Page 3 of Cowboy

“She’s great. Came in with a name already. Cinnamon.” Cowboy smirked at his old friend, nodding.

“I love that,” he laughed. “I’ll be home soon to help out with the animals.”

“How about you just come home and hug your mother,” grinned Suze. “Just come home.”

“I will, Mom.”

Being the only SEAL that preferred cowboy boots to running shoes, his nickname was foretold. Cowboy it is.

CHAPTER TWO

Autumn knew what the suitcases at the door meant. Her parents were leaving again for one of their many ‘adventures.’ It wasn’t an adventure. It was just an excuse to not have to face any of their bill collectors and take care of their daughter.

Honestly, she didn’t care. She would be allowed to stay with her grandmother. In a house without leaks in the roof and mice in the garage. A house where bill collectors didn’t call non-stop asking when their debts would be paid. A house that had more food than liquor and more love than indifference.

Autumn was only eleven, but she knew enough about money and the world to know that travel and adventures cost money. Where they were getting their money was a mystery to her, but in reality, she didn’t care. She wouldn’t have cared if they had no money at all, as long as they were acting like parents.

“Oh! Autumn, hi, sweetie,” smiled her mother. “Grandma will be here in a minute to pick you up. Dad and I are going…”

“On an adventure,” she frowned. Her mother stared at her.

“Actually, we’re going to get settled in a new location. We’ll be sending for you once we get the new house all ready. It’s going to be wonderful! We’re going to find something with a swing set and lots of room, maybe one of those fancy hot tubs out back.”

“A new house? You can’t even take care of this house. I don’t want a new house, Mom. And I’m eleven. I don’t need a swing set. I like this house. I like being close to Grandma. And how can we afford a new house?”

“Don’t tell anyone,” smiled her mother, “but your father hit it big at the roulette wheel last night. We’ve got plenty of money!”

Autumn frowned at her mother, looking at her sideways with disbelief. It wouldn’t be the first time she lied to her. In fact, it seemed her parents made a sport of lying to her and to her grandmother. Neither believed they were smart enough to figure it out, but they always did.

“Taxi is here!” yelled her father. Autumn looked around, not seeing the car. That was their windfall. They sold the car that her grandmother had paid good money for. “Oh, hey, honey. Did your mom tell you the exciting news? We’ll be back in a few weeks for you. Grandma is on her way over.” He kissed her forehead and took off with their bags.

“Well, I guess we’ll see you soon,” smiled her mother.

“I guess,” she frowned.

Her mother left her standing in the doorway, watching as the bags were tossed into the trunk of the taxi. As they started to get into the backseat, her grandmother pulled up in her old pickup truck. She jumped out, yelling at her parents.

“This should be fun,” smiled Autumn. Her grandmother was a no-nonsense kind of woman. She didn’t tolerate liars, fools, or bullshitters, and Autumn’s parents were all three of those things.

“So, you’re just gonna walk away and leave that child?” yelled her grandmother.

“Look, Mom, we have an opportunity for a better life. I got lucky at the roulette tables last night. We’ll come back and get her. It’s just going to take time,” said her son.

“Roulette tables. You think I’m a fool? You sold the car I bought for you so you could get that girl back and forth to school. Don’t bullshit me, Frances.”

“It’s Frank,” he frowned.

“It’s fucking Frances. I should know. You’re named after your father. You’re going to leave that little girl behind with nothing. You’re both cowards and piss-poor excuses for parents. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

Autumn watched as her mother slid into the taxi, ignoring the older woman. She wasn’t even upset by what she was seeing and hearing. At least at her grandmother’s house, the sheets were clean, the food was hot and good, and she was loved. Frances handed his mother an envelope with a stack of cash inside, and she frowned.

“Just explain it to her, Mom. We weren’t meant to be parents,” he frowned.

“You got that right. Get the hell out of here. And do us a favor, don’t come back. She deserves stability in her life for once.” Autumn’s father stared at her, seeing the anger in her eyes. She wasn’t crying. She wasn’t begging them to stay. He lifted his hand and gave a small wave, then slid in beside his wife.

Autumn walked down the steps and stood by her grandmother, watching the taxi disappear.

“It’s okay, Grandma. It’s you and me. Peas and carrots. Peanut butter and jelly. Simon and Garfunkel.”

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