Falling for Bentley (Part One) (3 page)

“What is there left to be fixed out in the barn?” Travis asked, breaking the silence.

“Not much, I got most of it done this morning before practice. I just need help hanging a few gates in the maternity pen.”

“Has Dad been out there to look at what we did so far?” my bother asked.

“No, but I imagine he was out there while we were gone.”

“Think he’ll have anything nice to say?”

“Not sure,” I quietly replied.

“I wish he wasn’t such a dick all the time.”

“Travis.” I warned.

“What? It’s true, and you know it.”

“He wasn’t always this way, it’s just since the accident. I’m sure it’s tough on him, you know, not being able to help and do things on his own.”

“That doesn’t excuse him,” my brother argued.

“I know,” I replied quietly.

As we waited for the light to turn green, we both sat in silence, lost in our own thoughts.

“Bentley?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you ever want to just leave the farm?” Travis asked, still looking out the truck window.

“Why do you ask?”

“Just wondering, I guess.” Travis shrugged his shoulders.

“I’d planned on playing professional football, then retiring to working on the farm.”

“Do you miss playing?”

“I don’t really think about it anymore.”

“Why?”

“Dad got hurt, and the farm needs me.” I said simply.

I pulled through the last street in town. “Do you want to stop by Maggie’s and get a burger before we leave?”

“Not sure I can stomach a burger, man. You ran my ass pretty hard today.”

I chuckled while I pulled into the parking lot. “You’ll get use to it. What’s the worst that can happen? Puke on the way home? It wouldn’t be the first time.”

“And not the last.” Travis chuckled, as he hopped out of the truck.

“Hey, Maggie,” we said when she greeted us with her welcoming smile.

“Well, if it isn’t my two favorite football stars.” Travis and I both leaned over the counter and kissed either side of her cheek. “Let me guess, two double cheese burgers, fries and cherry cokes?”

“You know it, Ms. Maggie,” Travis smiled.

“Travis, why don’t you go and grab a booth for you and your brother? Bentley, I need your help lifting a box in the kitchen.

“Yes, ma’am,” we both replied.

“Bentley, why do these burgers always taste the best after practice, or on game nights?” Travis asked as he stuffed the last bite into his mouth.

“I don’t know, brother, but I hope Maggie never stops flipping those burgers.”

Maggie walk toward us carrying two more plates, “Thought you guys could use a piece of my homemade cherry pie.”

“Maggie, I’m not sure if I have room for all this pie,” Travis cried while rubbing his stomach.

“Nonsense. If your brother is going to be running his practices the same way he practiced, you’ll need every carb I can get into your stomach.”

“Hey,” I complained.

Both Travis and Maggie laughed. And of course, we ate the pie.

“Did you sign up to help at the Wells Ranch?” I asked my brother, throwing some cash on the table.

“Yeah, since it will be quiet at the farm for the next few weeks, I signed up to help the first week.”

“I hear Mr. Wells is a perfectionist.”

“Really? Like I have no practice dealing with that,
Coach
.” Travis pushed my shoulder as he walked towards the truck.

“Smart ass,” I replied.

THE SMELL OF the fresh air was all I needed to get my bearings back. How I missed the ranch and my grandparents. If only there was some way I was able to stay here and teach.

“Is that my sweet Haley I see walking to the house?” Grams gushed.

I ran to her in the garden and hugged her. “My goodness child, you are going to crush me.”

“I’m sorry, Grams, I just missed you and Papa so much.”

She held me at arms lengths, “Goodness child, when was the last time you ate?”

“Leave the poor child alone, Eleanor, she just got here.”

“Hi, Papa.”

“How was the drive?”

“Long, but good.” I looked around the ranch, “It’s good to be home.”

“I’m glad to see you still feel that way.”

“Papa, this will always be my home, this is where my heart is.”

“We definitely miss having you around here,” Grams smiled.

“What are you doing in the garden, can I help?”

“Go to the shed and grab the fork and dig up some potatoes for dinner.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Papa walked me over to the shed and handed me the fork, “Are your bags in the back of the car?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll bring them up to your room.”

“Papa, that’s not necessary. I can bring them in after dinner.”

“Nonsense. This may be your home, but until we leave tomorrow, you are our precious guest.”

“Thanks, Papa.”

“Mmm, Grams, this fried chicken is so good.” My mouth was still watering as I took the last chicken leg from the plate.

“Knowing my baby girl was coming home how could I not make her favorite meal?” Grams replied, clearing the table.

I grabbed her wrist, “Grams, I got this, go finishing packing.”

“Nonsense I’m an old lady, how many clothes do you except me to pack? With your Grandpa and I leaving tomorrow you need to go over everything he has planned for the ranch. Now go on out to the barn.”

“Okay.” I got up with my chicken leg and headed to the barn.

“Grams said you need to go over a few things with me?” I asked walking into the barn.

“The list is on the table in the corner,” Gramps said, not looking at me while cleaning the horse stalls.

• Paint barn and sheds
  
• Weed garden and flower beds
  
• Cut the grass
  
• Cut down the back forty
  
• Move the east cows over to the west
  
• Fence the back half of the quarter
  
• Build a pull shed for the quad and garden tractor
  
• Clean out and tidy the calf barn
  
• Haley, have some fun!
  

“Uh, Papa, this is a pretty heavy list for me to do on my own.” I uttered, overwhelmed.

Gramps laughed, “Silly girl, I know you won’t be able to do all of that. I just need you to oversee everything.”

I looked up at him, “I don’t understand?”

“I made a deal with Coach Dudley.”

“The high school football coach?” I questioned.

“Yes. I said if his team would help you out for the two weeks I’m gone, I will sponsor their new jerseys.”

“Papa, that’s a lot of money.”

“It is sweetheart, but the ranch needs some TLC and I’m getting too old. I thought it was a fair trade.”

“Why wouldn’t you wait ‘til you’re back?” I asked, puzzled.

“Because I know you can handle it, and I know you won’t let me or Grams down.”

“I won’t,” I said. “When are they expected to be here?”

“Tomorrow afternoon. I think starting off at the fence will be a wise choice.”

“Okay.”

After helping Papa move things about, we went back into the house and had a cup of tea before turning in for the night.

“I’m glad you’re home,” Papa said, patting my head before he went up for bed.

“Night, Papa.”

Grams came around the corner, “Would you care for another cup, sweetheart?”

“No thanks, Grams. I’m pretty tired, I think I’m gonna head to bed, too. I’d like to go for a quick run before you and papa leave tomorrow.”

She took my cup and placed her palm on my cheek, “I’m so happy you are here. Things around here are just too quiet when you are gone.”

“I love you, Grams.” I replied, leaning into her hand.

ONE EYE BARELY open, I glanced around the room, desperate for it to stop spinning. There’s a faint moan beside me, and when I carefully turned my head towards it, I saw brunette hair splayed across the pillow and down the back of a naked chick. My eyes slowly skimmed down to the small of her back—my favorite part of a woman’s body.

I stopped when I recognized the Celtic tattoo and quickly lifted the sheet to see if I had my briefs on, I did. I slowly sat up to look for any evidence of last night’s shit show. No condom…no wrapper, thank God. Lube and a vibrator? What the hell? I don’t remember using either of those things.

“What are you doing?” giggled Mandie as her cold claws rubbed my back. I tried to straighten out of her grip. “Baby, relax, let’s finish what we started last night,” she whispered in my ear before kissing the side of my neck.

“Did we?”

“No, you passed out before the party really got started. I had to use my vibrator to finish the job before I could finally go to sleep.”

“Uh, sorry about that.” I lifted her hands off me.

“Why don’t you make it up to me, Bentley? Like the good old days back in high school. I miss this,” she growled, grabbing my dick.

I shot out of the bed and scrambled for my pants.

“Where are you going?” Mandie grabbed my shirt and threw it over herself.

“I...ah…I need to go,” I stuttered, trying to put my shoes on without falling flat on my face.

“Bentley,” Mandie whined.

Bang-Bang-Bang, “Bentley, get your ass up. We gotta go,” Curtis yelled.

“Thank Christ,” I mumbled under my breath as I put on the other shoe.

“That’s it? You’re really going to leave me like this, wet and wanting you? Needing you to fill me?” moaned Mandie.

“Sorry, Mandie, but I gotta go. Curtis and I already made plans.” I opened the door and looked at my best friend.

“Bentley, before you walk out that door, you better think long and hard. There may not be a third time.”

“There shouldn’t have been a second,” I toss over my shoulder and ducked just in time to miss a glass as it shattered on the wall in front of me. I closed the door and looked over to Curtis, laughing his ass off. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

I looked in the back seat of Curtis’s truck and saw his gym bag. Zipping it open I was lucky enough to find a t-shirt. I smelled it before I put it on, “Smells clean enough.” He started the truck and put down the windows.

“Looks like it’s gonna be another hot one today.” I said leaning out of the truck window letting the breeze take some of my hangover away.

“Seriously, dude?” probed Curtis.

“I know.”

“She’s like a walking dick rash, not to mention your ex-high school squeeze and my girlfriend’s sister. Thank God the crazy stopped at Mandie,” he continued.

I groaned. “I don’t remember much past the river.”

“I knew you were drunk, but I didn’t realize how drunk.”

“Well, Curtis, if you were so sober, why didn’t you stop me?”

“I tried, but you insisted that no one wanted a washed up farm hand.”

I sat there for a few moments, “Sorry man.”

“Don’t apologize to me. It’s not like my dick was going to turn green and fall off.”

We pulled into Maggie’s diner and grabbed a booth in the back.

“Morning guys. You’re looking kinda rough there, Bentley,” my brother’s girlfriend said while passing us the breakfast menus.

“Hi, Whitney, Travis treating you good?” Curtis asked.

“Yes,” she giggled. “What can I get y’all?”