Archer could quickly tell that he had interrupted their conversation, so he poured Sam’s drink and turned his back, slicing lemons, limes and celery on the counter at the back wall.
“I’m no idiot, Sam. I know you hate them,” Hank said.
Sam responded, cool as a cucumber, “You are an idiot if you think I am the one that set their barn on fire. Yeah, I’m not a big fan, but if I wanted to hurt them, I wouldn’t have set a barn on fire. I think maybe you don’t know me like you think you do.” He chuckled.
Archer felt his shoulders tense.
“Look, all I’m saying is that I want nothin’ to do with that foolery,” Hank continued. “You know the Amish Inn is opening in just a few days, and I don’t want any trouble from them… or from the law.”
Sam scoffed, “Yeah, good luck with that. The law is one hundred percent on their side, all the time. If you’re a suspect in that fire, then you’re gonna have trouble.”
“That’s my point,” Hank responded, running his hand through his hair. “I don’t wanna risk everything I’ve put into this. I know we tried to bully that guy, Schwartz, into lettin’ us have their land. I don’t want nothin’ to do with that now. If anything, I need those people to trust me right now, and burning down their barns ain’t gonna help with that. Just leave them alone, Sam. If something happens and I get blamed, I can’t promise I’ll have your back.”
Archer heard the movement of a bar stool pushed across the hard floor. He turned to see Sam standing over Hank, his face leaned in close, his eyebrows drawn together and his finger pointing just an inch from Hank’s face. “I said I didn’t have nothin’ to do with that fire, Hank. You try to turn over on me, and I’ll make sure that you regret that you ever knew me. I’ve done a lot for you and that stupid Amish Inn idea of yours. I can destroy it just as fast.”
Hank stood and puffed out his chest. “I’m not scared of you, Sam. And I’m not comin’ for you either. I’m just saying, let it go. Messin’ with them is a losing battle. It’s only going to lead to more trouble for you and the pub. As much as you’ve done for me, I’ve done for you.” Hank turned to grab his keys off the bar and winked sarcastically at Sam, responding, “Keep your threats in your pocket. They don’t work on me.”
With one barn after another set on fire in the middle of the night, it becomes personal, and the community is scared for the well-being of their families and their future in Little Valley.