Page 102 of Homestead

“Jimmy, please. Mack saved your life. He saved all our lives. He’s a really good man, and accidentally killing that boy hurt him really bad. He hasn’t been himself since. He said a few days alone sounds great to him. So he can stay at our house for a little while and take care of our pigs and chickens. He said he’d do some work in the garden too. It will be fine.”

“Don’t they need to be getting home soon?”

“Rachel said they could stay another week. Hopefully by then we can get you home, assuming your leg is healing good.”

“Okay,” he mutters. He doesn’t appear thrilled, but he’s obviously not going to argue with what everyone else believes is an excellent plan. “It should work, I guess. Just don’t like another man in my house doin’ my work.” He narrows his eyes at me. “And don’t you be gettin’ any ideas ’bout him doin’ it better. I’m still your man even if I’m stuck in bed for a while.”

I burst into laughter at the final comment, and it evidently reassures Jimmy. His face softens.

“I know you’re my man.” I lean down to kiss him. “You’re the only man I ever want.”

“Good. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. So you’re goin’ with him?”

“Yes. We’ll walk there, but Amelia is coming too so I don’t have to be alone on the way back.”

“Okay, good.”

“And I was thinking I’d drive back the ATV. That way you can get home sooner since you won’t have to make the long walk.”

“Oh yeah. That’s a great idea. Maybe I could even go back tomorrow if I don’t gotta walk.”

“Not tomorrow. Don’t get ahead of yourself. But once it’s clear your leg is healing without infection, we can head back home.”

He mumbles to himself, but it’s mostly for show. He’s smiling when I get to the door and glance back over my shoulder.

“I love you, Jimmy,” I tell him.

“Love you too. Forever.”

18

Four days later,I drive the ATV back to our cabin in the morning so I can get things ready for Jimmy to come back home and collect Mack.

The past days have been long. Tedious. Jimmy has been in a bad mood about being stuck in bed, and I’ve been impatient to get back to our own home, our own kitchen, our own animals, our own bed.

I love his parents, but I don’t want to live with them.

Jimmy’s leg is healing well. We’ve been extra careful with keeping the wound clean and dry, and there’s no sign of infection. He’s mostly recovered from the blood loss and weakness. Yesterday he was like a caged bear all day. I had to give him a very quiet blow job just to take the edge off his mood.

He was a little better after that.

But I’m not going to be able to get him to stay in bed for much longer, so Greta and I agreed that today is the day. I’ll go out this morning to get the house and bed ready and pick up Mack. Then Jimmy and I will drive back home in the afternoon.

I’m excited, and the familiar road through the woods and ascent to the cabin feel like the embrace of an old friend.

Mack hears me drive up and comes to the front to greet me. He’s obviously been working in the garden. He’s got dirt on his hands, arms, shoes, and knees.

I’ve been hoping he’ll be back to his old self after the time to recover alone, but he’s not. He’s polite. Helpful as always. But he’s quiet and subdued—like the warm fire inside him is still snuffed.

It worries me, but I’m not sure what I can possibly do to help.

After he cleans up, he helps me change the sheets on the bed and check the food so I’ll know what I need to bring with us this afternoon from Greta’s pantry.

When we’re done, Mack packs up his stuff and then sits on the front step outside to wait for me to run to the outhouse.

He looks hunched and tired when I return to him, so I sit on the step beside him. He’s staring at an empty spot in the air.

I wish I knew what I could say to encourage him, to lighten his load. But I don’t really know him very well, and some things simply can’t be fixed with anything but time.

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