Until Kelly by Vera Quinn
Chapter Two
Trask
Another day and another fence mended. I hear a truck coming across the pasture and I see that Botie has finally decided to pull himself away from Lyric for a few hours. Since the day those two decided to be a couple, they have been inseparable. I would be jealous if I weren’t so happy for my best friend. If any man deserves some happiness, it’s Botie Hillhouse.
Botie was stood up at the altar the first time he tried marriage. His fiancée decided his brother would be a better fit for her. In my mind, they deserve each other. Botie is a man of principle, even if he can be the biggest grumpy ass in the county if he doesn’t have his coffee every morning.
Botie’s brother, Hawkins, left the family ranch when his family needed him because he only thought about himself. Talia, Botie’s ex, was cut from the same cloth. Like I said, they deserve each other. The entire Hillhouse family was better without the two when they left town with bigger aspirations.
Then Lyric showed up in town. She was trying to hide from her mom until she became of age to inherit her dad’s money. Lyric was like a breath of fresh air in the small town of Comfort. She took us all by surprise. I thought about taking her for a whirl, but once Botie met her and I saw that look in his eyes, I knew he was a goner. Lyric is the marrying kind of girl and I am not the settling down kind of man, so I let Botie have the lady.
It’s been a couple of years now and they are married. Sometimes they are so sweet as molasses it makes me want to throw up. Why any man would want to tie themselves down to one woman is beyond my understanding? Why tie yourself to one woman when you can have yourself a smorgasbord of them? To each their own.
I turn and look at the truck. Botie gets out with that stupid smile that stays plastered on his face since he and Lyric tied the knot.
“You’re a little late for work, Botie. You know, if you satisfy your woman the first time then you could get some sleep and get to work on time, giving us poor single men a break,” I say with a serious tone.
“At least I have a woman to satisfy and I’m not out all night trying to find someone to take to my truck for a quickie before I head home,” Botie comes back with. “I was pulling a calf for your information.” I laugh.
“It took you all morning?”
Botie smiles. “Nope, it only took about an hour. I was up late last night celebrating with Lyric,” Botie says, and I look at the man. I know it’s not their anniversary or either one’s birthday.
“Lyric sell another song?” Lyric is a talented songwriter. She takes after her dad, Travis Dade, who was in one of the most famous rock bands before he died.
“Don’t say anything to anyone, but Lyric is pregnant. We’re having a baby.”
I’ll be damned. I drop the pliers in my hand and walk over to my friend and shake his hand.
“Congratulations, man, that is terrific. Another Hillhouse generation,” I say, and I guess Botie’s smile is contagious because I can’t quit smiling. A baby. Botie and Lyric will make terrific parents. “It couldn’t happen to better people. I am happy for you.”
“We’re going to surprise everyone else, but Lyric wanted me to tell you so you can help us get everyone together.”
This sounds like a setup. Lyric and Botie don’t need me to help them get people together. The last few weeks, Lyric has gotten into her head that I need a good woman to settle down with. I have been going along with it since I don’t want to alienate my best friend’s wife.
“Botie, if this is another attempt for Lyric to set me up with someone, I think I am going to need to bow out. I know Lyric’s heart is in the right place, but just because you two are happy in a monogamous relationship doesn’t mean that is what I am looking for. I don’t even know how Lyric is meeting all these women since she is a bit of a homebody. I love your woman for you, but she needs to chill on the whole ‘let’s get Trask married off and settled down campaign,’” I tell my friend in the friendliest voice I can so he doesn’t get upset. He is a bit of a bear when it comes to protecting his woman.
“I’ve told her to do just that. We want your help in getting everyone together tonight, so that’s why we are asking for your help. We want to do this today before I tell everyone else with an official announcement.” Botie looks at the ground and then back at me. “Lyric wants to document everything with pictures because she has nothing to remember her childhood with other than media photos. No one took the time to make a baby book or anything for Lyric growing up. I know this seems silly, but to Lyric it is important for her to be able to show our children that we loved them growing up and we made everything special—announcements, birthdays and the whole nine yards. I didn’t get it until my mom was showing Lyric my baby book and old school pictures that she had of mine. Mom asked if Lyric had any, and Lyric cried when she had to tell her no. I guess it’s a woman thing.” Botie looks worried.
I guess I get it. My parents don’t have photos all over our walls of Branton, my brother, and myself, but she has one wall just for our pictures and I think she has baby books for each of us. My mom, Skeeter, is nothing like Botie’s mom, Dolly. She’s more interested in what is popular with rich people than about her children, but she did keep pictures of Branton and my achievements so she could brag to her rich friends. I guess I can see how Lyric might be upset by not having mementos from her childhood. I guess Botie is right, it’s a woman thing.
“Alright, I will help, but I’m not dating anymore of the women that Lyric introduces me to. I love your woman like a sister, but her taste in women is boring. Find a subtle way to break it to her or I will, please. I said please, and that means you must do it. Lyric’s rules, not mine.” I laugh at my friend. He knows when I have him.
“You help us with a cookout tonight and I will tell her. Lyric has had no signs of morning sickness, but she cries at the drop of a hat. If you make my woman cry, I will whip your ass.”
I laugh as I pick the pliers up and finish with the fence, as if my friend could whip me. The two of us have been wrestling with each other like brothers since we were knee high. We are evenly matched.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do with your house?” That’s been a sore point between Lyric and Botie since they first moved into it.
“We’re going to do upgrades and if needed, add on. Lyric loves the house she bought, and she’s not moving even for a new house, so we’re staying put. I would have rather bulldozed the whole thing and start over, but I gave in. I just want to make Lyric happy.” Lyric has Botie wrapped around her little finger. That will never be me. I refuse to let a woman lead me around by my dick. Another argument for me being single—I only need to make myself happy.
“You know, if Lyric stops trying to fix you up with women, you are running out of women that will speak to you in Comfort. All the single women in town, you have either already dated and moved on or they have moved to bigger towns. You do realize that you can’t date teenagers anymore.” Botie laughs.
“You’re a real jokester today. Austin isn’t that far away. I do leave Comfort sometimes. Quit worrying about my love life and concentrate on that woman of yours. I am doing fine.” I finish with the fence with Botie’s eyes on me. “Since you were late and then you watched me finish the fence repair, you are buying lunch.” I look at my watch as I walk to my truck and put my tools away. Botie crosses the fence and helps me put everything else away.
“Meet me at the diner in town. I am going to pick up the list of things we need to pick up for tonight from Lyric, along with the list of people to invite. We can split it up and get it done faster. Lyric is meeting Nick and Haddie at Haddie’s for lunch. I know Roger and Zane will be here this afternoon and Lyric will be busy with them.” Botie looks lost in thought.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I hope you understand if we don’t invite your family.”
That makes me laugh.
“I wouldn’t invite them either. It’s supposed to be a party to celebrate your happiness, not for my dad to badger you about selling your property or my mom talking about how proud she is about her Hollywood son. I get it. I love Mom and Dad, but it is kind of required since they are my parents. That doesn’t mean I agree with how they act in public or how they look down on everyone. We’ll invite people that want to celebrate your new addition to your family. Are you inviting Hawkins?” I know that Hawkins isn’t Botie’s favorite person. I would have already shot the man, but that’s me. Steal my fiancée and you are disowned. I am funny that way. I can hold a mean grudge, but I know it isn’t in Botie to hate his brother, and I know Lyric would just try to fix the situation if Botie did hate Hawkins.
“Dad sent Hawkins to San Antonio to pick up some things for the ranch, and he is staying over to meet with an attorney on how to rid himself of Talia now that they have gone their separate ways.” Botie doesn’t sound too disappointed.
“Good timing,” I say without thinking.
“That’s why I want this done tonight and not wait until this weekend,” Botie says, letting me know I was right about Botie still not wanting his brother back into his life so fast. His parents may forgive Hawkins, but Botie will never let his guard down again where his brother is concerned.
“Let’s get some grub. Some of us have been at work since six this morning,” I gripe with a smile on my face.
“Alright already, let’s feed you so you will stop whining. When did you become such a whiner?” Botie comes right back.
“About the same time that you decided staying in bed with your woman is better than helping with the work on our joint fencing. When did you become such a job shirker? I believe when I wanted to stay all night partying, you used to tell me to suck it up and live up to my responsibilities.” The tables have turned.
“About the same time that I learned I needed to stop and smell the roses in life. Isn’t that what you were always trying to tell me?”
I laugh.
“Now you decide to listen to me. It only took thirty-two years.” I shake my head.
“Better late than never. Last one to the diner pays.” Botie turns for his truck.
“No doing, mister. You pay. I showed up for work on time.” I reach for the door handle of my truck.
“Fine, I’ll pay. You cook the burgers for tonight.”
I think about it for a minute. That’s better than having to talk to the ladies from church.
“Deal. You keep the bible thumpers company.” I laugh.
“Damn, fine. Let’s get some food.” Botie knows he got the short end of that deal.