re worthless to us now!” Victor shouted.
Evelyn twisted.
“Please!”
They shoved her down.
The pit was shallow.
Her head, chest, and face remained above ground.
Grant threw loose dirt across her legs.
Victor added another shovel across her waist.
Evelyn tried to push herself up.
“Please! Don’t leave me here!”
A car door slammed beyond the trees.
Then footsteps.
Fast.
Claire Cole appeared in a flour-stained blouse and bakery apron.
She stopped for half a second.
Saw her mother.
Saw the shovel.
Saw Victor.
Then ran.
She grabbed Victor’s shoulder, spun him around, and slapped him once across the face.
“What did you do to Mom?!”
Grant stepped toward her.
Claire shoved past him.
Dropped into the mud.
Pulled dirt away from Evelyn’s legs with both hands.
“Mom, I’ve got you.”
She lifted Evelyn under the arms.
Evelyn collapsed against her.
Victor touched his cheek.
Then picked up Evelyn’s cheap suitcase.
Threw it into the mud.
“You like her so much?”
Claire stared.
Victor smiled.
“Then keep her. That broke old woman is yours.”
Grant laughed.
Evelyn looked at both sons.
Devastated.
Claire tightened one arm around her mother.
Then said:
“Broke?”
Victor turned back.
“Yes.”
Claire looked at the suitcase.
Then at Evelyn.
“Did you tell them?”
Evelyn’s face changed.
Victor frowned.
“Tell us what?”
Claire answered:
May you like
“Where all her money went.”
The laughter stopped.
