But then again, that’s fine by me.
“Keep acting like I owe you something and the only thing you’ll receive is one of your testicles in a jar.”
“So much anger,” he takes another step back, “and attitude. You know how much I like when you get all feisty.”
I grab a pair of pliers and walk toward him.
“Kendall,” my dad’s voice echoes over the shop. “The girl is waiting, you can put Leo in his place later.”
I fake a pout and he narrows his eyes at me. Tossing the pliers down at his feet he jumps back, holding his hands before him, like he’s protecting his manhood. I walk away with a smile winning our battles once again. In the end I always win. The guys at the shop know that even if somehow they one up me they’ll have my father to answer to. My father is a difficult man, with everyone else but me. I’m his one true exception, his weakness if you will.
Less than ten minutes later I spot the little red car after clearing a small hill. Parked in front of the car is an old beat-up truck. A man stands at her side, leaning in close. Slowing, I put my truck in park and grab a few things before climbing down. The man is motioning for her to roll down her window but the moment he sees me, a smirk tugs at his lips. Like he’s just confirmed he’s got this little game he is playing already won.
The man is creepy, missing a few teeth in the front, seeming as though he may have skipped his last couple showers, and his clothes are so stained it’s hard to tell what color they once were.
I notice the way he looks me up and down and then when he pauses at my waist his eyes widen a little. He noticed the handle of my gun sticking out of the waistband of my jeans. A gun I was gifted on my birthday. Truth is I’ve been shooting since I was four in our backyard with my dad. Hunting on the weekends, target practice most nights. I know how to handle a weapon.
“I was just trying to help the girl,” the man says smiling though I wish he wouldn’t. It’s so much worse when he opens his mouth.
“Well, it looks like the girl isn’t wanting or needing any of your help.” I glance over to see tears in the young girl’s eyes. “In fact I’m more than positive she’d prefer you get your fat ass back up in the shit truck of yours and hit the road.”
“Now there’s no reason to be mean, darlin’.” He chuckles and that familiar irritation that hits me when a man underestimates me hits hard.
“Call me darlin’ again and I promise you’ll be pissing blood for the next six weeks.” His eyes narrow. “You can try whatever shit tactic you got going on there to scare me fella, but I promise you I don’t scare easy.” I place my hand on the handle of my gun. “My daddy raised me to fight now and ask questions later. You keep pissing me off by dragging out this situation, and I won’t have to ask questions, because there won’t be anyone to answer them.”
“You are a mouthy bitch.”
It’s my turn to smile. I will never understand why people expect me to get mad or upset when they call me a bitch.
“You are just getting a sneak peek right now, and just so you know, this is me being nice.”
He stares me down, and I do not falter. My phone rings and by the programmed ring I know it’s my dad.
Hitting the button, the call is on speaker as I hold it out with my free hand.
“You get there?”
“Yeah, I’m here. But got some asshole trying to intimidate me and the girl. You’ve interrupted my fun.”
“You need to tell that bastard he better run. You tell him about the last guy that thought he could outdo ya?”
“Hadn’t gotten the chance to tell him that story yet, Pop.”
“Well, you tell him we now call that poor man Shelly on account of his dick being in a jar.”
I lift my gaze just in time to see the man’s throat bob as he swallows hard. He takes a step back.
“Do I need to send Leo out?”
“Why would you do that Daddy, I don’t need anyone to hold my hair. I’ll get her hooked up and brought in, because this fella is about to head out and leave me to do my job. That or I’m gonna have a new pecker to add to my collection. Either way I’ll be there in fifteen.”
“Sounds good.” He ends the call because he has full confidence in me. As he should. I’ve been fighting men my entire life that think I am just a little girl, playing big man, in a big truck.
“So what is it gonna be, you going to move along and let me do what I came here to do? Or you planning on making me strap you to the grille of my truck and drive you around so everyonecan see how pathetic you are? But not before I shoot your pecker off, just to prove my point.”
The guy backs up, turns, and walks back to his truck mumbling something about a crazy ass bitch. I laugh and then look over at the young girl just as the guy squeals his tires as he flies past us.
It is then she opens her door and climbs out.
