Chapter Eight
Gentry
Ethan found me in machine shed where I was more or less throwing tools at the damned tractor than doing any fixing. The sound of metal on metal was as calming as I was going to get. A ride tonight would have been preferable, but Krys had headed to the horse barn and I was avoiding her.
Ethan put a dip of Grizzly in and waited for me to acknowledge his presence. I didn’t.
“What did you do to piss of Gloria bad enough for her to force Krys on you?”
“Gloria doesn’t know. Until tonight, I don’t think anyone did.”
“At least it’s calming to know it was someone worthwhile who fucked you up.”
“I am not fucked up!” I roared. “Krys is just a pain in the ass I don’t have time to deal with right now.”
“Good, I’ll pass it on to Boots. He seems to find a spark in her and according to her – she’s well over her divorce.”
I threw the wrench I had at the old rusted out Massey Ferguson sitting in front of me. It made a good clatter noise but I felt no better.
“Or not,” Ethan added.
“I don’t care who she dates. She is not going to be happy here. She’s not ranch material and she has no business staying after my sister clears her to go.”
“I’m sure she has some use. Fancy education and fancy talking impresses fancy men like that pain in the ass banker Ezell.”
“I don’t need that expansion loan bad enough. She wouldn’t do it to help me anyhow.”
“She would for Ed,” Ethan paused and picked up the starter I was planning on installing when I stormed out here.
“Come on, let’s get this put in.”
***
“Come on,” I urged sliding my hand under her t-shirt. “No one is home yet.”
She sighed in my ear as I kissed her neck, “Gentry.”
“Mhmmm, Baby,” I tried pushing her shirt up and she shoved me off her in response.
“I told you, we can’t.”
“I don’t see how it could be the worst thing for Gloria and my parents to know about us.”
“They haven’t exactly approved of you having a girl in house alone before. And if I can’t come here…” she trailed off. She hated it at home. Krys’ mom Teffy DeLuch had once been as beautiful as her daughter. Now she resembled little more than a painted, washed up whore. She had been rode hard and put away wet one to many times. She threw herself to often in the wrong guys arms looking for love.
The current asshole she picked up was a loud abrasive drunk as the rest of them. Making the trail park home the DeLuch’s lived in all that more terrible.
“Eighteen more months,” I muttered. It was December of my senior year and despite my desperate attempts to convince Krys to run away with me, she didn’t want to change schools or leave Gloria until after graduation.
“I promise,” she whispered curling into my side as we sat on the couch. I wrapped my arms tightly around her and kissed her forehead.
“I promise.”
***
I woke in a cold sweat panic. I was thrust back into reality by my dick seemed lost in yester-year. Until I had heard of Krys’ divorce I hadn’t thought about her in months. I hadn’t had these walk down memory lane dreams in years.
Maybe she had fucked me up a lot more than I had been willing to admit to myself let alone anyone else.
My phone buzzed from where it set on top of my dresser. It was only four thirty-seven in the morning according to my alarm. It had near an hour before it would wake me. Wondering who the hell had called or texted me, I half crawled out of bed just enough to reach it.
Brittany Morris, reminding me about the party tonight. She had probably gotten up extra early just to send me this text before I left for the day.
For the last six years – ever since an early snow storm had screwed up the original plans, the Morris family put their Halloween party the first weekend in November. The whole town was supposed to haul their asses to the Morris horse ranch, all the better if in costume and celebrate. And the whole town did.
Linda Morris went all out every year. And every year the decorations grew. The last thing I wanted to do was go the party but I knew I had little choice. They would notice I was missing. Brittany was fresh back from college and most likely husband hunting.
The Morris family horse ranch, Rosethorn, was an elaborate spread and Brittany was an only child. Rumor had it her dad was ready to know who he had to break in to leave his legacy to.
I already had Mirror Lake and most importantly, I had no desire to marry Brittany. She was pleasant enough woman, a bouncing blonde, to look at. I had no business with her. I had led her on too long. A few dinners here and there over the last few months and a few to many romps in the hay.
She had been more than willing to let me rip her pants off and take what I needed. She never left dissatisfied and hadn’t pushed me to label our situation. Lord knows I was an ass and deserved the wrath of Krys. Brittany deserved better than I was. I would have to talk to her soon.
I lie back in bed thinking of what to say when I thought I heard my name called. I strained to listen.
“Gentry,” I heard it again – from Krys’ room. From Krys.
“Gentry don’t. Please! Don’t!” she was sobbing and I knew why.
I jumped out of bed and ran to her room. I pushed the door open to see her tossing in her bed. Her nightmares had turned worse than mine tonight. “It’s not worth it,” she sobbed.
I sat down on the edge of her bed and gathered her in my arms. She pushed against me, struggling to be free.
“It’s okay. Krystina. Shshhh Krys wake up it’s only a dream. It’s only a dream,” I rocked her back and forth in my arms. The blankets had fallen away and I saw he wore only a long t-shirt to bed tonight. She pulled her bare legs into herself and I told my dick to behave as he was contained only by flannel sleep pants and was sans boxers. Now would be the worst time for Krys to find out I would never stop wanting her body at the very least.
I felt Krys’ warm tears hit my bare chest as I tried coaxing her awake. I saw her eyes open suddenly and felt her shrink away from me. Yet for some reason I held fast.
“It’s over Krystina. It’s all in the past. Just a nightmare now.”
“It seemed so real…” she sobbed.
“It’s not. Not anymore,” I instinctively flexed my right fist and she winced. I closed my eyes for a moment to try and gather my strength and my sanity. Then I gently laid her back in bed and gathered her blankets, tucking her back in.
“Sorry I woke you,” her voice was barely above a whisper.
“It’s okay. I was up. Dreams of my own. It’s about that time anyhow.”
“Then I need to be up too,” she protested.
“You don’t have to do this Krys.”
“Yes, I do,” she paused. “For me.”