Thankfully Rhett saves me. “Now that you’ve slapped your Dad in the face with a proverbial wet fish, you better get your stuff out to the truck and your butt to the barn. Y’all are due to leave soon.”
Wy shoots me a look before hefting his bag back onto his back. “Fine, fine. I’m goin’,” he grumbles, his voice light as he heads out the door, leaving Rhett and me alone in the kitchen. There’s a moment of silence between us before Rhett clears his throat.
“He’s right, you know,” Rhett says, his gaze meeting mine. “About Mags.”
I let out a slow breath, feeling the weight of his words settle in the air around us. “Yeah,” I reply softly. “Wouldn’t have been able to get where I am today, whereheis today, without her help. She’s been another surprise over the years.”
He frowns. “What doesthatmean?”
“Just that when I first met her and Anna, she was the best friend—the welcome third wheel, if you will. But when Anna passed, she became the rock I thought I’d never have again. It’s almost like Mags, Wy, and I were able to grieve together and slowly pick up the pieces and keep goin’.”
Rhett's eyes stay locked on mine. "Absolutely. I'm glad she could be that for you. Us too." I can tell there's something else he wants to say. “Is that all therecouldever be between y’all? Justfriends?”
“Rhett…” I warn. I'm impressed that he has been man enough to ask me flat out rather than just gossip like the rest of the family. They think Mags and I haven't heard them talking. It's become quite amusing over the years. “Just because all of y’all are loved up and happier than a pig in mud doesn’t mean I need to run out and find myself a woman to warm my bed. I’ve got blankets and socks to do that.”
Rhett bursts out laughing, throwing his head back with it before he gets up to wash his empty mug out. “You let me know how those blankets and socks go for you, Red. You don’t have to go lookin’ for somethin’ if it’s meant to be, that’s all I’m sayin’. Sometimes the mountain spirit brings them to you.”
“Be off with you, you ol’ romantic bastard,” I scoff. “I’ve got to finish packin’ the truck so we’re ready to leave when Mags gets here.”
“Yeah, yeah. Shoot the messenger, why don’t you,” he says, grabbing his cowboy hat from the hook by door and putting it firmly on his head. “See you at the barn. Don’t get lost now.”
Famous last words though because when itdoescome time to leave, wouldn’t you know it, I can’t seem to find my damn keys anywhere.
6
MAGS
As Charlie and Austin drive up to the house at Bull Mountain to drop me off, I get a sense that something is not right.
It might have something to do with the fact that Dee’s pet sow, Miss Piggy, is guarding the porch, Cora’s dog Bruno is sitting in the bed of Red’s truck, and Landry’s goat Nelly is blocking the path to the barn. Or maybe the fact that wherever I look, there are no humans to be found.
“Somethin’s not right…” Austin says ominously.
“Yeah, Duck Norris is missin’. Which means trouble is afoot,” Charlie muses. “He’s the leader of the Bull animal pack. If he’s not here, I’d bet my money on Doofus instigatin’ somethin’.”
“He’s never done me wrong before,” Austin replies, actually sounding disappointed in the waterfowl devil incarnate.
“Maybe it’s because you’ve moved out and he no longer gets his early mornin’ snack from your cabin?” Charlie replies.
I sigh at my future son-in-law’s optimism. “Austin, are you forgettin’ that he somehow broke into the attic of my house,rifled through packed boxes to find a letter he had no business findin’, then got out of my house again and delivered it to you. And before doin’ all of that, he somehow got from the ranch to town with one leg and crossed eyes. It’s a miracle that bird even exists, let alone survives all the damn trouble he causes.”
As we get out and take in the scene in front of us, I’m left wondering what else we might find—andwherewe might find the rest of the family.
Relief fills me when Red steps out onto the porch, but just like us, he stops to take in the massive pig-sized obstacle blocking the steps in front of him.
He scratches his head in confusion. “I’d come down to greet y’all, but there’ssomethin’in my way.”
“Seems you’re not the only one not wantin’ Wy to leave,” I tease, earning a smirk in return.
"At this rate, we'll never hit the road. We've got a schedule to keep remember."
“Er—Red Grayson,” I say, quickly catching myself from full naming my best friend. “You don’t have to tellmeto be on time. I’m not the one bein’ barricaded in by Miss Piggy.”
Red looks over to his truck where Bruno sits up, looking between the four of us suspiciously. “When did Bruno get here?”
“Not sure. He was on the tailgate when we arrived. I figured this was the Bull Mountain animal pack’s farewell party for Wy,” Charlie answers.
Red’s frown deepens. “Somethin’s not right.”
