He looks at me hard, staring me down. Understanding starts to flicker in his eyes.

“Mari,” he grinds out. “Why don’t you want him to have the farm?” He’s trying to keep it contained but the anger oozes out of his seams.

“Jack wanted me to have it,” I say, but I can tell it comes out weakly, so can he. I watch his anger spike.

“What happened?” He asks through gritted teeth.

“Nothing!” I shout back and stalk off towards the kitchen, he follows at my heels. I glance down and see his hand that was reaching for my wrist ball up and retreat.

“Maria, did he fucking touch you?” His words cut as hot as a blue flame.

“He-I-we…” I stutter trying to find the story. I’d never told it, so I didn’t really know how to put it together for him. Oliver’s nostrils flare when I confirm that John did in fact touch me.

“I’ll kill him.” Oliver said with an eerie calm, and does an about face heading towards the door.

“Oliver stop, you don’t even know what happened.” I snap at him as he walks away from me. He spins back around and stalks back up to me.

“Then tell me what happened.”

I can’t look at him when I say, “I didn’t say no, but… I was 16.” That’s all I have to say for Oliver to do some basic math, and whip back around headed for that damn door again. “Would you just take a breath? You’re such caveman.” I glare at him and he glares at me.

“Maybe I’m just gonna talk to him?” Oliver says slipping into his southern accent. His good ole boy tone.

“Don’t lie to my face.” My anger starts to spike now. Another man not listening to me, I didn’t think it would be Oliver. “Just leave it alone, I’m going to find the deed and then we won’t have to deal with him again.”

“Yeah and while you’re looking for that, I’m just gonna have a word with our buddy John,” he says and turns his back on me again.

It feels like a tornado inside me when I slam my hands down on the granite countertop. Every cabinet door and drawer slam open, smashing into each other with loud cracks, some splintering. I gasp and survey the damage, spinning in a small circle, when I make it to face Oliver. He isn’t looking at anything but me.

He was a wonder really. The ability to show so much emotion on his face at once. Confusion, surprise, and to my dismay, a little bit of fear.

Now it’s my turn to turn heel and run out the door.