Free Death By A HoneyBee by Abigail Keam

off, and also request a review of how the case was handled,” mused Shaneika.   “But it will only antagonize him more.”
       “My experience has been that backing down from bullies only compounds the problem.   No, let’s hit back.   I don’t like him thinking I am defenseless,” I said.
       “Did O’nan end up losing his scholarship?” asked Matt.
       “I don’t know.   After I kicked him out of my class, I didn’t keep up with him,” I said.   “It didn’t concern me anymore.”
       “Until now,” said Matt.
       “Until now,” I concurred.
       “I think we should have a victory dinner,” stated Shaneika.   “Just a few more nips and tucks, but basically, this nasty business is over.   Miss Josiah, you are elected to cook, and then after dinner, show me around this crazzzy house of yours.”                                                                                                                                 
       “I will do the cooking, if you please,” corrected Matt.   “Trust me, you don’t want to eat hers.”  
       I frowned.   Matt seemed to be showing off for Shaneika.   “You sure seem to eat a lot of my bad cooking.”
       “Feel sorry for you, that’s all.”   He started towards the kitchen.   Baby loped after him. “Also, will be staying here . . . until this is officially over.   I’ll be bedding down in the old caretaker’s cabana.”
       I started to protest but Shaneika cut me off.   “I think this is for the best.   O’nan apparently has a vendetta against you.   Anytime someone believes you ruined his life and carries a gun, you should take every precaution.   O’nan is a very real danger until this mess is sorted out.”
        I nodded in agreement.   She was right.   It just unnerved me that two younger people were making better decisions than I.   It made me feel old.  
       “I want some wine with dinner, honey child,” she called after Matt. “And you, Josiah, are going to tell me how you lost all your money, but manage to still live like a rich   woman,” she said, training her eyes on me.  
       “What makes you think that I have lost my money?”
       “You don’t get your hair professionally done.”
       “Maybe I’m eccentric.”                                                                                                                   
       “Not it.   Women your age always get their hair done.   And this house needs a lot of work,” Shaneika said, looking around. “You drive a thirty-plus-year-old beater, and you are really worried about my fees – not that I cost you anything.   Like I said, I owe your daughter a favor.”
        “Want to tell me about that favor?”     
        “Quit changing the subject.   What happened to your money?”  
        “It’s a long story,” I replied.
        “I’ve got all night.   No court tomorrow.   Since I saw that heated pool out back, I will be spending lots of time out here.   I love to swim.   You got any problems with that?”
        Laughing, I held up my hands in surrender.   “No, it will be fun having the house filled with young people again.”  
        “I saw some horses when I came in.”
        “I rescued a couple that were starving.   Sometimes when friends go out of town, I’ll watch their horses for them.   I don’t board them as a rule.”
        “I like horses.”
        “Doesn’t everyone?”   I opened a carved limestone box and held it out to my lawyer.   Shaneika carefully selected a cigar.   We settled into our chairs to watch the sun settle over the infinity pool that blended into the Kentucky River while Matt fussed in the kitchen.