The Cowboys Fire

Chapter 6

Connor POV

Climbing the stairs, I’m more than ready to go to sleep. Pizza and beer was exactly what we needed after a very long week in the blistering heat. I want a nice cold shower and to crawl in to bed.

All my brothers are heading in the same direction I am. We are all beat. Although Logan is more beat than the others after the thrashing I just gave him on COD. I chuckle. He is awful at those games but put him behind the wheel of a car and he will smoke you.

Tomorrow is Saturday, and it’s not my turn to get up for chores. On a weekend we alternate as the only things we do is feed and muck out the horses, and take a ride out together. This weekend, it’s Aiden and William on get up. I get a lay in until 10am, and boy am I looking forward to it.

Stepping into my room, I shout night to my brothers, all ringing the same greeting back to me. I close the door and strip off naked on my way to my bathroom. Thank god we don’t share one anymore. I turn on my waterfall shower and step inside. Feeling the coolness of the water running down onto my tired body, I sigh in relief. God do I need this rest. Spending a long time removing all trace of sweat and dirt from my body, rubbing soap all over in an effort to try and relax, I turn off the shower and towel off. Looking in the mirror I see my beard will need a trim in the next few days, but not tonight.

I crawl naked under my fresh crisp sheets, and I am asleep not long after.

Ring, Ring

Ring, Ring

What is that noise? In my groggy state I don’t initially recognise my phone ringing.

Ring Ring

I reach across and search for my phone on my bedside table. Looking at the clock, I squint to see the time. 2:23am!! Who is going to be ringing me at 2:23am!!

Grabbing the phone, I open the call without looking at the caller ID.

“Do you have any idea what time it is!!” I croak out. Vocal cords refusing to wake.

“Oh I’m sorry sweetheart, but it’s kind of an emergency” my mom’s voice comes over the speaker. I bolt upright, suddenly alert. Emergency.

I hear in the background a tanoy paging a doctor. She’s in the hospital?!!

“Mom, are you alright?!?, is it pop?!? We can be on the next flight” I leap from the bed, pulling clothes from the floor and dressing.

“Calm down, me and your pop are fine. It’s a friend of ours in the hospital. It’s a long story but essentially we need your help” she clears up. I stop and sit on the edge of my bed, heart beating out of my chest now gradually slowing down.

“Your ok?” I need reassurance before going further.

“Yes darling, we are fine” I hear a smile in her voice. “Ok, what can I do?” I ask willing to do anything for mom and pop.

“The last few times we spoke, you made noises about Mrs McArthy leaving you and the challenges you have faced since then. Well we have a friend, I think I mentioned her, she’s a lovely girl, fantastic cook, and she is in need of a new start. She has a situation here and it would be better for her to be somewhere else, where she is safe” mom pauses, giving me chance to form relevant questions.

“She’s not safe in Florida? Why isn’t she going to her own family for help?” I snap unmeaningly, exhaustion pulling at me.

“No she isn’t, she’s in the hospital recovering from being run off the road by her stalker after he cut her breaks. He has broken into her home and is sending her letters. The police aren’t helping. She doesn’t have anyone, as I’ve said before, me and pops have sort of adopted her” I sit there, silent as rage is engulfing me, brakes cut?! All alone?! Run off the road!!! Why would someone do that. After a minute of careful breathing I get myself under control enough to speak again.

“What do you need me to do mom?”

“We are getting her discharged soon, collecting her belongings and putting her on the greyhound. Looking at the timetable, she should reach town on Monday at around 2pm. Pick her up, get her settled and let her heal and then take her on, she will help with the cooking and cleaning and admin side. She’s very good at stuff like that. She needs to lay low and make a fresh start somewhere safe”

I process her request, my mom wouldn’t lie to me, if she is as good as she says then taking her on would be worth it all in its own, but she sounds like she’s in trouble and they wouldn’t be making this request otherwise.

“Are you still there Connor?”

“Yeah mom, I’m here. Get her on the greyhound and we’ll sort the rest”

“Thank you Connor, it will all work out son” I hear pops voice on the line.

“Of course Pop, you know that. I’ll talk to you soon alright”

“Yes, speak on Sunday as usual”

Laying back on my bed, I wonder,

What have I let myself in for.