The Terms of Release (25 page)

“She’s a strong woman, though. She’s going to move in with June, I think, try city living for a few months.”

“No shit?” Well, that was good for Ellen. He hoped it was good for Rosie and Sage too.

“Yeah. That girl of hers is on the warpath, getting things done.” Mom grinned. “Christ.”

“Nesting, huh?” He grinned back before lowering his voice. “Are you getting flak from our side?”

“I haven’t heard a fucking word, Son. Not a thing. I have to say, I expected to hear from the girls, at least.”

“Huh.” That was either really good or really bad.

“Yeah. I keep expecting to have the house blown up or something.”

“Oh God.” Win stared at his mom. “You don’t think Teddy would….”

“If he does, I’ll cut his balls off.”

“Good on you.” His mom was something else. “We’re thinking of moving, Mom.”

“Good. This is a shitty place for you and a worse place for him. This entire county is resting on a Good Ole Boys network, and it will strangle you both.”

“Yeah.” That wasn’t going to change anywhere, but at least he wouldn’t be related to them.

She shrugged. “What do you want me to say, Son? You are who you are.”

“I know. I’m a little sick of being sorry for it too.” She got it. She’d never been anything but his biggest fan.

“I bet. Wherever you go, there’d better be a guest room.”

“Oh, that I can promise.” Ellen would want to come too, if she went to city living. Sage’s mom was a ranch lady.

“There will always be a place for moms at our house.” Sage’s voice was raw.

“Well, good deal, boys. How are you feeling, Sage?”

“I want to go home, ma’am. I’m worried about the horses.”

“Well, you have a whole host of folks out there helping.” Mom laughed. “I’ve never met so many bikers.”

“They’re good to me.” Sage took a deep breath, wincing a bit. “I’m so tired of being in the bed, y’all.”

“We have to get the physical therapy folks to sign off on you, babe.” Not that Sage would be up and around a lot at home to begin with.

“I know. I’m ready. I’ll cope and stuff, I swear.”

“I know you will.”

Win’s mom nodded. “Of course you will. But you got to give your sister time to clean up.”

“Sage is coming to my place, Mom.”

“He is? Oh. Maybe I’ll get someone to go clean up your place.”

“Mom!” God. His ears got hot.

“What? You’re a shitty housekeeper.”

Sage snorted.

“I’m not dirty. Just….”

“Lazy.” His mom and Sage said it at the same time.

“Oh, you both suck.”

Wait. Wait, did he say that? They grinned at him, so he must have. Whoops.

Sage started chuckling; then the chuckles turned into full-out laughter. That was a damned fine look for his lover, and Win laughed right along with him. And Mom.

“Okay, boys. I’m off. I’ll have someone deal with your house, Son.”

“Thanks, Mom. You know, I did hire a girl.”

“Uh-huh. What? Once?”

He guessed. Lord. At least it was one less thing he had to do.

Sage was still laughing at him. Fucker.

“You’re fired,” he said.

“Out of a cannon.” Sage winked at him.

“If I thought it would get you home sooner, I so would.” He patted Sage’s hand, yawning.

“I know. You should go rest. I’m going to lay here like a worthless thing until someone lets me out.”

“No, I’m good.” He wasn’t, though. He was exhausted.

“Bullshit. Go sleep. I’m fine.” For a second, Sage sounded just like Sam.

Win chuckled, then stood and dropped a quick kiss on Sage’s mouth. “I do need some sleep. I wanted to be here when you woke up.”

“Thank you. I want to go home, sleep in your bed.”

“God, I want that too.” They would hide under the covers and hold on, watch movies, and eat popcorn.

“Maybe I’ll be home tonight.”

“I’ll cross my fingers.”

“Me too. Go sleep. I’ll call you if something happens.”

“Okay, babe.” He lowered his voice. “Love you.”

“I love you.” Three little words again, simple as fuck. They made everything in his body stand up and take notice. Whoosh.

Sage loved him.

Sage loved him and they were going to find a place.

Damn.

Win walked out of that damned hospital feeling ten foot tall and as high as a mountain.

“I’
M
WALKING
out of here, man, whether or not y’all get your heads out of your asses and sign me out.” He’d had enough. Momma needed to put Daddy to rest, and she swore she’d not do it without Sage there. So, he was getting out of this place.

He’d done walked, he’d bent the things the doctor swore were still his knees. He’d pooped on his own, and he’d managed to hold down the shit they considered food. He was done.

“Mr. Redding, your insurance can deny your claim if you go against doctor’s advice.”

“My insurance? What fucking insurance, man? I’m a goddamn cowboy! They don’t just come around in happy insurance trucks going, shit, you make no money, you work with petulant thousand-pound critters with teeth and hooves and tempers, let me help your hick ass out!”

The nurse stepped back, blinking rapidly, her mouth opening and closing. Hell, he figured she had to be in from some other town too, not to know he was also an ex-con. You didn’t get dental with that once you were out.

“Really, Son? This woman’s going to think you were raised in a barn without doors.” Momma leaned against the doorframe. “I assure you—” She peered at the nametag. “—Stella. The barn had doors. Find Dr. Franks for me. Now.”

“But….”

“Was there a syllable in the word ‘now’ you missed?”

Oh, yeah. Momma was ready too. She’d always hated hospitals, his momma.

The nurse hightailed it off, muttering.

Okay, that was fun.

“I brought you some clothes. Can you manage jeans, or do you want sweats?”

“I’ll wear my jeans.” He was a cowboy, damn it. “You bring my boots?”

“Oh, honey. No. There’s no way. Look at your feet. You’ll have to wear sneakers for a bit longer. Least ’til I can afford you some lace ups.”

He stared at his momma, then down at his swollen feet. Damn it.

“He can wear slippers.” Dr. Franks came in, looking him over critically. “Sweatpants, Sage. I want as little friction as possible on your dressings.”

“Okay. Okay, I’ll wear them. I swear.”

“And you have to finish the antibiotics and keep your feet elevated. No riding. Not for eight more weeks.”

“Eight weeks!” He was about to explode all over again.

“Yes. It’s the holidays. Relax. Be with your family.”

Like it could ever be the holidays again. That wasn’t the Doc’s fault, though, so he swallowed the words.

“You’ll drive him, Ellen?”

“Of course I will.” She nodded. “We’ll take care of him.”

“Well, then I’ll sign you out. I expect to see you in four weeks for X-rays.”

“Fine. I’ll be here. Momma, give me my jeans.”

“Sweats.”

“Right.” The big vein along his right temple was going to go. Bang.

“You want me to help?”

He gave her a look. “Go away, Momma.”

“I’ll be outside, baby.” She gave him a wink and a smile and left the room.

He got the sweats over one foot, but not the other. Damn it. He was gonna fall right over, and he sighed, wanting to stamp his feet, which would be straight-on stupid.

“Momma?” He hadn’t needed her help dressing since he’d been three.

The door opened, and it was Adam there. “Hey, man. I came to give you a key.”

Oh, thank the good Lord. “I can’t get my pants on.”

“I can help with that, babe.” Those fingers felt good on his sore legs.

“I’m coming home. That’s okay, right?”

“Hell, yes. I can even take you. I mean, your mom is here, but she can come too, make sure you’re settled.” Adam’s smile was like sunrise.

“That sounds good.” He was so ready to get the fuck out of here.

“Well, come on, then.” Adam knelt and got both his feet in his pants, working his legs gently.

With Adam’s help, he was dressed, slippers to ball cap, feeling like he’d run a mile. Adam slung an arm around him and helped him to the wheelchair that waited for him.

“Thank you.” He was sweating like a lathered horse.

“No problem, babe. They insist on the wheelchair.”

“I don’t hate it.”

Adam laughed. “No, I guess not. They said we could buy one at the pharmacy down the way.”

“I’ll manage without. I will.” He didn’t have a dime. Not a single fucking dime. The Red Cross had got him some jeans, and he’d had his boots on during the storm at least.

“Hey.” Adam turned to stare at him, their faces inches from one another. “We’re in this together. If you need it, we’ll get it.”

“I’m scared that I’m never going to pull my half.”

“Bullshit.” Squeezing his ribs, Adam led him to the wheelchair. “You’re the hardest working man I know. If it makes you uncomfortable depending on me to begin with, then we can sit and work out a plan. But not today.”

“Not today.” He eased down, his heart racing.

“That’s it. Today we get you home, get you settled. I have to go back in after lunch, but I’ll be there for supper. I can stop at Wilma’s and get pie.”

“Oh, I’d like that. Can…. Penny?” He felt like an ass asking about his dog.

“Oh heck, yes. Do you want me to get her on the way home too? Or should I ask….” Adam chuckled. “Uh. Have you talked to Rosie lately?”

“Rosie? No. No, why? She’s okay, huh?”

“She’s good. Really. She’s just… I mean, I was going to ask if you wanted Chance to bring Penny over, and it occurred to me you might not know.”

“Chance? The redhead mechanic? Friends with Bulldog?”

“Yeah. He’s been out at the house. A lot.” Adam began wheeling him out into the hall.

“Huh. He’s a solid guy.” Rosie? With a biker? Huh.

“He is. I mean, who knows? But I figured you ought to know. He’s in it to win it.”

“Lord have mercy.” Still, the guys were decent, and he wasn’t one to pass judgment. “I’ll call up to the house and see if they’ll bring me my pup.”

“Okay. Then all I have to do is get supper. Ellen, are you staying for supper?”

“No, Son. I’m tired, and I’m going to go to my bed at June’s and rest.”

At some point in this whole thing they had, Adam had gone from Officer to Adam to Son.

“Well, if you need me to get anything, I can so do that.” Adam was good to his momma. Sweet.

“I think I want a day of rest. Tomorrow I’m going to have to deal with things, and then the funeral will be the day after. I need to close my eyes.”

“Then go and do that, Momma. Adam’s got me.”

“I do. He’ll want to rest once I get him home.” Adam went to hug Momma and kiss her cheek. “Mom says to call her and tell her when you want her and Auntie to come help with the food and all.”

“I will. I love you, boys.”

“Love you, Momma.” God, he was tired.

Bone tired.

“See you later.” Adam wheeled him out to the truck, and it was actually quieter in the parking lot.

He felt every bone in his body try and relax, just from being outside in the sun. Sage hadn’t realized how much he’d missed it.

Adam chuckled. “Gonna have to set you and Penny up a cot on the porch, huh?”

“A place to bask.” He looked at the truck and forced himself to move, to get himself up and in. His new knee wanted to go the right way. His old one wanted to go backward. He managed not to keel over, but only because Adam steadied him.

“The doctor says the other knee’s going to be replaced at some point too, probably.” Stupid thing.

“Well, you said the new one feels better, right?” They pulled out onto the main road, and Sage was a little surprised the world didn’t implode or something.

“The new one feels amazing. To be honest, except for the tired, the knees don’t grind like they had.”

“Well, I’m glad.” Adam glanced over. “Does that make me selfish?”

What? “I don’t follow, Adam.”

“To be tickled that something good came out of the last week.”

“Don’t we deserve something?”

“We do.” One big hand settled on his leg, Adam’s touch warm, easing the tension his stitches were pulling.

His eyes crossed. “God, that’s the most wonderful thing.”

“Really? We can do some heat tonight. My mom got me some of those bags that go in the microwave when I broke my elbow a few years back.” Adam didn’t rub or squeeze. He gave Sage all that warmth.

“Uh-huh.”
Anything. Just stay right there.

Adam did, all the way back to the little house he’d only seen the once. Shit, once had been enough to know he hoped Adam’s momma had really sent someone to clean. Oh, Adam wasn’t nasty at all. Just cluttered.

“Here it is. Home sweet home.” Poor Adam sounded so damn nervous.

“It’s great. Thank you for letting me stay.”

“Well, we’re throwing in our lot together, right?” Adam helped him inside.

“We are. I am. Yes.” Adam had the most comfortable recliners in history. When Adam eased him down, he sighed, his muscles relaxing.

“I’m going to put the footrest up, babe. You want a Coke?”

“Please. A Dr Pepper, if you have one.”

“You got it.” Adam put Sage’s feet up and got him a drink. “Here’s the remote, baby. And the phone.”

“Thank you.” He found Adam a smile.

“You’re welcome, babe. I have to get back to work, and I forgot to get you food. You want those cheese crackers?”

“That’s fine. I’m just going to sit a bit. Go work.”

“Okay.” He got crackers, an apple, and a kiss. Adam was beaming, silly man.

“See you tonight, huh?” He was exhausted, all the way to the bone.

“Absolutely. And then I will bring food. I promise. Pie. And Penny.”

“Good deal.”

And it was. It wasn’t great, but it was good, and it was his, and he couldn’t ask for more than that.

T
HE
OFFICE
was jumping, the donation barrel for folks affected by the tornado almost full, the phones ringing off the damned hook thanks to an early-morning Amber alert. Win had about an hour of paperwork to do, and he kept getting called out for this or that, and it wasn’t getting done.