Vance looked over at the severed hand in the bag as one of Uncle Hank’s dogs sniffed at it. “Is that really Mr. Palmer’s hand?”
“Yep, cut it off with a saw so I could use it,” Nelson said, writing. “Vance, what size shoe? Six or seven,” Nelson asked.
“Seven,” Vance said, looking down at his loafers. “I tried Mark’s old boots, but they were too big.”
“Unless they were Mark’s boots he wore in junior high, I would say so. That boy and his brother have big feet.”
“These are all I have. We left home really fast.”
“Your mom was smart to make your dad leave fast,” Nelson said, making Wilma jump.
“How could you know that?” she asked.
“Easy,” Nelson said as he looked up. “You’re here.”
“There were shootings everywhere in Chicago. We had to go. I told Steven we were leaving without him, so he finally got in the car. I really wish I would’ve left him now for putting all of us in danger.”
“If you would’ve left him, he would’ve sold us out there, and we wouldn’t have had any warning. More than likely, most of us would be dead if Steven would’ve stayed in Chicago. You would be tied up watching your kids being violated in the darkest ways imaginable,” he said then looked back down at his notebook, writing. “You did the right thing so everyone could be protected. I’m sorry to ask, but what size…” he stopped, tapping his chest, not looking up from the notebook. “The other two women are close to my wife, so I pretty much know, but you’re…” He just let his words hang.
“Really, you have bras?” Wilma gasped.
He refused to look up. “Yeah, my wife bought some in different sizes,” he said, glancing up then back at his notebook. “But I’m not making promises.”
“Thirty-six double D.”
“Damn, missed that big time,” Nelson mumbled softly. “Size six shoe and right handed, correct?”
“Yes,” she said, seeing Nelson wasn’t going to look up.
“Vance, you’re the man in your family, and I think you have been for some time. It falls to you to protect them and help your mom provide. I did it; so can you,” Nelson said, looking at Emily. “Emily, you have to help him and your mom. You three have help, so learn.”
“Yes sir,” Emily said as Nelson closed his notebook. Nelson turned to see everyone staring at him.
“I’m a Jedi warrior, so don’t mess with me,” he said, tucking the notebook in his vest.
Judy walked up and hugged him. “You are a good man,” she said, kissing his cheek.
With a heavy face, Nelson looked at her. “Don’t let him drink this week, or you will lose him. Hank thinks he did something wrong when Steven was little, but Steven was broke a long time ago. Keep him busy every hour, and when he’s not doing something, make him teach something. He understands why, but he had to be the one to do this, or all of you would’ve died. After one week, let him have one drink, but remind him of all the work and dangers ahead.”
Nodding, Judy gave a weak smile. “For someone who just met Hank, you seem to know him rather well.”
“Just the type. I almost killed my brother when he killed a mother as he drove home drunk, so it’s not from my perception, I assure you.”
She smiled. “You didn’t ask me any questions.”
Nelson pulled out his notebook and flipped it open. “Judy Kimble, five-foot-six. One hundred sixty pounds, medium build. Hat size twenty-one. Size eight shoe, right handed, medium gloves. Thirty-eight C.”
Judy moved back, stunned. “Yeah.”
“Didn’t need to ask,” Nelson said, closing his notebook. As he shoved it in his vest, he said, “Your hound dog just took off with the severed hand,” then headed to the truck.
Bernard came over as Nelson opened the truck. “That was good of you to talk to all of them like that,” Bernard said, patting his back.
“Just wanting to remind them it’s not even the tough part yet.”
Matt came over, grinning. “Dude, that was cool. How can you figure out sizes like that?”
“Matt, I worked in a store that sold clothes and shoes. You fit enough people, you learn.”
“What size bra does Ashley wear?”
“Thirty-two C,” Nelson said.
“That’s cool,” Matt chuckled. “That’s like some Jedi stuff.”
“You are easily amused.”
“Well, I have to admit I thought it was neat,” Bernard laughed.
“Let’s go,” Nelson said, climbing in.
“We have to wait for Gerald,” Bernard said, and Nelson pointed. They turned to see Hank and Gerald walking back. The others went over to Hank, who looked a little pale. Nelson turned the key and turned the radio down before it blared. “Thank you,” Bernard said, climbing in.
They watched Gerald pat Hank’s back and leave when Judy hugged Hank. Starting the truck, Nelson waited until Gerald was in before he put the truck in gear. When Nelson went around the overturned truck, he stopped in the ditch and turned around, looking at Gerald. “You should’ve let Hank shoot him,” he growled then spun around, stomping the pedal.
Chapter Seven
“Wake up, sleepy head,” Michelle whispered in his ear.
Nelson groaned and tried to roll over but couldn’t. He cracked his eyes to see Michelle straddling him. “It’s Sunday. We don’t work out on Sunday,” he groaned, closing his eyes.
She laughed. “I know, baby, but the others will be starting soon, and you’ll be mad because I didn’t wake you up,” she said, bending at her waist and laying her upper body on his chest with her face in his. “It’s been three days. Are you going to forgive Gerald?”
“I’m not mad,” Nelson said, opening his eyes to see her face inches from his. “Damn, you’re beautiful,” he said, wrapping his arm around her. “I love you.”
“I love you too, baby,” she said, nuzzling his neck.
“Why hasn’t Nancy gotten married?” Nelson asked, and Michelle jerked up.
“Where the hell did that come from?” she asked with a grin.
“I don’t know. I’ve wanted your opinion but just never asked. You and her talk. Is she like a freak or something?”
“No,” Michelle said, giggling. “We do talk, and I like her. You could say we are friends, but she wants you more for a friend than me.”
“Ugg,” Nelson groaned. “Don’t do that. Every time I talk about another woman, you swear she wants to put me in handcuffs and rape me.”
“Nancy doesn’t want to rape you,” Michelle giggled.
“Thank you,” Nelson said, pulling her back to his chest. “Finally a woman that you think doesn’t want to molest me. So why doesn’t she have a boyfriend? I’ve never heard Gerald talk about one.”
Michelle giggled harder. “She’s never had one since we’ve known her, and I’m sure she’s never had one.”
“So she’s just shy? Well, we need to get her out of that. She’s a good girl and doesn’t need to be alone with Gerald for the rest of her life.”
Pushing herself up, Michelle laughed. “Really? You think she’s shy? That’s so cute.”
“Oh God, not cute,” he moaned. “I’m serious. I know you really like her because you let Gavin follow her around like a little puppy.”
“Your son has the biggest crush in the world on her,” Michelle sniggered. “That is cute.”
“He just likes her because she lets him work with her like we do. I hear about everything they do every day. I don’t think he has a crush on her. What type of guy do you think she would like? A nerd or tough guy?”
Throwing her head back and making her hair fly around her head, Michelle laughed hard. “You want to look for her a boyfriend?”
“Don’t you?”
She looked at him laughing and saw his face was serious. Michelle turned her laughing into snickers. “Nelson, Nancy is gay.”
Nelson just blinked. “Huh?”
“Gay. You know what that means; I know you do.”
“She told you that?” he almost shouted.
Shaking her head hard, making her hair fly around, she snickered, “No.”
“So you don’t know then,” Nelson huffed. Seeing Michelle still giggling, he said, “You’re serious.”
“Yes, baby, but that was so cute you wanting to find her a boyfriend.”
Pushing himself up in the bed and dragging her with him as she straddled his waist, Nelson rested his back on the headboard. “How do you know then?”
“She doesn’t look at you and Matt,” Michelle giggled.
“We’re married, babe.”
Michelle stopped laughing as though she flipped a switch and stared at him. “What’s that have to do with the price of tea in China? You know damn well single women look at you all the time—married too for that matter.”
“She knows you and Ashley. You don’t drool over your friend’s spouse.”
“Horseshit,” Michelle scoffed. “We’ve been out with her a few times, but she never looks at any man. Now women, she looks at them like you do.”
“I don’t ogle over other women.”
“Nelson, at that last tournament, I almost hit you for looking at that girl holding the score cards.”
“She was wearing a tiny string bikini for God’s sake. I’ve used bigger patches of cloth to clean out gun barrels.”
“So you’re saying she was ugly?”
Shrugging, he admitted, “Shit, I don’t know, I never saw her face,” and Michelle slapped his arm.
“That’s what I mean,” she snapped. “You were gawking at her.”
“Well, I’m sorry if I was, so quit being mad,” Nelson said, rubbing his arm.
“I wasn’t until you said you didn’t ogle other women.”
“You were staring at her just as hard,” Nelson snapped.
Michelle leaned back. “Yes,” she said, nodding. “I was trying to figure out how a string bikini and a gun competition went together.”
“Well, it was hot,” Nelson offered with half a shrug. “But we are off the subject.”
“Nelson, Nancy is gay. She talks to you like a guy. I think she likes me because I’m not girly and I’m not scared to get dirty.”
“She doesn’t like Ashley?”
“Not like that,” Michelle said.
Not catching that meaning, he nodded and said, “So we need to find her a girlfriend then. Find out what she likes in a girl.”
“Excuse me, you’re the boy. You find out.”
“Hell, I didn’t know what I liked until I met you,” Nelson said, turning to look at the picture on the wall.
Looking at the picture of them in full combat gear, Michelle chuckled. “Well, I know you didn’t come after me for my body.”
“Your fucking body is so hot I’ll drink your bathwater.”
Michelle laughed and kissed him. “Thank you, babe, but what I meant was you didn’t see my body in real clothes for six months. Fatigues don’t do a lot for showing off a woman’s body. Then wearing that thirty pound vest, I’m surprised you knew I was a girl.”
“Girl? Hell, I knew I was going to marry you,” he said, kissing her.
“Sorry it took me so long to realize that,” she said as she rubbed her nose back and forth over his.
“So what type of girl do you think we need to find?”
Michelle laughed. “I have no idea.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ve known other lesbians. My experience is limited.”
“Porn doesn’t count, babe,” Michelle giggled.
Pulling her to him, he said, “You watch those scenes too. You like it.”
She kissed him. “Babe, by the time the first scene’s over, I’m so worked up, I think I would see a news broadcast hot.”
“I don’t hear kids. Want me to find one?” he asked, kissing her neck.
“It’s almost eight, stud. You need to go and finish those sheds. You have food on the table.”
“Carports,” he corrected.
“Sheds,” she said, climbing off him. “Keep the movie idea for tonight though.”
Jumping out of the bed, he shouted, “Hell the fucking yes,” making Michelle laugh.
After he dressed and ate, Nelson grabbed his tool belt hanging by the front door and put it on. He grabbed his AR and headed outside, where he saw Gerald on the back deck holding Devin. “Damn, does he wait outside for Devin to wake up?” Nelson mumbled.
“You ready to get the carports done?” Nelson asked, walking up on the porch.
“Sheds,” Gerald said, making Nelson chuckle.
“Fine, sheds. Where’s Matt and Bernard?”
“They are loading lumber on Bernard’s truck.”
Nelson watched Gerald play with Devin and let out a breath. “Gerald, I’m not mad at you. I just think it was a mistake, but it was your call. You were there; I wasn’t.”
Looking up, Gerald grinned. “Thank you,” he said. “All I could think of if that was Nancy. I know she would never do anything like that, but what if she were hurt real bad or something? I know what needed to be done, but I know I couldn’t do it. I just hope I have someone there that could.”
Realizing what Gerald was saying, Nelson nodded. “Didn’t look at it like that. I would shoot my brother right now if I saw him.”
“How did you know?”
“Your eyes,” Nelson said, sitting down. “You let another part take over when you take care of business.”
“You don’t?”
“Nah, I can say I will stand in front of God proud of what I did and have no shame or remorse.”
“Damn, don’t know if I’m impressed or scared.”
“You should be neither; everyone deals different. It only matters if business is taken care of,” Nelson said. “Gerald, tell me if I’m out of line, but,” Nelson paused, looking around to see no one around. “Why hasn’t Nancy gotten married? She’s smart, funny, totally cool to be around. I can’t get Gavin to shut up about what they do. She treats him like a friend, and he loves that. Is there another side to her? She needs a partner. Not saying you aren’t great, but Gerald, you need a woman, but that is for another day.”
“She’s never found anyone she liked,” Gerald mumbled.
“Well what does she like? We’ll start looking.”
“She’s gay,” Gerald whispered harshly. “Don’t you fucking tell her I told you. I’m not in the mood for one of her rants.”
“So what? She needs someone. If she liked green aliens, I would say let’s get looking. It’s a person’s choice who they love, not society’s.”
Gerald’s jaw dropped as he looked up at Nelson. “I never expected that from you.”
“I’m not a bigot.”
“I know that. I meant you’re just a macho guy,” Gerald said.
“Dude, I know you’re not gay. You drool over any woman that walks by. You were the only man cheering that sixty-year-old woman to strip in that bar last year.”
With a mischievous grin, Gerald shrugged. “I didn’t know tits could reach the thighs. It was kind of cool.”
“So why hasn’t Nancy hooked up with someone?”
“She doesn’t want people to judge her.”
“I’ll gouge out their eyes and skull fuck them till they die,” Nelson said with a smile.
Hearing the truck beside the house, Gerald lifted Devin up. “Bubble warrior, I have to go to work.” Devin squealed, clapping his hands.
“Hey, can Devin stay with you tonight? I want to spend some time with momma bear,” Nelson said.
“You hear that?” Gerald grinned. “We are going to watch movies and kill bubbles!” Hearing “bubbles,” Devin started swinging his arms, laughing.
Gerald took Devin inside to Nellie then joined Nelson under the big oak tree beside the house on the east side. A large frame was up to house the Cougar 6x6. Nelson and Gerald grabbed nail guns as Bernard and Matt cut the boards and passed them over.
The day they returned from Hank’s, Bernard had p
ulled the excavator in the yard and dug a hole on the west side next to the berm. Gerald wanted the explosives stored near them but as far away from the house as possible.
After the hole was dug, they built a twenty by twenty room with stairs and a storm door then covered it up. Before stopping for the day, they mixed concrete and poured the four corner stones for the Cougar’s shed under the massive oak trees on the east side of the house. The next day, they decided to have the FLYERS inside as well, so they had to make another shed beside the Cougar’s home. It was a lot smaller.
When Nellie called them for supper, they were pulling the vehicles in their new homes. Then they headed inside and sat down at the table. “Devin is spending the night with Gerald,” Nelson told Michelle as he sat down.
“You ready to watch him all night?” Michelle asked, looking over at Gerald.
Nancy laughed. “He sits by the window waiting on you two on gym days.”
“That’s right,” Gerald said proudly. “My buddy needs me to fight the bubbles.”
“Fightin’ the bubbles is great!” Olivia shouted with a grin.
“Spoken like a bubble warrior,” Michelle said in a monotone, looking at Nelson. “You’re cleaning the bathroom after her tonight.”
“Nana said I could spend the night here!” Olivia whined.
Nellie looked up. “Well, Gerald said Devin was spending the night with him, so I said Olivia could spend the night.”
“Gavin, want to spend the night?” Nancy asked, and Gavin’s eyes got wide. “We can play X-box.”
“Can I, Mom?” Gavin asked.
“Sure.” Michelle grinned.
“Adam, Alex, want to join us?” Nancy asked.
“You’ve got to. She’s great on Halo,” Gavin said, and they looked at Bernard.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Bernard said.
“What’s next?” Matt asked, loading his plate.
“I would like to drop off the stuff at Hank’s then check those two farms up the road,” Nelson said.
Groaning as she dropped her head, Michelle said, “Nelson, we have more crap than we know what to do with now.”
Forgotten Forbidden America:: Patriots Reborn Page 15
