Page 4 of Bronx

"I'm just parking," I lied. It would give me a few quiet minutes to myself. The quiet was shorter than I'd hoped. My phone rang the second I sent the text.

"Hey, David, what's up?"

"Hey, Jack. Just checking in on my little bro. Heard Vick's surgery went all right."

"Not sure how any surgery that took out half your guts could be all right, but you know Vick. He's tough as nails." I stared out the window and watched as two kids dragged an inflatable raft, unwieldy and fighting them all the way, to the rinse off showers. They were giggling as the raft fought them at every turn and wind gust. Those kid days were far behind now, but I sure as hell missed them. Sometimes, it felt as if adulthood was just one smack down after another.

"What did the doctor say about his prognosis?" David's voice pulled me back to the conversation. "I didn't ask Mom cause you know how she gets, all teary and sniffly. Just can't deal with that emotional stuff right now. I've got problems of my own."

With my older brother, it was almost always about his problems. So much so that he couldn't even find the time to visit Vick after his cancer diagnosis. The man had been the only real father either of us ever had, but David couldn't make the effort.

The music was loud enough that David could hear it through my phone. "Where are you at? A party? Oh wait, that's right. Mom told me it was to celebrate that you and King are no longer rookie smokejumpers. Congratulations. I wasn't sure you had it in you. Guess I underestimated my little brother."

Just like I overestimated my big brother was what I wanted to say to him, but I mutteredthanksinstead.

"Hey listen, Jack, I'll let you go. I just had a little request." And here it came, his usual motive for calling. I knew it wasn't just to shoot the breeze or congratulate me on surpassing his expectations as a firefighter. "I'm coming up short this month, and I've got to pay my rent. Suzy lost her job at the bank, big layoffs everywhere. Do you think you could shoot a few hundred bucks my way? I'll pay you back." He had borrowed money for the past four years. He hadn't paid back a dime, but I didn't care. He was my brother. What the hell else was I supposed to do?

"Yeah, how much? Three hundred?"

"Actually, if you could spare five hundred that would be awesome. I'll get it back to you just as soon as I can."

"Yep. Well, I need to get to this party, guest of honor and all that. I'll send the money over right now."

"Thanks, bro, I really appreciate it." He hung up. That was the extent of the conversation, a short greeting and a few statements that made him feel good because he was asking about the rest of us even though he couldn't give a damn, then straight to the money. I opened my bank account. The transfer to his bank account was all set up because it was easier that way. I sent off five hundred bucks just as the phone rang again. It seemed I was in especially high demand this morning. This time it was Mom, so I answered fast.

"Hey, Mom, everything all right?"

"Yes, everything is fine." Her voice sounded as if nothing was fine and as if nothing would ever be fine again. Vick Devlin had saved all our lives, and now we were watching the once vital, strong man, a guy who could handle a bucking bronco like it was a helpless puppy, wither away as a rotten disease got the best of him.

"I just got to the lake. What's up?"

"I hate to keep you from your little party—" To my mom, a party still meant a bunch of us hanging out together, listening to the radio, sipping that horrid red punch and eating cupcakes. I hadn't stepped through the trees but considering the slamming music and the loud voices thundering across the parking lot, I was pretty sure punch and cupcakes weren't on the menu. "Vick is up. He's a little groggy," she whispered loudly, as an afterthought. "He'd like to speak to you. Do you have time?"

"Sure. Put him on." I'd spent the night in the chair at the hospital. My neck and back reminded me of that every time I moved even the slightest bit. I'd hoped to talk to Vick when he was more awake and lucid, but he was so out of it he thought we were standing out in his barn. He kept reminding me that Arrow needed new shoes and that Rebel needed to be turned out because he was getting antsy in his stall.

"Hey, Bronx." Vick had been the first to start using my nickname. He told me I'd earned it for breaking more colts than any cowboy he ever rode with. He was always good about recognizing my accomplishments. He was also just as good at letting me know when I'd done something wrong. He had far greater influence on my character than anyone else. I was sure if David hadn't already been off on his own by the time we moved to Vick's ranch, he would have turned out differently. At least, that was the younger brother in me still holding on to that big brother pedestal David had fallen off of long ago.

"Hey, Dad, how are you feeling? Those docs gave it to you good, huh? I'm sorry I wasn't there when you woke up."

"Nah, nah, that's all right." It was impossible to believe the thin, reedy voice coming through the phone was the man who raised me. Back on the ranch, he could bellow my name, and I could hear it no matter what corner of the thirty acres I was standing on. A groan of pain rolled through the phone. "Boy oh boy, don't think the doctors left much inside of me. Guess I've lived a good life, so what the hell."

"No, don't say that. You're sticking around for a lot longer." Even as I said it my gut twisted with the reality that his prospects weren't good.

"Hey, Bronx, kiddo, I need to ask a favor. Looks like I'll be back in this hellhole next month for a second surgery." He chuckled but it was weak and pained. "Guess they didn't take enough of me yet. I've got Rick watching the horses while I'm off my feet, but he's got to head across the country to a wedding next month. Do you think you could take some time off and keep an eye on the horses?"

"You know what? I've got some time coming up. I'm sure I could swing it. Don't worry about the horses. I'll take care of them. I look forward to some time at the ranch. Might be just what I need."

"Thanks, buddy, I knew I could count on you." I'd heard the same words from him many times, but this time they hit me like a punch in the chest. Wasn't fair that such a good guy had to suffer and leave this world so early.

I heard my mom's admonishment in the background about him using up all his energy to talk about horses.

"Got to go. Your mom is giving me an earful. See you soon?" he asked, hopefully.

"Yep, as long as those hillsides aren't burning just try keeping me away."

"Bye, son," he said quietly. It was rare for him to call me son, but I always felt it in everything he said and did.

I hung up and rested back, only to discover the seat was already getting too hot to sit against. Even though the last few minutes on my phone, starting with the short, cold text from Carly and ending with Vick's heartbreakingly unfamiliar voice, had left me feeling less like a party and more like a bottle of whiskey, I opened the door and climbed out.

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