Chapter 7 Forest
forest
Sterling Ridge was like most small towns. It was comforting in a way because I knew what to expect. There were hardly any surprises, and it was nice knowing almost everyone. There was a sense of kinship that I loved because it gave me a feeling of belonging without having to lay down deep roots.
Not all towns brought you into the fold, but working at the ranch, people were more trusting of me.
It also helped that I knew Nova, who the town had a soft spot for, especially the older ladies at the salon she worked at.
One haircut with a little bit of flirting and I was in with the granny crew, who were a hoot.
I stepped into the salon wondering what gossip I would hear and who would try and set me up with their daughter this time. These grannies were a boost to my ego and maybe I didn't need it, but I wasn't going to turn down the praise.
“Hey, Forest,” Michelle, the front desk girl said.
“Hey, Michelle,” I said.
“Nova is almost done with Blanche,” she said.
“Perfect,” I said, peeking onto the salon floor. “Mind if I say hello to the old broad?”
She chuckled. “Sure, I’m sure she’d love to see you.”
“Thanks.” I grinned at her.
Nova was shaking her head as Blanche said something and I was pretty sure it was something scandalous. That woman was my spirit animal, she wasn’t afraid to say what was on her mind and her mind was dirtier than my own.
“Hello, gorgeous,” I said, walking up to them.
“Oh, hello, stud muffin,” Blanche purred and I flexed my chest a bit.
This spunky lady was too good for the ego.
“Hello, Forest,” Nova said, shaking her head at me.
“Hey, Nova,” I said, winking.
“You know, Nova, having four men isn’t a bad thought,” Blanche said, raising her eyebrows suggestively.
I barked a laugh.
“Blanche,” Nova gasped. “I am perfectly fine with three men.”
“You’re right, no home for his pecker unless you have a fourth hole—”
“Alright, up you go,” Nova interrupted her, turning bright red.
“Blanche, you bad girl,” I tsked, helping her up.
“I can’t help it.” She grinned mischievously as I escorted her to the blow dryers.
“You guys are a menace, and I’m gonna tell Michelle to stop scheduling your appointments so close together.” Nova followed us.
“Don’t you dare, child,” Blanche glared at Nova as she sat down. “Forest is a breath of fresh air in this stuffy town, much like you were when you first moved here.”
“Were? Gee, thank you, you little shit”,” Nova said.
Blanche cackled. “You know I love you, darling.”
“Fine, whatever.” Nova rolled her eyes, but I saw her amusement, and I knew she loved Blanche. “Forest, go get Blanche a drink while I clean up.”
“Yes ma’am,” I said, as Nova left us. “What would you like?”
“One of those sparkly fruity drinks with a shot of whatever you have in that flask,” she ordered.
“Just a little, last time I swear you almost got us caught.” I shook my head.
“Come on, we had some fun,” she laughed, as I walked away.
The fun she was talking about was us walking down the street after finishing my flask and her propositioning the sheriff while he was on duty saying we could blow his mind among other things.
It was hilarious, but I was also slightly scared we might be arrested for public intoxication, but apparently, Blanche got away with a lot.
I brought her back a drink with a splash of tequila as Gladys sat down next to her.
“Hello, Cowboy,” she purred.
“Hello, beautiful,” I winked. “How are you?”
“Oh, I’m just fine, now,” she grinned. “How’s the ranch treating you?”
“I love it,” I said truthfully. “I love it and all my mamas and their babies. We just had another heifer deliver a calf.”
“Ever think of living in the city?” Gladys asked as Blanche narrowed her eyes at her.
“No ma’am, I don’t think city life is for me,” I said, wondering what she was getting at.
“Too bad, my granddaughter is beautiful.” Gladys smirked.
“Is this the same granddaughter that drove her Volkswagen buggy into the lake last year?” Blanche scoffed.
“It was an accident—”
“Listen, Forest, she is a hot mess,” Blanche said.
“She is not,” Gladys snapped.
“You better run before they drag you into their fighting,” Nova said.
She didn’t have to tell me twice so I turned around, leaving the old ladies to duke it out however they wished to.
Maybe I should take the drink away from Blanche before she got violent.
I wouldn’t put it past her to hit Gladys with her heavy-ass purse.
Glancing behind me I expected to see the ladies getting mad at each other, but they were laughing, sharing the drink I had given her.
I laughed. “Are they always like that?”
“You don’t even know half of it,” Nova chuckled. “I swear they are the weirdest set of friends I have ever met. They fight more often than not, but it’s like their love language.”
“I mean if it works for them, who are we to say anything,” I said, sitting down.
“They haven’t killed each other yet so I think we are safe to assume they won’t,” Nova said, looking over at them.
“Hey, Nova,” Michelle came over. “You think it would be ok if Webber stopped by?”
“Uh, now?” Nova scowled.
“No, sorry I meant after Blanche,” Michelle said.
“Yeah, tell him to be early and it's gonna be quick, if not, squeeze him in tomorrow,” Nova said, putting the cape on me.
“Ok, he desperately needs a cut,” Michelle stated. “He’s looking rough.”
“I know,” Nova sighed. “He needs to get out and about too.”
“Ok, I’ll let him know,” Michelle said, “And that he needs to get out more.”
“Tell him I said it with love,” Nova smiled.
Michelle chuckled.
“Alright, Ranchie, what are we doing today?” Nova ran her hands through my hair.
“The usual,” I said. “Maybe a little shorter on the sides since it's getting hot as hell.”
“We still like the length on top?” She ran her hands through my hair again and I could have started purring.
“Yup, but if you want to keep scratching my head for a little longer, I’d be ok with that.” I closed my eyes and leaned into her touch.
She chuckled. “I charge twice as much for my head scratches.”
“Take my credit card,” I said, reaching for my wallet when she smacked my shoulder. “But I don’t want to make you late for Webber.”
Nova started to cut my hair, and I was hoping she would comment on Webber. I was pretty sure that was Jude’s best friend's name, and I needed to know more. Did Jude know he was here? How long had he been here? How did I ask without…asking? You think I would have mastered nosy to a science.
I spent the rest of the appointment attempting to find ways to ask, but I was a chicken shit.
I ended up resorting to letting the old ladies do the work for me.
Blanche said she would get me all the tea and call me later.
Never underestimate the elderly, especially when they have time and boredom to fight off.
As I got in my truck a man with a baseball cap and in crutches hobbled past me and I knew it was Jude’s best friend. A protective instinct flared in me. I wanted to get out of my car and say something to him, like get his shit together and make up with Jude who had looked sad since April.
He turned to open the door and as he did, I caught a glimpse of his profile.
Something about him felt familiar and I tried to wrack my brain where I had seen him or if I had seen him with Jude.
He was a hockey player. I was sure I had seen him on TV before.
Once you had seen a few, you'd seen them all right?
My phone rang as I watched him, glancing quickly, I saw my sister's number pop up. Sending her straight to voicemail, I looked up, but he was already in the salon. I huffed, so annoyed. I started my truck, glancing at the salon and resisting the urge to go back in. That nagging feeling I knew him from somewhere bothered me, but I grabbed my phone, shooting a text to Jude. I hadn’t seen him in a while and the last time we were together things were going great, until he received that call about his friend.
Maybe he needed a distraction as much as I did.
We could get lost in each other for a while and then I’d move along just like always.
It was how I had survived, and how I would keep surviving.