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Trent
After talking with Kelly about the case this morning, I’m noticeably in a better place about what she should be doing. Things regarding our case are back on track and Kelly is being the super sleuth that we need her to be.
She had some good questions this morning, to include asking for the picture of the sign. Most see it when they’ve never been here before, but as one moves in and out of it on a daily basis, you kinda forget it’s there.
Also, feeling much better from last night’s discussion surrounding Owen’s and my emotions, I’m grateful for our honesty to each other. Although we’re back on good terms, even slapping and joking around again, I still have some reservations about having sex with Owen present, like the air between us still holds a bit of uncertainty.
Once Kelly leaves in search of all things hopefully leading to a perp, me and Owen sit at the kitchen table and discuss what the day before us has in store. “Well, I know that Elizabeth is trying to fix the tractor, although I think it should’ve been working by now,” I say to Owen as he sips his black coffee. How does he drink it like that? A shiver tingles up my spine in disgust.
We’re fortunate today that the pot had coffee in it, at least enough for us to each have a cup. If I saw another empty pot this morning, I would’ve totally gone ape shit, on a tirade for it. Inconsiderate asshole person. Downright selfish.
Owen stares back at me, “But she is a woman you know?”
Placing my hands to the side, I shout, “So the fuck what? My mother could fix a car, or a refrigerator. Just because they are of the female persuasion doesn’t mean that they’re incapable of doing things men can do.”
Owen smirks and says, “Well, I sure as hell don’t want the busy work of a woman.”
“What you’re not realizing is that you do it every day. Whether you cook, clean, wash clothes, whatusedto be considered woman’s work, no longer fits. We all do whatever we can to make our lives better.” I watch as that settles into his head. “Like making a simple pot of coffee when you take the last cup.”
“I do understand the general belief about gender related jobs. It’s old,” He looks at me quizzically, “You get your ropes all in a knot when the pot is empty.”
“That’s my prerogative,” I say, sucking the last of mine down. “Good to the last drop! C’mon, let’s go check on the tractor.”
“And Elizabeth,” he smiles at me as we walk out the door and I notice that he has a fantastic smile, brimming with pearly white teeth. Playfully, I shove him to the side and quickly step forward. “Hey!” he exclaims. “What’s that for?”
“What? You didn’t see that snipe right there on the ground?” I laugh as he tries to punch me and misses my shoulder. “Nana boo-boo, you can’t hit me,” I tease him, bouncing around like we’re back at mom’s playing in the yard.
He comes up and puts an arm around my neck, feigning choking me out. “Do you yield?”
“Never! You’ll not take me alive!” I say and we both crack up. “All in all, Owen, you are my best friend and I could never replace you.” I slap his back as we continue the trek up the hill between the barns.
“I feel the same about you, Trent. Lord knows where I’d be if it weren’t for you and your saint of a mother.” He smiles that fantastical grin again and I can see in his eyes that it’s true. “Seeing how this is shaping up to be a low-drama day, I’m going to clean out some of the old junk to take to the junkyard later.”
“And you’ll save the drama for the llama?” I look at him and he looks strange. Scratching the back of my head and looking at the ground, “I mean, the llama we’re getting for my momma.”
“Knock it off, you silly fuck,” he turns into the barn, as I go up the hill to Elizabeth.
Under the hood of the sleeping giant, Elizabeth is cursing her loss of the wrench into the engine. “Can I help you with this?” I ask her.
She pops up from the compartment so quickly that she bangs her noggin’ on the hood. “Fuckety, fuck! Damn that hurt!” she exclaims in her scratchy voice, rubbing the knot and says, “What’s up with you?”
“Just here to help,” I stifle a laugh, as I get under the tractor and find the lost wrench. “Here ya go.”
“Thanks,” she eyes me suspiciously. Elizabeth crawls back under the hood of the behemoth, tinkering around with some hoses and belts. She appears to know what she’s looking for and understands what it needs to get back to working order.
“I’m at a loss, Elizabeth,” I place my boot on the rail of the piece of immobile steel giant.
I can hear a grunt coming from inside the engine, “Mmm Hmm,” she says with a wrench in her mouth. Her raggedy hair sticking out from under a blue checkered bandana today. I want to laugh at her ass-end hanging out from the engine ready for someone to smack.
But who would want to?
“I didn’t peg you for a mechanic,” I say, brushing some grime from my hand, but only succeed in smearing it. Owen comes from the barn, presumably having junk in a pile for the truck to pick up. I peer past his shoulder and see that he does.
Elizabeth appears from out of the engine, giving me, and now Owen, an apprehensive eye. Looking between the two of us as she wipes the wrench off, she says, “I know a thing or two, but not much.”
The look on her face says more than she wants to say. I get the feeling that she knows exactly what she’s looking for. “Well, good luck and let me know if you need help,” I offer and turn to leave.
As Owen and I leave her presence, he leans over to me. “Did you see that she became a little nervous when you asked her about being a mechanic?”
“Yep, and her eyes contained a hint of skepticism,” I answer his question with my own note. “I wonder what Kelly is doing right now.”
“Don’t know, but let’s find out.”
