Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
“Juniper.” I slide my body between his and the doorframe.
“I’m going back to bed,” is the last thing I say. At least then he won’t open his mouth and talk to piss me off even more.
NINE
LAWSON
I’d laugh, except she’d grab me by the balls and probably twist them into even bigger knots than they already are. It was something else seeing her stomp her pretty little ass to my bed, wearing my shirt and climbing up on top of the mattress. Juniper has no idea she gave me a peep show, too, of her pretty, creamy thighs and the fabric between her legs.
There was no way our conversation was going to continue, not when she pulled the comforter and sheets over her head, wrapping herself up like a burrito. All I could do was shake my head and walk out of the bathroom. Juni burying her head in the sand is only prolonging the inevitable. When Doctor Jimenez told me she needed as much rest as possible, I took his word for it. I got on the phone, told my parents Juniper and I would be out until she’s back to one hundred percent. Mom huffed and puffed, said she’d take care of her, but I wasn’t having that. We got into an argument. Dad waded in and told her to calm her tits. His words, not mine. I wasn’t looking to get whacked in the back of the head with a loaf of bread, a shoe, or an oven mitt. Basically, whatever Mom could get her hands on when us boys weren’t seeing reason was free rein.
Once Dad and I appeased Mom, she let it fucking go. I made plans for Juni and me to head to the cabin driving my truck. This place is deep in the ranch where there’s nothing but trees and untouched land. It’s unspoiled beauty. A place I come to get away from work, life, and the noise when I need to drown it out. This place runs on a generator and well. Sure, I could add Internet and a land line, but that would defeat the option of going off grid. As it is, the only things out here to worry about are the wild animals, like horses, elk, moose, and a whole lot more. Enough that I’ve got a shotgun in case something decides to get surly.
I gave Dad a list for provisions, as well as clothes for me and for Juniper. Mom grabbed those, though. No way anyone except Mom would be going through her panty drawer. The last was food, which was the easy part. I drove us out here, and when Dad brought everything up, he also had JW ride with him to take my truck back home.
This time, though, I packed up my laptop and spreadsheets with me to work off-line. Shit still needs to get done back at the ranch, and I may as well do something while Juniper is pretending I don’t exist. The only problem is that I’m going to have little to no concentration when I am consumed with worry over her. I’m going to give her some space and not add to her stress level. Even though I still don’t know fuck all on what’s going on. And doesn’t that just piss me right the hell off. I’m used to fixing problems, attacking them head on, and moving on. Juniper not allowing me to so much as know what the hell is going on is making it damn difficult.
“Damn it.” I rush to the kitchen table where all of my shit is. The noise coming from the phone ringing is the last thing I want Juniper to hear. I didn't want to bring the satellite phone up here, but with Juni being as sick as she has been, I wasn't risking anything. Doctor Jimenez didn’t seem to think we’d have a problem. Still, I’d rather be safe than sorry. My hand wraps around the clunky device, and I cover the speaker with my palm while I make quick work of heading out the back door. My cabin has a wraparound porch, and the back door is the farthest away from the master bedroom, so Juniper won't hear me on the phone.
“Hello,” I answer once I’m outside and walking toward the steps that will lead me to green grass, mountain views, and trees older than the family ranch.
“Hey, you settled in alright?” Dad asks. He dropped everything off on the front porch while Juni was napping. I left the keys in my truck, and they did a quick switcharoo, trying to stay as quiet as a mouse while the woman in my bed slept peacefully.
“Yeah, she woke up for a little bit, threw a fit, and promptly barricaded herself back in bed. Whatever’s going on, Dad, it’s gotta be bad.” Admitting that out loud hits heavier than ever.