Page 9 of On the Land, We Shoot Straight
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rady had been sittingin the booth for a while when the bell chimed above the door and Joel came in. He picked up his coffee and sipped it.
“Hey,” Joel said as he walked up to the booth.
Grady nodded. Joel went up to the counter and ordered a coffee, pitching his voice to be heard over Colin’s radio blaring country and the hiss of his grill coming through the pass. Grady placed his mug back down and Joel slid into the booth across from him.
“You get the seedin’ done?”
“Yep,” Grady replied and picked up the mug again.
“No shit?”
“No shit.”
Cheryl came over with the coffee. “Here you go.” She smiled and turned to Grady. “You need anythin’ else?”
“Nope.”
Cheryl grabbed his plate. “You wanna clear the account today or leave it for end of the month?”
“End of month’ll do.”
“All right,” she turned back to Joel. “You let me know if you wanna eat.”
Joel sprawled back against the vinyl of the booth and gave her a sleazy grin. “I’ll do that.”
“You…” Cheryl grinned at him and whacked him on the shoulder with the order pad. “Gonna get Colin out here and take care of ya if ya keep that up.” She winked and walked off, shoving the pad in the front pocket of her mustard-colored apron.
“I’ll fight him!” Joel called and laughed as Cheryl flipped him off without turning back.
Joel sipped his coffee. “So, you got some time then?”
Grady shook his head. “Nah, I’ll get these sheep movin’ and then I’ll get right to the cattle.”
Joel whistled. “Makin’ us all look bad.”
Grady rolled his shoulders and pushed the mug away.
“You ready?”
“Mind if I finish my coffee first?” Joel asked.
“Go on then.” Grady glanced out the window at the empty street. He’d been right about the rain. Must’ve started around eight. Cole was gone when he got up, and Grady reckoned if he was gone that early he would’ve missed the worst of it. It’d petered out to a steady drizzle now, but that morning it’d been an almighty storm. Dog had glanced up at Grady from his spot in the kitchen on a bunch of towels Cole must’ve set out for him, and his look said,I’m glad Lady took this one. Grady shook his head. Cole would be all right; Lady could’ve moved those sheep on her own.
“All right,” Joel said. He pushed his mug away and stood at the same time.
Grady stood and followed him out as Joel shouted, “Later, baby!”
“Go on an’ get outta here.” Cheryl laughed and set to clearing their table.
Grady donned his hat and shoved his hands in his pockets. He followed Joel into the rain, through the parking lot, and across the road until they were in front of the abandoned warehouse that was a hardware store back in the day. Now it stood as a testament to the number of farmers and ranchers who’d fled on account of the droughts and bankruptcies.
Joel navigated through the rubble, and Grady followed him until they were way in the back, in what would’ve once been the storeroom. Joel turned, tossed his hat on a dusty shelf, and started to unbuckle his belt.
“You mind if I go first?” Joel asked as he popped his buttons open, sandy hair falling in his brown eyes as he focused on his fly.
“Go on, then.” Grady turned so he was facing the wall. He undid his pants and shimmied them down so his ass was exposed.
