Part of Boston’s new job would be to keep track of those animal sightings, so that he could tell guests at the Elk Ridge Lodge about them.
“The traffic in this town is incredible,” Daddy said when they reached the outskirts of Jackson and ran into a throng of cars. Once they made the turn, it would open up a little bit, but this area was definitely congested all the time.
He drove through Jackson Hole to the west side, and then turned to go back up around the other side of Teton National Park, toward the lodge where he would work.
The Elk Ridge Lodge was an exclusive lodge with custom rooms that cost over one thousand dollars per night. The guests who chose to stay there usually found out aboutthe place from other high-end customers who had been there before—celebrities, country music stars, actors, and others looking for an escape to the Wyoming wilderness, where privacy and confidentiality was king.
Boston had been hired as the outdoor adventure liaison, and he didn’t start until January third. He’d been talking to Cash for a couple of months, the frequency of their chats increasing once Boston had decided to look for jobs in Jackson Hole.
Cash had a two-bedroom apartment that he normally shared with another rodeo cowboy, but Slate had moved to Butte to continue his training in Montana. Cash could afford the rent on his own, and he hadn’t bothered to find another roommate.
Boston felt like God had been opening doors for him left and right, and he pulled in to the single duplex unit just off the main road. It would still take him twenty minutes to get to work, but he and Cash were only about fifteen from the grocery stores, convenience stores, and nightlife in Jackson Hole—not that Boston planned on living a raging after-work life.
He had no idea what his cousin’s training schedule was in the winter, but they had indoor facilities, and he assumed Cash would work as much as he did.
“Uncle Blaze is here,” he said as he pulled up, nearly touching his front bumper to his uncle’s back one. Then he backed into a space in front of the apartment, glad this spot had been left for him.
“I don’t see Gabe and Liesl,” Daddy said.
“They’re coming all the way from Dog Valley,” Boston said. He’d lived on the western highway leading into Coral Canyon since he’d moved to Wyoming a good fifteen or sixteen years now. “We had to be in front of them.”
He looked over to his daddy, who nodded. “I don’t think we really need Uncle Gabe to get started,” he said. “Do you?”
Boston shook his head. “I think he used the trip as a chance to get Liesl to drive—and to talk to Cash. He told me he wanted him to come so they could talk about something.”
“Oh, interesting,” Daddy said. He got out of the truck and Boston followed him. He collected the groceries from the back seat first, and went to knock on the door, surprised his uncle hadn’t already gone in.
Daddy and Blaze chatted at the tailgate while Boston knocked on Cash’s door. The duplex stood two stories tall, with a living room, kitchen, and bathroom on the first floor, and two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. It would be plenty big for both Boston and Cash.
Cash opened the door wearing blue jeans, a black long-sleeved button-up shirt, and a black cowboy hat.
“Hey,” he said, with a laugh. “You made it.” He stepped in to Boston and hugged him with the groceries between them and everything. Then he took a bag and said, “Come on in. It’s cold out there.”
“It shouldn’t take long to get all my stuff in.” Boston followed Cash into the kitchen, which definitely looked like a single man lived there. Dishes sat in the sink, and the lid on the trash can stood propped up by the amount of garbagein it. It didn’t stink, though, and it had a back door that led to a little grassy area now covered in snow, with a swing set and more parking.
Relief ran through Boston simply because he was ready to live on his own again. So ready.
“Hey, Daddy.” Cash ran toward the front door and right into his father’s arms. Uncle Blaze said something to him in a low voice, and Boston simply watched, marveling at the tall, strong, successful Cash as he seemed to wilt in front of his father.
He stepped back and wiped his eyes and nodded. “Yeah, I know,” he said. “I’m going to talk to him today. That’s why he’s coming.”
Uncle Blaze wiped his hand along Boston’s cheek too. “All right, let’s get this truck unloaded.” Then he nodded to Boston, and they all went outside again to start bringing in his bed, clothes, his record player, his boots and coats and other winter gear, and a dresser. He’d told his father he didn’t need a desk, but once everything was set up upstairs, the room could certainly use one.
“Maybe a nightstand,” he said to his daddy. “Somewhere to put my phone and a lamp?”
“We can get one at the store,” he said. “And we’ll fill the house with food as well.”
He led the way downstairs, where Cash and Blaze sat on the couch. There was a loveseat too, and a TV in a big entertainment center.
Boston loved it all. New life and breath entered his chest, which lifted his mouth into a smile. “We’re gonnahead over to the Walmart,” he said. “And get everything we need.”
“You need anything?” Daddy asked. “We want to make sure Boston’s not a problem here.”
“Oh, he couldn’t be a problem if he tried,” Cash said. “I’d come with you, but Uncle Gabe texted and said they’re almost here.”
Uncle Blaze grinned. “I guess Liesl missed the turn and had to come back.”
“Oh, boy,” Boston said.
