The Summer I Fell (The Six Series) (26 page)

“So you’re gonna put him in here to teach him a lesson?” I looked over at Seth and winked.

He chuckled as he tipped his hat back. “Somethin’ like that.”

Seth and I loaded the wheelbarrow until it couldn’t hold anymore. Old Man Willis pointed out where he wanted it dumped. I looked around the stall, taking note that most of the garbage had been cleared out, but there were still a few heavier pieces that needed moved. I waited for Seth to come back, so he could help me.

The heat of the day made the interior of the barn feel like a sauna, or maybe it was all the moving around I’d done. Beads of sweat slipped down over my face and ran into my eyes, making them sting. I wiped my face off on the sleeve of my shirt and leaned against the rails as I waited for Seth to come back.

“How’s all them young fellars of yours doin’?” Old Man Willis asked.

“They’re doing good. I don’t get to talk to them too often though.” I couldn’t escape missing them. Even when I found myself stall deep in a pile of junk.

“How’s Jake? Still at boot camp?”

My heart squeezed inside my chest. If it weren’t for him being at boot camp, he’d be here with me, helping me move all of Old Man Willis’ accumulated junk.

“Yeah, he’ll be graduating in a couple of weeks,” I answered just as Seth came back in with the empty wheelbarrow.

I waved Seth over and together, we lifted up an old plow that at one time was used to plow the fields with a horse. Talk about horsepower. A laugh slipped out, ending on a squeal as a rat shot out from the back of the stall and ran between my feet.

“I was afraid of that,” Old Man Willis said as he looked across the barn to where the rat had made its escape. “Guess I’m gonna need me some mousers soon.” He wiped his face with a handkerchief on a sigh.

“I think I know just where you can get some of those. You’ll just have to wait a few weeks for them to get big enough,” I said, giving Seth a smirk.

“Yeah, they’ll be the best mousers you’ve ever had!” Seth chimed in.

Old Man Willis squinted his eyes as he looked at Seth. “Huh, the best you say?”

“Best in ’Bama,” Seth answered with a grin that all but swallowed his face.

“Well, than that settles that, I’d say.”

Seth nodded along as we carried the old plow out and set it in front of the barn. I looked up in time to catch Old Man Willis’ smile. He winked at me with a shrug.

I mouthed the word ‘softie’ at him, and he wagged his finger at me. For an old man who looked as mean as a rattlesnake and as tough as leather, he was one of the most gentle-hearted people around these parts. Seth would love working for him.

Two tires, one plow, and several crates later, the stall was clean and ready for use. Old Man Willis had snuck off to the house, but I knew he’d be back before we left.

I rubbed my filthy hands down the front of my jeans. “I need a shower and about a gallon of water.”

I looked over at the sink to the back of the barn. At one point, it worked, but something had happened to the waterline coming into the sink, putting it out of commission.

Seth hiked his shirt up and wiped his face. There wasn’t a spot on that kid that was clean. “Ready to head out?”

Seth closed the stall and rolled the wheelbarrow back over to where he’d gotten it from, and we left the barn. The breeze had picked up, and the clouds darkened above us.

When I got to the truck, Old Man Willis came out of his house, carrying two bottles of water. When he got to us, he handed over the waters and went to slip me some money like he’d always done. I shook my head no at him and tilted it in Seth’s direction. Old Man Willis never missed a beat. He reached out to shake Seth’s hand. “For your hard work today.”

The look on Seth’s face was almost comical when he realized what the old man had done. “Sir, I can’t accept this.”

Old Man Willis pegged him with a hardened stare. “And why not?”

Seth’s eyes were cast downward, looking anywhere but up at the man standing in front of him. His shoulder hitched with a shrug, but he didn’t answer.

“Well, the way I see it, is if you put in a hard day’s work, you deserve a hard day’s pay.” Old Man Willis put his hand on Seth’s shoulder and leaned down so he would look at him. “You earned it. Now put it in your pocket and save it.”

Old Man Willis stepped back from Seth and turned his attention on me. “Talk with his momma, would ya? I could use a good worker ’round here.”

“Will do,” I said, opening the passenger side door for Seth. “Let’s get you home before your mom wonders where you’re at.”

Seth walked past Old Man Willis and stopped. He lifted his head and turned with his hand outstretched. “Thank you, sir.”

Old Man Willis laughed. “Don’t thank me just yet, son. There’s plenty more work here to do. Hard work. By the end of summer, you’ll look like you’ve been to one of them yuppie gyms.”

That brought a chuckle out of Seth.

I slid behind the steering wheel, started the truck, and kicked on the AC. When Seth’s door slammed closed, I put the truck in gear and with a wave, we left Old Man Willis’ place.

Seth was quiet on the ride to his house, and I left him to his thoughts. Things had changed a lot for him since that fateful day he brought Sammy into the office. He’d grown. Day by day, he gained a little more confidence, a little more self-worth. The opportunity that Old Man Willis extended to him was the same sort of offer he’d made to Ace and me when we were younger. It was how I bought the truck I drove.

Seth piped up enough to give me directions to his house. When I pulled up in the yard, a woman stepped out onto the porch. Her hair was pulled up out of her face. From where I sat, I could tell she was tired. Her face split
into a grin when she saw Seth.

“You coming?” he asked when he opened his door.

I shook my head to clear it and shut the truck off. Seeing Seth’s mom’s face transform at the sight of her son made me realized how lucky he was. He had a mom that loved him so much that the sight of him made her face go from worn and tired to happy and proud.

I got out of the truck and climbed the porch steps, introducing myself to her.

For as dirty as Seth was, his mom still put her arm around his shoulder and held him close.

“It’s nice to meet you, Riley. I’m Cindy. Seth talks about you all the time.”

I watched as a tinge of red touched his cheeks. “It’s nice to meet you, Cindy. If you have a few minutes, I’d like to talk to you.”

“Sure. Seth, why don’t you head on in and get cleaned up while Riley and I talk?”

Seth shoved his hand in his pocket as he stepped forward and pulled out the money Old Man Willis had given him. He gestured for me to take it. “That way she knows where it came from,” he explained before he headed inside to get cleaned up.

Cindy gave me an odd look, but she waited for me to explain to her why Seth had money.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I took him out to Old Man Willis’ today to help me.”

Understanding dawned on her face. “Well, that sure explains why he’s covered in dirt from head to toe.”

“He’s a hard worker, your son. Old Man Willis offered him a job on the farm. It wouldn’t be all the time, but it would give Seth a chance at earning some money. If it’s okay with you, that is.”

Cindy worried her lip between her teeth. “He’s had a rough time of it lately. Schools been… tough, and he’s been trying to find his place, I guess is the best way to put it. But you, Riley, you’ve made such a difference in him in these last couple of weeks. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

Seth was probably one of the easiest kids to be around. Knowing he’d had trouble with school made me feel an even deeper connection with him. It was like watching myself when I was younger, before the Six. Before I knew what friendship and loyalty meant. I could only hope Seth found the same kind of friends I had.

“Seth’s a great kid. I’m glad to have him around,” I held my hand out and placed the folded bills in her hand. “He made some money today. I guess he wanted me to give it to you.”

Her hand closed around the bills, and a look of happiness lit up her face. “Well, I guess that means he’ll need a bank account.”

“Looks that way. I’ll give Seth Old Man Willis’ number. That way you can speak to him if you’d like,” I said, turning to leave.

“Would you like to stay for dinner?” Cindy called out to me as I stepped off the porch.

I appreciated the offer, but I promised Paige I’d call her as soon as I was on my way home. From the sound of her voice earlier, I didn’t want to make her wait any longer. “Thank you, but I promised a friend I’d meet up with them. Tell Seth I’ll see him tomorrow.”

I waved as I fired up my truck and headed home.

My thoughts lingered back to what Seth’s mom had said about school being tough for him, and an idea hit me. Josh’s little brother was about the same age as Seth. I picked up the phone and called Paige, leaving her a message that I was on my way home, but I had to pop into Josh’s for a minute.

I was in luck. Josh’s brother was outside when I pulled into my driveway.

“Hey, Aaron!”

He picked up his hand and waved as he walked across the yard. “Hey, Riles.”

He favored his brother and if he continued growing like he had, he’d be the same size as Josh, if not taller. “Hey, what do you have planned for tomorrow?”

He kicked at the ground and sighed. “Nothing. This summer blows already.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at him. He gave me a dirty look and grumbled, “It’s not funny. Everyone is doing something, and I get to sit at home.”

Perfect. “How about helping me out at Dr. Anderson’s office and maybe even out at Old Man Willis’ place when he needs a hand?”

He scrunched his eyes up at me. “I’m not stickin’ my hand up no cows butt.”

I swatted him. “You sound just like Josh.”

His hands went to his hips, and his head tipped back on a laugh.

“So how ’bout it?”

“Sure. I got nuthin’ better to do.”

“Awesome. I’ll be ready to go at seven tomorrow morning. You think you can get your lazy self outta bed that early?”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m up at that time all school year. I think I can handle it.”

His hand came up to shade his eyes, and he pointed at Paige’s car as it rolled to a stop in my driveway. “You got company. See ya tomorrow.”

He took off across his yard before I could reply.

I waited for Paige to get out of her car. When she just sat there, I walked over and opened her door. Her head was resting on the steering wheel, and silent sobs shook her shoulders. “Holy shit, Paige. What’s wrong?”

She pushed away from the steering wheel and swiped at her tears. Her anger was evident with each jerky movement. “Everything, Riley. Every. Fuckin’. Thing.”

I stepped back, so she could get out of the car. I’d seen Paige upset before. I’d seen her fighting mad, but I’d never seen her like that. Her entire body trembled. Each movement she made seemed measured, as if it were the only thing keeping her from exploding.

“Let’s go inside and you can tell me what’s got you so upset.”

She walked beside me in silence, and I feared when she finally let go, it would be impressive.

Inside the kitchen, she pulled out a chair and sat with her hands clasped on the table. Her knuckles turned white from the pressure she put on them.

“Spill it. What’s got you so angry?” I said, sitting down to face her.

“Angry? Oh, I’m so much more than angry right now.”

“I can see that. What happened?”

“They’re not hiring me. I worked,” her words caught on a sob, “so hard. So many hours, just wasted. And they hired some girl who’s been on the floor for a week. A fuckin’
week
!”

I had no idea what to say, but I was right there with Paige. The hospital hiring someone brand new over her was complete bullshit.

I shot up from my chair and took off towards the stairs.

“Where the hell are you going?” Paige shouted after me.

My hand wrapped around the wooden baseball bat I kept behind my door. I slapped it against my palm as I came down the stairs and stopped a few feet from her. “Let’s go break her legs or fuck up her car. I don’t care which one. You pick, and I’ll swing.”

She was out the door before me and jumped in my truck. I peeled out of my driveway and took off down the road.

We passed by the hospital, and she laughed. “Ice cream, huh?”

“Duh, neither of us is going to jail tonight. We can break her legs tomorrow or something.”

Paige laughed at me and rested her head against the seat. “I’d be so lost without you, Riley. Thanks for at least pretending that we’d give her the beat down of her life.”

I turned into the parking lot of the local ice cream stand, Twisters, and shut my truck off. “Maybe you weren’t meant to stay there. Maybe this is just a sign that this isn’t the right path for you.”

She turned on the bench seat and dropped her hands in her lap. “Being a nurse is all that I know, Riley. I’m not letting this stop me. I just have to figure out what’s next.”