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    Summary

    Barney's childhood friend, Gertrude "Gertie" Freeman, disappeared almost a decade ago.

    Everyone else moved on and accepted it long ago. Intellectually, Barney knows she was probably buried in an unmarked grave a long, long time ago.
    It's been ten years. Gertie's parents are dead, and the ranch is going through inheritors like a woodchipper.

    Barney's been put in charge of looking after the latest one, for a trial period of two or so weeks. Forced to drop everything, Barney scrambles to keep up, the farmer's market so close, he can practically feel it breathing down his neck. The Fourth Of July follows almost directly after, like a fucked-up cherry-on-top.

    . . .He's been coping well, thank you for asking. Pay no mind to how his eye keeps twitching. Or his ears flicking with irritation. Or how he’s barely holding back from stomping everywhere and leaving hoofprints in the dirt for everyone and anyone to see his frustration with the situation.

    He was fine.

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    42,854
    Chapters:
    15/15
    Comments:
    68
    Kudos:
    49
    Bookmarks:
    4
    Hits:
    1,301