Page 24 of Tommy

Sully two-finger saluted. “Reporting for duty. That’s what I’m here for.”

“Great. Let’s go get the kid.” I grabbed my fur-lined coat and slipped it over my arms.

Tommy was up and ready when we reached the cabin. Bright eyed and big smiles. He answered the door before I could even knock. “Look,” he said, spinning on the spot. “Layered, but not too many layers, and I’ve got the thick socks on, and scarf. So, you don’t need to tell me anything.”

“And how are your legs?” I asked. “I’m surprised you’re walking fine.”

Sully sputtered approaching behind with the dogs. “What’s supposed to be wrong with his legs?”

His face froze, maybe from the cold, as he looked out to see a guest on the ranch

“Yesterday, we went out on the horses, Tommy clocked some bruises on his inner thighs,” I said. “I thought they’d be painful this morning. I was half-expecting to check in on you and then let you stay in the cabin all day.”

“I thought you were going to bring him to the main house because of the storm,” Sully said.

“No,” I said, cutting off the idea immediately. “That was something you said. Tommy is just fine in the cabin.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m good here,” he said. “And my thighs are great, thanks for asking. In fact, there’s barely any bruising there at all. I’d show you, but I’m not getting undressed again.”

“Oh, I’m Sully,” he said, extending a hand out. “Here as an extra hand.”

“Tommy,” he said. “Here to get away from myself, I think.”

“And I’m trying to get some work done,” I said. “If you’re ready, let’s go.”

As Tommy stepped out of the cabin, I noticed a little hesitation with each of his steps. He’d lied to me. He hadn’t healed up overnight. I was willing to believe him because he hadn’t lied so blatantly to me before. I didn’t mention it to him, but it was pretty obvious since he was a couple paces behind both of us. Even Rusty was faster than him, and he was pretty old.

Reaching the barn, we both turned to watch him stomp through the snowy path.

“There’s no way he’s not suffering,” Sully remarked.

“Not just me thinking that then.”

“Oh no, he’s trying to prove something,” he added. “Maybe to you. Or himself, who knows.”

“A lot more snow today,” Tommy called out, almost like he could hear us discussing him. “You go inside, I’ll be right there.”

I was enjoying the view, watching him almost tuck his hand under his knee, pick it up and then move it. He moved faster with us both stood in front of the barn, unmoving. I was using the guise of politeness to wait on him, but really, just wanted to see how much more of it he could take before he crumbled under the pressure of telling us the truth.

Reaching us and out of breath, Tommy shrugged. “Don’t know how you did it so fast,” he said. “So, what have we got to do today?” He looked to both of us. “Are horses on the agenda?”

“Of course,” I said. “How do you feel about getting back on Belle? Now that’s there’s three of us, Thunder can have a rider too.”

Tommy’s face malfunctioned, zoning out with a slight head shake. “Uh.”

“Relax,” Sully said, holding back laughter. “You don’t have to pretend. Horse riding isn’t for everyone. I should know, I hate it. He wouldn’t be getting me on Thunder, not even if it was his dying wish.”

“Really?” He let out a satisfied sigh. “That’s an absolute relief. Because my legs are still so sore from yesterday and I was like, fake it til you make it, you know. Oh god.” He reached out and grabbed my arm, holding himself upright against me.

It might’ve been the first time we’d ever properly touched. I wasn’t against it. “We’ve got animals to take care of,” I said. “And we’ve got to prepare some salt grit on the paths, especially if there’s a snowstorm coming.

“Snowstorm?” he grabbed the sleeve of my coat a lot harder. “I’m gonna have to come out in this when it’sworse?”

“This is why I was telling him you should be staying in the main house,” Sully said. “It’s a much better situation to be in, trust me. Those cabins are like stepping back in time. At least the cabin has more electrical points.”

“It does?” he asked. “You said—”

“Right, yeah, ok, I know what I said.” I might’ve made the place sound like it was completely off the grid to him, and in some ways, it was better that way. It stopped him relying on his phone or gadgets like I expected of someone from the city. “But we don’t have a lot of technology at the house either. It’s still very minimal.”

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