Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Rolling his shoulders, Bax hunted for the next turnoff, knowing that it was coming up soon and that he was tired enough to miss it. They had half an hour to Momma’s, and Jason was sleeping, wore out from being all scrambled like an egg by that monster bull.
The fact that Jason still couldn’t see had his gut feeling like one of them fancy knots he’d read about in high school. Something Greek, maybe. Hopefully once the damned fool settled in and rested a bit, the swelling would go down and everything would go back to right.
If anyone could make Jason take it easy, it would be Momma.
They started to pass a truck stop, and Bax made the decision to pull in almost too late, whipping them hard enough to wake Jason up. It wasn’t any easier this time than it had been any other time in the last sixteen fucking hours, either.
Jason flailed, looking around, trying so fucking hard to see. “Bax? Bax?”
“Right here, Mini. You’re in the car. I need a drink and a piss. You sit and wake up a minute, we’ll go in.” He just couldn’t leave Jase in the car. Not now, not any time in the last three days.
“I… Okay. Okay. Where are we?” Jason looked like hammered shit, bruises popping up like fucking daisies. It was fucking weird, because Jason would stare at him sometimes.
They’d found them a city doctor who didn’t know dick about them or where they’d come from.
That dude had explained that the whole sight thing was because of pressure or some shit, so Jason’s eyes would track, but it still freaked him out.
“We’re not far from Momma’s. I just needed to stop and stretch. ”
“Okay. You can go in. I’ll just sit here.” Jason pulled the brim of his hat down farther, hiding his face.
“Nope. I ain’t leaving you alone out here. Come on, Mini. Cowboy up.” He got out and went around to open Jason’s door.
It was getting harder for Jason to follow, that jaw set stubborn against moving, even as the son of a bitch slid from the truck. “I fucking hate this.”
“I know.” Hell, yes, he knew. He could see it in every line of that lean body. He took Jason’s hand and put it on his arm, just a little. Just to guide him. “Nice and easy.”
The door opened, a bunch of teenagers tumbling out, laughing and goofing off. Jason stopped short, shook his head. “Just let me go back to the truck. What if—?”
“What if nothing. You ain’t no pussy. Now get your ass in gear and come on. I got to pee.” Tough love was better than nothing, right? He couldn’t let Jason lose what he was.
Jason ducked his head, growling low and following him. Those fingers were shaking, digging into his arm and Goddamn, it broke his heart.
He bit it back, though, because Jason wouldn’t want it. Not that kind of sympathy. Jason needed him to just know what to do. Even if he didn’t.
They hit the head, and he got Jason set up before doing his own thing. Then they washed up and went for drinks.
“You want a root beer?”
“Yeah, if they got Barqs. If not, I’ll take a Dr. Pepper.”
“Cool.” Picky bastard. He grabbed them both a drink and some of those weird maple peanuts Jason loved.
He found himself some beef jerky, too. Jason didn’t say anything, kept his head down and stuck right there.
Baxter could feel his fucking heart beating against one arm.
Biting his lip, Bax took them to the register to pay, keeping his face under his hat. This was local enough to be dangerous.
“Y’all look like you been through a hell of a fight, guys.” The little gum-popping girl didn’t seem to recognize them, but Jason still stiffened.
“You should see the other guys,” Bax said, winking at her from under his hat brim and handing over a twenty. “Thanks, honey. Come on, buddy. Time to hit the road.”
Jason nodded. “’Night.”
The little gal beamed, nodded, and off they went. Christ.
Sighing his relief, Bax settled Jason in the truck again, eyeing the driver’s side with a baleful stare. His shoulder was gonna fall right off. His cell started going off and he didn’t even have to look to see it was Momma. Lord have mercy. The woman had radar.
“‘Lo?” He slid into the truck, turning to mouth “Momma” to Jason before he realized Mini wouldn’t see it.
“Where are y’all? How’s Jason? How’re you? I got y’all both appointments with Dr. Dewey in the morning tomorrow, and I got coffee brewing and beds made…”
Jesus Christ on a crutch.
He eased the truck out, making sure those teenagers were well out of the way. “We’re not far, Momma. Jason’s resting. We’ll be there soon.”
“Has it got better? His eyes? There’s been reporters calling and the folks from the tour, too, wanting to know what’s up. I didn’t tell them nothing. You know I don’t hold with that.”
“I know.” Thank God for that. “Nothin’s changed, ‘cept he’s gotten meaner.” Bax jumped when Jason pinched his thigh. “We’ll be home in a jiffy, Momma. I got to drive.”
“Okay, honey. You be careful, and y’all come let me take care of my boys. I know you’re tired, Andy.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He was. It was starting to set in, the worst of the sore. It always came a couple of days after the crash. “Bye.”
They hung up, and he whapped Jason on the arm. “No pinching.”
Jason reached out, pinched him again. “Stop me, then.”
His hand clamped down on Jason’s wrist. “Goddamn it, Mini. Quit it.”
Jason jerked away, the momentum sending one hand smashing into the dash, the crack even sounding like it hurt.
“Shit. Shit. I’m sorry.” He was just edgy as a cat on a tin roof. The truck jerked a little, his bad arm not able to hold her steady. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Jason sat there for a minute or two, blinking real slow, looking green as hell. “Stop the truck, Bax.”
“‘Kay.” He slammed to the shoulder, threw open his door, and ran around to help Jason out.
Jason managed on his own though, stumbling along the shoulder until he hit the guard rail and went down, shoulders shuddering.
All Bax could do was stand there, hands hanging at his side, and make sure no one hit the truck or them. Goddamn it. God damn it.
It ended as suddenly as it started, Jason getting to his feet, that fucking jaw set again. “Sorry. I’m good.”
Right.
Good.
Blind. Bruised. Swaying on his feet and pale as milk.
Right as fucking rain.
“No problem, Jase. Come on, that root beer will hit the spot, and we’ll be home soon.” Please God, let it be sooner than he thought. He wasn’t sure how many more miles they could go.
“Yeah.” Jason took a step, one hand held out. “Help me out, man.”
He closed his hand around Jason’s immediately, and he tugged the man back to the truck, leading him right up to fold into the cab. “You set?”
“Yeah. Yeah, Bax. I’m good.”
No. Nothing was okay. Jason was just shaking, so tired and sick that he looked as if he’d been on a three-day caffeine binge. Bax didn’t say nothin’, though. Just got in the truck and drove, his neck and back feeling like poured concrete.
When the lights of Momma’s house came into view he wanted to hoot and holler. Bax settled for a, “We’re here, Mini.”
“Thank God.”
Momma was right there, coming down the porch steps, looking like she hadn’t slept in as long as he had. “Praise Jesus, my boys are home. Come on, both of you. You’re home.”
Jason’s door was opened, and Momma pulled his skinny body out into her arms as she held on tight. Jason seemed a little panicked, really.
“Momma.” Going around, he gently pulled Jase out of her arms. “Jason’s hurtin’ and queasy. Let’s get him in, and I’ll get the gear. Okay?”
“Jack’ll get it. He was here keeping me company.”
Jack Owen nodded to him, the old cowboy headed for the truck. Jason’s momma’d been taking up with old Jack for ten years and nobody so much as hinted about the fact that the man had a toothbrush in her bathroom or a coffee cup in the cabinet.
“Thanks, Jack.” He cupped Jason’s elbow, the bony bit fitting just right in his palm, and Bax led Mini inside, knowing those feet knew the steps even without Jase being able to see them. “Couch, honey?”
“Yeah.” Those eyes were moving wildly, trying so fucking hard to see.
“You’re gonna make yourself sick again.” His jaw clenched, and Bax just wanted to tear something up. Goddamn it, why hadn’t he been the one to get stomped? He was a washed-up old bastard. Jason was on the fucking rise. “Here you go. I’ll get your drink.”
He turned and Momma was standing there and staring, hand over her mouth, tears pouring down her cheeks. They all were just frozen up a second when Jack came in, nudged Momma’s arm. “Brenda, lady. Go pour them boys a drink. They look tired.”
Momma nodded and when she spoke, she sounded almost normal. “That they do. Coffee or Coke, boys?”
“I’ll take coffee, Momma. I grabbed Jason a root beer. Doc said he needed to lay off the caffeine.” His whole body throbbed, and his knees started to feel tottery, but he managed to get Jason sat down, and head over to give Momma a brusque hug.
“You done good, son. Real good.” She kissed his temple. “Doctor give you anything for your sore, Andy? I got the good Tylenol.”
“I’m fine, Momma.” His voice cracked, and Bax just couldn’t take it no more. He headed outside, tearing open the pack of smokes he’d snuck in at the truck stop.
It wasn’t a minute before Jack was out there, cigarette in his teeth. “You mind?”
“Nope. Come on.” Hell, maybe Jack would give him a light. “She been a bear?”
“You know it.” The lighter came out, both cigarettes lit up. “How’s he holding up?”
“He’s hurt bad, Jack. I mean, he’s moving fine, and his bruises will heal, but I’m worried as Hell about his head.”
“Brenda says he cain’t see?”
“Not right now. Doctor says it ought to get better, but it… I dunno.” His fingers clenched so hard that his cigarette broke, and Bax stubbed it out with his boot. “I just don’t know.”
“We’ll figure it.” That gravelly old voice was solid as shit, reminding him that he wasn’t alone, and neither was Mini. Not at all.
“We will. Thanks for coming, old man. We ought to go save Jase from his momma, yeah?” He clapped Jack on the back, wincing as his shoulder protested.
“You ought to have a soak. Brenda’s got beans and rice and cornbread ready for whenever.” They headed up, Jack grabbing the screen door.
“I’ll get Jason settled first. I can wait.” His whole body was one big ache, so now or later didn’t make no nevermind.
Jason was on the sofa still, eyes closed, fingers opening and closing. Momma was hovering some, staring at Mini like that would do something.
“How’s that root beer sitting, Mini? You ready for some cornbread?” There was no way he was gonna go for fake cheer, but he didn’t want to be all doom and gloom, either.
“Yeah.” Jason reached for him, touched his fingers once. “This is fucked, ain’t it?”
“Watch your mouth, son.”
“Yes, Momma.”
His fingers twitched, wanting to twine with Jason’s. “Momma, could you dish up? I’m hurtin’ some.” There. That got her going, and Bax was able to sit and put a hand on Jason’s leg, just resting.
That got Mini to relax, to ease back into the cushions and stop a while. They didn’t say anything for a bit, just sat and breathed and ached. Momma brought food, and Bax choked some down, glad to see Jason eat a whole plate of cornbread.
As soon as they were through, Momma started fluttering again, Jason tensing beside him. She went on about towels and sheets and liniment and…
He was fixin’ to growl when Jack took her elbow. “The boys’ll figure it.”
“But.”
“Woman, come on to the bed. The boys’ll figure it and you can cook in the morning.” Jack hauled Momma on out, leaving both him and Jason chuckling.
“You ready for a bath and bed, Mini? I could stand to sleep about a year.” He stroked Jason’s knee absently, his fingers drawing little barbed wire patterns.
“Yeah, Bax. You. I wouldn’t give for you, yeah?”
“I know that, stupid. Same here.” He laughed a little, patting Jason’s leg before hauling his sore ass up. “Come on, you. If you’re nice I’ll wash your back.”
“I don’t get things working again, it won’t be worth washing.”
“You shut your trap. You don’t ever talk like that. You’ll get that buckle yet.” He pulled Jason up more gently than he wanted to, leading Mini to the bathroom and some steam. It would make them both feel better.
They’d figure it, just like Jack said they would.
The alternative just wasn’t anything he’d accept.