“I… You sure, man? You sure you want this? I’m sorta as-is.”
Bax stroked a bead of sweat off Jason’s cheek, rubbing the sharp curve of one cheekbone with his thumb. “I got you. Been waiting on you. I don’t care what condition I get you in.”
Jason leaned in a bit. “Well, then. I reckon you can keep me.”
“You’d best count on it, Mini. Not letting you go.” No matter what Jason thought about how worthless he was now, Bax wasn’t going to let go.
Ever.
Chapter Twenty
He wasn’t ever going to get used to riding in a truck and not being able to see.
It just was too fucking weird.
“Where are we going, y’all?”
Coke’s voice sounded right beside his ear and he could see the motion, the dark of Coke’s cap, just out of the corner of his eye. “We’re going for a ride down pasture, just so we can talk without your momma hearing, you know?”
Bax’s chuckle came from the other side. “She’s got a nose for news, that’s for sure.”
“She’s a momma.” She was fixin’ to drive him crazy. “What all do we have to talk on? Coke, you’re fixin’ to have to go soon?”
“I got two weeks, still, maybe three. I got a hold of AJ. He’s in, so’s his woman.”
“Coke says we’ll have Nate, too. Maybe Dillon. We can talk on it. On who all you’re comfortable with.” They bumped off the track, Bax finally slowing to a stop.
“Where are we?” This was his fucking land. He shouldn’t have to ask, Goddamn it.
“Just the pond, man. Come on.” The air changed the minute Bax opened the door, which kinda freaked him out.
Jesus.
He closed his eyes tight, waiting for Coke to slide out before he headed for the passenger’s door. He could feel the sun on his face, knew then, that the pond had to be in front of the truck.
“Come on, son.” Coke’s hand felt warm and heavy on his arm. It was funny, but he could feel the kindness through Gramps’ touch.
“I… Yeah. I’m coming.” He wrapped his fingers around Coke’s arm, surprised, sort of, at how thick it was. “You getting fat, Coke?”
“Shit. That’s pure muscle, man.” Coke flexed, snorted. “I got to play bull-tag.” The muscles popped right up under his fingers, proving Coke right.
“Hey, no feeling up Coke,” Bax said, sounding far away. It was fucking strange, how distance affected things when you couldn’t see them.
“Man, I can’t do nothing…don’t drive the truck, don’t feel up the bullfighter, don’t yell at Momma.”
“There’s plenty you can do real well, Mini.” Oh. Oh, Lord, listen to that man. That was Bax’s bedroom voice.
He ducked his head, grinned. “Yeah, we’ll see. Did y’all bring lawn chairs or are we walking?”
“We’re walking, or hobbling in my case,” Bax said before Coke could even draw a breath. “Just to get your feet under you. This is going to be a long process, Mini. We been talking.”
“Yeah? Cause I been thinking, and I don’t know how we can pull this off. I’m not that smart.”
“Bullshit. You’re a wily fucker, Jason. Possibly the smartest bastard out there since Ace Porter retired.” Coke’s voice got a little excited. “Oh. Ace. Ace could help…”
Bax laughed. “He sure could. He has an in with the management. The biggest thing is going to be the cameras.”
“I don’t know if I want Ace knowing.” Ace was… Shit. Ace was everything any cowboy wanted to be.
