“Ma'am,” he said gently, “did you just ask us to pretend we're your boys?”
Ruth nodded.
Her mouth trembled.
“Yes.”
Tucker glanced toward Bear.
Dean stopped smiling.
Bear placed his coffee mug on the table.
“Why?”
Ruth looked toward the windows.
Outside, a pickup truck passed along the road. Its tires made a soft rushing noise against the pavement.
She waited until it disappeared.
Then she turned back toward the men.
“Because some people are coming to my house this afternoon, and they're convinced I don't have anybody left who'll stand up for me.”
Bear studied her.
“What people?”
“A property company.”
She swallowed.
“They say I sold my house.”
Luke frowned.
“Did you?”
“No.”
The answer came out so sharply that it surprised even her.
Ruth tightened her grip on the walker.
“No,” she repeated. “I never sold it. I never agreed to sell it. But they have papers with my name on them, and now they're telling me I have to leave.”
Tucker leaned forward.
“Have they been to court?”
Ruth shook her head.
“Not that anyone's told me.”
“Sheriff's deputies?”
“No.”
“An actual eviction order?”
She looked confused.
“They sent me a letter.”
Bear held out one enormous hand.
“Can we see it?”
For a moment, Ruth hesitated.
Then she opened her handbag.
Inside were a folded handkerchief, a small bottle of prescription medication, a worn leather wallet, two envelopes, and an old photograph protected by a transparent plastic sleeve.
She removed the first envelope.
Its paper was thick and white.
At the top appeared the logo of a company called Silver Creek Property Holdings.
Beneath it was a notice stating that the property at 214 Willow Creek Road had been transferred under a purchase agreement.
The letter demanded that the premises be vacated by four o'clock that afternoon.
It threatened legal action, removal costs, and additional financial consequences if she failed to comply.
Bear read it slowly.
Then handed it to Tucker.
Tucker examined the page.
His expression hardened.
“Where's the court order?”
Ruth blinked.
“I don't know.”
“There isn't one attached.”
“No.”
Tucker looked toward Bear.
“This isn't an eviction order.”
Bear nodded.
Then he turned back to Ruth.
“Did somebody explain how they supposedly bought your home?”
“A man came by in March.”
She spoke carefully, trying to remember the exact sequence of events.