Chapter 22 Zach
Zach
The demand to return the violin never came when he advised Colton’s grandfather what it was worth.
“I’ll be kicked by a mule,” was all he said before handing it back to Zach.
Everyone buzzed with excitement, but from what he could hear, it wasn’t about the priceless violin, it was because he was going to play it for everyone.
“This is special,” Colton said. “We don’t get to play together as a family often.”
Zach left the violin with the sheriff, not that anyone in the house would take it, and made his way to the kitchen. Nanette, Betty, Maddie, and two women Zach never met were hard at work when he entered.
“Zach,” Nanette said, and everyone turned. “Did you need something?”
The way everyone looked at him, he thought he’d interrupted a private meeting. “No ma’am, but with all the family here, I thought you could use an extra set of hands. I can’t cook, but I can carry and fetch.”
“You’re a guest.” She smiled and shooed him off. “Go sit with the others.”
He didn’t like sitting around with nothing to do. It gave him too much time to think. Too much thinking made him moody and sad, and he wouldn’t do that today. “The way you and your family have treated me, I don’t feel like a guest.”
“I know, and I love you for wanting to help, but if you don’t mind, my grandson Tyler is dying to meet you.” She smiled. “He’s been waiting since he got here.”
She always asked him to entertain family with his fiddle. It reminded him of something his grandfather told him about using people right: ‘Ain’t no sense usin’ a sledge when a tap’ll do.’ Zach was good at keeping people busy, so they didn’t get in the way of those doing real work.
“Sure. But….”
“What?” She gave him a concerned gaze.
It was probably stupid, but the way everyone acted, he didn’t think they truly understood. “Are you sure it’s okay to play the violin Mr. Hanlon gave me? It’s… it’s one of a kind.”
“If you don’t play that one, Jerry is gonna fuss and grumble all day.” Betty said with a smirk. “He’s mighty proud of himself for buying a world-famous violin for a hundred dollars.”
Zach’s eyes nearly burst from his head. “He bought it for a hundred dollars?”
“He did.” Betty chuckled. “I damn near skinned him alive for spending so much on a useless fiddle. Fifty years ago, a hundred dollars was a lot of money for us to spend on something we didn’t need.”
“It’s like that show where people find junk in their attic and bring it to the people to look at,” Maddie said. “Everyone is hoping they have a priceless antique and almost no one does.”
Before Zach could answer, a gangly tween in new Wranglers and cowboy boots rushed in the kitchen. “Mawmaw…?”
He skidded to a halt a few feet from Zach and stared up with awe in his face.
“Tyler, this is Zachariah,” Nanette said.
Holding out his hand, Zach smiled and said, “Nice meeting you, Tyler. I hear you’re a darn fine fiddle player. Would you mind if we played a bit?”
“Me?” Tyler looked to Nanette, who gave him a nod and a gentle smile. Tyler bounced a little on his toes. “Yes, sir. That would be… I mean, for real?”
God, was this kid for real?
Colton snorted. “Lord, you’re famous now. Go on, kiddo, grab your fiddle and come play.”
“Colton!” Tyler’s face went bright red. “Jeez!”
Then the kid disappeared in a flash.
Nanette rolled her eyes, but she was laughing softly. “Be nice, Colton. He’s only a baby.”
“Bah, he’ll be dating before you know it.”
Nanette snapped a kitchen towel at Colton, and it sounded like she’d cracked a whip. “Hush you! Jesus, don’t wish that on us yet.”
Then everyone in the kitchen, except Zach, laughed.
Zach demonstrated with his fingers again, and when Tyler nodded, the two drew their bows in unison. After a couple more notes to get in sync, they set into a quick, feisty song Grandpa had taught Zach. Never told him the name or the composer, but it was good for getting the fingers moving quick.
When they’d made one circuit, Colton started to play softly in the background. Tyler lost his spot at Colton’s surprise return. He’d left close to an hour ago when Zach stopped to show Tyler something. One something led to a few things, and Colton must’ve gotten tired of doing nothing.
“Colt,” Tyler said. “You surprised me.”
“Sorry, kiddo.” He didn’t sound sorry to Zach. “Mawmaw said to wash up. You two can play for the family after supper.”
Tyler’s face lost some color.
Zach experienced that stomach-twisting sensation when he was told to perform for the first time. “We got this, Ty.”
“Right.” Tyler didn’t sound so sure, but he put his instrument in the case and dashed off.
He watched Tyler leave and wondered if that was what having a younger sibling felt like. Probably not, or at least not all the time. “He’s a good kid. I can’t believe he sat through an hour of that.”
“Tyler loves to play.” Colton shrugged. “That and he’d have to watch his younger siblings and cousins if he wasn’t with you.”
This was probably a classic, ‘whatever you didn’t have was better than what you did’ but Zach wasn’t sure. Carefully, Zach put the violin back into the case and said, “I was always the youngest, so I don’t know if that’s worse for a twelve-year-old than practicing.”
A moody expression clouded Colton’s face and Zach regretted his words. “Me neither, but I had lots of cousins so trust me, practice is better.”
Another random person, not much younger than Zach, wandered through. He had an apple in his hand and popped it off his bicep. “Baseball is better than music. Anytime.”
Colton rolled his eyes and winked at Zach. “Football is better than baseball, Dub.”
“Lunkhead. Is not!” Dub gave Colton a wicked glance.
Colton chuckled. “Dub here is a pitcher for his high school team.”
“Number one starting pitcher.” He chomped a bite from the apple and used the back of his hand to wipe the juice dribbling down his chin.
Having never been to high school or even seen a baseball game, Zach looked to Colton for help. “That’s good, right?”
“Yeah.” Colton smiled. “Means he’s their best pitcher. Anyone scout you this year?”
“Gonzaga, Oregon State, Washington State, Lewis-Clark State, and a bunch of piddly-ass little schools I wouldn’t sign with.”
The way he rattled off the schools, Zach assumed they were important. “That’s great. Good luck getting into the one you want.”
The hard edge on the teen softened. “Thanks. Uncle Ted said he wants to see you, Colton. You too.” He nodded to Zach, took another bite, and strode out of the room.
“Don’t mind him, honey. Wayne’s seventeen and thinks he’s king shit because he’s a senior this year.”
Zach had never thought about going to college. He’d been homeschooled his entire life, and his grandfather never discussed things like college or what Zach would do with his life.
“You okay?” Colton put a hand on Zach’s upper back and rubbed slowly. “You look a little lost.”
The contact made Zach all wonky. It felt good, reassuring even, but it set his blood on fire. Christ, he wanted Colton to strip him naked, touch him everywhere, and… “I’m fine,” he said stiffly.
“Did I cross a line?” Colton pulled his hand back.
Life had been simpler when Grandpa had been alive and running the show. Zach never stayed long enough in any place to get attached to someone. He also didn’t think about his future beyond the next show, and things like crossing a line didn’t occur to him.
“Hell no,” he said in a whisper thick with lust. “I want you to, but you don’t. That’s the problem.”
“We’ll get there. Just be patient.” Colton blushed, but he put his hand back and rubbed for a few more seconds. “Besides, there’s no chance we could do anything here and now.
The fact he knew that and flirted anyway made it worse. “I’m trying to, Colton, but it’s not easy. I’m nineteen and this too-hot-for-words guy is inches out of reach.”
Colton sucked in a breath and let it out. “I’ll get us there soon, honey. I promise.”
Knowing Colton wanted him back only made it worse, but they couldn’t do anything with a house full of family. “I trust you.”
Zach looked around and darted in for a quick peck on the stubbled cheek. “Let’s go find your uncle.”
The ‘nothing special’ dinner had been some of the best food Zach had ever eaten. With all the family together, they filled five picnic tables with no room to spare.
Maddie sat on his right and Colton to his left. Wedged in, Zach almost purred in happiness. Four days ago he’d been worried about how to get away. Now, he needed to figure out how to stay and keep Maddie with him. Even the thought of her leaving made his stomach twist.
She was laughing with Nanette, the sound relaxed and free, so perfectly open. If anyone thought it odd these two strangers were sitting with the family, Zach had seen no sign of it.
Probably because Nanette ruled things. And if Jerry and Ted didn’t care, who was going to tell them they were wrong?
Zach ate more than he should have, but real food, not cooked in a truck or at a greasy spoon diner was a treat. He felt ready to bust when Nanette rustled up the family to clear the table. When he tried to help, she put a finger to his chest.
“Nope. Jerry called this whole picnic so you could play with the family. You and Tyler go help him set up.” She smiled and gave him a wink. “I told you from day one, keeping Jerry happy is the best thing you can do. And you’ve been an angel doing it.”
Colton hovered at his elbow. “Don’t worry, honey, this is how it’s always been.
Sometimes it’s best to let things be.” He rubbed Zach’s back for a second.
“Let’s go save Tyler and help Grandpa set up.
There’s more than a few amateur musicians in the family, so be prepared to tell them what you need. ”
Suddenly Zach wished he’d been allowed to clean up. Grandpa used to handle the show; Zach just did as he was told. Sure, he’d told the others to get on point, but always with Grandpa’s authority hanging over him.
“Okay.” It sounded as unsure as he felt.