Read Online The Old Buzzard Had It Coming by Donis Casey - Free Book Online Page A

and features, except for the fact that she looked twenty years younger and thirty pounds plumper. It’s a wonder, Alafair thought, what a useful husband and regular meals will do for a body.
    Alafair knew of the Millars, but had never actually met any of them. The husband was a small cotton farmer who worked part-time at the brick factory. There were a few young children. They didn’t go to her church, nor were any of their children particular friends of any of Alafair’s. Alafair was not even sure that she had known that Zorah Millar was Harley Day’s sister.
    They settled themselves around the groaning kitchen table. Mrs. Day sat herself down with them to act as the official hostess, while the dignified Naomi took on the position of dogsbody, serving the guests.
    “Y’all have a farm up north of town, I believe,” Alafair said to the Millars. “I’m afraid I didn’t realize you were Harley’s sister, Miz Millar.”
    Zorah and her husband exchanged a glance before she replied. “I don’t wonder that you didn’t know, Miz Tucker. Me and Harley wasn’t exactly close. Nobody in my family has been out here to Harley’s farm in years.”
    “I fear Zorah and Harley didn’t get along,” Mrs. Day added.
    “It’s more like we had us a feud going,” J.D. acknowledged.
    Alafair shook her head. Was there no one in the world who could abide Harley Day? “Well, then, it’s good of you to call on his folks in this time of loss,” she said, at length.
    “Oh, we never had no quarrel with the family here,” Zorah hastened to assure her. She cast a sympathetic glance at Mrs. Day, who responded with a weak smile. “Why, we’d have done anything we could have to help these kids. They’re all good kids, Miz Tucker, considering what they’ve had to put up with.”
    “That boy John Lee is the only reason this farm is making it at all,” J.D. interjected. “Him and the older girls.” He nodded toward Naomi, who was passing slices of cake on chipped saucers around the table.
    “My sister-in-law has her hands full with all these young’un,” Zorah said. “It’s a wonder they’ve done as well as they have. How I wish we could have been more help!” She leaned forward, apparently anxious that Alafair understand their dilemma. “But it got so bad that we feared Harley would do us an injury if me or J.D. came out here.”
    “He threatened to,” J.D. said.
    Alafair looked over at Mrs. Day, who was listening to the conversation with an expression of polite interest. Nothing that anyone said about her husband seemed to cause her any consternation, Alafair observed to herself. Probably because she had been helpless to change anything for so long. Her gaze returned to Zorah and she smiled. Perhaps things would be different, now, she hoped.
    “We’ll be around more, now,” Zorah said, answering Alafair’s unspoken thought.
    “Why, whatever could have happened to cause such a falling out between you and your brother, Miz Millar?” Alafair asked.
    Zorah sighed. “Oh, it’s a long story, Miz Tucker. I don’t want to plague you with it.”
    “No, I’d like to hear it, if you don’t mind,” Alafair assured her, “and if it don’t fret you to hear it, Miz Day. I’d be interested to try and understand something about Mr. Day. I don’t believe I ever knew of anyone with so many enemies. What was it about him that would make somebody want to kill him in such a cold way?”
    There was a moment of silence as the Millars and Mrs. Day stared at their laps and pondered Alafair’s question. Alafair took a bite of her cake and cast a glance at Phoebe, who was watching the adults avidly. Naomi appeared at Alafair’s side and refilled her coffee cup.
    Zorah came to a decision and looked up. “Well,” she said, “I kind of hate to talk ill of the dead, especially with Harley laid out in the next room and all. But the sheriff has already asked us about all this, so I suppose you’ll hear the whole thing by and