Since they brought the trailer, he had heard no ATV's on the land. Either they were no longer meeting there, or they were doing it secretly. This wasn't getting the information Logan needed. When they were through harvesting the trees, he would tell Logan that he couldn't help him anymore.
Mary Jo was working on her book when Pa came home. It was late and she figured Ma would like to have some time alone with him, so she stayed in her room. She could hear them talking in the kitchen, but could only catch a few words of what they were saying - enough to know they were talking about her and the trees. She tried not to listen, but when Pa yelled at her to get in there; she blew out the lamp and left the solitude of her room.
Veins stood out on Pa's forehead and his face was red. "What's this guy been telling you?"
Mary Jo looked to Ma for support, but she was making herself busy fixing something for Pa to eat."
"You mean Mr. Monroe?"
"His name isn't Monroe…and he has a wife and kids. Has he been messing with you?"
Mary Jo stared at him. Was it possible? He seemed so sincere. That would explain the way he reacted when she said she was falling in love with him, though. Wait…how did Pa know who he was?
She frowned. "Who told you that?"
Pa was distracted only a moment. "He's a private detective I hired to find out if Jim Bob was murdered. His name is Logan Rowalka. Now answer me. Has he been messin' with ya?"
"He only kissed me a couple times. Are you sure he's married?"
Pa was furious. "Of course I'm sure. I checked up on him before I hired him. What's this about him pretending to be a timber man and cuttin' down trees? I already paid him. I've a mind to go out there right now and set him straight."
Ma set a plate of food on the table for Pa. "Now Pa, it ain't Mary Jo's fault. How could she have knowed? Ain't no need in goin' out there tonight. There's two other men with him."
Mary Jo swallowed hard. "I asked him to cut timber so's I could get a car."
Pa stared at her. "You? Youasked him to cut down trees on my land?"
Ma looked from one of them to the other. "So did I, but if he ain't no timber man, then why would he want the timber?"