Chapter Three

The two new owners spent the rest of the afternoon with Sue, going over inventory, bills, accounts and other not so exciting stuff. They were hoping to get a good handle on the type of business they'd inherited before they had to open up for the night.

"Seems to be doin' quite well," Tatum said to her half-sister as she threw the summaries back on the desk and rubbed her tired eyes. She hated looking at finance tables, but was used to doing it for her mother and her last job.

"Well, at least that's somethin'," Isabella sighed in relief. The last thing she needed was to take over a failing business. "Maybe we can work out a menu, open that kitchen up," she added, thinking she'd love to start cooking more. It would keep her out of trouble and it could be good for business.

"Yeah maybe," the redhead nodded. "Let's just find our feet and get settled in first," she said realistically, leaning her head back on the chair to take a few minutes break as she slouched. "This must be one of the longest days of my life," she sighed, and the brunette knew straight away that her half-sister had not had the same hard life as she had. A long day was cowering from your boyfriend, knowing he was going to lash out but not knowing when, just because he thought you'd messed up his breakfast on purpose.

"Sorry, we're not open yet," they heard Sue's voice drift through the open office door. They exchanged concerned looks when they recognised the unwanted visitor's voice as he responded. Tatum jumped up and led the way out to the bar, Isabella following a little more timidly. She had a bad feeling about the probable confrontation that was about to ensue.

"Is there a problem?" the redhead asked, sounding like she'd always owned the place. She sounded like she was in charge. It made her half-sister feel a little jealous. Both Tennants stopped when they realised they had recognised the voice correctly and the oldest grandson of the Miller family was stood in their bar.

"Ah, so it is true," Aaron Miller said, breathing out into his full height. He knew that his height and muscles combined left many people in the town intimidated, and he wasn't above using that physical advantage. "I'm surprised you two came back," he continued, slowly making his way towards the actual bar, his boots scuffing the floor as he walked, hands in his jeans' pockets.

"Why wouldn't we?" Tatum asked him, casually leaning against the bar, bringing herself closer to him instead of further away, like most people would. She could hear Isabella's nervous breathing behind her and Sue had cautiously taken a step away to the side. It's so good to know they have my back, she couldn't help thinking sarcastically to herself.

"Maybe 'cause your pa weren't welcome here, and neither are you," he pointed out, and she could tell things hadn't changed a bit around here; the Millers were still used to getting their own way.

"Shame," the redhead started, "coz I really missed this place. In fact, I was just tellin' my sister how much I enjoy bein' back here." She gave an innocent shrug, as if to say, 'what can you do?'

His face immediately became more serious as he frowned at her. "Best not make yourself too comfortable Tatum, we will end up ownin' this place and you'll be out on the streets," Aaron threatened now.

"You keep tellin' yourself that sweetheart, cause we ain't goin' nowhere," Tatum responded with the politest smile she could muster.

"Aaron, come on, we need to go," his younger brother Sean chose that moment to interrupt, making all three women look up in surprise. Sue fancied anyone who walked in with a handsome face and preferably money, Isabella had forgotten that there was a younger brother and Tatum remembered him from school. He'd always been quietly polite to her; he never had a go at her or her family like his brother, but he hadn't stood up for them either. She couldn't help chancing a small smile, but he didn't return it until his brother had turned his attention away from him and back to the confident woman stood in his way.

"Consider this a momentary reprieve," Aaron warned her, not wanting her to think that he would let her off the hook.

"Wow, those are some big words Aaron," Tatum said impressed. "Shame you didn't choke on 'em," she added, giving him another fake smile. Sue coughed to cover up her chuckle, innocently looking around when the oldest Miller glared at her.

"I'd watch my back if I were you," he said as he leaned in over the bar at her, before he stepped away and followed his brother out the door. "Why d'you save 'em?" Aaron turned to his brother once they were outside and he was sure the women inside wouldn't be able to hear him.

"Their pa just died, give 'em a break," Sean said with a shrug, thinking that was a good enough reason to stand up for them for now. His brother had bothered them enough previously and would probably do so again in the near future. They could afford to give them a few days' peace. "Besides, mama needed us to help out at the factory," he remembered conveniently, knowing Aaron wouldn't want to disappoint her.

"What the hell were you thinkin'?" Isabella hissed at her half-sister the second the guys had gone. Tatum looked at her with a frown on her face. "Couldn't you at least try to get through the first day without causin' a fight?"

"I ain't the one that started anythin'," the other nearly exclaimed, not expecting this reaction from her sister at all.

"You weren't doin' nothin' to make it better neither," the brunette told her, feeling anger flare when her sister rolled her eyes. "I ain't come here to start fightin' those Millers."

"Neither did I," the redhead responded as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Well you could've fooled me," the other girl replied. She'd come to Little Grove to escape a life of fighting, not substitute one for the other. She didn't have the energy for this, not anymore.

"I never pegged you for the scared type," Tatum said, and Isabella scoffed. They hadn't seen each other for ten years, still her half-sister thought she knew her. It was so Tatum to think she had everyone figured out.

"It's called bein' mature," she huffed, then decided to go to the office so she wouldn't say anything she'd regret. Tatum knew nothing about her, and Isabella didn't know her.

"Funny how you found your voice the second them Miller boys are gone," Tatum called after her. She huffed and turned to Sue. "Can you believe her?" But the blonde merely shrugged and got back to her inventory, she didn't want to get between the sisters.