“No, but that’s Trace. He can go days without talking to anyone.” It’s not unheard of. Hell, a few times he’s taken off camping on his own land for weeks on end. It's not news that he likes to be alone.
My dad struck oil long ago when we were kids, and all the rigs are on Trace’s land. He just has to keep an eye out and run a few day-to-day things. We have an oil company that manages them for the most part. It’s easy for him to come and go as he pleases. That’s the way he likes it.
“Yeah, but I guess he was supposed to meet with Mr. Benson about some feed and never showed. Nor did he show to pick up the pies MJ made him.”
Trace might like to be alone, but he’s always punctual. If he says he’ll be somewhere, he’ll be there fifteen minutes before that time and then get pissed if you aren’t there at that time, too.
“You didn’t just drive over and check on him yourself?” I ask. Usually Dolly would be all in this wondering where Trace was and what he was doing.
“Ty called me not even two minutes ago. I was already here dropping off your pies from MJ. They’re on the kitchen counter, by the way.”
“All right. I’ll drive over. His road can be a pain. Even more so after last night’s storm. And the fact that he still hasn’t lain new gravel this year.” I sigh, not wanting to leave Luciana. I still haven’t gotten to feed her yet, but I don’t want Dolly getting herself stuck in the mud, not to mention if Trace is MIA, it’s for a reason, and I’m guessing having Dolly ask him five million questions wouldn’t help whatever it is.#p#分页标题#e#
I turn to look at Luciana. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Make yourself at home.” I want to lean in and kiss her, but I don’t know how she’ll take it. Plus, Dolly is standing right here.
“I’m going to make something to eat and head to bed,” she tells me as she steps out of the Gator.
“I think I’ll join you. I haven't eaten all day,” Dolly says, and I know that’s bullshit. Dolly can out-eat me and has probably already eaten three times today. She wants to get Luciana alone and dig. “Besides, I didn't know you were staying out here, Luciana. I thought you worked at the vet office in town with Dr. Long.”
“She’s training here,” I tell Dolly, cutting in. I really don’t want to leave now. What if Dolly offers Lucy a place to stay? “Don’t you have school work or something?”
“Don’t you have a brother to check on?” she fires back, and I know I’m not going to win this. Dolly can be just like our ma. If she wants something, she’s getting it, and nothing will stand in her way. Hell, I think we all are like that. Right now she wants to talk to Luciana, preferably with me not around.
“I’d love if you’d join me,” Luciana says, and we both look over at her. “My sister and I normally cook dinner together if we can. I think it’s important for family to be as close as they can be.” She narrows her eyes at me, clearly not liking that I was trying to get my sister out of here.
Fucking shit.
“All right. Save me some,” I tell them, pulling my Stetson from my head and handing it to Luciana. “I’ll be back.”
“We really should save him something or he’ll starve. He can’t cook to save his life,” I hear Dolly say as I pick up the pace, almost running to my truck past Lucy’s beat-up little bug. I really need to get rid of that thing and another vehicle. The sooner I get gone, the sooner I can get back.
After hopping in my truck and taking off, I pull out my phone and call a dealer in town for a quick chat. I tell him what I want, what needs to be towed, and where the new truck should go. I know that’s probably going to be a fight. I don’t care. I’ll give Lucy anything she wants, unless that something puts her in danger. After spending the day with her, I know one thing: Lucy is always worried about the people around her. She likes to make sure everyone else has or gets what they need. Well, I’m going to make sure she’s the one getting what she needs.
Chapter 6
Luciana
We stand there as Blake takes off, nearly tearing up the gravel driveway as he goes. I hear Dolly laugh and I look over to see her shaking her head.
“I’m so excited. I finally found something to get under his skin about. Nothing ever gets to Blake. It all rolls off him. Or it did.” She puts her arm through mine and steers us towards the house. “Now let’s see what we can find in here to eat. I have groceries delivered once a week so I have something to cook when I come over. He should be pretty stocked up.”