Page 61 of Rocky Ride

“I don’t think he would’ve hurt me, Billy,” said Sunday. “You should’ve let me talk to him.” She stomped inside and went straight upstairs to her room.

Billy shook his head. “That ain’t normal, Harlan. We’ve got to watch her close.”

“Copy that.”

Chapter Thirteen

Friday, October 25th.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

The house was cold when me and Virge got up. We slept upstairs and there was more heat downstairs. We had lots of quilts, but when we were forced to get out of bed, it was tough going.

“I can see my breath up here,” said Virge. “Listen to the fuckin wind. It’s gonna be a bitch out there today.”

“The horses will be cold. I wonder if their water froze overnight again.”

“Dad put a trouble light over the line and that might’ve helped,” said Virge. “Let’s go see how they’re doing.”

New snow was blowing around as we ran from the house to the barn. Once we were inside the barn and out of the wind, it was better, but not warm at all.

“Let’s put two blankets on them for today,” said Virge.

“Yeah, we could. What if we can’t get to Shelby tonight for the movies?”

“Shit.” Virge made a scary face. “Don’t even say that, Harlan. We have to take the girls out. We fuckin promised them. If we don’t come through, we’ll never get a second fuckin date.”

“Yeah, but if the roads are closed, there won’t be much we can do.”

Virge put his hands over his ears so he couldn’t hear me. “I’m not listening to that shit, Harlan. It has to work out after all the effort we put into getting these fuckin dates.”

The horses were okay when we left them, but I planned to drive home in the middle of the day to check on them. Thetemperature was dropping fast. Colder now than when we went to the barn according to the outside thermometer.

Fuck.

Things were icy cold in the kitchen too. Sunday wasn’t talking to Billy and Dad shrugged when I cast him a glance. He didn’t know what was going on and he wasn’t asking. He was leaving it alone.

I figured she was still pissed about the bear thing. Billy making her come in and saving her life n’all.

“Dress warm today, boys. Parkas, hats and gloves. Don’t worry about how y’all look. I don’t want anybody with frozen fingers or toes. We might get accident calls. That kind of day.”

We drank hot coffee after breakfast, and it went down good. “How bad is the storm gonna be?” asked Virge. “Hope it’s over before me and Harlan go on our date.”

Travis chuckled. “Y’all might have to give those girls a raincheck.”

“No, Dad,” said Virge. “Tell me that’s not gonna happen. It took me so fuckin long to ask Vicki out. I bet she won’t go out with me again if I have to raincheck her.”

“Sure, she will,” said Billy. “If the roads are closed, what are you gonna do about it, son?”

“Something,” said Virge. “I’m doing something.”

“You gonna take her out on the tractor with the snowplow on the front?” asked Billy.

Dad and Billy both chuckled at that one.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

Travis perched his butt on the corner of Billy’s desk and told him about his conversation with Mark Garson up at the customs office. “They never heard of Dan Darkers, so he’s all ours if we want him.”

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