Stranded with My Stepbrother Chapter 161

McKenzie

We got to Moose’s house without incident. I really had been expecting a bunker with a tinfoil baseball cap hanging by the door. But it was really just a good-sized farm house set back near a pond. Old farm equipment was scattered around, rusting in an overgrown field. Even though we didn’t have that sort of thing back home, our neighbors did, and it made me nostalgic.

Moose swung open the front door of the weathered old farmhouse, and Will and Shep carried Dad inside. “Take him through that door there,” Moose said, pointing. “Closest to the kitchen and my supply cabinet.

Mom followed right after them, but it turned out it was a small room, so we couldn’t all crowd inside.

Will stepped out and put an arm around me again, and this time I didn’t shake him off, even though I was still a little mad at him. Big dumb hero complex.

My worry must have shown on my face because Dolly came to stand beside us. “He’ll be fine, honey. Moose is an expert in this sort of thing.”

In fact, Moose was already changing Dad’s dressings, checking the wounds underneath. From what I could see, Dad had taken a lot of damage.

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Moose said, as though hearing my unspoken concern.

“You’re sure?” Mom asked, sitting on the very edge of the bed and stroking Dad’s hair. “It looks awful.”

“Yeah, but most of it didn’t get into the muscle tissue, and it doesn’t look as though they had to go down to the bone, so all in all, good for… what’s his name?” Moose looked at Mom briefly.

“Caleb,” Mom said. “His name is Caleb.”

“Right. Caleb. You’re doing all right, Caleb,” Moose told him.

“Good to know.” Dad’s voice was muffled by the pillow.

Moose worked methodically until he’d completely changed the dressings then stood. “We’ll let him rest now. I’m assuming you’ll be taking the chair there missus…?”

“Just call me Jacey,” Mom said. “And yes, I’ll take the chair.”

“We can sit outside,” I suggested. “That way—”

“You’re going to go get some rest.” Mom’s tone was no-nonsense. The one that was impossible to argue with.

I pouted. “But—”

“You know Will there is still fightin’ off drugs,” Dolly said.

“Again,” Will grumbled.

“He could probably use the rest,” Dolly continued.

I drooped, looking at Will, torn between him and my parents.

He rubbed my back. “Don’t worry about it. I’m fine. I’ll just go lay down on the couch. You won’t be far away.”

“After you drink a shitton of water,” Moose said, grabbing Will by the arm and dragging him into the kitchen. “Gotta flush those drugs out.”

“McKenzie, go stay with Will. Please. Someone needs to watch over him,” Mom murmured once he was out of earshot.

I glanced at Dad then looked worriedly at Will. I’d never forgive myself if he ended up having a bad reaction to the drug and no one was there to help him in time. The very idea made me sick to my stomach. “Okay. You’re right. I know you’ll take good care of Dad.”

“Always,” Dad mumbled into his pillow, just loud enough to be heard.

Shep chuckled. “You Killeens and your significants. It’s really somethin’ to see.”

“I wish you’d get a significant. Grandbabies don’t make themselves,” Dolly muttered.

As I tried not to laugh at Shep’s dilemma, Will downed a glass of water. Moose refilled it, and he downed another.

When Moose refilled the glass again, Will’s eyebrows shot up, but he obediently forced it down. He held up a hand. “Sorry, sir, I think that’s all I can do for now.”

“That’ll do for now.” Moose set the empty glass on the counter like it was a threat then ushered Will to the nearby stairs. “Bedroom on the left with the blue quilt. Never thought my parents leaving me this big damn house was ever going to come in handy.”

I trotted up behind Will. “Thank you, sir.”

Moose nodded. “A man should always do the right thing. Bathroom’s on the right when he needs it.”

“Thanks,” I said again.

The room with the blue quilt on the bed was actually quite quaint. It was small, but it had a nice, bright window with a seat underneath. An armoire next to it held extra bedding, and the low dresser along the opposite wall was filled with men’s and women’s clothing in every shape and size.

Whatever else Moose might be, the man was prepared.

“Mind if I lie down?” Will asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Of course you need to lie down, silly!” I went over and pushed on his chest to force him down on the bed. He laughed and didn’t fight me.

I plumped up a pillow behind his head then went to the other side of the bed and climbed in, snuggling up next to him. We linked hands over his abs.

“So… when Moose said ‘a man should always do the right thing…’” he broached the subject.

I rolled my eyes. I knew it was going to be a problem the second the words left Moose’s mouth. “Will, if you try to back out of our agreement or tell me how justified you were when you tried to make that deal with Ike, I’m going to scream.”

“But—”

“I know you were just trying to do the right thing. But it wasn’t the right thing, was it?” I chided him. “It was the wrong thing, and you know it.”

He made a noncommittal sound.

“Will!” I smacked his abs, and he winced.

“Careful, I’ve had a lot of water,” he reminded me.

“Tough. I swear, if we ever have to have this conversation again, I am going to knee you right in the balls. You’re my person. We stick together, no matter what.” I leaned up on my arm so he could see how serious I was.

He sighed. “I’ll never do it again.”

It wasn’t an admission of wrongdoing, but I’d take it. “Promise me.”

“I swear, if we ever get into that situation again, I will not try to bargain with Ike or my grandfather. I won’t let them take you away from me,” he said, sincere.

“Good. Now I want to put the subject to bed,” I sniffed. “I don’t want to talk about it again. Ever.”

“Okay, okay.” He squeezed my hand. “Let’s get some rest before I need to spend seven hundred years in the bathroom.”

I couldn’t help it. I giggled.

“You think it’s funny now…” he muttered. Then he gave me a soft kiss and closed his eyes.

I smiled and laid my head on his shoulder. Something inside me decided that everything was going to be okay.

***

When I woke up, Will was gone.

I sat straight up, my head whipping around. “Will?”

“Bathroom,” Moose said, sticking his head into the room. It was dark outside, but Moose had installed nightlights in our room and down the hall. Probably in the bathroom as well.

“Oh.” I relaxed. “Hello, sir. Thanks for taking us in and taking care of us. I know we’re probably intruding on your peace.”

“Eh, Dolly’s always intruding on my peace. Makes life fun.” He smiled fondly.

“How long have you known Dolly?” I asked, curious.

Moose chuckled. “We grew up together. Her family owned the farm next door. I took her to prom. But she had big dreams of seeing the world, and I had big dreams of joining the military and saving it, just like my father. Some things they don’t tell ya goin’ in.” His smile faded.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.” I looked around. “Where are Dolly and Shep?”

“Well, not in your room, for sure.” He grinned again. “Shep’s down the hall. Dolly’s with me. Even old people like a little company once in a while.”

I laughed. “You’re not old, and neither is Dolly. You’re both too feisty.”

“I’m glad you think so. But we are old. This is probably our last rescue mission. Gotta say, never expected Dolly to bring me people, though. Usually, it’s dogs she finds on the road. I’m practically an animal sanctuary sometimes. But they’ve all been adopted for now.”

“You don’t ever keep any?” I asked.

Moose shrugged. “One every once in a while. Usually a poor, disabled, not-so-pretty-lookin’ one. The ones nobody will adopt.”

“That’s sad. I mean, not for you. I’ll bet you’re a great pet dad. I mean that no one wants to adopt them,” I said.

“It’s the way of the world, McKenzie. Most people don’t want broken things,” he replied with a touch of sadness.

I got the feeling he was talking about himself. At least a little bit. But I didn’t say anything. Moose didn’t seem the type to want me to comment on that revelation. I just nodded.

Will came back then, blinking at Moose. “Hello, sir.”

“Don’t get your undies in a bundle. I’m just here sayin’ hi. I figured when I heard her wakin’ up and you not being there she might panic,” Moose said.

“Oh. Right.” Will relaxed.

Given everything we’d been through, I couldn’t blame him for puffing up like that on Moose.

“Also wanted to apologize,” Moose went on. “Dolly and I are goin’ to be havin’ relations. Might get a bit loud. You’re welcome to the earplugs in that drawer there. Oh, and I ain’t got a problem if you want to have relations in the guest bed. It’s probably been a bit for you kids.”

Will coughed. “‘Kids’?”

“Son, when you’re my age, everyone’s a kid.” Moose gave us a wave. “Can’t keep Dolly waitin’ too long.” He walked back down the hall.

Will shut the door and came back to bed, this time stripping down to his boxers and pulling back the blankets. “I think it might officially be bedtime.”

“Do you think we’ll need the earplugs?” I asked, taking off my sundress. I took off my bra as well, and he raised his eyebrows, only to sigh in disappointment when I grabbed an oversized T-shirt from the dresser.

“I’m sure we’ll want them, yes,” he replied. “Dolly doesn’t strike me as a quiet woman.”

I laughed. “I don’t think there’s anything quiet about Dolly.” I rummaged in the drawer Moose had indicated and came up with two sets of squishy yellow earplugs. I put on the T-shirt, then brought the earplugs to the bed.

He looked at them, rolled them between his fingers, then set them back down. “I want to be able to hear you.”

“We’ll be asleep,” I pointed out.

“Yes.” He stroked my cheek. “But I want to hear you breathe.”

I felt heat flood my cheeks. “I like hearing your heartbeat,” I admitted.

Will’s smile warmed me to my toes. “I guess we’re not using these, then.”

“I guess not.” I picked up our earplugs and set them on the window seat.

He pulled the covers back on my side, inviting me in.

I wriggled into bed, and he tucked the blankets around me after I cuddled into his side.

“Honeybee?” he whispered just as I was getting drowsy.

“Uh-huh?” I yawned, shifting so I was lying on his chest with my ear right over his heart.

“I think we should have ‘relations’ soon.”

I snorted. “One track mind.”

“You know it,” he said.

“But….”

“But?” he asked hopefully.

“I think we should, too,” I agreed.