“Jack’ll get it. He was here keeping me company.”
Jack Owen nodded to him, the old cowboy headed for the truck. Jason’s momma’d been taking up with old Jack for ten years and nobody so much as hinted about the fact that the man had a toothbrush in her bathroom or a coffee cup in the cabinet.
“Thanks, Jack.” He cupped Jason’s elbow, the bony bit fitting just right in his palm, and Bax led Mini inside, knowing those feet knew the steps even without Jase being able to see them. “Couch, honey?”
“Yeah.” Those eyes were moving wildly, trying so fucking hard to see.
“You’re gonna make yourself sick again.” His jaw clenched, and Bax just wanted to tear something up. Goddamn it, why hadn’t he been the one to get stomped? He was a washed-up old bastard. Jason was on the fucking rise. “Here you go. I’ll get your drink.”
He turned and Momma was standing there and staring, hand over her mouth, tears pouring down her cheeks. They all were just frozen up a second when Jack came in, nudged Momma’s arm. “Brenda, lady. Go pour them boys a drink. They look tired.”
Momma nodded and when she spoke, she sounded almost normal. “That they do. Coffee or Coke, boys?”
“I’ll take coffee, Momma. I grabbed Jason a root beer. Doc said he needed to lay off the caffeine.” His whole body throbbed, and his knees started to feel tottery, but he managed to get Jason sat down, and head over to give Momma a brusque hug.
“You done good, son. Real good.” She kissed his temple. “Doctor give you anything for your sore, Andy? I got the good Tylenol.”
“I’m fine, Momma.” His voice cracked, and Bax just couldn’t take it no more. He headed outside, tearing open the pack of smokes he’d snuck in at the truck stop.
It wasn’t a minute before Jack was out there, cigarette in his teeth. “You mind?”
“Nope. Come on.” Hell, maybe Jack would give him a light. “She been a bear?”
“You know it.” The lighter came out, both cigarettes lit up. “How’s he holding up?”
“He’s hurt bad, Jack. I mean, he’s moving fine, and his bruises will heal, but I’m worried as Hell about his head.”
“Brenda says he cain’t see?”
“Not right now. Doctor says it ought to get better, but it… I dunno.” His fingers clenched so hard that his cigarette broke, and Bax stubbed it out with his boot. “I just don’t know.”
“We’ll figure it.” That gravelly old voice was solid as shit, reminding him that he wasn’t alone, and neither was Mini. Not at all.
“We will. Thanks for coming, old man. We ought to go save Jase from his momma, yeah?” He clapped Jack on the back, wincing as his shoulder protested.
“You ought to have a soak. Brenda’s got beans and rice and cornbread ready for whenever.” They headed up, Jack grabbing the screen door.
“I’ll get Jason settled first. I can wait.” His whole body was one big ache, so now or later didn’t make no nevermind.
Jason was on the sofa still, eyes closed, fingers opening and closing. Momma was hovering some, staring at Mini like that would do something.
“How’s that root beer sitting, Mini? You ready for some cornbread?” There was no way he was gonna go for fake cheer, but he didn’t want to be all doom and gloom, either.
“Yeah.” Jason reached for him, touched his fingers once. “This is fucked, ain’t it?”
“Watch your mouth, son.”
“Yes, Momma.”
His fingers twitched, wanting to twine with Jason’s. “Momma, could you dish up? I’m hurtin’ some.” There. That got her going, and Bax was able to sit and put a hand on Jason’s leg, just resting.
That got Mini to relax, to ease back into the cushions andstop a while. They didn’t say anything for a bit, just sat and breathed and ached. Momma brought food, and Bax choked some down, glad to see Jason eat a whole plate of cornbread.
As soon as they were through, Momma started fluttering again, Jason tensing beside him. She went on about towels and sheets and liniment and…
He was fixin’ to growl when Jack took her elbow. “The boys’ll figure it.”
“But.”
