Chapter 15
Stranded with the asshole
Colt
I can’t believe I let my son do this to me. It happened too quick for me to react. He had bound my hands behind my back, pretending to give me some new stretch he heard about. I trusted him.
It’s bad enough I’m bound to the boat, but now I’m having to stare at Ty’s face the whole time. “Guess this was intentional?” I say to him.
He shrugs. “It wasn’t my idea.”
My jaw clenches. We haven’t been speaking for weeks. Last night I didn’t want him near me. Today hasn’t changed my mind. “Whatever. I’ll just wait it out and let them come help us.”
Ty looks around. The guys have already docked the boat and left, driving away on the four-wheelers. There’s no sign that they’ll be back at all. “Doubt it.”
“Just keep your mouth shut over there. I don’t need commentary.”
“Whatever. We wouldn’t be in this mess if you’d just let it go.”
“Let it go? I knew from the start you’d blow this whole thing out of proportion. You and your cracks are why we ain’t speaking. Don’t you dare blame this on me, Ty.”
“I’m not the one holding the grudge. When we were kids we said nothing would break our friendship. Not even Van. Now look at us.”
“If you’d act like a grown ass man for once we wouldn’t be here.”
“If you’d learn to grow a set we wouldn’t be here.”
“Screw you.” I turn my body so I no longer have to stare at him.
Time passes. The sun is beating down on us, and surrounded by the trees, there’s not much of a breeze to cool us down. I’m parched and Ty keeps coughing. I’ve tried several times to free myself with no use. From across the boat Ty struggles with his own restraints.
More silence passes. “You’d think the wives would be looking for us by now.”
“I’m pretty certain the boys made up something so they wouldn’t.”
He nods. “Yeah, maybe.”
“Did you ever get that last set of cattle out?”
“Six days off schedule, but yeah. It was a tough group having all those calves die in the beginning.”
“That was some fluke. Good thing it didn’t infect the older part of the group.”
“Yeah.”
More quiet.
Ty starts the next bit of conversation. “You doing any better with the stress?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but no.”
“Man, that blows. Sorry to hear.”
“Are you, Ty? Are you sorry this happened to me, or does it make you laugh?”
He shakes his head. “No. That’s what you don’t get. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. I just don’t know how to deal with serious shit. It’s like I have a self defense mechanism. I’d rather joke it away, because smiling is easier than admitting there’s nothing I can do to help. The joke got out of hand, but I never meant for it to go this far. I’m lost without you, dude.” He starts to pretend pout. “I can’t live without your love.”
Rolling my eyes, I take into consideration that most of what he said is true. Ty can’t deal with negativity. “I don’t forgive you.”
“Fine. Don’t. What else is new?”
“It’s sucks being ignored doesn’t it? Feel like you’re being punished?” A guffaw escapes me. “Because you are. I want you to know what it’s like when you’ve pissed off everyone who cares about you.”
“Lesson learned, bro. Come on, Colt. This is stupid.”
“No.” I can’t do it. “I refuse to let you talk me out of this. Life’s been quieter this past week. Maybe you’re part of my problem.”
“If that were the case you’d have thanked me by now.”
He’s right.
“So,” Ty relentlessly keeps at it. “You hate me?”
“Hate is a strong word. I dislike you very much at the moment.”
“What if I tipped myself overboard? Unlike you, I’m not strapped to anything else. I could simply fall over and you’d never have to hear me again.”
“As tempting as that is, you’re blood. Just because I don’t want to see your face doesn’t mean I wish harm on you.”
“It would destroy your wife.”
“Maybe,” I admit.
Ty is grasping at straws. He’s desperate for my forgiveness and the longer I hold out the more I wonder if it should happen at all. Maybe the best lesson is to let it simmer a little longer.
It’s been hours and we’ve not seen of heard from anyone in the family. At one point I dozed off. I leaned my head against the side of the boat and slipped down off the seat onto the hard surface of the boat deck. The center console separates me from Ty, but doesn’t keep his voice from traveling across the water.
“Nice of you to wake up.”
“Nothing else to do,” I say with a shrug.
“We need to get out of this. My wrists feel like they’re bleeding. Can you see them?” He scoots around so I can see the back of them. “They’re red.”
“I’m stiff from sitting.” As he says it his eyes widen. “You know what I mean.”
“What? No comeback joke?”
“I’m done with the jokes. I want a bottle of water and a neck massage. Why don’t you free yourself and come over here and help me out?”
“Why don’t you suck my dick?”
“Always pulling out the dick talk?” He smirks, but doesn’t offer anything else.
“Whatever. I wouldn’t free you if your life depended on it. You better hope your sons come back for you.”
“Who’s being the child now?” Ty questions. “We could have been free by now if you just get over this grudge so we can work together. That’s why they did this. Think about it. The family is sick of the feud. They all want us to go back to the way we were. Colt, we’ve joked our whole lives. I know the shit is serious, but come on, it’s not worth this. I’m tired. My head hurts and I need to piss.”
“No.”
“Fine. Have it your way, dickhead.”
When he says it I decide I’m going to hold out. I’m not being the first one to make amends. I don’t care if we spend the night out here or he has to sit in his own piss.