Snake in the Grass (Fairy Tales of a Trailer Park Queen Book 3)

by Kimbra Swain

  Her jaw dropped open. I tried to keep it clean, but I did mention urination. Sigh.

  “Grace, we know you will,” Luther said from the back. “Now get down there and tell everyone else what you just told Betty. And what’s this dead thing?”

  “Thank you, Luther. I’ll explain later,” I said. “One day, Betty, we will be friends again, but only after you apologize.” I said it teasingly. Luther laughed, as she smacked him on the arm.

  “You shut-up,” Betty hissed at him.

  Looking at Dylan, he grinned as he pulled me back toward the door. We hopped in the Camaro, driving like bats out of hell to get there. “Grace, just be yourself. Don’t worry about the vulgar. That back there came off as endearing. You will be fine. Speak your heart.”

  “I don’t have a heart, Dylan Riggs,” I smiled. He didn’t respond, but I knew the memories flashed in his mind as well as mine.

  “You ready?” he asked as we pulled into a full parking lot. I could hear her voice speaking through a microphone.

  “Yes, I think,” I said, walking to the door.

  “No, wait. You can’t think. You have to know,” he said. “She thinks you were sold on the black market. Or that the poison killed you. She does not expect you to walk through those doors. Secondly, those are your people in there. Go in there and be their Queen.”

  Jeremiah pulled up in his Buick land yacht. He jumped out of the car, but realized Dylan and I were having a serious conversation. He stood back waiting for us to finish.

  I swallowed, but feared to speak. Dylan kissed me quickly, then slung the door open in a flourish. I stepped through waiting for him. Stepping up beside me, he took my hand, and we waltzed down the aisle like we owned the place. Stephanie glared at us. Each step I took, her face wrenched in anger. She tore her eyes away from me. They landed on Kyffin Merrick and her fiancé, Sergio Krykos. Both of them bowed their heads.

  Then it hit me. Sergio was the man who dragged me through the forest. I should have known it was him, but the deep olive tone of his skin. I heard his voice in my head taunting me.

  The crowd watched silently as I joined her on the stage. I knew I didn’t need a microphone. Dylan stood at the edge of the platform. She looked at me like I was as welcome as an outhouse breeze.

  “Good afternoon, everyone. Please forgive me for being a tiny bit late. I suppose my invitation got lost in the mail,” I smiled. Her upper lip twitched causing her nose to crinkle. I suppressed a laugh, looking back to the crowd. I saw that Jeremiah had positioned himself near the back door. Betty and Luther slipped in quietly followed by Levi. Deacon Giles stood at the microphone at the center of the room. “Deacon, did you have a question for us?”

  “Yes, my Queen,” he replied with a slight bow. His blue jean overalls were dusty, but his flannel shirt looked new. It was a bold red and black block plaid. “Before you arrived, I asked Stephanie if she planned to restrict the movements of fairies in and out of town.”

  “Do you?” I asked her.

  “Before I was rudely interrupted, I said there will be limitations on movement. A simple form can be filled out stating your business out of town. My office will approve the leave. If someone comes into town, then they will meet with myself or another council member to determine if they will be allowed to stay. We will have limits on groups based on the current population of the city. If there are too many of a certain group, new residents will not be allowed in. We will establish safe quotas.” I knew she was talking about Unseelie fairies like myself. We were banished from the realm more often than the Seelie. Most of us were badasses.

  “How do you plan on determining the current population of the city?” I asked her.

  “Census, of course. You aren’t dense, Grace,” she said.

  “You are right. I’m not. Nice hole you dug there. I appreciate it,” I smirked, then turned to speak to the crowd. “Deacon, fairies are free to come and go as they please. The burden of aiding or policing will fall upon the council and their leader. Who am I to tell you that you can’t go to town to buy new clothes or supplies for your child’s school? Who is the council to tell you that you can’t go visit a relative or friend? That’s utter nonsense. I won’t allow such a terrible policy to be put in place. Also, there will be no census. It isn’t necessary because everyone will be treated the same. Well, that is, if you vote for me.” Deacon smiled, clapping along with many people in the crowd.

  A man I didn’t know approached the microphone. He wore a dark blue shirt with jeans. His shoes were worn, but the laces were bright white. His dark hair covered part of his face as he spoke. “How do you plan on policing when things get out of hand? The days leading up to Christmas were chaotic,” he said.

  Waiting for Stephanie to respond, she said, “Go ahead, Grace. I’m interested in your answer.”

  I thought for a moment about why she would let me answer first. It makes it easier to formulate her answer, so I had to make mine good enough to last through whatever she had in rebuttal. “Thank you, Miss Davis. First, what is your name, sir? I’m trying to learn everyone’s name. It will take some time, so I apologize for not knowing.”

  “I am Sylvester Handley. I own a small fabrication shop just outside of town,” he said.

  “Ah yes! You were the one that made the frame for Hot Tin Roof’s new sign when it was rebuilt recently,” I recognized him by the business he owned.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he replied politely.

  “Fine work that was. Thank you. As for policing, I know that during the holidays, Sheriff Troy Maynard and his small crew were overwhelmed with the fairy problem that presented itself, but also with the normal uptick in police matters surrounding a holiday. I propose that the council outsource policing. My fiancé, most of you know Dylan Riggs, recently completed his paperwork to become a private investigator licensed by the state. Add to that his experience with the Sheriff’s department, I think he would be the right man for the job. Also, I don’t intend to do any of this without him. We are partners. I think there are other individuals here that we could rely on when the police are strapped with human issues. People that we all trust to be fair and unbiased. We need to handle our own problems. Thankfully, Sheriff Maynard is one of us. If the need arises, he is more than willing to help. The council should decide issues on a case-by-case basis and act accordingly, but perhaps once we are convened we might discuss hiring our own law enforcement that way we would control fairy issues, keeping them separate from the state courts,” I replied.

  “Really?” Stephanie scoffed. “How do you intend on paying such a force?”

  “It would be voluntary at first, but hopefully we could think of ways to generate revenue much like the volunteer fire department that adequately serves the city. They have wonderful fundraisers that generate cash for equipment and other needs. We can do the same thing,” I replied.

  “When I am Queen, I will see to it that each council member will be paid, as well as any outsourced contractor. You cannot expect people to work for free or to generate enough revenue doing car washes and bake sales. For example, while I am tending to business here in Shady Grove, my law practice will suffer. I need compensation for that as well as any other council member who will have to take time away from their jobs,” she said.

  “It’s called a public servant for a reason,” I interjected. There were snickers through the crowd. I already knew that the mayors in small towns like Shady Grove didn’t receive a salary. Walter Jenkins, the mayor of Shady Grove, who stood along the right wall of the building next to his daughter Ella, didn’t receive a salary. His accounting firm encompassed the money that he made to live on while supporting a child in college.

  “I know that it will take time to establish these things, but soon, we will all get used to a new sense of order within the town. We need rules because as you all know some of us can be extremely deadly. Everyone needs to feel safe and secure. The events at Christmas were astonishing. Those things will not happen as long as we keep tight
control of who comes and goes from Shady Grove,” she said.

  “How much do you think is a fair salary for council lead?” I asked her.

  “We are running some analytics on the pay for local mayors and council members. I think we can come up with some fair numbers very soon,” she replied.

  “I will work for free,” I quickly followed her statement.

  “Miss Bryant, we all know you have no money other than your father’s. Well, plus the money you syphon off of Dylan Riggs. You have never worked a day in your life, nor have you had to worry about money. Not everyone here can say that. I think you forget that you have been very fortunate to be the daughter of a King,” she said.

  “Will you work for free?” I asked, ignoring her comments. I’d spent my life listening to people whisper about me behind their backs. To have her say things to my face was refreshing in a way. The digs stung, but she kept digging the hole. At some point, I planned to push her in it.

  “As I said, we are running analytics.”

  “The answer is no,” I said.

  “There should be compensation,” she replied.

  “I will work for free,” I repeated. “Will you?”

  She leered at me, “We should take questions from the audience. You aren’t allowed to question me directly.”

  I turned to look at the microphone. My bard, Levi Rearden stood there grinning like a possum eating green persimmons. “Miss Davis, would you work for free?”

  I bit my top lip to keep from laughing. Damn, I loved that boy. Man. Whatever.

  “Mr. Rearden, as a servant of the winter queen, I should suspect you to do her bidding and ask questions for her, but this is a fair debate. You cannot ask that question just because she compelled you to do so,” Stephanie said.

  “Grace doesn’t compel me to do anything,” he said.

  “He’s right. He’s as stubborn as a mule. I’d be wasting my breath if I tried,” I said. The crowd laughed.

  “Who else here wants to know if Miss Davis will work for free?” Levi said to the fairies around him. Hands shot up all over the room. He turned back to her, lifting his eyebrows. We waited for her answer.

  She sucked in a breath with a lip twitch and a nose wrinkle. “I suppose I can work for free,” she conceded.

  “Thank you, Miss Davis. That is very kind of you,” Levi said. I shook my head because he was just rubbing salt in the wound. I remembered a few days ago when the thought crossed my mind about being paid to be Queen. I was glad it was a fleeting thought. I didn’t voice it to anyone, but it was arrogant for me to even consider it. These people didn’t owe me anything. I made a promise with no conditions. I couldn’t expect to change the rules on them.

  As Levi sat down, a young woman approached the microphone. Slender and lithe, I knew immediately that she was a Seelie fairy. Her green shirt flowed down in bell sleeves with bits of lace at the ends. A golden belt sat low on her hips, but was aesthetic only as her tight jeans hugged every part of her lower body like a glove, then tucked neatly into brown cowgirl boots.

  “Hello, I am Riley MacKenzie of the summer realm. When one of you is elected, there will be four council members working with you or against you. Not everyone will be on the same page. How do you plan to unite the council over long standing arguments and issues?” she asked with a hundred years of wisdom behind her voice. She wasn’t as young as she looked.

  Stephanie began speaking immediately, “This is why there are four seats, plus the Queen. The Queen will decide disputes. We won’t have any split votes. There will always be a majority.” Even I know condescension is a tactic only used when you want to piss someone off enough to slap you silly.

  Taking a deep breath, I hoped this one went my way. “Nice to meet you, Riley. I love your boots.”

  “Thank you. I got them down at the tractor supply,” she said turning them sideways to see. Stephanie cleared her throat loudly.

  “Sorry, Miss Davis. It seems to me that you missed the point of Miss MacKenzie’s question. Yes, there will be times when the council lead will have to decide, but I’d like to see us agree on things before that ever happens. Trust me when I say that I know I cannot please everyone. There are people in this room that I love dearly, but we do not see eye to eye on the issues. For example, Betty Stallworth and I have been friends since the moment I first stepped into the Diner. She feels differently about how the factions of fairies are divided. I’m stubborn when it comes to getting my way.” I stopped to look at Dylan who shook his head in agreement. The crowd laughed. “Thank you, Darlin’. I knew I could count on you,” I smirked.

  “Anytime, my Queen,” he grinned. They laughed more.

  “Betty, would you mind coming to the microphone?”

  “What is this?” Stephanie started to lose her cool.

  “You had your chance. Now it’s my turn,” I said dismissing her, as Betty cautiously approached the microphone. If anything, I knew how to control a room full of people. I’d done it for years from one pub to the next bar. It’s easier to pick the mark, if you control the whole room. Of course, I wasn’t aiming to sleep with anyone in the crowd, but the tactic was the same. I had to control them. “Thank you. I know you feel very strongly that lumping all Unseelie fairies together in one group is the wrong thing to do, correct?”

  “That’s right. I’ve never killed anyone unlike some in this room. I was banished from the realm for something my spouse did at the time. I know I’m different. Luther and I are not violent,” she stood her ground.

  “In your mind, what is the separation point? If we split Unseelie into two categories, what defines the two categories? Murder? Maiming? Torture? Assault? Where would you draw the line?” I rattled off offenses as I stared into the dark brown eyes of Sergio Krykos. His gaze was fixed with mine. He knew that I knew. He didn’t shy away from my stare, but I saw his hand twitch. My eyes rolled back to Betty when she spoke.

  “Murder,” she replied.

  “So, intent to kill? Or accidental deaths as well?” I asked.

  “Intent,” she replied.

  “Based on actions here or in the Otherworld? The basis of their exile?” I asked.

  “Yes, not what happens here, because I know we have to do things to survive sometimes,” she explained.

  “This is true. I know all too well,” I sighed. This would be tough, and if I didn’t play my cards right, I might as well get that new triple wide cruising to the next town. “Alright. If you were banished from the realm because you committed murder with intent, please stand and walk to the right side of the room. If you are anything other than an Unseelie fairy, please stand and go to the left of the room.” This would leave Betty and her group seated in the middle. A murmur crossed the room, and no one moved immediately. “I suppose I could call my father here and ask him about each one of you individually.”

  “I ain’t movin’,” said a man in the back.

  “Neither am I!” another voice added.

  Before they became unruly, I put my hands in the air with no power behind it. Just a gesture to indicate that I had more to say. “I don’t want any of you to move. Betty, look around you. You know these people better than I do. Please point out the ones that need to move to the right side of the room,” I replied. She winced, but didn’t speak.

  I didn’t want her to seem like a fool. Walking to the front of the stage, I gingerly sat down on the edge trying not to flash everyone in the process. I dangled my legs seeming informal as I could. I wanted to project that I was still Grace. Seated in front of her, it put me within distance to speak to her so that the whole room couldn’t hear us.

  “I can’t do that, Grace,” she said quietly. I was sure only a few people closest to us heard her.

  “I can’t either, Betty. I won’t. We’ve all been exiled. We are all the same,” I said quietly back to her. The murmur in the room increased in volume. Speaking in a louder voice, I said, “It’s not simple to separate any of us. Look at me. Before I moved to Shady G
rove, I moved from place to place. I broke up marriages, using men as toys. I lived my life the way I saw fit and didn’t give a rat’s ass about anyone, but myself. I’ve changed. This town and the people in it changed me.” I looked over, smiling at Dylan. The light of approval in his eyes encouraged me to continue. “Now, I’m a one-man woman, a mother, a best friend, and a Queen. We aren’t the people we used to be. However, I agree with you, Betty, about separating the groups.”

  “Agree with me?” she asked.

  “Yes, the way I did it was wrong. I would like to redefine the four groups I mentioned on the first day of the election. There are no groups. No Seelie or Unseelie, no lycans, no miscellaneous. We are fairies. When we go to the polls in a couple of days, no one will ask you your faction. No one will group you. The lines between the candidates are erased.” I started to get up from my position as I saw a tear roll down Betty’s face. Dylan walked over, offering his hand to help me stand. “When you vote, vote for the best person for the job. The top four people will win. We are all Grovians.”

  As I rose to my full height, holding Dylan’s hand tightly, I waited for their response. The hall was quiet. Then, one by one each one stood up and clapped. The whole hall erupted in applause. I breathed a sigh of relief as Dylan leaned into my ear.

  “You are magnificent,” he said. “My one-man woman.” I blushed. Damn it. I elbowed him slightly.

  “You can’t change the rules now,” Stephanie growled. The roar in the room ceased.

  Spinning around on her, I suppressed the desire to yank the hair out of her head like we were on Jerry Springer. However, I smiled, because I had her right where I wanted her. She knew it too. She looked at me from the bottom of the hole she dug for herself. I didn’t have to push her in. She jumped. “Riley MacKenzie,” I called the name of the girl who asked in the first place. She stood not far from where she’d vacated the microphone for Betty. Stephanie’s nose crinkled up as she breathed through it hard. She looked like a bull that was about to charge.