Chapter 4 – Jace
“Oh, look, June, Uncle J is here… and Auntie Cassie?” Ellie said confused as she opened the front door to the guesthouse, noticing me first, then Cassie right behind me.
As we walked in, Ellie looked down and noticed the black boot on my foot.
“What happened?” she asked, motioning for me to sit on the couch.
“Cassie ran me over.”
“She what?” Ellie gasped, looking over at Cassie.
Just then, Colt walked in. “Did I just hear you say someone got ran over?” he asked, looking around, expecting someone to be laying on the ground dead.
“Yep, me—by Cassie. Ask her for yourself.” I snickered, pointing at Cassie, who rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“He was walking through a crosswalk downtown, and I didn’t see him until the last second. By then it was too late. I broke his foot,” she said, lowering her voice on the last part, probably hoping no one would hear her admit I was telling the truth.
“Are you okay? Did you break anything else?” Ellie asked, looking me over frantically.
“No, I’m fine. Just a clean break. Doc says it’ll heal in a few weeks and I’ll be good as new.”
“How did you drive here with a broken foot?” Ellie asked.
“I didn’t. Cassie was kind enough to drive me here from the doctor after they confirmed that she did in fact snap my bones with her car tires,” I explained before making a breaking noise with my mouth as I looked over at Cassie who squinted her eyes at me in annoyance.
“I think the craziest part is that you got in the car with her afterwards knowing her driving skills,” Colt said, laughing.
“Oh, come on, guys. I already feel bad. Don’t make it worse than it already is,” she said, flopping down next to me on the couch, covering her face with her hands.
Her curly auburn hair hung over her shoulders, sparkling in the midmorning sun that shined through the windows.
“Don’t feel bad. It was an accident. Besides, you owe me now, sugar.”
“Quit calling me that,” she said, sitting up straight. “And what do you mean I owe you?”
“I’m not totally sure yet. I’m gonna think on it first,” I said, squinting as if I was thinking really hard about something.
“Great,” she moaned.
“What were you doing downtown this early on a Saturday anyways?” Ellie asked, looking at both of us.
“An order for the coffee shop came in, and I was running late. It had to be signed for, and I totally forgot about it. That’s why I was driving a little faster than I should have been,” Cassie said.
“I was trying to get some breakfast at Maggie’s. Barely got out of my truck before lead foot over here plowed into me,” I said, nudging Cassie. She shot me a go-to-hell look before standing up and walking away.
Getting under Cassie’s skin was my favorite hobby, and I was never going to let her live this down. Win, win.
“How are you two supposed to be in the wedding if we can barely keep you guys alive?” Colt joked before biting into the apple he was holding.
“I can still wear a tux. I guess I’ll just have to tuck my pants down into the boot, no worries.”
Colt had brought up a good point, and Ellie looked relieved at my response. I guess this moment would go down in the history books—literally—because all of their wedding photos would have me standing there with a smile on my face and the boot clinging snugly to my foot.
“Where’s June Bug? I want her to sign it,” I asked, pointing down at my new medical accessory.
“Coming!” she yelled as she ran up the hallway toward everyone.
She had a metal case in her hand as she ran—the box she kept all her art supplies in. As soon as she reached me, she set it down on the ground and popped open the top, revealing a plethora of gel pens, colored pencils, markers, and oil pastels in an array of detailed colors.
“Which color should I sign your cast with, Uncle J?” she asked, looking over her options carefully.
“Something shiny, so it stands out,” I suggested, looking the colors over with her. “What about this red marker right here? With the gold flakes in it.” I grabbed it from its place in the box, holding it up to show June.
“Oh yeah, I like that color. Plus, it matches Auntie Cassie’s hair,” she said excitedly, popping the top off the marker, eyeing my boot like her canvas, unsure where to start her art project.
I looked over at Cassie.
“It sure does, doesn’t it?” I said, winking at her.
She shook her head, clearly not amused by my antics.
“I think everyone should sign it,” June announced after writing her name in the middle of the boot and drawing a heart next to it. “But you have to add something next to your name or it’ll just be boring,” she said matter-of-factly, like, hey, I don’t make the rules—I just follow them.
Colt signed his name first, adding bull horns next to his signature.
Then Ellie, who drew a sunflower next to her name.
“Okay, Auntie Cassie, your turn,” June said, handing her the red marker.
“I’m only doing this for you, June Bug. Remember this next time your momma makes her homemade chocolate chip cookies. You better save me some,” she joked, winking at June, who was smiling ear to ear now.
Cassie kneeled in front of me, eyeing the blank areas on the boot, looking for a good place to add her name.
It was kind of hot—sitting on the couch with Cassie down on her knees in front of me. My mind wandered to images of Cassie kneeling down and doing other things.
She placed her left hand on my boot, holding it in place as she wrote her name. She signed in the prettiest cursive I had ever seen. Next to it, she drew three butterflies flying in the air with little stars around them.
Her drawing seemed pretty specific. Something told me there was a story behind it, but I didn’t want to ask her in front of everyone in case it was personal.
“Auntie Cassie’s is the best, I think,” June said as Cassie put the cap back on the marker.
“I think so too,” I said as I turned the boot from side to side, studying Cassie’s drawing.
“I’m sure you do,” she mumbled, tossing the marker into my lap.
“These drawings kind of remind me of the drawings on your arm, Uncle J,” June said, pointing at my tattoos.
I extended my arm, admiring the sleeve of tattoos I had recently finished.
“They’re pretty close, huh, June Bug.”
“When did you get all those done anyways?” Cassie asked, looking them over.
“I started about two years ago, and just finished it about a month ago. My buddy recommended this guy in Great Falls. I just added to it little by little.”
“I want a tattoo,” June announced.
Cassie’s and my eyes went wide, looking at Colt and Ellie.
“Alright, that’s enough,” Ellie said, directing June to put away her art supplies and get ready for a trip to town to run errands.
“Can you take me to my truck, Colt? It’s still parked downtown,” I said, standing slowly, careful not to lose my balance.
“Yeah, I need to go to the feed store anyways,” Colt said, grabbing his hat and jacket off the hook by the front door.
I waddled to the door, pulling my jacket on as Colt opened it, a cool breeze rushing in.
Cassie snickered behind me as I waddled.
I turned quickly, wondering what was so funny.
She covered her mouth, trying her best to hide her laughter.
“What’s so funny, sugar?”
“Nothing,” she said, trying to keep a straight face.
“I’m waddling because of you, you know.” I shot her a look.
“I know. And I feel bad, I really do. It’s just funny seeing a tall cowboy with tattoos waddle around like a penguin.”
“So you like the tattoos, huh?” I winked at her.
“Get out,” she said, ushering me through the door, then closing it on me as I tipped my hat at her with a smoldering look.
Cassie Blake was going to be the death of me. Maybe figuratively and literally. Only time would tell.