Page 1 of Sloth
CHAPTER ONE
LUKE
“Get your lazy ass outta bed, we're supposed to be helpin’ your brother today,” Dad bellows from my bedroom door before launching something hard at me, and when I raise my head from the pillow and open my eyes, I see how pissed he looks.
“Matty don’t need my help, he’s doin’ just fine.”
“He’s rounding up his herd for their med checks today; he needs all the help he can get. C’mon.” He marches off down the halls, shaking his head and mumbling some shit under his breath, while I scrub my hand over my face, trying to wake myself up.
Rounding up a herd is always hard work. Today’s gonna be a long-ass day, especially since I already know I’ll end up being the fuckin’ drag rider. I swear, Dad and Matty get off on giving me the crap jobs.
“Morning, darlin’.” Momma smiles warmly as she plates up some eggs and bacon, then places them in my space at the table.
“Mornin’, Mom.” I kiss her cheek and take a seat, noticing the disapproving look on Dad’s face while he watches me tuck in. He ain’t eating; knowing him, he’ll have been up since sunrise and eaten hours ago.
“I’ve made some flapjacks for Matty and Erin, you’ll pass them on, won’t you?” Mom carefully starts packing her homemade flapjacks into a Tupperware container, then pauses thoughtfully. “You don’t think Erin will think I’m overstepping, do you? I’m sure her flapjacks are just as good as mine. Maybe Matty prefers them now.” She chews on her lip while she decides what to do.
I ain’t sure who her question was aimed at, and since Dad’s too busy scowling at me to answer, I decide to put her out of her misery.
“Erin ain’t like that. I’m sure she’ll appreciate them.” I smile at her before polishing off my plate and standing up from the table. “I’ll make sure they get them.” I smile before heading off to the stable to saddle up Dusty.
Dad hobbles out behind me a few minutes later, watching me slide the flapjacks into my saddle bag and shaking his head disapprovingly.
“You got a problem?” I ask; I’m getting tired of the way he’s been looking at me lately.
“Yeah, I got a problem, son. YOU!” He grunts as he struggles to get his saddle up over his horse Mac’s back.
“Me? What have I done now?” I question him. Seems to me I can’t do anything right these days.
“Nothin’, and that's the damn problem.” He fixes his saddle and grips hold of its front. “You're a waster, Luke. Twenty-five years old and ya got nothin’ goin’ for ya. You can’t even get your own lazy ass outta bed in the mornin’s.” He hauls himself up on his saddle, trying to hide the pain it causes. “Look at Matty. He’s got his own ranch, a decent wife; he’s even got men working for him.”
“If he’s got men working for him, why are we headin’ over there to help him?” I look back at him sarcastically.
“'Cause we’re family, and that's what family does. You gotta ask yourself what you want from this life, Luke. Cause it don’t fuckin’ owe ya anything. If you want something, you gotta work for it.” Clicking his tongue, he kicks Mac on while I roll my eyes, mount Dusty, and follow after him.
Erin smiles as if she’s pleased to see us when we ride through the gates of her and my brother's ranch. I hate that it fuckin’ hurts to look at her these days. Me and Erin were in the same year at school, and there wasn’t a single guy who didn’t have a crush on her. With eyes as green as hers and a smile like the one she’s showing me now, it was damn impossible not to. I never for one second thought there was a chance she could ever be mine, and now that she’s married to my brother, I know it’s wrong to still have those kinda feelings for her, but I can switch ’em off.
“Decided to join us, then?” Matty steps outta the stable, leading his horse Titan. Jake and Issac follow after him, looking cocksure of themselves. They both started working for my brother last year, and I’m constantly being told by my father how fuckin’ great they are.
“Had to wait for someone to get his ass outta bed.” Dad takes the opportunity to make another dig, but I ignore him, kicking Dusty on so we can get to work and get the day over with.
“Here ya go, bro, you’re gonna need this.” Matty tosses me a bandana as I pass him. “It gets awful dusty at the back of the herd.”
Him and the boys laugh, and when I look across to Erin and catch her looking, she quickly looks down at the floor to avoid my eyes.
“Mary sent ya some flapjacks.” I hear Dad tell Erin, and when he looks over to me expectantly, I open the flap on my saddle bag to take them out.
“Matthew’s favorite.” Erin makes that smile again as she reaches up to take them, and I stare at her perfect hand, wondering how it would look in mine.
“You know, Mary, she likes to look after her boys.” Dad laughs. “A little too well if you ask me.” His bushy, gray eyebrows frown at me, and when I finally release the flapjacks from my hold, I notice how awkward Erin is looking.
“Come on, this herd ain’t gonna round up itself.” Matty starts leading us toward the gate to the pastures, stopping so he can lean down from his saddle and kiss his wife goodbye.
“Where’s Matthew?” Erin is waiting in the yard when we all return a few hours later. Issac and Jake close the gate on the paddock after the final calf bounces through, while I wipe more sweat and dust from my eyes.
“He went after a steer that got away from us; he won’t be too far behind.” Dad slides off his horse and ties him to the corral on the other side of the yard. “You ain’t eaten all those flapjacks, have ya?” He hobbles past her toward the porch.
“Wouldn’t dare touch ’em.” She giggles, and it bruises my heart a little more. I’ve always liked the way her laughter sounds. I can even remember the first time I heard it. We were in second grade, and I’d put a frog in her best friend’s pencil case. The thing started leaping all over the desk they shared once she’d opened it, and Kelly Benson screamed so loud I swear she almost shattered my eardrums. But when the screaming stopped and the frog hopped away, I heard that infectious little giggle for the first time. I knew even then that I’d do anything to hear it again.
