Crossed: Book Two (A NEW ADULT ROMANCE) (3 page)

When we get back to the ranch, I see a car driving away. We walk into the house and it is empty. I hear rustling in a back room. Cody comes out with a suitcase and lays it on the floor next to a closet.

“Going somewhere?” I ask.

“Yeah, headed to California. Buddies and I do a fishing trip every year. Be out there for a couple weeks. I’ll get groceries in the morning and show you around before I go. You’ll have everything you need to be happy here.”

Great. He’s leaving too. My dad just disappeared again. Tyson is leaving in the morning and now Cody is leaving tomorrow afternoon. All by myself again. Freaking awesome.

There’s no question I’m calling Nicky now. I haven’t talked to her since we left North Carolina. I can’t possibly stay here myself for two weeks, not knowing anyone here.

“Okay,” I say, not wanting to sound particularly alarmed at the situation I am finding myself in. “Sounds like fun.”

“Yep, every year we do it. It’s a blast. Nothing to worry about out there. Just catching fish and cooking them up. And maybe a beer or two along the way,” he winks. I can see right away he has the charm of his older brother, but not as much of the build. He’s shorter in stature and is slim. Not exactly a boxer build, but keeps himself tidy and in shape. I get the sense that I’d like to talk to him more, but the one-beer syndrome is kicking in and I really just want to…

“Where will I be sleeping,” I ask. “I’m really kind of tired from the trip and all and I think I’ll lie down for a little while.”

“Certainly,” he says, “let me show you where.”

He takes me back to a room in the far corner of the house. It’s separated a little from the other rooms and is quiet and dark. Perfect place for a nap. I lay my things down and he says, “Sleep as long as you want.”

I lay on the bed and it feels wonderful. Being in a cramped car for four days and hotel beds at night are behind me. And all is good in this bed. The curtains are pulled and the light is off. Cody shuts the door and I drift off in thought and then in sleep.

When I wake up, I grab my phone to see what time it is. Four in the morning.
I really slept off that beer. Holy cow.
I feel pretty good and I get up to turn on a light. All is quiet, except for random noises I can hear outside. Birds, coons or other animals rustling around in the dark.

I walk out into the kitchen and family room and all is quiet there too. I turn on a small light over the table and sit down. I can feel the pamphlets in my back pocket as I sit so I reach back and pull them out. I lay them on the table and go to the fridge for some water. There’s another beer in there and I say, “What the hell,” to no one in particular. I sit back down and look over Big Sky Resort. It looks spectacular and I immediately imagine myself spending the next two weeks there.
I’m calling Nicky first thing this morning to get her ass out here.
I may have a lot to think about, but I have nothing to do for two weeks and I’m taking full advantage of it. I deserve a break and that resort looks like just the thing I need. After I go shopping for a new bikini that is.

I imagine the resort and how much fun it will be with Nicky. I really hope she can be off work on short notice. She’ll figure out some good reason to give them. It seems like she always gets time off any other time she needs it so why would this be any different. And then I realize that I am three hours behind her and that she is already up and probably getting ready for work.

I waste no time dialing and she picks up right away.

“Hi Nick,” I say, “How are ya?”

“What are you doing up so early?” she replies, “Isn’t it like four in the morning there or something?”

“Yeah, but I went to bed way early last night and woke up early too. Was thinking about you and wanted to try to catch you before work.”

“I’m not going to work today,” she says. I know when Nicky is upset about something just by the tone of her voice.

“What’s going on? Why no work?”

“I just need a day off,” she says, “Things have been going really well with Marcus lately, but yesterday, he just up and took off. He barely gave me any reason behind it. He said he had to go west for a little while. So, you can imagine it was a little shocking to me to just happen that quickly. It’s not like Marcus, really. You know him. He doesn’t just go spontaneously like that.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s not like him. I feel like I’m getting used to that kind of thing now though so forgive me if I don’t sound astonished. So what are you going to do all day? Want to get on a plane and head west yourself? My treat. Come out to Big Sky?”

“Big what? Where the hell is that?” she asks.

“Montana.”

“Oh yeah. Marcus said you’d be in Montana for a while. I figured I’d catch up with you in a few days. He said you were driving. That must have been painful. How many hours is that? At least you were with Tyson.”

“Yeah, it was a hell of a long trip and I learned a lot on the way. I’ll tell you all about it when you get to the Bozeman airport. Go ahead and book and let me know what time to pick you up.”

“Slow down, sister. I don’t just have the week off you know. I took one day. What am I going to fly there this morning, give you a big kiss, and then fly back tonight?”

“I could use a big kiss. But more than that, I need to talk to someone other than Tyson, or my dad, or Marcus. You’re my best girl so that’s it. I need you out here.”

“Well since you put it that way. I haven’t really taken a vacation since I started this job. Let me call my boss. I’ll call you back soon.”

“That a girl. This is going to be awesome. There’s a huge resort here. It’ll be just the two of us. You’ve got to do it. You’ve just got to!”

“I’ll get back to you, soon,” she says excited.

After talking to Nicky. I lose myself in thought. Once that excitement subsides I look over the table and pick up the Custer’s Last Stand pamphlet. I don’t know why I even picked that one up at the store. I’m not exactly a history buff. Custer’s Last Stand? Custer’s Last Stand. Custer’s Last Stand…

Kasey’s Last Stand,
I think to myself.
Maybe I could have written that story.

I’ve always thought of the imaginative mind as a gift, but sometimes it’s a burden as well. For the next hour, I play with those thoughts.

Why the heck hasn’t Nicky called me back? And why is Marcus going west?

“Hey Nick, just wanted to see if you had a chance to catch up with your boss. Give me a call back soon. I’ll help you book. Call me back, girl,” I say into her voicemail.

“Hey you... Good morning,” says the sexy voice from behind me. I expect Tyson, but when I turn it is Cody rubbing his head. His bed hair is all over the place, but it somehow gives him an attractive look. He’s good looking just like Tyson. “Did you get any sleep? I heard you talking out here a while ago.”

“Oh, shoot, sorry to wake you,” I say, feeling badly that my excitement about Nicky’s trip woke him up.

“Oh no, I’ve been up for a while too. I always get up around four and read for an hour or two before I get going. Helps put me in a good place for the day.”

“Coffee tends to do that for me,” I joke.

“Or beer?” he asks, pointing to the table.

I had forgotten all about it and the half that was left probably warmed by now.

“Sometimes they sound good. What can I say? Do you have any coffee in this joint?”

“Yeah, I’ll make up a pot,” he smiles.

Damn these Hawk boys. Damn they’re good looking.

“I’ll be there on Wednesday,” she says, “pick me up at four o’clock.”

“Totally awesome,” I yell into the phone, “I’m so glad. Tyson left before I woke up this morning and you already know about my dad. And oh, Cody is going fishing for two weeks.”

“I booked for a week. Wednesday to Wednesday. Is that good or should I shorten it?”

“No, that’s frigging awesome. We’ll lengthen it if anything. Totally sweet. Can’t wait.”

“I know. My boss was so cool about it. He says I’ve been kicking ass around here and I deserve a nice break. He said it’s a good time too since we’re slow right now.”

“Perfect.”

“What do I need to bring? What’s the weather like?”

We talk girl talk for a while, getting all the excitement, all the ‘what are we going to wear’ type of questions out of the way. And it’s done. I’m picking her up Wednesday at four.

Cody’s back from the store and I go out to give him a hand. Can barely see him behind all the groceries he is carrying in. The table and counters are full by the time we have it all in.

“Hope you’re hungry,” he says, “I got one of everything.”

“Oh my god,” I say, “you really did.” I leave out the part about me and Nicky being at the resort for the next week.

After the groceries are put away, Cody says, “Let’s go. I have about two hours to show you around. And then I’m out.”

We drive off and he shows me all the places once we get to town. Where to get a coffee, where to grab a beer, best lunch spots. The tour is brief and we head back to the ranch. He walks me over to the horses and says, “You ever ridden before?”

“Nope. Virgin here,” I say.

“I meant horses,” he replies without cracking a smile.

I blush slightly, thinking but not knowing if he is joking or serious. And then he pokes me. “Tyson said you were a delicate flower.”

“A what? I swear to god I’m going to leave this place before he comes back.”

“Stay for a few days, then you won’t want to leave. It’s beautiful here, the horses are wonderful and it’s nice and calm. Weather’s good this time of year. It’s a really simple life out here. I think you’ll find that out pretty quickly. Give it a day or two.”

“I guess if you put it that way. Okay I’ll give it a day. But if not… I’m outta here…”

“So, the horses?” he says.

“Nope, never been on one.”

“Okay, you might want to wait until I get back then. I’ll teach you.”

“Deal.” I say.

“There are plenty of paths for hiking. Take Bear with you. And I have a rifle in the closet by the front door. Ever shoot?”

“Nope, been shot at a few times when Tyson’s around, but never shot back.”

“Well I’ll teach you the other side then, before I go. You’ll want to take the rifle with you when you hike, in case you come across any wildlife. And by wildlife I mean grizzlies.”

“Nice and calm, you say?”

“You’ll be fine. I’ll show you the rifle.”

We walk back and he does as promised. No sooner than he does that, he grabs his suitcase and is out the door.

“I left a set of keys on the table and feel free to drive the Tahoe wherever you need to. It’s in the garage out back,” he says, getting into a pickup truck and pulling away.

And here I am. Just like that. Alone again. I wonder where Tyson is and what he is doing. Is he out killing right now? Is he in Mexico? Or Latin America, or somewhere else? These thoughts come and go and come again until they feel like they are choking me.
Air. Breathe
. I grab the keys off of the table, a water bottle, some cheese, a sleeved knife and an apple, slip them into my backpack and walk out, stopping to grab the rifle. Bear greets me at the door and we’re set for a good walk.

The hiking is tougher here than in North Carolina, though I never did much of it back home. Maybe I just imagine it as tougher because of the more epic scenery here. Feels like there is more at risk. More danger. Perhaps I’m feeling that because I have a rifle slung over my shoulder.

Soon my legs are burning from the uphill climb. I tell myself they are fine and keep going. I know the way back down will be easier. Bear is out in front eagerly checking back from time to time to make sure he doesn’t leave me behind. I’m starting too really like this dog, despite the wet sloppiness with which he goes about sharing his affection.

It feels good to be out, but by the time we get back to the ranch, it feels better to be back there. My legs are cooked and my back is sore from carrying the rifle and my backpack, however light those are. Bear is worn too and immediately sits down in front of his water bowl. After several laps, he is laying on his side, still breathing heavy. Feels good to be back.

Despite having nothing to do and knowing no one here, the next day and a half fly by. I spend the days walking around the property, which feels like it stretches on forever since there are no other houses within miles, and target shooting in the little area Cody had set up for it. And at night, I think of Tyson. I can’t get him out of my head. I can’t wait until he gets back. And yet, somehow I don’t know if it’s all right or not. Should I really continue to be with this guy? This trained killer. This guy that has to leave in a moment’s notice. And with my dad of all people.

It feels good to get behind the rifle, steady something between the sights and pull the trigger. It takes my mind off of things. The first time I did two days ago, Cody had to remind me several times about the shoulder’s role in long gun shooting. I had a bruise yesterday, but it feels better today. I hit the paper eight out of ten times and three times in the inner circle. It feels good to shoot and I’m anxious to show Tyson what I’ve learned when he gets back.