“See shit the way you do.”
“I spent a lotta years angry.The problem with having this suped-up memory is remembering every last detail of every event since the day you first opened your eyes.Every nuance, word, gesture.Overanalyzing until my head throbbed and I was still no closer to whatever answer I kept searching for.It was a hell of my own making until the day I realized that shit happens.It’s just random bullshit day in and day out.”
Hendrix shook his head.“I don’t see where you’re going with this.‘Shit happens’ is your mantra in life?”
Rocko shrugged.“It all comes down to one thing.What you do with the information in front of you.For example, if the girls weren’t walking down that path, the bundles would have fallen onto the ground.If I didn’t happen to be looking the other way, I wouldn’t have seen them teetering.If we weren’t working on the barn, there’d be no reason for the shingles to be up there.If Apollo hadn’t decided to get livestock, there’d been no barn to build.If Apollo’s grandmother didn’t leave him the land, no one would even be here.If the Noah Group hadn’t attacked your team in New Orleans, you’d still be living there.Hell, if I hadn’t met a detective from all the way across the country from me, I wouldn’t have met the Fire Lake crew or been sent here.Are you getting what I’m putting down?”
“That there’s a shitload of ‘ifs’ in this world,” Hendrix answered thoughtfully.
“Now, how the hell can anyone control all that?I learned that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and the more time you spend worrying and trying to control the ‘what ifs,’ the less time you have living.So, you asked how I see the world the way I do?Honestly Hendrix, I decided not to give a fuck about the ‘ifs’ and the random nature of it all and live in the here and now.Right now, we’re alive, right now we’re going to help someone, right now we have a barbecue to look forward to, and right now there’s no place I’d rather be.”
Hendrix stared at Rocko for a couple of seconds before saying, “Right now, I’m thankful you decided to be here.”
“Me too.So, no blame, no fault, just random shit on another random day.”
“Are you two done kissing and making up?”Griffin yelled from the truck.“’Cause we got places to go and we ain’t got all day.”
Rocko wrapped his arm around Hendrix’s shoulder and led him to the truck.
“So, what does Mary’s dad need help with?”Hendrix asked as he jumped inside.
“A few fences and trees were downed in the last windstorm.Before he can let his cattle out for spring, he needs those fences fixed and trees cut down,” Apollo explained.
“Easy enough,” Jagger said as he adjusted his ever-present dark glasses.“Shouldn’t take too much to get them up and ready.”
“Let’s wait to see the damage before making any assumptions,” Apollo said.
“True.Got it, boss,” Jagger agreed.
Finally, Apollo slowed the truck and pulled into a long laneway leading to a ranch-style house with two good-sized barns.The place was well-kept, but Rocko could see the damage caused by the recent storm.A few trees lay on their sides, and large branches were strewn across the property.The wooden fence to the left had at least two visible gaping holes, and a small shed had its doors blown off.
“That was one hell of a windstorm,” Rocko said.
“Yeah, it hit a couple of days before you arrived.I wish Frank had reached out to us sooner.He tried to clean up this mess alone, but Mary told us what was happening.”
“Why do I get the feeling Frank doesn’t know we’re coming to help?”Rocko asked.
“Hell no.The last time we offered to fix the hole in the barn’s roof, it took two weeks of pestering and Mary’s persistent begging before he agreed.This time, we happen to be driving by, showing our visitor around.”
“Glad to be of service in your ruse,” Rocko chuckled.
“Just play along,” Griffin said.
“Like I wouldn’t.”Rocko laughed at Griffin’s gruff response.
They pulled up to the side of the house to find an older gentleman emerging from the garage door.Mary, the woman Rocko had met previously, was with him, looking a bit nervous as she held a blonde little girl.
“Here we go,” Griffin said.
Apollo jumped out, and the rest of them followed.
“Hello, Frank,” Apollo said with a wave before pointing toward Rocko.“We’re showing our friend around town.”
“Oh yes, I met him the other day at the restaurant,” Mary said.“Welcome to our little town.”
“Thanks,” Rocko said.“I’ve gotta say the area is stunning.All these trees and lakes.”
“Where do you come from?”Frank asked, cutting to the chase.
