CHAPTER 33 #3
“Mike threatened to spank me,” Taylor replied, arms crossed over her chest, shivering. “He called me a bitch!”
Johnny frowned, then met Victor’s worried gaze.
“Mama always takes his side.” Taylor sniffed, running an arm across her face. “She said if I didn’t want to be called a bitch I wouldn’t act like one.”
“You shoulda just called me and let me sort it out,” Johnny said. “‘Stead of runnin’ off and stealin’ the dirtbike.”
“I didn’t steal it.”
“You know how dangerous it is for a ten-year-old to ride a damn dirtbike on the road? You didn’t think about that?”
“I rode it on back roads.”
“And what did you think you’d accomplish by comin’ here?”
Taylor faced the floor. “I dunno. Just didn’t want to be at home.”
“Girl…” Johnny sighed, flopping onto a chair. “Your mama’s been worried sick.”
“Then maybe she shouldn’t call me a bitch,” Taylor grumbled.
“No, she shouldn’t. But it don’t mean you risk your damn life.”
Taylor hugged her legs to her chest for a few seconds of silence, then said, “You ran away from home back when you were a kid, right?”
Johnny jolted, then scowled at Taylor. “Now don’t you bring that up.”
“Why not?”
“Sixteen is not ten, for one.”
“So? Doesn’t change nothin’.”
“Who told you I ran away from home?”
“Mama. She said you ran off to do rodeo. Maybe I can do that.”
Color left Johnny’s face. “Ain’t no way in hell you’re doin’ that.”
“Maybe not rodeo, but I could—”
“Could nothin’. You’re stayin’ in school ‘til you graduate.”
“I hate school! And I hate livin’ with Mama and Mike. I wanna live with you.”
“That ain’t happenin’.”
“Why not?” Taylor demanded angrily.
“Cuz I ain’t in any shape to be parentin’ a kid. Besides, I don’t think your mama would let you.”
“But—”
“We ain’t talkin’ about this right now,” Johnny snapped, jerking a finger at Taylor.
Taylor shrugged, face buried in her knees. Victor saw a few new tears form at the corners of her eyes before she vigorously wiped them away. Johnny had his arms crossed tightly over his chest, jaw set, staring resolutely forward.
Finally the thunder and rain faded, so Johnny stood up and opened the storm shelter door.
The sky had turned to light gray, and rain was only sprinkling now.
Johnny and Victor helped the dogs out of the shelter first, then Taylor.
When Victor saw that his barn was still standing, he let out a long breath he’d been holding.
However, it looked like part of the roof over the arena had been ripped off, and pieces of fence, metal siding, and tree branches were strewn across his driveway.
One of the trees on the other side of his house had been torn in two and flung twenty feet.
Another had split and landed on his roof, though it seemed the roof was still intact.
Two windows had shattered, and his bushes were a mess, but overall, the house escaped mostly unscathed.
The real victim of the storm was the outdoor arena—part of the wooden fence along the far side now sat in obliterated pieces across the barnyard.
Beyond it, a line of trees that marked a drainage ditch were equally reduced to slivers, marking the perimeter of where the tornado had passed.
“You really were on the edge of it,” Johnny said, observing the damage.
“What about your place?”
“I’ve been so worried about Taylor I haven’t thought about it. But it is a straight shot from my place to yours…” Johnny frowned. “Guess I should head home and check.”
“You taking Taylor with you?”
“I can. I’ll drop her off on the way.”
“I don’t want to go home,” Taylor muttered from several feet away, kneeling to pet Piper.
“Ain’t got another choice, kid.”
Taylor wrapped both arms around Piper, hiding her face in her fur. Victor hated to see her like this.
“What are you going to do about Taylor?” Victor asked, lowering his voice so he wouldn’t be overheard.
“Fuck if I know.” Johnny lifted a hand to scratch the back of his neck. “Lemme figure it out. You worry about cleaning this place up. You’ll probably wanna check on your horses.”
“Yeah.” The horse pastures were on the opposite side of the property as the arena, so he was hopeful they all weathered it, but the debris was a concern.
Who knew what the storm dumped into the pasture or pelted a horse with?
“But once you check your place and take Taylor home, can you please come back here so we can talk?”
Johnny shifted from foot to foot, clearly not loving the idea. “Yeah, alright.”
“Not just about us, but about the Taylor situation.”
“Can’t blame her for bein’ a little crazy. If I’d had a dirtbike at her age…” Johnny sighed. “I’m gonna get goin’. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
Johnny took a step away, but Victor grabbed his hand and pulled him back.
“What?” Johnny asked.
Victor dragged him close enough that Victor could lift Johnny’s hand to his mouth, kiss his knuckles, and squeeze before releasing him. “Stay safe.”
Johnny’s face turned red, and he twisted away before he nodded. “Alright.”
It hurt to let go of his hand, but Victor didn’t have any other choice.