Rambler Basterds

Chapter3

***Savvy***

I let out a small huff as I lean over, running my hand over the tape as I rip it off, grabbing the black marker scribling on the top of the box, pushing the box towards the stack of others along the wall. Standing up, I stretch, feeling the ache set in with all that I have been doing, my body not liking it the least, but it needs to be done.

Letting my eyes scan the room, boxes lined the walls as others were in stacks, all sorted by what I was keeping and what I was donating.

My heart hurt as I took in the house that was once full and now looks so empty and lonely. It's been six months since Stephen was taken. One accident and his life ended, and it was all taken from him by someone who, in the end, ended up walking away with nothing but a slap to the hands cause his family had money and they paid to have this go away.

I didnt tell Hexley, I knew he would be livid and end up doing something he would regret. I played it off well when he called; I even got Doug not to give him the whole story.

But I know I will not be able to hide it from him for long, not now, not with having to sell the house and land. He will find out sooner or later. But financially, I can not keep this place, not with what little benefits that I get from Stephen's time in the services and what little I make with side jobs; it's not enough to keep this place afloat, so I had to choose to sell or let the bank take it back.

So I sold it, which didn't take long. Mr Pancho, our old neighbor who has been wanting the land for years, made me an offer. It was a good one, so I took it.

So I sold off the horses and some of the other livestock we had here, found them good homes, and then it was packing up the house and sorting through things. I also looked into jobs, haven't had any luck, but Im sure I will find something. I have one more week here, and I have to be out. Figured I would stay at a hotel till something came along.

Hearing my phone ding moving to pick it up, glancing at the screen, I see a text from Hexley.

'Just wanted to say Love you, and I will call when I get a chance.'

This is what he has been doing since he returned to duty. Every so many days, I get one of these messages.

Sending him back a heart emoji, I lock my screen, lay the phone back down, and I notice the sun is starting to set. I grab a glass, pouring some wine into it. I move out the back door, walking to the side of the porch, sitting on the top step, blue right next to me, lying down, resting his head on my leg.

Rubbing his head, I take a sip, looking out over the empty land. My heart sinks knowing this will no longer be my home. We worked so hard to get it, thought it would be where we grow old, but that plan got ripped away from us.

"Well, Blue, at least we have each other," I say, looking down at him. His brown eyes look up at me. I swear he can sometimes feel my pain. It took a while for him to stop waiting for Stephen, and now he never leaves my side. We continue to sit there, me finishing my wine, him moving off the porch to chase whatever moves. I let the loneliness set in; I don't have the strength to fight it right now. I let it swallow me whole.

The day I have been dredging its the day that I am fully out of the house, I hold back the sob and tears that threaten to fall as I hand the keys to Mr, Poncho he offers me a sad smile he knows what this place meant to me but he also knows Im not in a place to fight for it, He wasn't a bad neighbors but he wasn't great either.

"Much obliged, Mrs.Evans."

I only nod as I turn, walking to my truck, pulling open the door, slipping into the driver's seat. Blue was in the passenger seat. I took one more glance out the window at the house that was once my home. I push back the emotion, start up my truck, and I pull out of the driveway for the last time. I watch in my mirror as it fades away as I travel down the road,

"Alright, Blue, let's drop the last of the boxes off at the storage, and then we can find a room for the night or however long."

He whines as he understands me,

Pulling up to the gate at the storage place, I scan my card, going through once the gate is opened. I round the corner, stopping in front of the unit I rented.

Once I have all the boxes unloaded, I pull the door closed, snapping the lock closed, and climbing back in my truck, we leave. Our next stop is the store, where I wanted to get some things for the night, since I didn't want to eat anything but did feel like munching a little. My appetite hasn't been super great, not with all the stress and then sitting in that courtroom listening to the judge give that man a free pass.

Once I got what I wanted, I headed farther into town, pulling into the gas station. Seeing as I needed fuel, I spotted a couple of bikes sitting out front of the station. I see their leather vest, Rambling Basterds. I snort a laugh. What kind of name is that?

Shaking my head, I slip out once I park at the pump. Going in to pay for my fuel, I see there are four men in there. Moving to the counter,

"Savvy, how have ya been, dear?" Paul says when he sees me, I smile at the older man.

"As good as I can be, Paul, how about you? You and the Miss doing alright?"

He smiles, "Good, what brings you into town today? You by yourself?" He glances out the window at my truck,"

"Just some earrns, Hexley had to get back to duty, you know how it is, but Blue is in the truck."

He leans down, grabbing something from under the counter. I know it's a bone he always sends one. "You give him this from me, will ya. Tell Hexley I said Hi the next time he calls."

"Sure thing, I need to pay for some fuel." I hand him a twenty, he goes about ringing me up, we say our goodbyes, I spin to head out when I bump into someone,

"Sorry," I quickly said, looking up, seeing a man about Hexley's age looking down at me with a sneer on his face.

"Watch where you're going, woman?" He growled at me. Curling his upper lip.

I raise my brow, tilting my head to the side. Who the hell does this kid think he's talking to?

"Excuse me, but I think you need to watch your mouth and learn some manners." The man's eyes widen as his scowl deepens.

"Savvy, everything alright?" Paul asked as he rounded the counter. "Is there a problem?" Paul is next to me, looking at the man glaring at me.

"I think you should watch your mouth, lady, you know who I am?"

Looking at his vest, he is pointing to I read Prospect across the front, I let out a chuckle as I pat Paul on the arm,

"See ya later, Paul." I walk out not looking back, Freaking youngster thinks they can run the roost, well not today and not with me.

Im walking to my truck when someone yells out behind me. Stopping, I turn to see the same man standing there huffing like a raging bull,

"b***h, who do you think you are, dismissing me like that!" He walks right up, getting in my face, his hot breath fanning my face.