All Horns & Rattles: A Baxter Boys Novel

by Jane Charles

  My mother takes a step back. “But we just got here.”

  “I know, Mom, but I need to be at the game.” I’m not about to miss it because my parents are here. They need to realize that if they are going to surprise me, where I live, they need to do what I planned on doing today. At least what I planned on doing this morning. The evening and rest of the weekend are up in the air. It all depends on what Julia wants to do.

  “Why does it matter if you are at this Nina’s game?” Mom asks suspiciously.

  I take a deep breath. It’s time to fess up. “Because we are dating.”

  Mom gasps and Dad steps forward. “Son, I warned you what could happen.”

  I roll my eyes. “Nina moved out five weeks ago to live with her brother so don’t think it is because of us living together.”

  “Her brother? I thought she was an orphan.”

  Even though I haven’t seen my mother in almost two months, it takes no time for her to start irritating me. “Just because she was in foster care doesn’t mean she is an orphan. But, she’s back with her brother and it’s a good thing.”

  “Well, let’s go,” Julia says. “I can’t wait to see a rugby game.”

  “Rugby?” my dad asks in surprise. “I thought she played soccer.”

  “That too,” I answer, “but we really need to go.” I don’t wait for them to question me further or even say anything else and head out of the apartment. It’s not like I have to go far since they are playing on the football-turned-rugby soccer field at the back of the gym.

  Apparently I’m not the only one who wants to see the game because Dylan is here too, with everyone he lives with, the girlfriends, and the girls who are their friends. The only person not sitting with them is Ryan, and he’s down, closer to the field, with his camera ready.

  I nod as we walk up the steps and take seats behind them. I can introduce everybody else when there is a break, which there aren’t any in rugby except at the half, because the game is ready to start.

  Mom frowns. “I thought rugby and football were played on the same field.”

  “This used to be a football field, but Miguel had to adjust it because a football field is wider and longer than a rugby field.” Which wasn’t that big of a deal. Had he needed to go from rugby to football, it might not have worked out so well since we are pretty much landlocked around here. Plus the yardage marks are different. He also had to replace the goal. Pretty much, the only thing Miguel was able to keep was all the green in the middle of the field, but he made it work. Luckily, the size of a soccer field is the same as a rugby field, so at least that worked out.

  “Which one is she?” my mother asks.

  I point Nina out to her. Nina plays wing so she is further back right now.

  “What’s that on her leg?”

  That is the first thing she notices? “A tattoo.”

  Julia shades her eyes and squints toward Nina, probably trying to see it better since tattoos are her thing.

  Nina’s team kicks off first and they start running forward until it’s caught and they start running and tossing the ball.

  “Why don’t they throw forward?” my mother asks.

  “You have to pass back, but you can kick forward,” I answer without looking at her

  The player with the ball doesn’t get far before they are taken down and the ball is free before the ruck can be formed. Harper swoops in and gets the ball, not far behind is Nina and as the opposite team gains on Harper, she tosses the ball back to Nina, who is still open. She catches and takes off in a dead run, straight for the try line. Her teammates stay a few steps behind, as the other team comes after her. I’m on my feet yelling, as is my mom, but I can’t think about that. Just as she’s about to reach to the goal, an opponent grabs her around the waist. Nina stretches out her arms, both hands on the ball as she goes down and touches it down just inside the goal area.

  First try of the new season and it was made by Nina.

  “Touchdown,” my mother screams.

  “It’s a try.”

  “She tried and she got it.” My mom is clapping.

  “It’s not a touchdown in rugby, but a try. Meaning, she is trying for a chance at the goal.” I point to the kicker, kind of like the extra points on a field goals, but different.”

  “So, this is like football, but it’s not?”

  I laugh. “Yes. I’ll explain the game to you sometime.”

  As the game continues, my mom is up and down, screaming, cheering and yelling. Who is this woman?

  My dad just laughs and shakes his head. I lean around Mom. “Did you know she was like this?”

  “Ten, she was worse when you were playing football. There were a few times I thought she was going to get kicked out of the game.”

  “I wasn’t that bad,” she argues.

  “Yes you were,” both Dad and Julia respond.

  “Hey, Tenney, why don’t you play rugby?” Julia asks me.

  “I didn’t like being tackled in football, even wearing all that padding, there’s no way I’m going to get out there in just shorts and a t-shirt.”

  She frowns. “But being beat on in a boxing ring is okay?”

  “It’s different.” I shrug. Not that I box all that much anymore. Just helping train the real boxers and sparring.

  By the end of the game, Nina’s team wins twenty-nine to fourteen.

  “It’s over?” Mom seems disappointed.

  “Eighty minutes with a seven minute half. It’s a fast moving game.”

  We weren’t the only ones cheering. Dylan and his friends were too, even though they seemed confused a lot, just like Mom. Nina will have to explain the game to them if they intend on watching more games.

  “I watched her in practice and thought that was bad enough. A full-on game is brutal,” Dylan says. “I knew my sister was tough, but I’m pretty sure she’s tougher than all of us, and fast. I had no idea she could run like that.” He laughs.

  “Well, you do spend all of your time tasting food and then writing about it,” Mary teases.

  “Is that Nina’s brother?”

  Dylan turns around at my mom’s question, and I’m left introducing everyone while we wait for Nina to get done meeting with the coaches and head our way.

  She’s going to be as surprised as I was, and apparently Dylan, who seems confused. I know he knew Julia was visiting, but since we didn’t know Mom and Dad were going to be here, it’s not like we could warn anyone.

  Nina’s grinning when she starts heading across the field to us. She’s a beautiful mess since the field had a few muddy spots and I think she was tackled in each one of them.

  We head down the steps and meet her in front of the bleachers. Dylan and his friends get to her first, congratulating her, but no hugging because they don’t want to get dirty. In the end, Dylan leans in real close to her and says something. Her eyes go wide and she looks in my direction and sees my mom and dad.

  “I’ll see you back at the house later,” Dylan says as they all start heading out and I bring my family forward and quickly make the introductions.

  “It’s so nice to meet you,” my mother says. “Such an exciting game.”

  Mom apparently is still on an adrenaline rush.

  “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you.”

  My dad shakes her hand and Julia says that she’s glad to finally meet her in person.

  “Ready to head out?” I say. “Nina’s going to want to head home and get a shower.” She needs time to get used to the idea of my parents being here. Hell, I need time to get used to it and I still don’t know how long they are going to be here.

  “Yeah, I kind of need a shower.” Nina is almost relieved.

  “I hope you can join us for dinner tonight,” my mother says.

  Nina is shaking her head before the words come out of her mouth. “No. I don’t want to intrude.”

  “Nonsense, we’ll be by to get you at six.”

  For the first time ever, Nina actually l
ooks helpless. I get it. Mom can do that to people.

  50

  Shit! Tex’s parents? I’m a sweaty, muddy mess. So not the best first impression.

  “But, before we do, I’d like a few moments with Nina,” Mrs. Lippincott says and my stomach knots.

  “Horns needs to drink this first.” Tex presses the thermos cup into my hands.

  “What’s that?” she asks suspiciously.

  “Protein drink,” Tex answers. “Helps the muscles after a game.”

  “Thanks.” I take a sip and nearly moan. He made the one that uses raspberry and it helps mask the yuckier tastes.

  “Just give me a moment.” Mrs. Lippincott stares her son down.

  Tex inhales through his nose but then nods.

  “Come with me?” Mrs. Lippincott says as we start walking back toward the gym.

  I just drink, hoping I don’t have to say much of anything.

  “My husband and I know that Tex doesn’t intend on coming back to Texas.”

  I suck in a breath. I didn’t know that Tex had already told them. “He could change his mind,” I offer. “He still has another year of school.”

  “I thought it was because of you.”

  Oh no. I’m not letting her put the blame on me. “I would never keep him here.” She needs to know that right now.

  “But you wouldn’t move to Texas with him either.” Her eyebrows raise as if she’s challenging me, and as if to say, I am his mother and no girl is going to turn my son from me.

  If the Lippincotts have their way, Tex will be in Texas in little over a year and I’ll be here. But, they are his family and I know better than anyone how important that is.

  “No, I won’t leave New York.” As much as I hate this, it’s time for a real conversation. “I just reconnected with my brothers. I don’t know if Tex told you, but we were separated for twelve years and I’m not about to move so far away from them. Family is the most important thing to me and I would never dream of asking Tex to give up his family to stay with me. If he stays, it’s on him.”

  She turns and starts walking again. “I was worried about Tex becoming involved with you since you are only eighteen.”

  “You grow up fast in the system.” I shrug. Also, I’m not about to deny who I am or where I come from or what made me who I am.

  “Our kids think they hide so much from us.” She chuckles. “And, we let them think that, but we knew at Christmas that Tennyson was in love with you.”

  All I can do is blink at her. I didn’t even know he cared than. How could they?

  “Even if he didn’t realize it himself.” Then she stops and looks at me again. “I’ll make a deal with you. I won’t make a fuss about Tennyson staying in New York if you promise to send him home for holidays, and come with him.”

  Again, all I can do is blink at her.

  “Correction. I will still make a fuss because he expects it of me.” She slowly smiles. “And a mother still needs to have some fun by aggravating her children.”

  This is so not what I was expecting. “I’ll always encourage him to see his family,” I assure her. “But staying, leaving, visiting, that is all up to Tex, and I would never discourage him from going to Texas.”

  She takes my hand and pats it. “I know that now. And, I’m glad he has you.”

  She is?

  “You’re friends,” she says. “Best friends, if I’m not mistaken.”

  “Yes.”

  “When love starts with friendship and then best friends, before it develops into being in love, it has a better chance of withstanding time and all the highs and lows that come from being a couple.”

  “We aren’t ready for anything that serious.”

  She pulls back and laughs. “I hope not. You are both too young, but I hope it’s your future.”

  Seriously? I was convinced she’d hate me. They are conservative, rich Texans with oil in their blood. The complete opposite of me.

  “But, if you and Tex settle down now, you won’t need to worry about college.”

  Yes, Tex is that rich, but I’d never take advantage of it. “I need to do this for me. I don’t know what the future holds and I’ve got to be able to take care of myself and support myself, no matter what.”

  “But if you were to marry, you’d never need to worry about any of that.”

  She thinks I’m after him because he’s rich? “First, Tex hasn’t asked me to marry him and even if he did, it is years down the road. Second, while there is comfort in knowing that with Tex I know I’ll never starve and we will always have a home, I need to do what I need to do for me. I can’t let someone else take care of me.”

  “He wants to.”

  That is probably truer than she realizes. “We’re working on that.” The woman needs to understand. “Look, I had no idea Tex had money until after we started dating and getting serious. It was a shock and honestly, I wish he was as poor as me because then I wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable. He wants to do nice things for me, buy me things and take me to fancy restaurants. I don’t want any of that. I just want him, and if all we could afford to do on a date is get a cup of coffee and walk around the park, I’d be happy with that. I’d probably like it a lot better than a restaurant that doesn’t have prices on their menus.”

  “Have you told him that?” she asks out of curiosity.

  “We’ve argued about it, to be honest.” We don’t fight about much, but we do when he wants to spoil me. “We came to an agreement that once a month he can date me on his budget and the rest of the time, the dates are as if he is living on mine.”

  “He could give you really nice things. Jewelry and such.”

  I step back and hold out my hands. I’m covered in mud and I’m sure there are a few bruises that are starting to show up. “Do I look like the jewelry kind of girl? I don’t need things. My parents were hoarders before they were arrested. I’ve lived twelve years with what I can fit into a suitcase. As long as I have Tex and enough clothes for a week, I’m good. Really, I am.” I really hope she gets it because Tex’s money is the last thing I want from him.

  She looks me over and then studies my tattoo before she smiles. “He really gave you the nickname Horns?”

  My face heats. “I was kind of easy to rile up, as Tex puts it, when we first met.”

  Her eyebrow raises and I see humor in Mrs. Lippincott’s blue eyes. “You don’t get riled up anymore?”

  I lean in. “To tell you the truth, your son still gets me riled sometimes, especially when he’s being all protective.”

  “That’s good to hear.” She laughs. “There should be riling at times in a relationship, as long as it’s coming from the right place.”

  I’m starting to like Tex’s mom.

  “Did Julia do your tattoo?”

  My heart stops for a moment and I look at her. “Um, no. Why would you think so?” I ask slowly. As far as I knew, the parents didn’t know what Julia’s dream job really was.

  “Nina, my children will learn tonight at dinner that there is very little we do not know. We raised them to love the Lord, attend church and have faith. Along with those lessons came our expectations of how they were to behave, treat others and themselves.”

  That’s right, Tex said they were really religious. I hope I haven’t cussed in front of her.

  “We also knew that when the time came, they’d make their own way in the world and find their own passion. My comfort is knowing that they’ve been given a base of faith and that they know that their childhood home will always be there when they need it. The rest is up to them and they will be okay with the foundation and security we’ve provided them. They have financial support and if that doesn’t work, they have prayer.”

  Tex and I haven’t talked much about religion and I don’t remember him going to church once, not that I’d tell his mother that.

  “Tennyson wants to remain here and I think he intends on taking over the gym if Miguel ever retires, and we know Julia will use her business
degree to open a tattoo shop.”

  I’m sure my mouth is hanging open.

  “Do I like her choice? No.”

  That’s right, they are against tattoos and Julia has the Bible verse on her back.

  “But not for the reasons you think. We were against them marking or putting holes in their bodies when they were younger. I don’t think sixteen-year-olds, ones who had been as sheltered as my children, were mature enough to decide to do something permanent to their bodies. An example is the tattoo that Julia has on her lower back, which she only got to rebel and thinks I know nothing about.”

  “I’m only eighteen,” I remind her. Does she think I’m too young? Julia was eighteen when she got her tattoo, just like me.

  “It pains me to say this, but there is a world of difference between who you are and who Julia was at eighteen. I have a feeling you did not make the decision lightly.”

  Did Tex tell her what it hides? He wouldn’t would he. “What did Tex tell you?”

  She snorts. “Very little. He says you like your privacy. If my son would be more forthcoming, I wouldn’t be talking to you alone right now.”

  “It’s covering scars,” I blurt out.

  Mrs. Lippincott frowns and sadness fills her eyes before she leads me away from the gym and to a bench at the back of the building.

  “Scars?”

  Before I know it, I’m telling her about Teddy and the cigarette, and all of that. I don’t know why I’m suddenly spilling everything out when I hadn’t talked about it after the last trial and before Tex, but I think I want her to know that my tattoo wasn’t a whim. I think I want her understanding and respect for Tex. “I’ve wanted them tattooed over since I was fourteen so I never had to look at them again, but didn’t know what I wanted. When Tex started calling me Horns and explained why, I liked the idea of a rattlesnake and skull.”

  “That’s when you decided on the design?”