Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
B arry opened his truck’s door for Kathy and closed it behind her. He turned to walk behind his truck and locked eyes with Chester, who was sitting outside Sanderson’s grocery. Ken was standing there, but the old man ignored him. Chester had a smirk of complete satisfaction on his face. Barry stopped and put his elbow up on the tailgate, leaning against his truck. He stared at the man as Doc Wheeler’s words bubbled through the irritation and anger that had barely receded. He heard Kathy knock against the rear window. He lifted a hand, acknowledging her and asking for a minute as he processed his feelings.
Anger. Yeah, he was pissed . Not because of what the old bastard had said about him. People had said much worse. Hell, he’d thought worse about himself. That thought put a matching satisfied smirk on his face. What burned in his gut was what the fucker had said about Kathy being tainted. That sat like acid in his gut. The fact that people like Chester would think less of a woman like her was something he couldn’t change. And yes, that thought was said in Dr. Wheeler’s voice. After all those months, the man, or perhaps his ideas and methods, had a permanent residence inside his thick skull. Progress, for sure.
Six months ago, he’d have sprinted across the street and dealt with the old fucker. No lenience for the guy's age would have been given. He knew that for a fact. Now, hell, he was sorry for the wretched son of a bitch. The old fuck didn’t have any friends, and, well, he , the guy with anger issues and war scars that people couldn’t see, did. Talk about a reversal of his trajectory. He’d been on a tortured course straight to hell, and he’d been driving on that course as fast as he could push himself. Thank God for Corrie, Andrew, Kathy, and Doc Wheeler. Without them, he’d be in jail or dead. Most likely dead. And that would’ve been a tragedy. He’d never have met the love of his life.
Barry lifted a hand, smiled at the asshole across the street, and walked to his truck door. Kathy’s smile was worth the effort it took to deal with the thoughts still playing bumper cars inside his brain.
“Are you okay?” She reached out and touched his arm.
“Yeah. I was just trying to sort out what I was feeling and why.” Barry put the keys into the ignition and noticed a crowd at the diner's window. They scurried back to their seats when he looked in their direction. “It seems everyone was wondering what I’d do.”
Kathy glanced at the diner. “You did the right thing by ignoring that wretched old man. I remember when he used to be nice. I don’t understand why he’s so bitter now.”
Barry put the truck in reverse and backed out of the parking slot. “The thing that still burns is what he said about you. That shit wasn’t right.”
“He did it to get a rise out of you. I think he wanted you to take a swing at him.”
“So do I. The question is, why?” Barry headed to the highway and the Hollister ranch. “What did I ever do to that jerk?”
“Nothing. You’ve done nothing but prove the old man is delusional. He’s been spouting his theories since you hit town, and then stuff started to happen.” Kathy sighed and shook her head. “When Ken catches whoever is responsible for everything, that old man will have to eat an entire crow to get anyone to talk to him again. Except for Delbert, but then again, Delbert isn’t the sharpest tack in the box.” Kathy chuckled sadly. “Why do people need drama? Why can’t life be full enough with family, work, and things that happen every day?”
Barry took her hand in his. “I don’t know. But I can tell you that sounds like the kind of life I want to live. Family, work, and everyday things.”
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted. Maybe we could have that. ”
Barry shot a look in her direction. “We can. We definitely can.” He swallowed hard. “You’d want that with me?”
Kathy smiled so brightly it almost blinded him. “Of course, I want that with you. I love you.”
If angels had swooped down and lifted him off his feet, he would not have felt lighter and happier than he did at that moment. “I don’t deserve you.” He squeezed her hand and glanced back at the road so he didn’t drive them into the ditch.
“Don’t say that.” Kathy unfastened her seat belt and slid across the old bench seat. She dropped her head on his shoulder. “You deserve all the good things life has to offer, just like everyone else. We deserve to be happy together.”
He dropped his arm over her shoulders and kissed the top of her head as he drove. Damned if the woman didn’t make him feel like one of those bulletproof superheroes. “What would your folks say about it?”
“They’d be thrilled. They love you.” Kathy chuckled. “Dad has been wondering how he can steal you away from the Hollisters.”
Barry frowned. “What?”
Kathy opened her mouth and then closed it. She turned to look at him. “Promise me you won’t freak out and make a run for it if I explain what I just said?”
“I think you’re well and truly stuck with me. Tell me, what made you say that?” Barry laughed when she cringed comically.
“Well, about a month ago, after you returned to the ranch one Sunday night, Mom and Dad and I were talking. I told them how much I care for you. Dad wondered what it would take to get you to work the ranch with him because he figured we’d be together one day, and he doesn’t want the ranch to be sold after he and Mom pass.”
A sense of dread went through him. “Babe, does your dad need help? I can stop by on my off days or at night.”
“No, no, he’s got Mo, his part-time hand. He hires as needed during busy seasons. But the idea of him wanting us to have the ranch is kind of nice.” She lifted her shoulders to her ears. “But the idea of us discussing it when you hadn’t even told me that you loved me yet, that was wrong, and I’m sorry.”
Barry tossed his head back and laughed. “Don’t be. God, I know I’ve been taking things slow, but you had to have known I love you.”
She sighed softly. “I hoped you felt the same way I did. I could feel how you relaxed around me, I knew we clicked from the beginning, and you seemed on the same page, but there’s always a bit of doubt.”
He glanced down at her. “I should have said something sooner.”
“No, you needed to go at your own pace.”
He shook his head. “Not if I was hurting you.”
She laughed and patted his chest. “You have never hurt me. I don’t believe you’d ever hurt me.”
A chill ran up his spine at the thought of ever raising his hand to the woman. Hell, he couldn’t imagine raising his voice to her. “Never. I swear on Gunny’s grave, I’d walk out of your life before hurting you.” It was the most solemn oath he could give her.
“But by walking out, you’d hurt me, so I guess you’re stuck with me, and you’ll just have to love me for the rest of our lives.”
“You’ve got this all worked out, don’t you?” Barry laughed and pulled her closer to him before glancing back at the vacant road.
“Absolutely. I’m a schoolteacher, you know. I have a plan, and I work on that plan every day. If my student puts in enough effort, he gets a good grade.” She lifted her finger in the air and made an air A.
“What, not an A plus?” Barry turned on the blinker at the ranch’s exit.
She shrugged. “I save that for exceptional effort.”
“Maybe tonight I could put in some extra credit work.” He turned off the highway onto the wide dirt road.
“Oh, extra credit work.” She put her finger to her lips for a second. “The only problem is, I’m not sure what that would entail.”
Barry laughed. “How about I provide the extra credit, and you just grade me appropriately?”
“Deal. Of course, extra credit isn’t always a given. One must maintain their marks with dedication and effort.”
“I don’t think that will be an issue. You may get sick of me being around so much.” Being with Kathy required no effort. He thanked his lucky stars for being in her galaxy, let alone her world.
“Never. Having you in my bed every night …” She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’ve never been so happy, Barry. Never.”
Happy? Was the feeling of utter contentment happiness? Was it the sense his life was complete when she was with him? Or was it the knowledge that when he was with her—when he was focused on being better for her—he was, in fact, normal and deserving of a life with her in it? “Neither have I, babe. Neither have I.”
Barry pulled up beside the bunkhouse and helped Kathy out of his truck, and they held hands as they walked to the barn. “Will he act up if I watch? I’ve never been around a true maverick before.” Kathy glanced up at him.
Barry chuckled. “Buddy doesn’t care as long as he gets his treats. Which reminds me … Let’s make a pit stop.” He diverted them to the large room that had a coffee machine for the hands and a refrigerator used for the animal medicines. Barry opened the fridge and dug through the bottom drawer. He pulled out a bag of carrots and a bag of apples. “Here. Could you pull a couple out and snap them into about two-inch bits?” He handed her the carrots.
“You got it.” She put the carrots on the bench and started snapping them. He took out his pocketknife and made quick work of slicing up an apple. Then he pulled a plastic bag out of one of the drawers, and they filled it up with the enticing bites .
After putting everything away and cleaning his knife, he led Kathy to the two stalls Buddy occupied. The horse lifted his head as soon as they stopped outside the stall door and walked over, nudging Barry with his nose.
“He’s bigger than I thought a wild horse would be.”
“Sixteen hands. He’s a tall boy, for sure.” Barry rubbed the horse’s nose and handed the plastic bag to Kathy. “Could you open that for me?”
Kathy opened it, and Barry gave the horse a couple of pieces of carrot. “I thought I saw you!” Gen Hollister’s voice carried from the front of the barn. Barry looked over his shoulder and saw the Cap’s wife walking toward them with her egg basket almost overflowing with eggs. Kathy walked over to her, and the two hugged. “What are you doing out here?” Gen asked, smiling knowingly at Barry. And damn it, he felt his face get warm. He turned his attention back to Buddy and gave him another bite of carrot. He heard the woman’s laughter and shook his head.
“Barry has to do some chores, then we’re heading back to my house.”
“Come up to the house with me. I haven’t had a visitor in forever. We can have coffee, and you can see Sev. That boy is growing like a weed.”
“Oh …” The sound of something in Kathy’s voice turned him. “I was going to help Barry.”
“Babe, you don’t want to shovel manure or watch me do it. Go to the house. I’ll finish what I need to do and then come up and get you. ”
She looked at him. “Are you sure?”
“I am.” He chuckled. “Go visit.”
Kathy’s smile spread from ear to ear. She almost bounced over to him and cupped his head with both of her hands. “I love you.” She pulled him down for a kiss. He laughed when she spun away, and the girls left the barn. He watched them until Buddy nudged him, looking for more treats, and he turned his attention to his horse. He gave the guy a bite of apple and rubbed his neck as he said, “Who would have thought I’d have someone like her in my life, huh?” Buddy nudged him again. “Oh, you did, did you? Well, I didn’t.” He glanced back to the open doorway of the barn. “But I’m so damn glad she is.”
Barry opened the stall door and got busy working with Buddy. He may have cut the training a bit short, hoping to spend a bit more time with Kathy. Of course, by the time he’d finished cleaning the stall, he smelled just like Buddy. He headed for the bunkhouse to take a quick shower, change clothes, and pack a change of clothes for the morning. He didn’t want to presume, but spending the night with Kathy was something he was looking forward to. He laughed to himself as he entered the bunkhouse. Dusty was sitting at the communal table eating a sandwich. “‘Sup? Where’s Honey? Saved her some roast beef,” Dusty asked before taking another bite of his sandwich.
“She’s at Kathy’s. Her and Mitzi got hit by a skunk last night. So did I.” Barry went to the fridge and pulled out a soda .
“You must have gotten that new wash stuff. Amazing shit.” Dusty laughed. “Better than dousing yourself with tomato juice.”
Barry gulped his soda, and it went down the wrong way. He narrowed his eyes at Dusty. “Say what?”
“Man, growing up, my ma would put me in a metal tub and pour tomato juice all over me. Didn’t work for shit, but she thought it helped.”
“I’m kind of glad I grew up in the city right now.” Barry took another slug of his soda.
“Nah, man, you missed all the good stuff by growing up there. We made our own fishing poles, caught worms after a rain, and spent all day dangling the poor things in lakes with no fish. We had the best time getting dirty and learning about all things outside.” Dusty chuckled. “Hard life living out here, but ain’t no one ever said it wasn’t a good life.”
Barry looked at his friend. “You know what? I agree. Life here is hard, but it’s damn good. Speaking of which, I’m going to shower and then go pick up Kathy from the main house.”
Dusty offered, “Want me to feed and take care of Buddy tomorrow?”
Barry stopped on his way to his room. “If you could feed him, that would be great. I’ll take care of cleaning his stall. Still working with him.”
“Sounds good.” Dusty took another huge bite from his sandwich, and Barry went to his assigned room. He opened the door and stopped dead in his tracks. Curled on his bed was a rattlesnake. The thing raised its head, and its tail lifted. The very distinct and deadly sound of danger rattled through the room. “Dusty, you got your gun handy?”
The chair in the kitchen area scraped and fell as boot steps ran in his direction. “What … Whoa, shit!”
“Yeah.” Barry pointed to a stained, filthy pillowcase on the floor and kicked to the side of the door, just inside. It was as if someone had opened the door, let the snake out, and shut it quickly. “I don’t think it came here on its own volition.”
“Who the fuck would put a rattlesnake in your room? Shut the door. Dude, we gotta let the bosses and law know about this.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Barry grabbed the doorknob and pulled it shut. “I’ll call Ken.”
“I’m rounding up Senior or Andrew.” Dusty flew out the door as Barry pulled out his phone. He found Ken’s number and called.
“What’s up?” Ken answered without the preliminaries.
“Got a rattlesnake on my bed.”
“Yeah, is that anything like bats in your belfry?” Ken laughed.
“No, and I’m serious. Looks like someone put a rattlesnake in my room last night. At the ranch.”
Ken let out a string of cuss words and then said, “You’re serious. ”
“Yeah.” Barry rolled his eyes. “Figured you needed more work.”
“I don’t, but I’m on my way.”
He disconnected the phone and dropped his head. Who was doing that shit? Who would be bold enough to come into the bunkhouse and release a rattlesnake? Why in the hell was someone after him and his dog? He closed his eyes. Hopefully, Andrew and his people would have some information on Fish soon. Fish was the only possible answer. The man had to be alive, and he had to be the one doing it.