Chapter Twenty-Three

 

 

TANK HAD never been to the grocery with both Dalton and Dustin before. Lord love a duck, those boys liked food. Weird food. Plus they got Twinkies for Denver and chocolate snack cakes for Deb and Doritos for Aaron and tractor tire doughnuts for Momma.

Then they all went back to the house and unloaded quickly before taking the rest to the big ranch house that was the pride of the Jakoby Rodeo.

Tank loved the house. Limestone walls and tin roof, it had a worn-in look, but it was still a proud place. It was like a chunk of Texas history.

There were already a dozen trucks parked, and music filled the air.

Tank grinned, happy as a pig in shit. “Looks like the party is getting started.”

“This isn’t the party, not yet, but yeah.” Dalton was bouncing, and he called out as he entered the huge french doors in the back. “Hey, Momma! I’m home!”

“Dalton! Oh, baby. It’s good to see you.”

Looked like Momma could tell her boys apart too.

Miss Linda came bustling in, her and her oldest girl the spitting image of each other.

“Tank! How are you?” She gave hugs all around, and she smelled like apple pie and masa.

“Good. Good. Glad to be here. Your boys tell me you’re cooking chicken.”

“Chickens. Eight of them. The fryers are going.”

“That sounds like heaven.”

“Y’all are just in time to peel potatoes.”

“Momma!” Dalton rolled his eyes, but Tank could see the laughter. “Where’s Dustin? Bubba!”

“What?” Dustin rolled in, carrying bags in both hands.

“Momma says you have to peel potatoes.”

“She does not. She says we do. Hi, Momma.”

“Hey, baby. That’s exactly what I said, and I mean Tank as well.”

“I’m not sure Mr. Tank knows how to do that,” Dustin teased.

“Oh, I will peel you under the table. My daddy was an Army potato-peeling superstar. He taught me all I know.” Tank rolled up nonexistent sleeves.

“Excellent. Tank can peel my third.”

“Dalton, son. I will beat your little butt.” Linda sounded so serious.

Tank tried not to grin, but Dalton deserved it and more.

“Uh-huh.” Dalton grabbed his mom and kissed her. “So mean to me.”

“I am.” She pinched him, and Tank had to laugh.

“Point me toward the potatoes,” Tank said.

“Kitchen. Wash your hands, boys. I need both bags peeled, please.”

Such a mom.

Tank led the parade to the kitchen, finding Aaron there chopping celery.

“We have your hash browns, man, and Deb’s food too.”

“I haven’t seen Miss Deb yet.”

“I’ll just put it in the microwave for her,” Dalton said.

Dustin handed over the box with Aaron’s hash browns.

The whole scene was a little dizzying.

Cowboys came in and out randomly as they peeled, and the twins knew everyone. Every single man, every single name. Their families. It was amazing.

Tank felt a bit like an island.

Dalton stayed close, one hand seeming to find him for any possible reason.

That made him sweat a little, and he was glad no one seemed to notice. Dalton just made him nuts. He wanted to have Dalton on his knees.

He wanted Dalton any way he could get the man, really.

“Stop looking at him like that, Tank. Momma’s got eagle eyes.” Dustin had a wicked look on his face.

“Does she?” He chuckled, but he didn’t want to upset Dalton.

“She does. Momma knows, but she’ll tease.”

“I can take it.” Tank was used to being teased. God knew, Buick did his share.

“You can take what?” Linda came in, Dakota trailing behind her, a thunderous look on her face.

“Mornin’, baby girl!” Dalton said.

“I’m not a baby.”

“You’re our baby,” Dustin shot back.

“Shut up.” Dakota gave him a grumpy cat face.

“Dakota!” Linda snapped. “You say hello to Mr. Tank and put your attitude away.”

“Hello, Mr. Tank.” She rolled her eyes at her momma, then leaped into Dalton’s arms. “You haven’t been home in forever. You should take me with you.”

“Uh, no. You’re in high school.” Dalton was laughing, though, teasing her.

“I’m a junior now. Are you going to be able to see my first varsity game? I’m a junior varsity officer.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Cool! It’s still summer, though. Take me on one round?”

Tank bent his head, peeling hard.

“I’ll take you with me, baby girl,” Dustin said. “Tank and Dalton are traveling together, huh?”

“Together together? Like… bumping uglies together?”

“Dakota.” Now Dalton gave her the look, and darned if it didn’t work.

Dakota flushed, then ducked her head. “Sorry.”

“Uh-huh. How’s the boyfriend? Houston?”

“A total loser. Total.” She had the fury that no one but a teenaged girl could. “We hate him.”

“Oh.” Dustin chuckled low. “Did he dump or did you?”

“By text! He texted me to tell me he was going out with that bitch, Ashley McBride!”

“Oh, honey.” Dalton hugged her. “Cut him dead.”

“I’m going to cut his balls off.”

“Vicious.” Dustin gave her a thumbs-up.

“I was raised by wolves.” She flounced over to the huge fridge. “Y’all want anything to drink?”

“I would love a Coke,” Tank said. Give her something to do.

“Sure, what kind? We got Dr Pepper, Coke, and Sprite, plus the diets and Big Red.”

“Dr Pepper would be fine, thank you.” He smiled at her when she handed him his drink. “You’re so grown.”

“Thank you.” She blushed, looking so pleased. “At least someone sees it.”

“We all do, baby girl. We just want you to stay ours.” Dustin hugged her with one arm.

“Like I could ever not be a Jakoby. Ever. I have three crazy brothers and Deb the Psycho.”

“You’re a lucky gal,” Tank said.

“Yeah. I guess.” She grabbed a foil packet of Pop-Tarts from the cabinet. “Y’all are at Momma’s beck and call, huh?”

“We are. Wanna grab a peeler?” Tank knew very well she would say no.

“No way. I told her I’d shuck corn.”

“Ah, well, beware the corn worms.” He made wiggly fingers at her.

“There aren’t going to be any, right, Dalton?”

“Uh-huh. If you find any, they’ll be dead.”

“Oh.” Tank got the feeling maybe Dakota was actually scared.

“Dustin….”

“Baby girl, they’ll be fine. I will deal with any you find, okay?”

“Okay.” She bit into a Pop-Tart, her smile reasserting itself. “Mmm. Cherry.”

“All this good food around and she eats that garbage.” Linda came bustling in, winking at Tank.

“Moooom.” Dakota rolled her eyes again, and this time Linda popped her butt.

“Roll those at me one more time and I will pick them up and roll them back.”

“She’s evil. Was she this evil with you, Dalton?” Dakota asked.

“More. And Deb? Christ.”

“Deb deserved it,” Linda said. “Mr. Tank must think we’re all idiots.”

“Nonsense. It’s something, to have a nice big family that all still talk to each other. That’s special.” Tank waved his peeler in the air, emphasizing his point.

“Now, don’t stab anyone, son.” Denver came in, looking proud as a peacock. “All I need is Darius to be home and we’re a full house.”

“Is he coming?” Dalton asked.

“He is. He’s between summer semesters right now.” Linda looked so pleased. “Come on, Tank. You don’t need to be working. The twins can finish up.”

“What am I supposed to be doing?” He handed off his peeler so he could grab his Coke.

“Sitting out in the shade and watching wind blow.”

“I can do that.” He glanced at Dalton, who winked at him. Okay. The guys were almost done anyway, right?

He moved out to the big patio, found a shady spot. This was the life, and his bad leg thanked him right away.

“Sit. You got to be hurting after your drive. I remember that.”

Tank chuckled. “I didn’t realize it until just now. Soaked in the hot tub last night.”

“Ah. That’s good for you.” Denver eased down, sat next to him. “I can’t believe how good the twins are at building things. Seriously.”

“They’re amazing, Denver. Really.” He couldn’t believe it either. The boys were a force of nature.

“I know. I mean, we had Deb’s house built, but the twins wanted to do everything, be involved in every aspect.”

“They’re wicked smart.” He looked for Dalton automatically, but he wasn’t out there.

“They’re stubborn little bastards, and I adore them.”

“I bet you do.” A little kernel of discomfort hit him. This was Dalton’s daddy. Did he approve?

“I know Dalton hunted you. He… he isn’t bothering you now, is he?”

“No, sir. I… well, you ought to know, we’ve decided to throw in together for a bit.” His cheeks heated, but he had to brazen it out.

“Fair enough. How do you think the pace of the rodeo is going now?”

“I think it’s grand.” The Jakoby organization ran a tight ship, and he thought they wasted a lot less time than some of the other shows, letting the riders shine.

“Yeah? Dustin’s tightened things up some, and Dalton is doing a bunch of ads and social media stuff.”

“I haven’t seen the online stuff yet, but I like how the shows are going. The entertainment at the end is good.”

“Between the twins and Deb, I’m fixin’ to retire, I think.”

“Linda wants you home, I hear.” Tank was both tickled and sad to think of Denver leaving life on the road.

“She does. She wants to travel too, once ’Kota goes to college.”

“You gonna take her all the fancy places?”

“She wants to go to Disneyland.”

Tank slapped his leg, laughing right out loud. “I was there for an autograph signing once. It’s grand.”

“We took the babies to Florida when they were younger. The older three went to Padre.”

“I always liked Padre. Best I ever got was Six Flags.”

“Well, tell Dalton to take you. Y’all would have a ball.” Deb plopped down. “Hey, Daddy. Love you.”

“Hey, baby girl. You gone in to see your momma yet?”

“I have. She’s got the twins moving furniture. No way I was getting caught in that shit.”

“Good move.” Tank winked. “Your momma kicked me out.”

“She’s got Frick and Frack wrapped around her fingers. It’s obscene.”

“Wait until you have kids,” Denver warned her.

“Uh-huh. Never going to happen. I’m going to be the lone stranger, forever.”

Tank shook his head. “Never say never.”

Lord knew, weren’t none of them old, not yet. Deb was an amazing lady. She would meet someone, man or woman, and fall in love. He knew it.

“Yeah, yeah.” She leaned back into the deck chair. “How many hooligans are we expecting tonight?”

Denver shrugged. “Couple hundred?”

“That’s all?” A couple hundred? Jesus Christ.

“Yeah. Your guys from the big show are coming, plus all the neighbors and a buttload of cowboys with nowhere else to be.”

“Ah. If I disappear, look for me in a corner somewhere, hiding.”

“Someone will be looking for you to tell stories about the big show,” Denver said.

“I can bullshit with the best of them.” That he was fine with, and there wouldn’t be big city fans here asking rude questions, which Tank would never, ever say out loud.

“Daddy! Momma says to tell you Darius is bringing his roommate and their girlfriends, and she wants to know whether you’re going to let them share a room.” Dakota looked like this was the most fascinating question ever.

“Sure. The girls can share one room, and the boys can stay in Darius’s bedroom. They try to change that and I will rip off your brother’s head and shit down his neck.”

“I’ll tell her!”

Obviously that was the answer Dakota wanted to hear, because her ponytail bounced as she hurried back in.

Denver shook his head. “That boy.”

Tank nodded sagely, but he figured he was gonna be grateful Dalton had his own house.

Denver seemed to read his thoughts. “When he has his own place, or if he’s married, sure. But not in my house. That roommate of his….” Denver grimaced. “I’ll let you meet him.”

“Not nice?”

“He’s trouble. He’s not a bad kid, just trouble.”

“He’s the kind of kid who finds trouble when he’s just trying to get gas at the convenience store,” Deb said darkly. “And he goes through girlfriends like he’s changing underwear.”

“Gotcha.” Tank grinned, glad he was past that age. Not that he didn’t borrow trouble easily enough.

“Yeah, and Darius doesn’t need encouragement to be a butthead, you know?” Denver shrugged. “He’s not in jail, he has a 4.0, and he hasn’t gotten anyone pregnant, so….”

“Knock on wood,” Deb murmured. “Y’all need more drinks?”

“Please, sweet girl. Water, if you would.” Denver smiled as she kissed his cheek. “Such a good daughter.”

“I’d take a water too, please.” He could only do so much Coke.

“You got it. I’ll bring y’all a Styrofoam cooler of bottles.”

“Thank you, hon.” Denver glanced at him wryly. “You see how she is? She thinks she’s old.”

“Uh-huh. She’s decided the others are like her own.”

“She has. She’s so young, Tank.”

Tank tried not to grimace. She was, but he got it. Sometimes the mileage, in his case, or the responsibility in Deb’s, made a person feel older. “Some folks are made to be nurturers, Denver. Especially oldest kids.”

“I reckon so. She gets it from her momma. I’d just as soon let them act like wolves.”

Tank snorted. Somehow he couldn’t imagine the twins as that far out of control. Maybe Dakota and Darius….

“Tank! Where should we put all the stuff?” Buick and company breezed into the backyard, and Tank felt bad.

He really needed to learn the guys’ names.

“Just find a spot on the kitchen counter. Linda will tell us what to do with them later.” Denver stood, shaking hands all around.

“Thanks. Pleased to meet you, sir. Buick Davis. This is my brother, Dave, and my buddies Slim Ghering and Tyler Harlow.”

“There are some chairs out already, and that shed there has a bunch more. Make yourselves comfortable.”

“Thank you!” Buick tugged Tank up out of his chair for a hug. “Anything we can do?”

“If y’all want to get a bunch of chairs out, so other folks have places as they come….”

“Sure enough.” Tank smiled, and he and Buick headed to the shed.

“Where’s your boy?”

“Helping Miss Linda. She roped him into moving something with his brother.”

“Ah. Well, I’m happy to help move chairs.” Buick frowned when Tank shifted from foot to foot. “How’s your leg?”

“Sore as a boil, truth be told.”

“Then go sit, honey! Seriously. Do you have some salve? I can go fetch it.”

“No, I’m okay.” He did sit, though, his muscles cramping right up, surprising a grunt out of him.

Buick frowned, then held out one hand. “Gimme your phone.”

“Huh?” He held out his phone automatically, but he wasn’t connecting dots.

“Thanks.” Buick opened it right up and poked at the screen, then put the phone to his ear. “Yo. This is Buick. Tank’s hurting. You got some medicine for him? Uh-huh. Down by the little shed with all the chairs. Good deal.”

“What are you doing?” It wasn’t like Doc was there. Was he?

“Calling your boy. If he’s going to get the bennies from sex with you, he needs to take the shitshow too.”

“Hey! Dalton’s busy, is all.” His ears went hot. Tank wasn’t sure he was ready for Dalton to know how bad his leg hurt.

“Uh-huh. Suck it up, honey. I’ll let him have you, but I ain’t letting him do wrong by you, intentional or not.”

He had to chuckle, because Buick was a good ’un. “Let him, huh? I imagine it would be a good fight.” Buick could take a hit from a two thousand pound bull, though, and get up and walk away.

“I’d wipe the floor with him, and you know it. It means enough that it would get to that.”

Dalton appeared like magic. “Tank? I got some of Momma’s salve that she makes up to the house. Come on. I’ll get you set up with that and hot towels. They’re already in the microwave. You shoulda said.”

“Well, I didn’t know ’til I just stood up.” Tank let Dalton ease him to his feet. “Thanks, Buick.”

“You got it.”

“Thanks for looking out for him, sir.” Dalton’s smile to Buick was a little tight, but real.

Buick nodded easily. “He deserves it.”

Tank ducked his head, the attention they were drawing a bit too much. He limped off, Dalton’s hand steadying him.

“You shoulda said, honey. I’m taking him to the bird room, Momma.”

“I’ll bring the salve and towels, son.”

“I pulled the comforter off and put a plain sheet down.” Dustin took his other arm, and the twins moved him.

“I didn’t want to make a fuss.” Tank blinked, amazed at how damn bad he hurt. He guessed he’d overdone it lately, but now that they had some downtime, it was showing.

“I’ll know to look. Strip down to your skivvies, and I’ll intercept Momma.”

“Thanks.” Tank wiggled out of his jeans and shirt, glad he’d worn flip-flops. Boots might have been too much.

Dustin got him settled, then left, leaving him to Dalton, a shit-ton of hot towels and a pot of stinky stuff.

“That’s intense, baby.” He watched his arch cramp, his toes bending back.

“Uh-huh. Just lay back. I got you.” Dalton dipped his fingers in the goo and started rubbing like he meant it.

Tank went utterly still—and stiff—for a long moment. Pain dug in, and he had to grit his teeth to keep back a shout. Holy moly.

“Breathe. In and out.”

“Cramp.” He tried to do what Dalton told him, gasping in a huge lungful of air.

“Oh, honey. I’ll work it out.”

“Thank you.” He clenched and unclenched his fingers, feeling less than heroic.

“Poor leg! Tonight we’ll bubble you good.”

“That sounds fine.” He looked at Dalton, head bent, hands working his leg. “Sorry for the silliness.”

“What? Making you feel good?” Dalton wrapped his knee in the hot towel.

“No, just taking you away from the party and all.” Buick overreacted. “Feels amazing.” It so did. He relaxed all in a rush, his muscles unclenching.

“The party hasn’t started yet.”

“Okay.” He let his head sag back against the pillows. “I just feel weird.”

“This is about making you feel better.”

“It is.” He reached out, trying to touch Dalton’s arm. “Hey. Look at me a second?”

Those pretty eyes met his, warm and fond and a little worried.

“You okay?” Tank asked. He just—he felt like he’d flubbed something. Then again, he was hyperaware of how he hated to show weakness.

“I am. I hate that you’re hurting, but it comes with the territory. Cowboys get hurt. I’ll help, though.”

“You’re a huge help.” He tried to relax into it. The massage he’d already figured. Tank meant letting Dalton help him.

“That’s what we do, huh? You and me, fucking helpful.” Dalton winked at him, playing with him.

“The safety man and the bullfighter.” Tank nodded sagely, but he caught that blue gaze with his. “Thank you.”

“You’re more than welcome, Tank. Seriously.”

“It’s hard for me. Needing to ask.” There. He felt like he needed to say it, even if it was obvious.

“I get that. We’re cowboys.” Dalton leaned down and brushed their lips together. “I’ll pay better attention.”

“Hey, this isn’t on you.” He slid one hand behind Dalton’s head, holding him there for a longer contact.

“You are on me, Tank.”

“Well, more like you’re on me.” He grinned, feeling better all over.

“Maybe in me….” Look at those eyes twinkle. Little shit.

“Mmm. Anytime I get the chance.” He glanced around. “Though maybe not at your momma and pops’s.”

“Yeah, that would be weird.”

“Yeppers.” Tank sighed, wiggling his toes. So much better.

“Let me switch your towels.” Dalton climbed off him and put another set of hot towels on his legs.

“Oh.” Tank moaned. “That feels so good.”

“Excellent. Momma’s salve is magical. Works like a dream; smells like death.”

“It does have an odor.” Tank winked.

“An odor. Right.” Dalton rolled his eyes like dice. “And bull snot is a little gooey.”

“Just a tiny bit. Better than the other end.”

“No shit.” Dalton waited a couple of beats. “Pun intended.”

“Oh, now that stank.” They both cracked up, laughing until they wheezed.

When the laughter faded, they sat there, grinning at each other, and it wasn’t weird, wasn’t wrong.

No, it was so good his chest tightened for a moment. “Gimme one more kiss?”

“One more for now.”

They shared another slow, lingering kiss. It left Tank flushed and panting.

“Better, cowboy?” Dalton licked his bottom lip.

“So much better.” He reached up to stroke Dalton’s cheek.

“Good deal.” Dalton leaned into his touch.

“Mmm.” He just—God, Dalton did it for him.

“Oh, I know now. I know what not hurting looks like on your face.” Dalton smiled at him, hand on his thigh, fingers rubbing just slightly.

“I was doing physical therapy on the big tour. Every day with sports medicine. I guess I just got lazy.” Not lazy but into his new, amazing relationship. That pain had caught him purely by surprise today.

“We can get someone to help you. Danice? The barrel racer with the bad scar from the dog bite? She’s a massage therapist.”

“Yeah? I would pay her.” Doc Tallent would be pleased when he checked in too.

“I’ll give her a call. She carries a massage table in her trailer, no lie.” Dalton helped him sit up. “I’ve seen her give horses massage even.”

“I should be easy, then.”

Dalton laughed for him, soft and fond. “You’re magic, man.”

“I am?” How could he do anything but laugh along?

“Yessir.” Dalton winked at him.

“I’ll take it.” Tank hummed. “Guess we should get back, huh?”

“Pops will be stressing, so yeah. If you get to hurting, let me know.”

“I will. Hey, do we have some Tylenol? That will help hold me.”

“Surely do. Let me go grab you a couple. I’ll be right back, two shakes.”

“Thanks, baby.” Sitting up slowly kept the weird dizziness at bay, so he sat on the edge of the bed and waited.

Dalton came back with water and Tylenol, along with a wet dishcloth.

“Did I make a mess?” Tank took the pills gratefully.

“I thought you’d like it for your face. Momma’s salve makes me feel all flushed.”

He was all hot. “You’re taking such good care of me.”

“It’s my pleasure.” The cold cloth landed on the back of his neck, making him gasp.

Goose bumps rose up on his skin. “Damn. Oh. Wow.”

“Yeah. Feels good, doesn’t it?”

“Scary good.” It woke him right up.

“It’s like getting sprayed after a tattoo.”

“Yeah.” Dalton touched Tank’s chest. “You got a few more than me.”

“I do. Not a ton, but some.” He had one for every life he’d saved. Really saved.

“Me and Bubba and Sister have the same one.”

The hat and boots with a rope around the bottom. “You get them in Austin?”

“We did. We had a ball. Went out afterwards to Kerbey Lane.”

“Yum.” He did love the Kerbey queso that place had. “I have a guy in Dallas.”

“Yeah? I’ll have to look him up.”

“I’ll take you.” He would love to watch Dalton get a tattoo.

“I’d like that. A lot.”

“Then we’ll make it a date.” He took Dalton’s hand. “Did I say thank you?”

“Yes. You’re welcome. Anytime.”

“Come on, baby.” Tank finally climbed to his feet, the pain almost gone completely, and his wave of embarrassment over. Dalton had to get to know all of him, Tank reckoned. He could care for Dalton, no matter what. What came around went around, right?

Dalton held his hand all the way outside, and Tank was starting to believe Dalton felt the same way.