Back Country (Country Duet Book 2) Read online

  “Dave,” I reply tentatively walking into the room. “What’s going on?”

  “Had my sister in law bring me my jewelry.”

  I remember him telling me about it, but I chalked it up to another wild Dave story. I should learn that there are no crazy tales when it comes to this man.

  “Remember that cobra ring I told you about?” He holds up his hand. “Fifteen-thousand-dollars, one of a kind piece.”

  He was right, there are two cobra heads with ruby eyes all plated in pristine gold.

  “Holy shit, Dave.” I take the seat next to his bed.

  “What?” He rolls his rings on his fingers in sheer delight.

  “You are just one surprise after the other.”

  “The nurses have been begging to undress me all day long.” He grins again.

  I can’t help but laugh out loud. This man is hysterical. The harder I laugh, the more he laughs. I grab the bag of black licorice from my back pocket and hand it to him. He doesn’t hesitate ripping it open with his bling shining bright.

  “Here.” He gestures the bag of candy toward me. “Eat with me.”

  I wave him off. “Don’t care much for black licorice.”

  “C’mon. You always bring me the candy and just watch me.”

  Eventually, I hold out my hand and do my best to choke down the candy. It’s terrible. The bitter, nasty taste makes me want to gag.

  “Bring red licorice next time, and we will indulge together.”

  I nod.

  “Hunter, need you to go out to the farm and clean out my freezer.”

  “Why?”

  “Just fucking listen, why don’t you?”

  I nod, rolling the few pieces of licorice in my palm.

  “There’s also an old gasoline tank that needs to be drained. It’s leaded gas, but you just fill up your truck and burn it.”

  “What’s going on here, Dave?” I ask, already knowing the question.

  He’s making amends, trying to get everything settled for when he passes on. Dave doesn’t even answer my question. What confuses me is his spirits are high right now, but he’s lining everything up to die.

  A nurse comes in to check vitals. Dave is his typical dickhead self, giving them hell about candy and requesting ice cream. A second nurse comes in with quite the rack on her. Don’t blame me for noticing; I blame it all on Dave.

  “Look at those tits.” Black drool runs down his chin. “My boy Hunter needs to get laid. How about it?”

  “Mr. Hendricks, we need to take your vitals and draw some blood. You can admire my tits all you want, but no one is touching them.”

  Dave’s eyebrows shoot up in shock. He takes full advantage on her offer, soaking up all the boob he can take in. I walk the nurses out, and go about my typical apology for Dave’s behavior.

  “Don’t worry about it. We have a lot worse than him.”

  I appreciate their kindness and understanding. If it were me, I’d be fired by now putting up with him. Dave’s studying his rings when I walk back in, and reminds me all about emptying the fuel tank, cleaning out his freezer, and some other miscellaneous tasks around the farm. I might lie to him about little things, but would never deny him anything else.

  “Sounds good. I’ll be back tomorrow, Dave.”

  “Make sure you get all that fuel used. Just burn it up in your old truck.”

  “Got it.” I nod, knowing damn well that fuel is shit and will more than likely burn up my engine.

  I feel every single minute of the drive back to Moscow. I’ve been staying at Teale’s apartment since the night she drove me home from the hospital. My parents raised me better, but I need her right now. I plan on letting the lease go on my apartment and moving in with Teale, after my mom and sisters visit. The sparkling ring still in the black velvet box is eager to be nestled on a finger. It will be happening real soon.

  When I open the front door, it’s like walking into a disaster zone. Baker is in tears sobbing hard, and Teale is fighting back laughter.

  “I told him if he shows his pecker again, Hunter was gonna kick his ass.”

  “I understand that, sweetie.”

  “And I had to put my head down at playtime for saying ass, but Carl told us he could show his pee pee anytime he wanted because he’s the smartest.”

  Teale makes eye contact with me before I’m able to moonwalk my ass out right out of the apartment.

  “Hunter, sit.” Teale points, using her full mother-mode voice.

  Shit, the woman makes me quake in my boots. When I settle in on the couch, Baker grabs my hand. Teale stands in front of us with her hands on her hip. I’m sure Baker can’t pick it up, but I see the smile Teale is fighting to bite back.

  I raise my free hand. “It’s my fault. She told me the story on the way to school this morning, and I gave her advice.”

  “You advised her to threaten another child?”

  I shrug, fully realizing now it wasn’t the best of decisions.

  “Tell her, Hunter!” Baker gets out between sobs.

  “I did tell her that I’d kick Carl’s ass. He shouldn’t have done what he did.” I peer down to Baker. “Did Carl ever get in trouble?”

  “He never had to put his head down, or have the other kids point and laugh at him.”

  “Okay, that’s it.” I stand up. “I shouldn’t have said ass, but I don’t regret threatening to kick his…” I search for the perfect word. “Booty. But Teale, this is bull crap, and you need to go talk to the teacher or I will.”

  The amount of time I censored myself in the rampage, is gold medal worthy.

  She nods. “I agree. I was explaining to Baker how sometimes things aren’t fair, and you have to do your best to get through them. We’ve also been discussing how some adults use certain words that pretty little girls shouldn’t.”

  I turn to Baker, sitting back down next to her. I let her climb in my lap and wait until I have her full attention. “Your momma is right. I still face things in life that aren’t fair, but have to learn to adjust.”

  Her chin still trembles, but she nods soaking up each of my words. Teale joins us on the couch, and we begin watching The Secret Life of Pets. Halfway through, Teale uncurls from Baker and returns later with a dinner plate for me. Steak, mashed potatoes, and a green salad make stomach lurch in pain, even though I’m hungry.

  I know what will happen if I scarf down this meal like I used to do. I pick at the potato, and some of the veggies on the green salad, then eat little bits of the steak. Even Dave picked up today that I’ve been losing weight.

  “Thanks, babe.” I reach over and kiss Teale on the cheek, careful not to smash Baker.

  She winks back at me, then balances her MacBook on her lap. I know she’s working on her blog. It’s in rare moments like these that she keeps it updated, but she’s always snapping pictures of her and Baker to put on it. She’s been receiving packages from clothing companies to highlight on her blog.

  19

  Hunter

  Life ain’t always beautiful but it’s a beautiful ride. - Gary Allan

  “Bubba, this is just…”

  Mom is left speechless in the middle of Dave’s house. She hasn’t met him yet, but rode out with me to his place to take care of the freezer. Dave has been riding my ass to make sure I cleaned it out, and I am burning up the leaded gasoline. Even though he’s confined to a bed in a new nursing home, it doesn’t stop him from making sure I get the job done right, and that means his way.

  “How have you done this?” She turns to me with her jaw wide open.

  I shrug. “I do it for him, Mom.”

  Tears begin to fill her eyes. “You are a unique soul. I’m so proud of you.”

  She rolls up her sleeves and begins helping me clean out the freezer. Most of the shit is dated from ten years ago, and not even suitable for wild animals to consume. By the time we are finished, there are a dozen trash bags filled with old food.

  “Want a free tank of gas?” I ask Mom wit
h a sly grin on my face.

  “What?” She throws the last bag of food in the back of my truck.

  “Dave wants me to use up that old gas in the tank over there.” I point to it. “It’ll make your GMC run hot.”

  I get a slug in the shoulder for that one. But before heading back to town, I fill up my truck while telling the engine I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to use half a tank of Dave’s shit, then mix it with gas station fuel. So far, no harm no foul.

  Mom follows me back to Teale’s place, where the girls are hanging out with Baker. Just like they took to Teale, they did the same exact thing with Baker. Abby loves playing with younger children since she’s the baby of the family. Quinn and Teale had an immediate connection when she visited Sweetwater Ranch.

  Mom pulls in behind me at Teale’s house, and I stop her before she walks through the front door by grabbing her forearm.

  “I’m going to propose to Teale.” I pull the black velvet box from my pocket. “I have her Dad’s permission.”

  I flip open the box to show her the rings. Yes, rings. I bought a tiny diamond ring for Baker as well. She will always be the most important part of Teale’s life, as she should be. It’s what I admire most about her. Teale would move mountains to give her daughter the world. It’s exactly what I want in a wife and the future mother to our children.

  “Hunter.” Mom slaps her hand over her mouth, then the tears begin to pool in her eyes. “When are you going to do it?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know yet, but soon.”

  I’m wrapped up in her arms and pulled to her chest.

  “I’ve talked to Dad, and want the wedding to be over Spring Break on Sweetwater.”

  On cue, Mom shoves me back, giving me the mean mom stare. “Are you telling me that your Dad knew about this?”

  “Yep.”

  “How long?”

  “A cowboy never turns on another.” I smile.

  Baker saves my ass when the door flies open. “Hunter.”

  She sprints toward me, with thick layers of makeup covering her face.

  “What is this?” I tap the tip of her nose.

  “Abby knows how to do make-up. She watched YouTube.”

  Oh boy, her bright blue eye shadow and candy apple lipstick are a bit much. I lie about loving her make-up. I’m okay with lying about it to make Baker smile. Teale, Abby, and Baker decided to stay behind. We haven’t taken Baker to see Dave, since he’s such a wild card and in terrible shape.

  “Mom, did you take pictures of Dave’s place for Malerie?”

  “Yes.”

  I shake my head, climbing into my car. “Is she still set on writing Dave’s story?”

  Mom snaps her seatbelt, then peers over to me. “No, she wants to write you and Dave’s story.”

  Malerie Wilson is a family friend, who is an indie author and one of my mom’s best friends. Her interest has been piqued ever since Mom divulged the first story of me going out to Dave’s place.

  “I’m going to take discreet pictures of him to send her.” Quinn claps her hands together in the back seat.

  “Simmer down, Samuel.” I look at her in the review mirror. “I’m going to warn you guys that Dave’s first comment is going to be about your looks.”

  “Like what?” Quinn asks.

  I roll my head from side to side, figuring out how to string the thoughts together. There’s no way in hell I’m going to lay it out straight to Mom and Quinn the way Dave more than likely will.

  “He will make comments about your looks and figures. Hell, he might even try to set you up with me.”

  “Eeewww.” Quinn covers her face.

  “I’m just warning you.”

  The nervous tension bounces off Mom as we walk into the nursing home. She’s heard everything about Dave, and knows all my struggles. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous either, because who knows how Dave will react to her. Blair Yates is a beautiful woman, who is always decked out in designer clothes from head to toe. She turns heads, that for sure.

  Dave was transferred to a nursing home yesterday. It’s the third one he’s been to since I’ve been working for him. There’s only one more left in town for him to go to after this one. He’s refused to return to the priors, claiming they were assholes, and the cold truth is they probably wouldn’t accept his grumpy ass.

  When we enter his new room, he’s sitting up in bed. His hair combed and a smile plastered on his face. His eyes light up when he sees us walk in. For the first time since I’ve been around him, Dave is left speechless.

  “Dave, how are you this morning?” I step in next to Mom and Quinn.

  “Doing good. Caught here in a new room.”

  “Well, Dave, this is my mom, Blair Yates, and one of my annoying little sisters, Quinn.”

  “Nice to meet you, ladies.”

  Mom steps up to his bed and shakes his hand. Quinn follows suit, then we all sit around him and talk for an hour. Dave makes sure I’m burning up the gasoline and that I got the freezer cleaned. Quinn pretends to be busy texting on her phone, but I know she’s taking pictures to show Dad and for Malerie.

  I’m blown away. Dave is on his best behavior, even when nurses come into his room to check on him. My heart swells with pride, knowing that this is the way Dave shows me the utmost respect. If mom or Quinn were any other women, he’d be all about their looks and harassing them about getting in their pants.

  Mom and Quinn head out to find some coffee, leaving Dave and me alone.

  “You feeling okay?” I ask him with genuine concern.

  “Having a good day, son.” He smiles up at me. “Thank you for introducing me to your family, Hunter. It means a lot to me.”

  I rest on the side of his bed. “They’ve heard a lot about you, Dave, and wanted to meet you.”

  Our touchy-feely moment is over within seconds. “So, they have a commode in this joint.”

  “Oh yeah.” Both of my eyebrows rise with the sudden subject change.

  “Gonna need to buy one for when I go home. It’s pretty damn handy. I’m just about able to get up and sit on it.”

  “Mmmmm.” I rub my chin. “I remember some handsome fox trying to convince you to buy one. Pretty sure he harassed you about it for a while.”

  He ignores the jab, never owning up to be wrong. “Need you to find one for me and get the best deal on it.”

  “Okay, Dave.” I smirk at him. “I can do that for you.”

  “Has the basement flooded yet?”

  “Not enough snow melt yet.”

  I’m not sure how the foundation of his house is still standing up. It floods every winter, and before me, Dave couldn’t do anything about it, but last winter I got all the water pumped out.

  Mom and Quinn eventually come back, and we all say our goodbyes.

  “Bubba, you’ve barely eaten anything on your plate.” Mom leans her elbows on the table staring at me. “I’ve never seen you not inhale a bacon burger before.”

  “Yeah, Hunter, why aren’t you eating?” Teale chirps in.

  “Not hungry,” I reply.

  “Bullshit.” Teale slaps her hand down on the restaurant table.

  The girls are too involved taking SnapChat pictures, using some damn puppy dog face to be involved in the conversation.

  “He’s been in pain for a long time now and throws up if he eats too much or too fast, or certain foods.”

  I crane my neck to give Teale a, ‘you’ve gotta be kidding,’ stare. I thought I’d been doing a damn good job masking the gut ache. I was dead wrong.

  “Hunter.” Mom raises one of her perfectly manicured eyebrows. “What is going on?”

  “Just a gut ache. Nothing big.”

  “Doesn’t sound like it?” She counters.

  “Tell us the symptoms,” Teale demands.

  I throw my arm around her shoulder, tugging her to me. “Babe, it’s nothing let it go.”

  Shit, I’d throw that diamond ring on her finger right now to change the subjec
t of the conversation, but Teale deserves so much more. I see it coming before it happens. It’s the way Teale taps her chin and the devious look gleaming in her eyes.

  “I wonder if there was internal damage from your motorcycle wreck?”

  “Motorcycle wreck.” It’s Mom who is now slapping her palm down on the tabletop.

  I shake my head, knowing this is going nowhere good. I never told Mom or Dad about the accident, because they’d chew my ass for riding alone, but I know damn well Teale talked to Mom when we were on our way to the hospital. One of the stupidest things I’ve ever done. I was damn lucky I was able to get hold of Teale on the phone, and that she jumped into action.

  “Oh, you don’t know that Hunter here, went riding alone and suffered a severe concussion that left him sore for a few good weeks?” The sarcasm thick coating each word.

  I know she’s worried about me, but this little stunt isn’t going to help her.

  “Teale,” I warn her.

  The steam rolling out of Mom’s ears scares me just like when I was a little boy and in trouble.

  “You’re going to the doctor before I leave. No questions.” She points her finger at me in warning. “And you can bet your sweet ass I’ll be informing your dad about all of this.”

  Baker pops up on her knees leaning in on the table. “Bair, you ain’t supposed to say ass. It’s a word for ugly ladies not pretty ones like you.”

  We all erupt in a roar of laughter. The interpretation of our conversation with her about bad words was twisted a bit, but I’ve never been more thankful for her little spirit breaking up an awkward situation.

  20

  Hunter

  “Blame it all on my roots.” –Garth Brooks

  “You’re going to end up in a hospital bed right next to me.” Dave pops a piece of black licorice into his mouth. “What do you kids call it now? Roomies.”

  “Pretty sure the hospital couldn’t handle us.” I gnaw on the red licorice rope.

  Dave insisted I start bringing red licorice, so we could sit and talk while enjoying candy. He’s still in the nursing home, not showing much improvement. Last night, when I walked into his room, he was in his rocking chair staring out of the window. It was similar to several scenes I’ve walked in on before. He’d had an accident again. His skin bleeding from sitting in it. I was livid, but knew my temper would do no good. I cleaned him up, just like if we were at his house.