Rooster #2
And the kids are bundled up. I’ve got the HVAC guy coming tomorrow.
Me:
I’ll be there in ten.
Maggie:
Are you sure?
It’s cold and dark.
We can make it until morning.
Me:
There's no way I’m leaving you three there with no heat, babe.
I’ll be there in ten.
Maggie:
The kids are here.
Me:
It’ll be fine.
Probably just the pilot light.
I’ll do my best to be quiet.
I was looking forward to relaxing for a couple of hours, but there was no way I could do that while Maggie and her kids were without heat.
So, I grabbed my coat and gloves, then went out to the shop for my tools.
Once I had everything I could possibly need, I got in my truck and drove over to her place.
I knew she was concerned about the kids seeing me, so I parked across the street and quietly made my way to the side of the house.
With the cold night air prickling against my skin, I knelt in front of the furnace and carefully removed the side cover.
I used my flashlight to check the flame, and just as I suspected, it was out.
I grabbed my extended lighter from my bag and lit it, coaxing the flame back to life.
Seconds later, the soft glow of the flame grew brighter, letting me know that it had lit.
I grabbed my phone from my coat pocket and sent Maggie a message.
Me:
It was the pilot light.
Try it now.
Maggie:
Okay. Hold on just a second.
It wasn’t long before there was a click, and the unit kicked back on. I
waited to put the cover back on until Maggie texted back.
Maggie:
It’s working!
Me:
Good deal.
I shoved my phone back in my pocket and was just starting to put the cover back on when I heard a man’s voice say, “Hold it right there.”
I quickly glanced over my shoulder and found Grant standing behind me. He was wearing a pair of plaid sleep pants with boots and a heavy winter coat, and he had a gun in his hand that was pointed directly at my back. “Grant?”
“Who are you and what are you doing with Ms. Maggie’s unit?”
“The name’s Ronin. My brothers call me Rooster.”
“Wait.” He lowered his gun as he asked, “You’re with Fury?”
“I am.” I didn’t blame him for not recognizing me without my cut. It was dark and cold as fuck, and he had no clue what I was doing in his neighbor’s yard. I screwed in the cover, then stood and faced him. “Maggie’s heat went out, and I just came by to light the pilot for her.”
“I see.”
“You make a habit of checking on her?”
“I wouldn’t say that I make a habit of it.” He glanced over at the window as he explained, “She’s a single mother living here alone with two young kids, and I do what I can to make sure they’re doing okay.”
“Got it.”
“What about you?” His brows furrowed. “How’d you know her heat was out?”
“She told me.”
“Oh? So, you know her?”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“So, you two are an item?”
“Don’t see where that’s any of your business, Mr. Grant.” My phone started to ring in my pocket, so I grabbed it as I told him, “Well, the heat’s fixed now, so she and the kids are good.”
“Okay. Good to know.” He turned and started to leave as he said, “I’ll be seeing you around.”
As soon as he was out of sight, I looked down at the screen and saw that it was Maggie calling. I quickly answered, “Hey. You okay?”
“I am now. Thanks to you.”
“It was nothing.”
“It was far from nothing.” I could hear the smile in her voice as she asked, “Do you think you could come around back so I could give you a proper thank you?”
“Yeah, I think I could manage that.”
“Okay. I’ll go unlock the door.”
I ended the call, and then started toward the back of the house.
I’d barely rounded the corner when I spotted Maggie at the back door.
I was freezing. My fingers were numb, and my cheeks chapped from the frigid breeze, but the second I saw her standing there with that blanket wrapped around her, I felt warm all over.
A smile swept across her face when she spotted me, and I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful sight. When I got closer, she opened the door wider and whispered, “Hey.”
“Hey there, beautiful.”
“Hey there.” She shivered as she said, “It’s so cold. I hate you had to come over here like this.”
“It’s all good. I’m glad I could help. Besides, it gave me a chance to see you.”
Without warning, I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her close, then bent down and captured her mouth in a kiss.
Her soft, full lips opened with a moan, giving me deeper access.
Her hand roamed across my chest, then slowly continued up to the nape of my neck as her fingers tangled in my hair.
Having her so close and not being able to do anything about it was fucking with my head. I needed to stop before I got carried away, so I eased back and said, “I better get out of here.”
“Okay. You’re freezing. Go warm up.”
“I just did.”
I gave her a wink, and as I started walking back to my truck, she called out, “Text me later.”
“You can count on it.”
I gave her a wink, then went back and grabbed my tools. Once I was back in the truck, I glanced over at Grant’s place and found him staring out the window. I gave him a quick wave, then started the truck and drove home. It was late and had been a hell of a day, so I went straight to bed.
The next morning, I got up early and drove over to the construction site.
I’d barely gotten out of the truck when Guardrail came charging towards me.
I could tell by the look on his face he was about to tell me something I didn’t want to hear.
He inhaled a deep breath, then said, “The kid’s coming today.
I’m gonna need you and Torch to take him under your wing. ”
“Ah, man. Seriously?”
“I would do it myself, but I’ve gotta go pick up a load of lumber.”
“We’ll do it. No problem.”
“Don’t take it easy on the kid. He’s gonna be here a while. He’s gonna have to step up and do the work or…”
“Oh, he’ll do the work. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear. Thanks, brother.”
I grabbed my tool belt from the backseat, then went to track down Torch. I filled him in on Guardrail’s request, and he wasn’t exactly pleased with the news. “Ah, man. You gotta be shittin’ me.”
“We gotta do what we gotta do. No sense bitching about it.”
“Yeah, but why couldn’t they just get a prospect to hang with the guy?”
“I’m sure Guardrail had his reasons. Now, grab your shit, and let’s get to work.”
Torch nodded, then grabbed his things and followed me over to Beckett.
He was standing out front, and he looked like a pouting two-year-old as he stood there glaring at all the metal scaffolding and various tools.
I got that he was going through some shit, but I didn’t have time to coddle him.
“Alright, kid. You need to grab your toolbelt and come with us.”
“Where we going?”
“Upstairs to finish up some drywall.”
“But I don’t know how to do any of this shit.”
“You’ll learn.” I started through the door as I told him, “I’m Rooster, and this is Torch. We’re gonna show you the ropes.”
Beckett mumbled something inaudible as he followed behind me, and I wanted nothing more than to turn around and give him the riot act.
Torch, on the other hand, was much more patient than me and was able to keep a calm tone as he told him, "Look, I know this is a lot, and you probably don’t wanna be here, but we got a job to do here. And we could use your help.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.”
I led him to one of the back rooms that still needed some demolition work. I pointed to the sledgehammer and said, “You take that hammer and start demoing the walls.”
“I thought we were putting up drywall.”
“Torch and I are. You are doing the demo.”
“Whatever.”
Beckett walked over and grabbed the hammer, and fueled by a raw energy, he swung it with reckless abandon, demolishing walls and structures with an almost primal force.
Dust and debris scattered in every direction.
The once-sturdy walls crumbled under his relentless assault, leaving a mess that mirrored his chaotic temperament.
After a few swings, Beckett glanced over at us and asked, “How’s that?”
“Not bad.”
“Good.”
And just like that, we’d found a use for our moody guest.
It wasn’t what I would call a great day, but Beckett did as he promised and gave it his all. I couldn’t help but think that his visit here might do him some good after all.
For his sake, I hoped it did.
Only time would tell.