“Do you mind making yourself at home, while I goshower?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“Thanks.”
I headupstairs, undress, and turn on the faucet. As I stand in the water,letting it trickle down my back, enjoying the warmth, I look downat the water streaming through my legs…and I scream.
***
Maverick
“Yo, Maverick!” Blake yells from the house.
“Yeah!” I shout back from the barn.
“You’ve got a call.”
A ‘v’forms between my brows. Who the hell is calling me from the landline? Anyone I know calls me on my cell number. Everyone knows it.“Who is it?”
“Some…Denice girl.”
It takesme a moment to realize what’s going on. I run to the house. Blakesees the look of concern on my face. “What’s going on,man?”
“I don’t know.” I say honestly, taking the phone from him.“This is Maverick.” I answer.
“Maverick. This is Denice. I’m Ellie’ssister-in-law.”
“Yes, hi. She’s told me about you. What’s wrong?” I ask,knowing full well that something is wrong. Not only for thecircumstances, but also by the urgent tone in her voice.
“Ellie made me promise not to call you, but I’ve got her inthe hospital. You better get over here and make up a lie as to howyou found out.”
“Shit. What happened?”
“She started bleeding really bad. She’s with a doctor rightnow.”
“I’ll be right over. Thanks for calling.”
“You bet.”
I hangup the phone and I feel like puking.
“What’s going on, man?”
“I don’t know. Ellie’s in the hospital. I gottago.”
“I’ll go with you. The others can hold down thefort.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, man. You’re shaking like a fucking leaf. You’re not fitto drive.”
Mamacomes downstairs. “Who was on the phone, Blake?”
Blakelooks at me, giving me a look as if to say, ‘I got this’. “Mama,Maverick and I have to go out for a bit. You keep these boys inline, okay?”
Her gazedivides between Blake and I. “What’s going on, boys?” her face saysthat she knows something is wrong.
“Err…Ellie’s in the hospital, mama.” Blake says honestly. “Wejust got the call.”
