Grapes of Death Read Free

been in his family forever.”
    â€œThat’s just bull, El,” Ross returned. “Uncle Edmond has never been interested in working the land, and you know it. He’s only concerned with what the winery can give him. He’s always looked for an easy buck, a free ride. He would have run it into the ground in short order, and Grandpa Beckett knew it. That’s why he left it to Daddy.”
    â€œYour dad was the one with the passion for it, anyway,” Jackson added. “Jacob loved the land and growing grapes.”
    â€œHello?” Elise said, waving a hand in front of Ross’s face. “Do you both think I just crawled out from underneath a rock? I don’t need a history lesson! But last time I checked, Mom was the owner of record for River Bend, and the fact remains that she’s the one who will ultimately have to deal with Uncle Edmond. So take it down a notch, will you?”
    â€œElise’s right, you two. It’s Laura’s decision and you need to respect that.” Having cast her vote, Abigail turned back to her stew but added over her shoulder, “However, she is going to have to deal with that man soon enough, cause his threats are gettin’ worse—and he’s gettin’ meaner about ’em.”
    As if to emphasize her grandmother’s last comment, the conversation in the kitchen was interrupted by the sound of a commotion in the front of the house, along with more raised voices. Ross, Elise, and Jackson headed in the direction of the shouting, followed closely by Madison and Abigail. There they found Edmond nose to nose with Neil Paige, the property foreman, while Laura and Carlos Madera, one of the vineyard employees, watched with concerned faces. Her uncle’s features were contorted with anger along with his signature sneer.
    When Edmond had moved back to Delphine after her father’s passing two years ago, Elise had begun to notice startling differences between the brothers. Her father, Jacob, had been a gentle man, rarely even raising his voice. Her uncle was a different story, and she’d always found it disconcerting to see her father’s familiar image shadowed with such hostility in Edmond’s face.
    â€œI don’t hold with bullying a woman for any reason,” Neil was saying. “You need to leave before this gets out of control.”
    â€œYeah? And who’s gonna make me? You?”
    â€œIf need be, but I’d rather not dirty my hands with the likes of you. If you don’t leave now, I’ll just call the police.”
    Edmond blustered at that. “You’re not part of the family. You’re just an employee . That’s not your call to make.”
    â€œNo,” Laura spoke up with quiet intensity. “It’s mine. And I’ve had enough, Edmond. I’ve tried to find a solution to this situation that would satisfy both of us, but that hasn’t materialized. I think I’ve been more than patient with your horrible behavior and outrageous demands since Jacob’s passing, but I’m done.”
    â€œ You’re done? Lady, this isn’t over till I say it’s over.”
    â€œYou’re wrong, Edmond.” With a sad look for her brother-in-law, Laura glanced at Jackson and then shook her head. “You can leave on your own or with the help of Deputy Landry. It’s your choice. But you will leave now.”
    â€œYou may think you’ve won, but I’m not going down without a fight. And I’m not afraid to get down in the mud with a gold digger like you.”
    â€œHow dare you talk to her that way?” Ross stepped forward and positioned himself between them. “What’s wrong with you? This is not the way you treat family.”
    â€œRoss—”
    â€œNo, Mom,” he said, cutting her off. “I’m tired of his crap and so is everyone else. He needs to hear this, because everyone here sees him for what he