Twisted (17 page)

“Are any charges gonna be filed?”

“I asked the sheriff that, Jeff. He said no, not against me. Spencer spitting on me was provocation, and I didn’t return his other punches. I’m not going to file charges against Spencer, so that should be the end to the fallout.”

“At least you gave him a black eye, Dad.” Al looked like he was going to melt. It was the first time I ever heard Mike call him “Dad.” Mike seemed all embarrassed by saying Dad, and Al was kind of choked up. He didn’t push it though. We ate the rest of the meal in silence. Finally Al looked at each of us.

“I’d like to take you out for dinner for coming and getting me. I know you’re busy with your guests, but I was hoping you’d let me.” I looked at Mike.

“It’s up to you, bud. We can get Smitty and Jason to fix dinner for the dudes.”

“We could have dinner at the cantina, Mike, Jeff.”

“What time were you thinkin’ of?” Mike looked at me, not his dad.

“We’re fairly flexible. Let’s say seven?”

“Let’s go, Jeffy.”

“Okay, how are we gonna work the logistics? You’re here, Al, and the cantina is in town. Are you plannin’ on stayin’ here and goin’ in with us? If ya’d rather, Smitty has to go into town this afternoon, and I’m sure he could give you a ride.”

“His truck is still here, so maybe I can catch a ride with him.”

“I’ll go ask.” Mike was off in a flash.

“He’s still not too comfortable with me around.” Al said it flatly.

“I reckon not, but he did call ya ‘Dad’. That’s gotta count for somethin’.”

“A lot more than something, Jeff.”

“I can see that.”

“I’m going to stay a few more days, and then I’m going to head back to San Francisco. Hopefully we can remain in contact. I know the ranch is going to be a big success, and it would be nice to get updates occasionally.”

“That would be nice.” Just then Mike came back in.

“Smitty’s gonna leave in about twenty minutes. He says you’re welcome to ride with him.” Mike was still reserved, but he was making eye contact with his dad now and seemed more relaxed around him.

“Great. So what are you boys planning for the rest of the afternoon?”

“I reckon we might get a workout in.”

“Yeah, that sounds really nice, Jeffy.” We made small talk for the next fifteen minutes or so, until Smitty came by. Al left with him after shaking both my and Mike’s hands. Mike hesitated a moment but did shake his dad’s hand. I thought Al was gonna start crying.

I
T
WAS
several hours later. Mike and I had just gotten out of the shower after our workout and were all cuddled up together on the bed. Dusk had settled in, and it was twilight. I was looking up at the skylight, and could see a layer of bright red sunset under the dark clouds that were rolling in from the High Cascades. It looked like snow. I rubbed my hand through the hair on Mike’s chest.

“Seems like you were a lot more comfortable with your dad today.”

“Yeah, I’m still really confused, Jeffy, but I am glad he gave Spencer a black eye. It was actually in my mind that he might join him.”

“You don’t think he’s changed?”

“I reckon he has. That he has, got a lot clearer for me today. I still keep thinkin’ about what he did to me though.”

“Buddy, I don’t think you’re ever gonna forget it. Maybe the thing to focus on now is that he has changed, what he did to you was the reason for that change, and maybe work on forgivin’ him. That don’t mean you have to forget, just you’re puttin’ the past in the past.”

“Easier said than done.”

“I can understand that.”

“Do you think I’m bein’ an asshole, Jeffy?”

“No, why would you ask somethin’ like that?”

“I can see how much he’s changed. I know he’s tryin’ real hard to work with me and our past, plus he’s not pushin’ me or givin’ me ultimatums, but it is real hard for me to get beyond what he did to me. Hell I don’t think he’s even gotten beyond it.”

“I reckon he hasn’t, Mike. That’s why he’s tryin’ so hard to make things right. He knows he may never be able to make things right with you, so he’s workin’ real hard to try and keep what he did to you from happenin’ with another family.”

“I know that. That’s what makes the whole thing so hard for me. I feel I should just get over it, but every time I look at him, I see him in the pulpit, screamin’ about sinners goin’ to hell.”

“Do you feel any pressure from him or anybody else to, ‘get over it’, like you said?”

“No. Jason did say today he thinks my dad is great.”

“What did you say?”

“I just told him, ‘I’m glad you like him’. That was it.”

“That’s a great answer, Mike. If nobody’s puttin’ pressure on you, why are you puttin’ it on yourself?”

“He’s leavin’ in a few more days. What if I don’t have everythin’ worked out by then?”

“Wow, Mike, I never thought of that. I’d reckon they don’t have phones, e-mail, or a post office in San Francisco, where he’s livin’.” He looked at me a second, laughed, and gave me a halfhearted punch in the chest.

“Smart-ass.”

“Maybe so, but I’m your smart-ass, and don’t forget it. In all seriousness, Mike, you can always call, e-mail, or whatever. It might only be a card every Christmas or so, but you can keep in touch.”

“I reckon you’re right. I do feel a lot more kindly toward him after he stuck up for Mary Grace with Spencer.”

“Yeah, I’m surprised somebody hasn’t already kicked the shit outta the good reverend. God knows I want to, but he won’t throw the first punch. I sure have tried to goad him into it enough.”

“Well, he always goes out of his way to preach at you, Jeffy. I don’t blame you.”

“He does. I’m not too worried about it, because verbally I can usually make him get real pissed off. I reckon like Mary Grace always says, what he’s sendin’ out is gonna come back to him three times over. I sure would like to be a fly on the wall to see that.”

“Let’s not talk about Spencer anymore.”

“Okay. Hey, did you notice Jason seems to really be calmin’ down?”

“Yeah, he seems to have latched on to José quite a bit. He still looks at you with those big cow eyes too.” I laughed and hit him with a pillow.

“Oh cut it out, Mike. He’s eighteen years old, for God’s sake. He probably gets crushes on older guys all the time.”

“Yeah, but it is funny watchin’ him watch you though. You know, Jeffy, on a different note, when you was in the jail, telling Spencer that no harm better come to Mary Grace?”

“Yeah?”

“The sheriff told me and Dad that the body we found was a victim of the West Coast Cutter. They reckon he’d been tortured for several days. There was residue of duct tape on his hands and ankles.”

“That’s pretty awful. I hope they catch the son of a bitch who’s responsible.”

“I do too, Jeffy. They say the guy was probably awake and aware for most of the time he was tortured. Some of the older wounds had started to heal.”

“Is that the first body they found east of the Cascades?”

“No, that’s the funny thing. The bodies have all been left in rural areas. Some were left around Mt. Hood, in Oregon, several in Point Reyes and Redwood National Park in California, and another one near Mt. Adams, south of here. The freaky thing about it, Jeffy, is he and the other guys were all killed by either bein’ gutted like a deer while alive, or havin’ their heads cut off.”

“Buddy, you’re gonna give me nightmares. You reckon we should get up and get dressed?”

“I like bein’ naked with you, Jeffy, just a few more minutes.” I laughed.

“Okay, how about tonight we go to bed early and go to sleep late.”

“Ya ain’t gonna get a no from me on that.” He snuggled into me, just enjoying the closeness. It was nice.

W
E
WALKED
into the cantina and looked around for Al. I was wearing a black cowboy shirt with red trim and Wranglers. I had on my black hat and black boots. Mike was wearing a blue denim shirt, Wranglers, his black cowboy hat, and Rocketbuster boots. We looked around and saw his dad at a table.

“Howdy, Dad.”

I nodded hello. “Howdy.”

“Thanks for coming, Mike, Jeff.” Al was beaming again since Mike called him Dad. “You both look very nice.”

“Thanks, just our normal goin’-out clothes.”

“I would have never guessed that you’d end up a cowboy, Mike.”

“You know, Guy asked me on the phone if I could teach him to cowboy too.”

“Maybe he can come up here for summer break. I reckon we could find some work for him on the ranch.”

Mike nodded. “We always have lots of stuff to do, cleanin’, takin’ care of the dudes, yard work, and as he learns to cowboy, he could help out with that too.”

“He thinks the girls at school will be impressed that he’s going to be a cowboy on summer break.”

I looked right at Al. “Ya know, Al, I couldn’t tell ya if the girls will be or not, but the guys sure will.” I winked at him.

The waitress came by, and Mike and I each ordered a beer. Mike saw calamari on the menu and ordered a double order as well as nachos.

“I thought you didn’t like calamari, buddy.”

“Wherever did you get that idea, Jeffy?”

“I reckon from the first time you had some, how you carried on about how you weren’t gonna eat squid, and you wouldn’t like it, and all that stuff you were tellin’ me and Sandy.”

“I did try it and I like it.”

“Mike said he wouldn’t like calamari?” Al looked at us both.

“Yeah, from what I remember, he mentioned we were gonna have to order a double order of mozzarella sticks since he wouldn’t like squid. I think I mentioned he was carryin’ on like a city boy in front of a plate of mountain oysters.”

“Mountain oysters, you mean you guys eat that kind of stuff?” Al looked horrified.

“Yeah, they’re really good, ain’t they, Jeffy?”

“Yep, you can try ’em if you’re here when we cut calves.”

“Boys, you know until Cajun food got all popular, folks thought a lot of the stuff we eat is disgusting. Like crawfish for example, or alligator. A lot of people think that oysters are disgusting.”

“They just don’t know what’s good.” Mike took a swig of beer.

“Like calamari and mountain oysters.” Everyone laughed at my comment.

“You know, I taught Jeffy that song in French that you taught me, ‘La Valse du Vent Nord’.”

“Really, I used to sing that to your mother.” Mike had an incredulous look on his face. Mike, Al, and I began to sing.

“
Le vent nord apres souffler

Verglas apres tomber
….”

We laughed when Mike and I sang
mon cher
, and Al sang
ma cherie
. Just then, the waitress brought our appetizers.

“You guys sing really well together. I guess everyone in town knows Mike and Jeff do, but you sound really good too, sir.”

“Thank you very much.” Al seemed so much happier now that he had established a tentative relationship with Mike.

“Are reporters still calling you about finding the body when you guys were out skiing?”

“A few have. They seem to have slowed down lately though. If I don’t recognize the number, I don’t pick up.”

“Isn’t that bad for business, Jeff?” Al looked concerned.

“If it’s someone inquirin’ about stayin’ at the ranch, I just call ’em right back.”

“That makes sense. It must have been really traumatic for you two.”

“It’s not somethin’ I wanna do again, Dad.”

“I imagine it is very nightmarish. It’s a tragedy that there are sick people out there that prey on guys who are closeted. I wish everybody could understand that. I guess that idiots like myself have to learn it the hard way.”

Al had a look of incredible sadness on his face. Then he spoke. “I heard on the news they found another body this morning. They think it might be one of the Cutter’s victims. The body was found in the Wenatchee River. It looked like it had been there a while.”

“I just hope they catch the son of a bitch before anyone else gets hurt or killed.”

“You and the rest of us, Mike.” Al still looked sad.

“The bastard is up to nineteen known victims now.”

“That’s nineteen too many, Mike. Jason is pretty traumatized by finding the body.”

“I reckon he would be. You think maybe I should talk with him, Al?”

“I’d let him bring it up, Jeff. He’s very concerned about how you see him. He feels sort of a hero worship for you, mixed in with a schoolboy crush.”

“You ain’t gonna leave me for Jason, are ya now, Jeffy?”

“Buddy, that’s one thing you don’t gotta worry about.” Just then the waitress came back and took our dinner orders. Mike and I both ordered the taco and enchilada combination. Al had a steak. After she left, Mike turned to me.

“You wanna go sing karaoke at the Schoolhouse Brewery on Friday?”

“That would be fun.”

“You want to go with us?” Al looked like he was gonna go off the deep end from happiness.

“I would love to, Mike.” He had tears in his eyes. “Maybe you two could come and visit me in San Francisco, or we could all meet in Louisiana.”

“Maybe. Jeffy and I was talkin’ about goin’ to Louisiana for Mardi Gras, sometime.”

“That would be so much fun! Will you two wear the costumes you wore on Halloween I heard so much about?”

“Just where did you hear about our costumes, Al?” I was pretty sure of the answer before I asked the question.

“Sandy was telling me about them. She said both you and Maria were a bit self-conscious.” I was right on his source of information.

“I’d be okay with that, Jeffy, what about you?” Mike was grinnin’ at me.

“We’ll see.”

“What did Sandy tell you about the costumes?”

“Just that Jeff’s costume, as well as Maria’s, were pretty formfitting and revealing.” Mike was chuckling until he spoke again.

“She also said Mike’s leather pants looked like they were painted on.”

“She was right about that.” I now got to grin at Mike.

“I love to watch the two of you interact. I think even most straight couples would be jealous of the easy and friendly type of relationship you have.” When Al said that, Mike almost choked on the beer he was swallowing. When he finally stopped coughing, he looked at Al.