Page 22 of Roughstock
I looked out the front door and saw him speaking with a couple brothers, but was surprised to see two of the old timers, Whistler and Blur, leaning against their bikes a few feet away. Trent was speaking with Jagger and Phantom as I stepped outside. The men turned to look at me before returning to their conversation. Whistler pushed off his bike, stepping around Trent and the others to meet me at the base of the stairs.
“How are you, Cheyenne?” he asked with a smile.
Whistler and my father were riding buddies in their prospect days, and he was helpful and supportive when I’d lost him. I wanted to give him a hug for old times’ sake but knew that was frowned upon in the club. A brother wasn’t allowed to touch someone else’s ol’ lady, so I gave him a big smile instead.
“I’m doing really good. How are Connie and Gus?”
Connie was his ol’ lady, and Gus was his adult special needs son who was the light of his life. Everything he’d ever done had been with Gus in mind, and a few years ago, I helped them get Gus into an adult care facility where he got the assistance he needed but still had the freedom to be himself.
“Connie is taking line dancing lessons at the senior center downtown, and I spend time with Gus while she’s busy. Gus is thriving in the facility. He’s made tons of friends, and I think he may have a girlfriend.”
“That’s fantastic. I’m so happy he’s doing well.”
He lowered his voice, and I heard it catch as he said, “We owe it all to you. I can’t thank you enough for helping with all the applications and financial aid stuff. There’s no way I could’ve made any sense of it, and I . . . I just wanted to say thanks.”
Whistler was a good man, and I was happy to help. He and Connie needed a break, and with them getting older, the concern for who would take care of Gus had come up. I liked Gus and wanted to see him have more independence, and when I spoke with one of my nursing school instructors, they’d put me in contact with the facility.
I patted Whistler on the shoulder and replied, “I’m happy to have helped. Would it be okay if I stopped by and visited with Gus sometime?”
The conversation behind us ended and Trent and Jagger walked over to Whistler and me as Phantom walked over to Blur. Blur looked irritated, but for him, irritated was his baseline emotion.
Whistler glanced sideways before he looked back at me. “I think Gus would love that. I’ll make sure to put your name down as authorized when I’m there tomorrow to get Gus for Sunday dinner.”
Trent wrapped his arm over my shoulder and silently observed the conversation without adding anything. I asked Whistler, “Weather permitting, could I come by tomorrow andsee him? I picked up a new model last week and was going to have you give it to him, but if he’s going to be with you, I’m hoping it’ll be okay.”
“I’ll tell Connie to make enough for you and Roughstock to join us.”
I went to say that he didn’t need to go to the trouble, but Trent interjected. “That would be great. I’ll pick up some ice cream on the way over.”
“Then it’s settled.” Whistler smiled and said, “Gus will be so happy.”
Jagger and Whistler began to talk about one of the brothers’ bikes as Trent guided me away from them. I glanced back and saw Phantom and Blur speaking to each other with anger on their faces. It seemed Trent wanted me away from whatever was going on, so I followed him around the side of the house.
“I’ve got to handle some club business, but CeCe should be here anytime.” He lifted my hand and placed a kiss on the back before asking, “Will you be okay until I get back?”
“I’ve got a new book on my e-reader, so I’m going to start a fire to get the house warmed up. How long will you be gone?”
“I’ll be back in an hour or two. Carl is around if you need anything.”
I felt like he was hiding something from me, but after the news I gave him earlier, I was sure he’s in search mode, trying to find out how Nitro stumbled upon the missing girls Mr. Quincey told me about. Just thinking about someone taking girls, making them do and experience unspeakable things, caused a chill to run down my spine.
Trent rubbed his hands up and down my upper arms before he pinched his lips and stepped back. I could see the apprehensionin his gaze, but he had business to take care of. Turning, I walked up the kitchen steps and inside the house. Locking the door behind me, I grabbed the little box he’d mentioned earlier from the hot tub room and returned to the kitchen.
After making myself a cup of coffee, I went to the living room with the box and placed it and my cup on the little table. For the next few minutes, I worked on building a fire, and when it was blazing, I stood and took a seat on the chair by the table. My e-reader was plugged in, waiting for me to continue the newest book I was intrigued by.
I lost track of time as I became engrossed in a world where the bad guys lose and the good guys get the girl. It wasn’t realistic, but it was spicy, so I loved it.
A knock on the front door made me jump, and I placed my hand on my chest as I stood and set the e-reader onto the chair. Walking to the door, I saw Ms. CeCe and one of the other ol’ ladies standing on the other side of the glass door. Opening it, I welcomed them inside.
“Come on in,” I remarked and stepped to the side as they carried two medium boxes into the house.
Without instruction, they walked into the kitchen and placed the boxes onto the table, then they began to pull dishes out. As they opened the foil from the top of each dish, the delicious smells filled the kitchen and my stomach began to rumble. The other ol’ lady, Ms. Delia, The ol’ lady of a brother long passed, smiled as she walked out of the kitchen and back outside.
“I made fried chicken with biscuits, green beans, mac n cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy. My sister Betty made two kinds of cobbler and her famous apple pie,” CeCe explained asshe pointed from one dish to the other. Cooking was her passion, and looking at all the delicious food, I reached over and gave her a hug.
“Thank you for this. I know Roughstock and the ranch hands are going to love it.”
CeCe chuckled. “I didn’t make the ranch hands this spread. They get chili and cornbread to warm their bones.”
