Page 96 of Property of Rattler

Pushing away from the wall and snapping to attention, Dee responds. “Your ol’ lady told me to wait in case they needed anything.”

“And you take orders from my ol’ lady now?”

Dee doesn’t voice it, but his expression screams,well, duh.

Rolling his eyes, Freak demands, “Give me the key and get lost.”

Dee doesn’t hesitate to comply. Once he’s out of sight, Freak sighs. “I got myself a fuckin’ good ol’ lady.”

I swallow hard. He has. I just hope I haven’t fucked things up. For him, as well as myself.

“Ready?” he asks.

Not really, but it’s got to be done. “Yeah.”

He places the key in the lock and turns it. I don’t know about him, but I’m already opening my mouth to counteract the tirade I’m sure will be coming. But as we step inside we both come to a halt.

There, arms around each other, lay our two women, curled up and fast asleep in the middle of the bed. What’s more, one of them is snoring. Snorting, Freak moves over to the table that’s between two chairs, and picks up a bottle of what I recognise is very good, and very strong, vodka. I notice there’s not very much left in it.

I think we both exhale a relieved sigh together. Then we analyse the problem.

Freak’s the first to come up with a solution. “You’ll have to take Ames to your room in the bunkhouse.”

I simply stare at him. A flight of stairs down, the trek to the barn, then up more stairs. When even picking her up would be a challenge I’m sure to fail. His eyes fall on my sling, then the crutches, then he lets out his breath.

“Fuck it, I’ll take Trixie home.” He moves to the bed and scoops up his wife bridal style. She doesn’t make a sound, but as if she senses she’s safe in his arms, she snuggles into his chest.

The least I can do is get the door for him.

Then Ames and I are alone. I’m not a fool. I’m not going to waste a moment of this. After I visit the bathroom, take a piss and brush my teeth, I return as quietly as I can. Sitting on the bed, I gently place my crutches on the floor, then undress. Wearing just my boxers and t-shirt, I carefully slide in next to her, hating I can’t take the liberty of pulling her in close. Instead I settle for resting my good arm across her, and pressing my body against hers.

As her warmth seeps me, I relish this feeling of her beside me.

I vow, I’ll do anything to keep her.

She’s the part of me I never knew I was missing.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

AMES

When I awake the first thing I notice is how badly my head throbs, it sounds as if a rock band has taken residence in my brain. The second is that I’m surrounded by warmth. Then I vaguely remember falling asleep with Trixie last night. Immediately I try to roll away from her, but I’m prevented by the arm over my stomach.

“Kind of like feeling you there,” a very male voice rasps.

My eyes flicking open, I see it’s Rat. Twin reactions assail me. One, my resolve to leave him, and the other reminding me Trixie had suggested I give him a chance. But before I can decide between them, something else makes itself known.

“I need to pee.”

Rattler’s eyes open. “Come back to me, Ames. Please?” He sounds almost as if he’s begging when he tacks on the last word.

Raising his arm, he lets me leave. As I sit up, a bolt of pain goes through my head. I make a concerted effort to get to my feet, the urgency in my bladder urging me on. I go to the bathroom, relieve myself, then suddenly turn and vomit into the porcelain.

I am never drinking vodka again.

As I’m lean over the toilet, I feel a presence behind me, then my hair is lifted from around my face as another bout of sickness strikes me. I should be embarrassed, but I feel too ill to protest. He stays there, silently offering his support, while I purge the contents of my stomach. Then, when I can only spit up bile, he helps me up, and wets a hand towel under the tap. I use it to blot my overheated face.

He passes me a tooth brush already loaded with paste, I take it and clean my teeth. When I’ve finished, I turn to face him, only then noticing the strain on his face as he’s trying to help me without his crutches.