Texas Rebels: Quincy

They waited and soon heard snoring. They high-fived. Elias went into the kitchen and got a beer and Cheez-It crackers.

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

“What?” Elias went into the living room, picked up the remote control from Grandpa’s chair, sat on the sofa and flipped on the TV. “After having to remove Grandpa’s pants, I need liquor, preferably something stronger. Sadly, this is all I have.”

Elias could hold his liquor better than anyone Quincy had ever met. Soon he would crash and they wouldn’t be able to wake him for several hours. Quincy shook his head and went outside to sit on the porch to de-stress from the night. Mutt was asleep in his bed and didn’t move.

Quincy didn’t even want to think about Paxton and Lisa. That was out of his hands and he wasn’t interfering. In the morning, Quincy knew Falcon would take a strip off Paxton and Phoenix. Their behavior tonight wasn’t tolerated in the family. And Quincy would somehow try to smooth the waters between the brothers, like always.

Running his hands up his face, his thoughts of his brothers faded and they turned to Jenny. She was the bright spot in his life. He knew the days she worked and the days she was off. When she was off, he always headed home early to be with her.

She would bring beer and peanuts. They’d sit on bales of hay and watch the paints and talk. He’d shared more with Jenny than with anyone in his life. His tour in Afghanistan he shared with no one, except Jenny. After his dad had died, Quincy had joined the Army, much to his mother’s distress. He’d had to get away. The ranch wasn’t the same without his father. He hadn’t been able to stay away, though, and after his tour he’d come home. There was no way to explain what he’d been through or what he’d seen. Jenny had just listened and that was all he needed.

Jenny’s mom had died suddenly when Jenny was in high school and she’d shared her deepest feelings and sadness about that time. She’d also talked about Paxton and her fear he was never going to settle down. Quincy had never offered advice about his brother, feeling it wasn’t his place. But they seemed to be able to talk about anything.

During the springtime, she was a lot of help when the mares gave birth. Since she was a nurse, she wasn’t squeamish and they’d sat many a night in the barn when a mare was having a difficult time.

His life would now change, and he would be lonely again, just like when he’d returned from Afghanistan. Jenny had filled that empty place in him and it was over.

So many times he’d wanted to tell her how he felt, but he hadn’t. Paxton was his brother and he would honor that, even when it hurt, like tonight. Jenny was free now and he was sure other guys would be knocking on her door. But he wouldn’t be one of them.

Looking up at a million brilliant stars, he whispered, “Goodbye, Jenny Rose.”

Chapter Four (#ulink_7df1b1b4-1925-50ae-bbf8-f1493ed840c1)

Quincy woke up at seven. He was usually up earlier, but after the long day yesterday, this morning he was dragging. He headed for the kitchen to put coffee on and then he showered and changed clothes for the day. Sipping his coffee, he walked into the living room and noticed Elias was still on the sofa sound asleep, a box of Cheez-It crackers in the crook of his arm, an empty beer bottle on the coffee table.

Grandpa stomped into the kitchen in his boots, boxer shorts and a hat, no shirt, no jeans.

“Did you forget something?” Quincy asked.

“I want coffee. I have a headache.”

Quincy went back into the kitchen and poured a cup for his grandpa and set it on the table. “You got drunk last night.”

Grandpa’s shaggy eyebrows knotted together beneath the rim of his hat. “I don’t remember drinking anything but punch.” He sat at the table and cradled the cup with both hands and Quincy noticed they shook a little. That bothered him. Grandpa was getting older. Quincy knew that, but at times it was hard to see and to admit when he wanted his grandpa to be the same strong figure he’d always been.

“Phoenix spiked the punch.”

“What? Wait till I get my hands on him.”

“You’ll have to get in line. Falcon, Jude and Mom are on him at the moment because Eden and Zane got drunk, too.”

“Is that boy ever gonna grow up?”

“We can only hope.”

Grandpa got to his feet and stomped toward the living room with the cup in his hands. “I’m gonna sit in my chair and vegetate today. Did you feed Mutt?”

“No, but I will.”

Grandpa eased into his chair and stared at Elias. “What happened to him?”

Quincy shrugged. “Elias being Elias.”

Grandpa nodded, finished his coffee and leaned back in his chair. In a few minutes, he was sound asleep again.

Quincy let Mutt into the house and fed him, putting a pill in with his food to help ease some of his arthritic pain. He left Grandpa and Elias sleeping and went to the big house to help his mom.

He found Phoenix and their mom in the kitchen. Phoenix had on rubber kitchen gloves up to his elbows.

“What are you doing?” Quincy asked.

“Cleaning the bathrooms.” Phoenix scowled.

“Someone vomited on the deck. You can clean that up next,” their mother told him. “And as soon as Zane gets up you can clean his bathroom.”

“Mom,” Phoenix wailed like a little boy.

Kate turned from the sink. “Did you say something?”

“No, ma’am.”

The back door opened and Phoenix immediately ran for the living room. “If that’s Falcon, you haven’t seen me.”

Falcon walked in a few seconds later. “Where’s Phoenix?”

“Why do you ask?” their mother wanted to know.

“Eden was sick again when we got home and Leah was really upset. How can he be so irresponsible?”

“I will take care of Phoenix, son.” His mother had that tone in her voice they all knew well. The voice that said she was protecting her sons with everything in her, even from each other.

Falcon took a deep breath, his broad chest expanding. “I’m sorry I hit Paxton last night. Leah is upset about that, too. I shouldn’t have used violence. That’s not an example I want my kids to see.”

“Thank you, son. I had a long talk with Paxton last night and he apologized and I forgave him. I’ll work this out with Paxton and Phoenix. That’s all that needs to be said.”

They all knew their mother held the power, and though they respected that, there were times it was confining. Quincy was just glad everyone was thinking clearly this morning.

“I have to get back to the house,” Falcon said. “Leah was up with Eden last night and I’m on baby duty this morning. You have to come over and see John, Mom. He’s becoming more alert every day and he’s very attached to his mother. His eyes follow her wherever she goes.”

“Don’t you worry, I’ll be over later to play with my grandson.”

Falcon walked out, but Quincy knew his acquiescence wasn’t that easy. Phoenix still wasn’t off the hook. His older brother would have his say one way or the other.

“Where’s Paxton?” Quincy asked.

His mom stacked dishes into the dishwasher. “We had a long talk this morning and he went over to apologize to Jenny.”