Chapter 5 Forsythe
Chapter Five
Forsythe
I’m not like you, Forsythe. I can’t just wake up one day and choose to be happy or content.
Her words echoed in my mind. I kicked at the dirt, listening to the crickets chirp as the sun remained asleep. “We’re more alike than you realize, Lucille.”
Much more.
I walked down the path and pulled a cigarette from the pack I kept inside my leather jacket, lighting it as I made my way to the barn.
I silently replayed everything that happened the night before, outside the bar, as I smoked.
“I wonder if we’ll be fighting today.” The corner of my lip curled into a smile. “Can’t wait to find out.”
I walked for a bit, enjoying the quiet morning. It was part of my daily routine here at Bone Ridge, one I had been repeating since I was a kid lugging cattle back and forth for Memphis. Not much has changed since then, even after I took off, I still came back to the same old routine.
The sound of hooves caught my attention as I approached the barn.
“What the—” I placed the cigarette between my lips and peeked around the corner to find Lucille trotting up on her childhood horse.
“Shit—” I tried to put the cigarette out, tossing it down as I pressed the tip of my old, worn-out boot against it.
Lucille yanked the reins as her horse snorted, stopping only a few feet away. “Those things will kill you, ya know,” she teased.
I coughed, trying to force the smoke in my mouth back into my throat and away from her. “Sorry about that—I was just—” I coughed a bit more.
“Jeez. Calm down, old man. Don’t die on me now.
” She wiped her brow as I noticed beads of sweat rolling down the side of her face, telling me she must’ve been riding for some time.
I grabbed the cheekpiece of her horse as she effortlessly hopped down from the saddle.
Even after riding, her smell still hit my nostrils, gripping my senses as she waved her hair around and stroked the horse's mane.
“So it was you I saw smoking that night I drove in.” She eyed me closely and grinned.
I cleared my throat. “I’m surprised you didn’t bite my head off.” I rubbed the back of my neck.
Lucille spun around with a surprised look on her face.
Her freckled cheeks were flushed, making her eyes pop against their color.
“Why would I care if you smoke? I smoke too, though I do it more so when I’m anxious or need to take the edge off.
Unfortunately, it’s one of the habits I couldn’t kick after all these years.
” I noticed she was still wearing the same outfit as last night, only this time, she had some real boots on.
Not those clunky platforms she was wearing before.
“But I don’t care if you smoke. Now my mom might.
She’s always hated it. Even back then.” She spoke so calmly about the whole topic, as if it really didn’t bother her.
I guess I was worried for nothing.
Lucille grabbed the reins and walked her horse towards the barn doors.
“I’m not a delicate flower, Forsythe. You don’t have to be so careful with me.
I can handle more than you think.” She looked back at me over her shoulder.
“Although, last night was more of a fluke. So it doesn’t count.
But I’m okay. Smoke all you want, I don’t care. ”
“But what about—” I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.
Her eyes fell. “Cigarettes didn’t start that fire…I did. And I can’t hide from myself.” She stood there for a few seconds, keeping quiet as her horse waited patiently. “Hey, Forsythe?”
“Yeah?”
Lucille’s eyes lifted. “Don’t tell anyone I was out here. They’ll all worry or try to make a big deal of it. And I don’t think I can handle that kind of mental load right now.”
I lifted my hat slightly and leaned against the side of the barn. “Not sure what you mean, I’m just chilling out here all by my lonesome, same as always.”
She laughed softly. “Thanks.”
That’s the second time she’s said that to me.
Lucille turned back towards the doors and took a step. I noticed a faint limp in her right leg and tried to keep myself from helping her. But it was no use.
“You okay?” My back ached in response to seeing her in pain, knowing where it was coming from.
She stopped, looking down at her thigh. “Yeah…just tired.”
Liar.
“Who’s old now?” I teased her lightly, trying to lift the mood. She seemed tired, mentally and physically. “Here, let me put her up.” I walked towards her and grabbed the reins from her hand. “You go on back to the house and get some rest.” She hesitated before letting go and looking up at me.
Lucille and I caught one another’s gaze and stood there, silently staring back at each other. It was an old feeling, one I had tried to push away all this time, but it was beginning to return little by little. And it scared the living shit out of me.
“Hey, Forsythe.”
My heart fluttered a bit at the way she said my name with a whispered breath. “Yes?”
She leaned in close and poked my bearded chin with her pointer finger. “Have you always had this much white in your beard? Makes you look older than you are.”
My demeanor deflated. “And how old do you think I am?” My brow flicked with the question.
She looked at me and made a funny face. “Hmm. Forty-eight?”
I grinned. “Close, but no. Forty-five.”
Lucille grinned. “So old.” She stepped back and sighed, turning away. “Thanks for putting her up for me, old man.” I watched her walk away with the biggest grin on my face.
Still just as fiery as ever.
“Hey, Forsythe, you see this kid?” My head spun around to follow Dallas’ pointed finger only to find Torchy across the corral. He was standing on the back of the large stallion we had unloaded, shirtless, drinking a beer with a child-like grin.
“What the hell is that kid doing?” I asked, shaking my head.
Dallas huffed. “No idea. But he needs to put a damn shirt on before Ms. Nellie or Lucille see him like that.” He spat at the dirt. “Never understood why he felt the need to cover his body in all those tattoos.” Dallas made a face and looked at me. “No offense.”
None taken.
“Hell,” he grumbled. “I don’t know how he even does that.
You know, one of these days he’s gonna end up breaking his neck, and I won’t shed a damn tear.
” I tried not to laugh at his hollow words.
“Torchy! Get your ass down before Ms. Nellie sees you up there!” He walked off, stomping his boots.
“And what did I tell you about drinking on the job?” The two began to bicker, and the more they argued, the more they felt like father and son.
Cooper walked up with his hands on his hips, grinning while his white mustache nearly reached each ear.
“Looks like Torchy is at it again.” He chuckled.
“That kid...always up to something. Never gets old, does it?” I shook my head.
“Well, I guess we ought to get Reaper ready. His buyer will be here in a couple of hours.”
My stomach dropped at his words.
“You know I did everything I could to keep from selling him, right?” I looked up at the old man with a hardened expression.
His faded eyes observed me closely. “I know. But times are tough, and you’re doing what you gotta to keep this place running right.” He paused. “No one can fault you for that. Not even Lucille.” His eyes twinkled at the mention of her name, looking for a reaction. “How’d things go last night?”
My gaze pulled away from his while I watched Dallas argue with Torchy as he hopped down from the stallion. “Not sure what you mean.”
Cooper grunted. “Sure.” He leaned over the fencing of the corral next to me and tilted his hat. “I saw you chase after her last night after that little display.”
“I just wanted to make sure she was alright.” My response was a bit quicker than I intended it to be.
The old man grunted softly. “And was she?” My head fell forward a bit, and I leaned against the fence. “She’s fine now.”
“What about you two?” I snapped my head up at his question to find him wearing a concerned look. “Not still fighting now, are you?”
Torchy shouted at Dallas, pulling my attention away. I waited a moment before finally answering him. “She doesn’t hate me. Why?”
Cooper chuckled and smacked my back. “No reason.” I turned to look back at the smirking old man and noticed Lucille and Wimberly in the distance walking up. He looked at the expression on my face and laughed. “By the way, she’s coming to say goodbye to Reaper before the buyer arrives.”
My brow furrowed. “Yeah, and you just conveniently failed to mention that now, didn’t you?”
He grinned ear to ear. “Nope. Just getting old, I guess.” The old man winked and stuffed his hands into his pockets, walking off to greet Lucille.
Damn old man.
Torchy ran up to me, huffing and puffing, sweating like a pig. “Why does Dallas hate me?” he asked, wiping his forehead. “I put a damn shirt on and got down, yet he’s still harping on my ass. I can’t do nothing right by him!”
Dallas stomped over with the pissiest look on his face. “I told you to get your ass in that barn and get to work!” Torchy groaned and did as he was told. Dallas shook his head, annoyed.
“You should ease up a little. He already thinks you hate him.”
He rolled his eyes and spat on the ground. “I don’t hate him, I just…he’s a knucklehead. And if I don’t kick his butt into gear, who else will? Cooper’s too much of an old softie and you got bigger things to worry about around here.”
“Who you calling an old softie?” Cooper and Lucille walked up, shadowed by Wimberly.
The dog ran straight to me, wagging her tail and yipping with excitement.
I couldn’t help but kneel down and embrace her.
“If anyone’s an old softie, it’s Forsythe.
I mean, look at how that pup melts in his hands like butter. ”