Tracy handed him Coke’s cup of coffee and a bottle of Advil. He loved that she didn’t feel like she had to explain why.
Coke dutifully swallowed two pills as well as the vitamin D Dillon handed over. Doc had said the NSAIDs could impair the ability for Coke’s bones to heal, and had suggested the D. Dillon took all kinds of vitamins, so he snuck Coke in some a lot.
It was a thing, just like it was a thing that Coke pretended not to notice he was feeding them to Coke.
Tracy chuckled and showed him the handful of pills she was about to give to Nate.
Bullfighters. Jesus. Stubborn assholes.
Dillon munched another piece of bacon before Tag called him out to the back porch. “Feel that air, Yankee boy. Got cold.”
“Crazy. The digits drop faster here than anywhere I’ve ever seen.”
“Norther,” Dallas said. “Freaky.”
“No shit on that. How’s your brother?”
“Which one? Austin called this morning and Missy’s fixin’ to explode. Denver’s at his house, threatening to come work the cattle with his busted leg. Houston and Cierra have Janey over to their house and she keeps crying for her momma and refusing to eat.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Dillon had no idea what he could do to help, but he was good at entertaining people.
“The boys are coming with Brenda and Jack.” Coke stood behind him. “You’ll have stuff to do, cowboy.”
“Do I?” Oh, that was good. “Point me and shoot me.”
“I’ll let you be in charge of Bax and Jase. Dallas will put Jack to work. Brenda will want to go up to the hospital.”
“Shee-it. My wife’s done stopped at the horse-pistol, Coke. She’s gon’ help Miz Gardner get ready to come home.” An older cowboy stood there, grizzled and tanned.
“Speak of the devil. How’s it hanging, Jack?” Coke reached over to shake the man’s hand.
“Good. Tired. Glad to be here.” Jack winked at Coke. “I’m tickled as a pig in shit that the boys brought their own truck.”
“I bet you are. Jack, this is Dillon Walsh. Dillon, Jack.”
“Hey.” Dillon had heard a lot about this man, but somehow never managed to meet him.
“Mr. Dillon. I seen you at the shows. You can sure sing and I like that you don’t tell fat wife jokes.”
“Thanks.” Dillon meant it, too. Life was too funny to need those old saws. He stayed away from wife jokes, politics, and anything about sex.
Clowns in liberal houses didn’t need to hand cowboys any stones.
“Andy and Jase should be here. They were jawing with AJ.”
“Is he back from the hospital, then?” Coke asked.
“Yeah. He needs food and a shower and a long nap.”
“I bet he does.” Coke squeezed his shoulders. “I’ll go check in. Dillon, go herd the boys in, will you?”
“Will do.” Whatever Coke needed. Dillon nodded at Jack before bouncing outside to save AJ from Andy Baxter and Jason Scott, who were probably starved for company.
“Dillon!” AJ gave him a wild eye. “Hey, look who’s here!”
“Hey, guys.” Dillon trotted over, touching Jason’s arm to warn him he was incoming for a hug. “Man, it’s good to see you.”
“Been awhile.” Jason hugged him back as AJ disappeared like a puff of smoke.
