A Long from the Girl Next Door: The Caldwells of Rebel Creek Book 2

by T M Morris

  “I guess.” She yawned.

  Dusty smiled. “Why don’t you go on to the house and go to bed? You’re exhausted.”

  “Can’t. Have you been outside? I’ll break my neck trying to walk out there in the dark. I’ll take one of the sleeping bags and climb into the hay loft.”

  Dusty gulped. “You’re saying I’m stuck here all night?”

  “Yes. Do you have a problem with it?”

  Dusty straightened and stretched. He cleared his throat. “Um. I guess not. You’re taking the loft?”

  She nodded.

  “I guess that leaves me the seat of my truck.”

  Lilly’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “Are you serious? The loft has enough room for at least fifteen people to have a stalls worth of space. You don’t have to be cramped up. I’ll behave if you do.” She turned and stomped away, grabbing a sleeping bag as she went to the ladder to the loft. Half way up the ladder she turned to look at him standing in the entrance of Bessie’s stall. “It’s up to you.”

  Watching as her behind disappeared into the blackness, he scratched his head and sighed. He felt as if he’d taken a beating twice over and was barely able to stand. He turned to finish his exam on Bessie.

  Brushing his hands off on his jeans Dusty left the stall and closed the door. He picked up the remaining sleeping bag and climbed into his truck and tried to arrange everything so he would be comfortable. Struggling to stay on the seat he ended up in the fetal position, but it wasn’t working. He sat up and opened the door by his feet and stretched out. His back began to hurt. Groaning, he rolled over. The steering wheel was pushing into his back, so he rolled over to face the steering wheel.

  Sitting up, Dusty grumbled, “This is ridiculous.” He didn’t have to sleep in such cramped quarters, and the thought of sleeping half buried in the loose hay would be much warmer also. Shaking his head in resignation, he grabbed the other bag and climbed the ladder.

  When he was standing in the loft, he glanced around the dimness. “Lilly, where are you?”

  There was a rustling a few feet to his left and a small sigh but no other response. He took several steps to his right and settled down into his sleeping bag on the hay. He was asleep before he had barely settled into his makeshift bed.

  Chapter Twenty Two

  When morning arrived, Dusty awoke and climbed out of his cocoon to find the spot where Lilly had been empty. He pulled the sleeping bag out of the nest he made and climbed down the ladder. He found her in the stall with Bessie trying to coax her to eat some feed.

  “What time is it?” Dusty asked as he passed her to examine the cow.

  Lilly pulled her phone from her back pocket and tapped the bottom to open the lock screen. “It’s just after eight. I got a call from the hospital.”

  “Is there anything wrong?”

  “No.” She turned away to retrieve a pail of water. “They were planning to release Dad today, but since the storm, they’re going to wait until the roads are clear.”

  Dusty glanced at her over Bessie’s rump. “I’m glad they have enough wisdom to keep a man with a broken leg off the ice.”

  “I know. It’s just—it’s just I’m not sure how I’m supposed to take care of Dad, the farm, and visit Mom. Something has to give. I’ll figure it out. Surely, Dad won’t be completely helpless.”

  “I’m sure Otter will be able to manage some. I’ll help you as much as I can—”

  “You’ve done enough. I have an uncle and an aunt who can help right over that hill. You don’t have to waste every free moment you have around here.”

  “I don’t consider it a waste of time.”

  Lilly looked at him without expression before turning away. “I’m going to take care of the horses. Then I’m going to check on the calves.”

  “Lilly.”

  “Not now, Dusty. I have work to do, and I’m sure you do too.”

  Before he could form another thought, he heard her sweet talking Tank, her ever faithful workhorse.

  Lilly nuzzled Tank’s neck and whispered, “You’re such a good boy. You don’t play with my heart as if it were a squeeze toy, do you? You love me as much as I love you, don’t you boy?”

  The horse made a noise as if he were agreeing and stepped back so he could nibble at her hair.

  “Quit it.” Lilly pushed away from him. “I’ll get you some feed and water. Give me a minute. I’m going to check on everyone else before I get started, okay?”

  In answer, Tank stepped toward her and nudged her as if to hurry her along. “Okay. Okay. I’m going.” She laughed and went to the next stall.

  Finished with feeding and watering the horses Lilly was bundling up to go out to check on the calves when Dusty walked out of Bessie’s stall wiping his hands on a rag. “I think she’s going to be just fine. Otter’s not going to like it when I tell him not to breed her when she comes into heat next, but if he values her so much he’ll listen.”

  “One can only hope.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I told you. I’m going to check on the calves. After that, I’m going to the house for a wash and some food. You’re welcome to both when you finish here.”

  Dusty looked from Lilly to Bessie and back. “I could use a shower and some food.”

  Lilly nodded. “I’ll be back in a bit.” Extremely cold air blasted Lilly in the face, the kind that dries your eyes faster than you can blink when she opened the door. She shivered then braced herself against the cold, walked out and slammed the door closed.

  Dusty stood staring at the door Lilly slammed closed. Was it his imagination or had something changed between them?

  Lilly strode into the hospital steeling herself against her father’s ire he would no doubt take out on her. The storm had kept him in the hospital for two extra days and when she told him over the phone what had happened to Bessie he had nearly blown the speaker in her phone and burst her eardrum. She was certain the staff wasn’t pleased with his outburst. She jabbed the elevator button and stepped back. A few seconds later it slid open, and Dusty walked out. She said, “What are you doing here?”

  Dusty’s eyebrows rose. “And, hello to you too.”

  Lilly glared at him as she slipped past him to board the elevator. “Thanks for getting him riled up for me.”

  Grabbing her wrist Dusty wheeled her around. “Now what’s got into you?”

  “Nothing. Let me go. You’re holding up the elevator.”

  “Fine. I’ll go back up with you.”

  “No, you won’t. You’ve already visited Mom and Dad. I’m sure you have work to do.”

  “Are you getting on or off?” A woman asked from behind Dusty.

  He turned to look at her. “Go on, ma’am. She’ll take the next one.” He pulled Lilly out of the way. The woman eyed him suspiciously as she boarded. She was still staring at him when the doors slid closed.

  “What are you doing?” Lilly growled.

  “I’m trying to find out what’s wrong with you.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with me.”

  “You’ve not been right since the ice storm. What’s different?”

  Lilly punched the button. “If you can’t figure it out, Dusty, I can’t help you.” The doors of the second elevator opened, and thankfully it was empty. Lilly walked into it and let the doors slide closed on a bewildered Dusty. She slumped against the wall. It took a tremendous amount of effort not to tell him what was wrong with her. But she was determined that he would have to figure it out on his own. She wasn’t going to chase after him. She had too much self-respect.

  Dusty stood with his hands on his hips staring at the closed gray doors wondering what had just happened. Shaking his head he turned and left the hospital muttering, “I don’t have time for this.’

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Tapping on the door as she opened it Lilly said, “Is anyone home?”

  “Lilly, sweetheart you know we’ve nowhere to go, especially in the shape we’re in,” Ad
die said holding out her arms to welcome Lilly. “I’m sure glad to see you.”

  “Me too, Mama,” she turned to the other bed in the room, “Dad, I understand I’m taking you home today.”

  “It’s about time too,” Otter grumbled as he pointed to the bureau. “Hand me those clothes of mine. Dusty tells me you lost me a calf and nearly lost Bessie too. I told you to keep an eye on her.”

  “I was watching out for her. If I hadn’t been, I would have just shrugged and gone back to the house when I came up short on the head count. But, no, I counted twice and went looking for her when I still was one short. Be happy you still have a cow.”

  Otter glared at her as he snatched his clothes from her. Addie smoothed the coverlet over her legs and said, “She’s right Otter, you could have lost both.”

  Lilly sat down while Otter muttered something unintelligible under his breath. She looked around. “You need fresh flowers, Mom. I’ll go get you some.”

  “Not until I’m released,” Otter said, “I don’t want to have to wait on you to come back before they let me go. I’m tired of being in here. I want to go home and take care of my farm.”

  “You’ll be going home soon enough, Mr. Otter. Let me give you another look over and then we’ll make if official, all right?” Otter’s doctor said as he walked in and set his chart on the bed. “You’ve been practicing with your crutches?” He nodded when Otter said he had and went through the rest of his checkup silently except for when he told Otter to inhale and exhale. He wrapped his stethoscope around his neck when he finished and said, “Mr. Caldwell, I don’t see any reason why you can’t go home today. Just so long as you promise me, you will strictly follow my release instructions.”

  “You know I will.” Otter nodded. I’ll follow them to the letter.” Lilly snickered but quickly stopped when he glared at her.

  “Good. I want you to stay on the first floor of your house. No going up and down the stairs. Put some weight on your leg but not a whole lot. You need to let the bone heal.”

  Otter muttered under his breath, “Stay on the first floor. Some weight on it but not much,” he looked at the doctor and asked, “Can I drive?”

  “Maybe in a couple of weeks. Let’s play it by ear. I want to see you in my office in two weeks. I’ll have them call you to set up an appointment. So, if you don’t have any more questions I’ll give the discharge papers to the nurse’s station, and you can be on your way as soon as they come run through their release procedures.” He offered his hand to Otter who shook it.

  “Thank you, doctor. I much appreciate your taking such good care of me.”

  The doctor nodded at him, Lilly, and Addie before turning to go. At the door, he turned back. “I’ll see you in two weeks.”

  Lilly stood. “I’ll run down to the gift shop for fresh flowers now. You’ll probably still be waiting for the nurse when I get back.’

  “Don’t take too long.”

  Lilly carried a large bouquet of flowers and set them down on the tray table. “That didn’t take long. Are you still waiting, Dad?” She turned to him with the vase of wilting blooms. Otter sat in one of the chairs with his new crutches leaning against the side. He was fully dressed and letting his temper simmer. “I’ll take that to mean you are. Let me take care of these and then I’ll go see what’s taking them so long, okay?”

  He grunted.

  Just as Lilly was finishing with the bouquet, a nurse arrived and went through all the paperwork and at home instructions for Otter to follow. No sooner had she finished and left the room he was on his crutches and hobbling to Addie’s side. “I’ll be by to see you tomorrow, Miss Addie. Don’t hesitate to ask for what you need. You hear?”

  “I will, Otter. Don’t worry about me.” She said as he kissed her on the cheek.

  Lilly hugged her mother quickly and said, “I love you, Mama.”

  Before she could say anything else Otter turned and said, “Grab my stuff, Lilly, and let’s get out of here. I need some fresh air.”

  The nurse appeared in the doorway pushing a wheelchair. “You aren’t leaving unless you get in this wheelchair, Mr. Caldwell.”

  Lilly exchanged a look of merriment with her mother. They both tried not to laugh as Otter sputtered and grumbled about how he could leave under his own steam but had to relent when the nurse told him he wasn’t going anywhere unless he was in the chair. He glared at Lilly. “That’s enough out of you. Get my stuff. Miss Addie, I’ll be in tomorrow.” He sat down and continued, “Now, Nurse, get me outta here.”

  “Bye, Mom.” Lilly scooped up Otter’s bag of belongings and kissed Addie’s cheek before rushing out the door to catch up with her father.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Lilly walked slowly beside her father as he worked hobbled down the hall on his crutches. “I think the physical therapy department is down this way.”

  You didn’t have to drive me. I broke my left leg not my right one. I can still drive.”

  “Not until your doctor clears you, Dad. Until then I’m going to be driving. Get used to it. I know you don’t like my company and I’m not asking you to change your ways. Just put up with me until then. Here we are.”

  Lilly guided Otter through the door and into the little waiting room. She told him to sit while she went to sign him in. A few minutes later, Beth came out to retrieve him. “Mr. Caldwell, I’m glad to see you up and about. We were all pretty frightened to hear about your accident.”

  Beth didn’t even look at Lilly. She said, “How are you doing, Beth?”

  Beth looked at her a little uncertain. “Fine, thanks for asking.”

  Lilly nodded. “Maybe one day, when you’re off we can have lunch? I’d like to catch up with you.”

  “We’ll see. I’m busy these days between taking care of Dad and Luke. They’re both a handful.”

  Lilly tried not to look disappointed. “Oh, okay.”

  Beth nodded. “Are you ready Mr. Caldwell? I promise I’ll take it easy on you today. But, as you get stronger your exercises will get tougher.”

  Otter lifted himself awkwardly out of his chair as he complained. “Medicine these days. They don’t put you up in a cast anymore. The run you full of rods and send you to physical therapy.”

  Beth smiled and shot a quick glance at Lilly. “Trust me, Mr. Caldwell, it’s better nowadays.”

  “For pity’s sake just call me Otter like everyone else.”

  “If that’s what you want Mr. Otter, that’s what you’ll get.” She grinned as she led him away. “Now you aren’t using your crutches quite right. I’ll show you how to use them when we get back into the rehab room.” She turned back to Lilly. “We’ll be about an hour and a half if you want to go up and see your mom. Tell her I said hello.”

  “Thanks. I’ll do that.” Lilly stood and walked out of the door they came in as Beth led Otter through the opposite door. On her way to the elevator she couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to Beth to make her so uncomfortable around her. Maybe her mother would have some answers.

  Lilly walked into Miss Addie’s room to find Miss Hazel dozing in one of the chairs and her mother crocheting while she watched television. Walking to the side of her mother’s bed Lilly leaned over and kissed Miss Addie’s cheek. “Hey, Mama. Dad’s downstairs doing physical therapy with Beth. What happened to her? She’s different, distant, almost cold to me.”

  Miss Addie smiled sadly. “I wish I knew, baby. I wish I knew. Ever since she and Erik broke up just before he left for the military, she’s behaved differently to us. Of course, it doesn’t help that your dad calls her a hussy.”

  “Not to her face? Pease tell me he doesn’t say that to her face. I hope for her sake he behaves.”

  “She’s afraid.”

  Both Miss Addie and Lilly turned to look at Miss Hazel. Lilly frowned. “What does she have to be afraid of?”

  “Questions.” Miss Hazel adjusted her bra. “She avoids everyone who may want to know more about that boy of hers.”
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  Miss Addie tilted her head to one side. “You don’t think? No. He’s too young.”

  Miss Hazel nodded. “See what I mean? Rather than having to answer questions, she avoids everyone she thinks will ask them.”

  Lilly flopped into the one empty chair. “Then why did she bother coming back?”

  “Her mother died about a year and a half ago. Her dad being paralyzed, he needs help, and she’s his only child. That and she’s a physical therapist. Seems only logical she would come back.” Miss Addie put her project in its bag.

  “When did she leave?”

  Miss Hazel puckered her lips and looked at the ceiling. “I reckon she left off for college right after Erik left for the military. Is that right, Addie?”

  “Sounds about right. We hadn’t seen nor heard from Beth since. Then she came back for her mother’s funeral with her little boy in tow. We never once heard about a man in her life from her mother. More to the point, no one even knew she had a baby.”

  Lilly wanted to share what Dusty’s thoughts on the subject were, but after considering that he never told them his suspicions, she shouldn’t either. Instead, she sighed heavily. “I’m really tired. I haven’t worked this hard since I left home.”

  “I thought someone said modeling was very hard work?” Miss Hazel readjusted her bra again. She made a noise of disgust and stood. “Danged old thing. I’ll be right back.” She disappeared into the bathroom.

  Lilly smiled at her mother who smiled broadly in return. “Dang them all.”

  “Don’t I know it.” Miss Addie laughed.

  She laughed even harder when Miss Hazel walked out of the bathroom with her bra in hand. “Stupid contraption. The wire broke and was stabbing me. Give me your scissors Addie. Don’t even know why I bother.”

  Miss Addie struggled to control her laughter. “But Miss Hazel.”

  Lilly was practically rolling on the floor. “Miss Hazel, for such a small woman you’re overly endowed,” she gasped for air, “you’re carrying around two large grapefruits. You need a bra just to hold them down.”