Chapter 2
Owen pulled into the driveway and saw Rucker, Gunny’s daughter, run out to greet him.
“Owen,” she exclaimed. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you. It must be..”
“Ten years,” he finished. “It’s nice to see you again, Rucker.” A man eyed him up and down, and as he wrapped an arm around his childhood friend.
“Jake, meet Owen. We used to play together when our dads got together,” she said.
Jake shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m sorry to hear about your father.”
Owen acknowledged the comment before he turned to Rucker. “Where’s Gunny?”
“He’s in the bar. JoJo and Max volunteered to help him get supper on the table. You arrived in time.”
“Ha. According to Gunny, if I’m not early, I’m late,” he said as he grabbed his bag from his truck.
“Hope you’re hungry. I guess he thought a couple of your brothers might come with you,” she said, leading him to the bar.
“Elias will meet me tomorrow afternoon,” he informed her as Gunny came out of the kitchen.
“You’re late,” Gunny said, placing the platters on the table next to him, shaking Owen’s hand, and pulling him into a manly hug.
“It’s nice to see you again, Gunny.”
“I’m glad you came,” he said, sounding relieved. “I didn’t want to have Jake and Max haul your ass down here. How did your brothers take the news?”
“They’re assholes, except Elias. He’s the only one who didn’t hang up on me,” Owen said sheepishly.
“They’ll be here soon enough,” Gunny said, picking up the platters and taking them to a large table in the back.
Owen didn’t have the heart to tell him no one else planned to come.
“Why don’t I show you to your room while Dad and JoJo get dinner on the table?” Rucker suggested.
“Thanks,” he felt relieved he didn’t have to stand around making small talk. After all, he spent most of his time on the mountain alone, going months without seeing a soul. Today marked the first time he spoke to anyone in four months.
He followed Rucker upstairs and into one of the rooms. “I placed clean towels in the bathroom across the hallway for you. I gave you the blue ones. One of the bathrooms has a plumbing issue, and we’re sharing until the part arrives.”
“I’ll be sure to use the blue ones,” he said as he set his bag on the bed. “Thanks for putting me up tonight.”
“I’m sorry about your dad. He visited Gunny about a month ago. I’ve never seen him upset before. Gunny took him to his office, and when they came out, he seemed better, but something seemed…off.”
Owen peered at Rucker. His father rarely showed his emotions. Her words didn’t make sense.
“Did Gunny say why he seemed upset?”
“No. You know how it is. What one brother says to another remains confidential,” Rucker reminded him. “Wash up and come downstairs. I’m sure Gunny will answer all your questions.”
“Yeah. Thanks, Rucker. I appreciate the info,” he said before she left him.
Owen walked across the hall to the bathroom.
Splashing water on his face, he gazed at his image in the mirror.
Ten years went by in a flash. It seemed like a long time to hold a grudge, but the Wolfe family were known for their stubbornness.
The memory of the night his life fell apart rushed forward.
The boys trampled down the stairs as Mom called them down for breakfast.
“Come on, Elias, you know your dad will make you run the mountain if you're late again. Mason, you’d better have your homework in your bag. Dillon, help Wyatt with his shirt, or he’ll stretch it out trying to get it over his cast. Oh, Owen, can you be an angel and set the table?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said sullenly. “Mom, I need to tell you something.”
Holly Wolfe stopped, turned off the stove, and put down the spatula.
“What’s the matter, Owen?” she said, sitting in one of the kitchen chairs and smoothing the hair away from her son’s eyes. “You need a haircut.”
“I went out with Leslie on Saturday. We went to the movies. When we walked out, I saw Dad across the street,” he confessed, knowing his mom knew what he referred to.
“I see,” she said quietly. “Did he notice you?”
“No, ma’am. He was drunk. I started to cross the street when a woman grabbed his arm and said she’d take him home. I waited for him to return, but I haven’t seen him.”
Holly rose from the chair and kissed his head. “Go to school, Owen. Take Mason and Wyatt with you. I’ll drive the others down. Thank you for telling me the truth.”
“What about you?” he asked, searching his mother’s eyes.
“We’ll be fine, son. Everything will work out. I don’t know what I’ll do when you ship out in two weeks. You’ve grown up and taken on responsibilities no kid should have to. Maybe it’s the reason you feel the need to go out and save the world. I’m proud of you, baby boy.”
“Mom,” he complained as she ruffled his hair.
“Rustle your brothers for breakfast. It appears we have carpool duty,” she said, placing the eggs on the table.
“Get your butts in here,” Owen yelled. “If I have to come in there, you’re walking to school.”
His brothers raced to the table, and Owen handed the plates to Dillon while Mason took the OJ from the fridge. Elias grabbed the glasses while Cade pulled out the silverware. Wyatt sat down, and his mom handed him a bowl of hot oatmeal with blueberries and strawberries.
“Mom, you make enough stuff to feed all of us. It’s time Wyatt ate whatever everyone else eats,” Owen said, gazing angrily at his brother.
“Calm down,” she said, squeezing his arm. “Wyatt doesn’t like eggs, and he needs proper nutrition to heal the bones in his arm. Plus, he’ll need it while he builds me a new ladder for the hay loft.”
Wyatt stuck out his tongue at his brother as he scooped up oatmeal with his good hand.
“I saw that,” Holly warned her son, proving moms did have eyes in the back of their heads.
As soon as they finished, Owen made them clean their plates and put them in the dishwasher.
He pulled his mom aside. “Will you be all right?”
“I’ll be fine. It’s not the first time I’ve retrieved your father from the bar. Promise me you won’t turn to alcohol to ease the pain of whatever you see during your service. Your dad wrestles demons too big for us to understand. I don’t want you to suffer the same way.”
“I promise. Do you want me to stay home today?”
“No. You and your brothers need to go to school, Mr. College Graduate.”
He grinned as he turned to his brother, barking orders to help his mom until he left. In his eyes, Holly Wolfe resembled a saint.
In the evening, his father strolled into the living room. His eyes roamed over the boys until they landed on Owen.
“Did you out me to your mother?” he growled.
“If you came home, I wouldn’t have to,” Owen said stiffly. “Mom runs everything, and you take off to the bar. How about you stay here and watch my brothers for a change?”
Wyatt jumped up from the floor and ran to get Mom.
“It’s none of your business,” Jeremiah growled. “You think you’re some big man. You have a girlfriend, you’re graduating next week, and shipping out to see the world. Let me tell you, it’s not as big as you think. There are bad people everywhere.”
“I agree. But I intend to find them, not drown myself in a bottle,” Owen pushed, hating his dad’s condescending tone.
“You little shit,” he said, grabbing Owen by the scruff of his neck.
Dillon and Cade jumped in, separating the two.
“Dad, why don’t you show me what you’re working on in the barn?” Dillon said as Cade held Owen back.
“Dude, why did you have to start this? You know how he gets,” Cade seethed. “We won’t get to finish watching the show.”
Jeremiah launched at him, determined to teach him a lesson. Cade yelled, and Dillon tried to pull him off. Wyatt came back and held a gun on his dad.
“Leave Owen alone,” he demanded.
“Where did you find my gun?” Jeremiah asked as he let go of Owen, letting him drop to the floor. “If you point my own weapon at me, you’d better be prepared to use it.”
Wyatt’s arms shook, and he switched hands due to his cast. “Don’t come any closer.”
“Wyatt, hand me the gun,” Owen said firmly. “Dad won’t hurt me. He’s drunk.” He slowly approached his brother, holding out his hand. “Where’s Mom?”
Wyatt swiped at the tears trailing down his cheeks. “I can’t find her.”
“Give the weapon to me, and I’ll take care of it,” he told his younger brother.
His hand clasped around the barrel, enraging his dad. Owen pushed Wyatt out of the way.
“Mason, get them out,” Owen commanded as he wrestled his dad for the gun. “Call the police.”
He heard his brothers running. Wyatt screamed and cried while Dillon yelled at the top of his lungs for Mom.
His dad refused to let go, and rage filled him as Owen tried to push him to the ground.
“You don’t know anything. You have no idea about what I’ve seen,” his dad spat as they fought.
The gun went off, firing twice before Owen managed to get it from him. He bent, holding his hand to his knees, grateful no one got hurt.
“Owen,” Mason screamed in terror. Wyatt’s hysterical cry followed, sending him running upstairs.
He found his mom in the hallway holding her hand to her stomach. Mason held Wyatt as they watched her sink to the floor. Her eyes grew wide as she turned her gaze to Owen.
“Did you call the police?” he asked his brothers as he dropped to her side. He took off his shirt and held it to the wound.
“They’re on the way,” Mason said, his voice shaking.
“It’s all right, Mom. Help’s coming,” he said, trying to stop the bleeding.
“Holly?” Jeremiah called, rushing to his wife’s side. “Oh my God, what have I done?”
Holly gazed at Owen and smiled. Her hand cupped his cheek. “Go be brave, my baby boy. No matter what, you ship out. Promise me.”
“Yeah,” he said, vowing anything as long as she kept talking. “Yeah.”
Her head turned toward her husband of twenty-three years. “You must care for the boys, Jeremiah. You’re not at war anymore. They’ll need you now more than ever.”
“I’m sorry, Holly,” his dad whispered. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“Find a way to live with those monsters, and I’ll forgive you,” she said weakly.