Back Country (The Country Duet #2)(37)

When we enter his new room, he’s sitting up in bed. His hair combed and a smile plastered on his face. His eyes light up when he sees us walk in. For the first time since I’ve been around him, Dave is left speechless.

“Dave, how are you this morning?” I step in next to Mom and Quinn.

“Doing good. Caught here in a new room.”

“Well, Dave, this is my mom, Blair Yates, and one of my annoying little sisters, Quinn.”

“Nice to meet you, ladies.”

Mom steps up to his bed and shakes his hand. Quinn follows suit, then we all sit around him and talk for an hour. Dave makes sure I’m burning up the gasoline and that I got the freezer cleaned. Quinn pretends to be busy texting on her phone, but I know she’s taking pictures to show Dad and for Malerie.

I’m blown away. Dave is on his best behavior, even when nurses come into his room to check on him. My heart swells with pride, knowing that this is the way Dave shows me the utmost respect. If mom or Quinn were any other women, he’d be all about their looks and harassing them about getting in their pants.

Mom and Quinn head out to find some coffee, leaving Dave and me alone.

“You feeling okay?” I ask him with genuine concern.

“Having a good day, son.” He smiles up at me. “Thank you for introducing me to your family, Hunter. It means a lot to me.”

I rest on the side of his bed. “They’ve heard a lot about you, Dave, and wanted to meet you.”

Our touchy-feely moment is over within seconds. “So, they have a commode in this joint.”

“Oh yeah.” Both of my eyebrows rise with the sudden subject change.

“Gonna need to buy one for when I go home. It’s pretty damn handy. I’m just about able to get up and sit on it.”

“Mmmmm.” I rub my chin. “I remember some handsome fox trying to convince you to buy one. Pretty sure he harassed you about it for a while.”

He ignores the jab, never owning up to be wrong. “Need you to find one for me and get the best deal on it.”

“Okay, Dave.” I smirk at him. “I can do that for you.”

“Has the basement flooded yet?”

“Not enough snow melt yet.”

I’m not sure how the foundation of his house is still standing up. It floods every winter, and before me, Dave couldn’t do anything about it, but last winter I got all the water pumped out.

Mom and Quinn eventually come back, and we all say our goodbyes.



“Bubba, you’ve barely eaten anything on your plate.” Mom leans her elbows on the table staring at me. “I’ve never seen you not inhale a bacon burger before.”

“Yeah, Hunter, why aren’t you eating?” Teale chirps in.

“Not hungry,” I reply.

“Bullshit.” Teale slaps her hand down on the restaurant table.

The girls are too involved taking SnapChat pictures, using some damn puppy dog face to be involved in the conversation.

“He’s been in pain for a long time now and throws up if he eats too much or too fast, or certain foods.”

I crane my neck to give Teale a, ‘you’ve gotta be kidding,’ stare. I thought I’d been doing a damn good job masking the gut ache. I was dead wrong.

“Hunter.” Mom raises one of her perfectly manicured eyebrows. “What is going on?”

“Just a gut ache. Nothing big.”

“Doesn’t sound like it?” She counters.

“Tell us the symptoms,” Teale demands.

I throw my arm around her shoulder, tugging her to me. “Babe, it’s nothing let it go.”

Shit, I’d throw that diamond ring on her finger right now to change the subject of the conversation, but Teale deserves so much more. I see it coming before it happens. It’s the way Teale taps her chin and the devious look gleaming in her eyes.

“I wonder if there was internal damage from your motorcycle wreck?”

“Motorcycle wreck.” It’s Mom who is now slapping her palm down on the tabletop.

I shake my head, knowing this is going nowhere good. I never told Mom or Dad about the accident, because they’d chew my ass for riding alone, but I know damn well Teale talked to Mom when we were on our way to the hospital. One of the stupidest things I’ve ever done. I was damn lucky I was able to get hold of Teale on the phone, and that she jumped into action.

“Oh, you don’t know that Hunter here, went riding alone and suffered a severe concussion that left him sore for a few good weeks?” The sarcasm thick coating each word.

I know she’s worried about me, but this little stunt isn’t going to help her.

“Teale,” I warn her.

The steam rolling out of Mom’s ears scares me just like when I was a little boy and in trouble.

“You’re going to the doctor before I leave. No questions.” She points her finger at me in warning. “And you can bet your sweet ass I’ll be informing your dad about all of this.”

Baker pops up on her knees leaning in on the table. “Bair, you ain’t supposed to say ass. It’s a word for ugly ladies not pretty ones like you.”

We all erupt in a roar of laughter. The interpretation of our conversation with her about bad words was twisted a bit, but I’ve never been more thankful for her little spirit breaking up an awkward situation.