Page 20 of His Wounded Heart

Bernie chuckles and pointed his pipe at me. “Don’t worry, she can take care of herself and twelve others. She’s just fine, and if you go at her like she needs help, she’ll throw you out on your ass.”

“What’s her house like?”

“It’s been years since I’ve been in it, but Eddie built her something solid. That cabin will be standing long after you and I are gone. She’s got a well, and he set her up with indoor plumbing and a septic. No electricity of course, but she has a generator. The thing that bothers all of us is that she’s blind out of one eye, and she insists on driving Eddie’s old truck on those backroads into town every so often.”

“Well, you’ve caught me nicely in your net.” I give him a wry grin. “Next time I’ll want a six-pack.”

“Sold. Just not any of those IPAs or that foreign shit. I had to drink enough of that swill while I was in the corporate world. It was nice coming home to the hills of Tennessee.”

“Do you need a ride into the doctor to have them look at your leg?”

“Nah, I’ve got my lady friend who helps me out for those rides. Like I said, I’m on my third round of meds, the doc thinks that will clear it up.”

“What about your cough?”

He coughs. And coughs. “This?” he asks. “I’ve had it for six months. It’s just a cold.”

“What did the doc say?”

“Wants me to waste my money on a damned x-ray. I said no to that in an instant.”

“To each his own. So what day do you want me here, Saturday or Sunday?”

“Saturday. By the time you get here this weekend, I’ll have my lists, and we’ll head into town and then I’ll show you how to get to everyone. If you pull your thumb outta your butt and figure out that you are settling here, which you are, then after a couple of runs with me, you can do some on your own. Course that’ll be after you buy a decent vehicle.”

He puts his beer down on the deck beside him, his pipe and fixings on the chair’s arm, then pushes himself up. I get up too.

“Good finally meeting you. Come early on Saturday morning, don’t want to be burning daylight.” Bernie holds out his hand and I shake it. I watch him damn near drag his leg behind him as he makes his way back into his house.

Stubborn old bugger. I have to figure out a way for him to get that chest x-ray.

When I get back to my cabin, I feel energized after the walk in the forest. I can now report back to Kostya’s man and tell him that his brother is doing fine. Talking to Jase Drakos the first time had grated on my nerves. I hadn’t wanted to communicate with anyone from my past, but Jase was blunt and straightforward; I could see how he was friends with that tough bastard, Drake Avery.

After mixing up a large protein and fruit smoothie, I pick up my phone and call the man from the Omega Sky Navy SEAL team.

“This is Drakos.”

“Drakos, this is Simon Clark. I have info on your brother.”

I hear the long sigh that the man lets out. “And?”

“He’s holed up in a tent up the mountain from Jasper Creek. I haven’t talked to him yet, but I might see him on Saturday. All of the locals who’ve had sightings of him say he’s in good shape. Also, word is, he’s lethal with a longbow.”

“Yep, that’s him. When you see him, tell him I’m going to sic our sister Polly on him if he doesn’t give our mom a call.”

“That’s the threat?” I ask.

“Trust me, it’s the only threat that will scare any Drakos.”

I laugh. “I’ll tell him.”

“Thanks, Commander.”

“It’s just Simon these days. And you’re welcome, Jase.”

I hang up the phone and start the process of unloading my backpack. I want everything precisely put away this time, instead of just keeping everything in my two big duffels. Bernie was right, I was going to be here a while, and it was time I did some things to make it more my home.

I sit down on the ottoman and rifle through the second duffel bag for the photo. The first week when I’d arrived and found the framed picture of Mom and Liz in there, I was shocked as shit. It was the one I’d had on my mantel back home. None of the guys or their women would have packed that, so it had to have been me, but I’ll be damned if I remember doing it.