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It didn't take Ava long to discover that while she might want to be a full partner in everything Boyd had going on, he wasn't quite on board with that plan. Not because he didn't trust her, or didn't respect her—if anything, because he respected her too much. He was still hung up on trying to keep her separate from what he was doing as if he could protect her from being part of it, still taking to heart what she had said so long ago that she hardly remembered saying it anymore, before she had learned to trust him. Not to mention that he was a Crowder, and Crowders way back into the generations went out to do their work, on one side of the law or the other, and left their womenfolk home to take care of things.
Ava had no objection to staying home and taking care of things … but she wanted to know what was happening outside, too. To have a say in what Boyd got himself involved in. To help. And it was clear to her from the very first moment when they pulled up in front of the Givens place that it was going to be an uphill battle.
But you didn't win all your battles the first day. And it was a beautiful day, so Ava didn't object to being left outside when the men went inside. Not today, at least. Maybe she would object tomorrow, if it happened again.
They had stopped to pick up Boyd's cousin Johnny on the way, and while Johnny was polite, as he had always been, Ava could tell he wasn't sure why she was there. For that matter, she wasn't certain why he was there. Johnny was smart, she'd give him that, but so eaten up with bitterness, even before Bo had gutshot him and left him to die on Ava's porch, that she had a hard time believing he was happy working with his able-bodied, charming cousin. They eyed each other warily, both ready to jump in and protect Boyd from the other.
If Boyd noticed, and he probably did, he didn't say anything. Maybe it suited him to have his woman and his right-hand man suspicious of each other, both of them watching his back and one another at the same time.
While Boyd and Johnny were talking with Arlo Givens inside, Raylan's Aunt Helen pulled up in her truck. Suddenly, the day was looking up, and the choice to stay outside and apart from the men felt better. If anyone could tell her how to handle the situation, it was Helen Givens. Helen had her own power, always had. Even once she married Arlo, she was still Helen—she had never become just Arlo's wife in anyone's mind. She didn't get involved in what Arlo had going on, at least, not outwardly, but she was tough and capable, and people thought twice before crossing her.
Helen got out of her truck with a bag of groceries on her arm. "They still at it?"
"Looks that way."
Putting her groceries down on the hood of the truck, Helen came toward Ava, waving a pack of cigarettes at her.
Ava shook her head. "Think I'm gonna cut 'em out. Maybe quit drinkin', too." It felt like the right time to turn over some new leaves. "Live life clean for a while."
Helen started to light up, eyeing Ava skeptically. Her lighter wasn't working right, so Ava reached into her pocket for her own, offering the other woman the light.
"I've got it."
Taking a deep drag, Helen nodded her appreciation. "Thank you."
"Mm-hm."
"Any idea what they're all cookin' up in there?" Helen reached for the groceries, but Ava held out her arms for the bag.
"Gimme." She looked up at the house and shook her head. "Not a clue."
"Well, that's good. There've been lots of times I wish I knew less about what he does." She glanced at Ava. "Can't ever remember a time I wished I knew more."
"Miss Helen, are you givin' me motherly counsel?" Ava smiled.
"Well, just remember, honey, no matter what anyone does to you, how much they scare you, how much they hurt you, you can't tell what you don't know."
That was a part of the situation Ava hadn't properly considered. Were the women protected not because they were delicate but because they were more vulnerable? She thought she could hold her own … but what if she couldn't?
It was something to think about, to be sure.