It been more then a month, and still the pain hadn’t softened. If anything it lingers in the back of my mind, causing me to loose focus on just about everything. Carelessly I returned to NYC, my brother had said my parents wanted to see me, one last time. Staying in my home town, wasn’t going to be possible. To many people knew my face. Walking up the perfectly manicured lawn, knocking on a cherry wood door.

    My father a stout man with bluing eyes, and peppered hair open the door. Taking a deep breath he smiled, holding back his tears.

    “Hi daddy” Giving the sweetest daughter smile.

    “Hi Pumpkin” Pulling me into a hug. His sweet wood cologne smell covering my broken heart. How I missed him, he always new how to comfort me.

    “Is that my baby?” The cracking words of my mother.

    “Yes Mom” Looking around my father, as he pulled me deeper into the luxurious house.

    “My baby” She cried, ripping me from my fathers safe hold.

    “Easy mom” Chocking, as the arms of her skinny body tightened.

    “I was so worried about you” Rocking back and forth.

    “Mom I’m fine” Trying to pull away.   

    “What’s wrong with you? Have you completely lost your mind” And there’s mom. Sighing as she started in on me, one the warm fuzzy feelings started to dissipate.

    “Hey sis” Matt called, hearing moms ranting. Dad trying to calm her down.

    “Hey yourself” Hugging him. We all headed into the deep red living room, taking seats so everyone could see me.

    “So what are you going to do now?” My father asked, rubbing my mothers back, as she was clearly still upset.

    “I’m going to travel.” Shrugging, cause that’s really the best answer I could come up with, all the way here.

    “Travel?” My mother croaked.

    “I’m not driving anything mom” Reassuring her. With a nod, she didn’t seem to believe me.

    “Do you need some money?” Dad asked, going for his wallet.

    “No, money is something I have plenty of.” Chuckling as his eyes go wide.

    “Just how much do you have?” Matt asked, just as shocked.

    “Lets just say my last job paid really well” Winking.

Yea it paid overly well, since Charles was now dead. If your still confused, I’ll explain. Once I killed Charles, and told Trish she told Josie. Who…by the way wasn’t the least man, but she did manage to hack into his bank accounts and take every last cent. We split it three ways, and are now sitting higher then need be.

    “Well okay then” Dad chuckled tucking his wallet back into his back pocket.

    “Your going to keep in touch right?” Mom frowned.

    “Of course, you wouldn’t let me live it down if I didn’t” Giggling, she huffed before smiling at me.

    “Well I really need to get on the road” Standing up, Matt smiled as I kissed and hugged my parents first.

    “I’ll walk you out” He said, draping his arm over my shoulder. My mother started to cry, as dad spoke sweetness to her. Closing the front door, Matt tucked his hands into his pockets.

    “What’s up baby bro?” He has always been bad at talking.

    “You remember when you had me jump out?” Looking up threw his dark bangs.

    “Of course” Titling my head, how was I gunna forget about that.

    “Well I made it to the airport, like you said” His eyes flickering anywhere, but at mine. Groaning.

    “Matt…spit it out already” Taping his shoulder.

    “Well there was this guy there, he went ape shit on me” His eyes finally meeting mine.

    “Who’s this guy?” Glaring at him.

    “Dunno, but he was pissed”

    “What’d he say to you?” Folding my arms, and trying to figure out why I was just now hearing about this.

    “Before or after he socked me in the jaw.”

    “He hit you?” My arms dropped.

    “Yea” laughing.

    “Its not funny Matt, what’d he say?”

    “He wanted to know why I didn’t protect you, saying I was your man” He blushed at his own words.

    “Are you sure he wasn’t just crazy?” Rolling my eyes.

    “No he was very much not crazy. Once he found out I was your brother, he calmed. But something just looked off about him”

    “Like what?” My interest peeked.

    “He seemed lost, once it finally set in. I really believe he thought you were dead” Shrugging.

    “Well at least my plan worked”

    “Ray I don’t think he was a threat. He looked…sad.” Matt turned his head, taking in a deep breath.

    “Sad…Matt what did this guy look like?”

    “Umm big, like a really big. Brownish eyes, umm his hair was more military style then anything. I remember he was scruffy, cause it felt like it was going to cut my face.”

Even before the mentioning of the tigers eyes, I knew it was him. It had to be, no one else had a temper like that. Dalton had proved he could explode in a second in Dixie’s.

    “Sis?” Matt took a step to me.

    “Dalton” Biting my lip.

    “Who?”

    “That was Dalton, it had to be” Shaking my head, as it fell into my hands.

    “Why do I feel like I’m missing something here?”

    “Cause you are, Dalton lived in Gram extra house. I was his roomie for awhile. We had a thing….but its over”

    “Clearly” Huffing at me. Frowning I covered my chest.

    “What’s that suppose to mean?”

    “It means you’re a shity liar.”

    “I’m not lying, besides how would you know?” Ready to stick my tongue out at him.

    “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out he came for you, which means he loves you. And they way your getting all defensive about it, means you feel the same way.”

Should of just stuck my tongue out at him, and walked away. Smiling at me, I swear if he wasn’t my brother I’d punch him.

    “Don’tcha just love when I’m right” Snickering.

    “Ohh shut up” Hugging him, as I headed out.

    “Hey, say hi to Dalton for me” Waving, I flipped him the bird. Receiving a laugh, as the front door closed.

Spring was in full bloom, as the trees started to bud little green leaves. And tulips were popping up all over the place. More people seemed to be venturing outside their homes, as the bright sunshine warmed up the streets. I had been moving from place to place, never really knowing what I wanted to do. Waking up in yet again another hotel, I stared at the popcorn ceiling tiles.

    “This is so stupid” flopping my arms all the way out, trying to touch the end of the bed. Getting up taking a quick shower, tossing on the newer clothes I had bought. Checking out, before heading to my beat up old truck. Tossing my bag to the floor, twisting the old key. It sounded nothing like my mustang, but it was a perfect choice for someone who didn’t want any attention. With the ugliest paint job, along with rust. Bend seat with a dark blue color, while the long stick shifter felt to out of place. Windows that weren’t spaced in good spots, told everyone that back in its prime this was truly a beast.

    With the shaky rumble I started my trip.

It was a long boring drive, when your not driving hundreds of miles an hour. You truly realize just how long it takes to get some place. After about nine stops for gas, coffee and using the restrooms, I finally hit the Montana border. Sighing with a giggle, this was one of the hardest things I was going to do. To tell someone how you feel, and hope to god they felt the same way.

I suppose it was a good thing, I had such a long time to come up with what to say. Cause really I was suppose to be dead, what a shock to the system. Managing to pass the small town, along with Dixie’s. Without much of a warning the truck came to a sputtering stop. Smoke pouring out of the hood.

    “Just perfect” Groaning, as the ac shut off making the truck a sweat box. I had already took my shoes off, to relax my toes. Now sitting on the bench seat I was going to have to walk. No way was I going to walk back to Dixie’s, to much drama. Pulling my cowboy boots back on, pushing the door open. Dropping the two feet to the ground, dust blowing around. Grabbing my bag, before leaving the truck to rust the rest of the way. With one foot in front of the other, I made even slower time.

    This walking gave me more time to think, and for while I was truly loosing my mind. Fighting with my inner voice, saying this was a great plan. While the other half told me I was a freaking loony. This went on for a few hours, before I realized I hadn’t a fucking clue as to where he would be. Dropping the bag in some shade, sitting on top of it. Dialing Josie, she picked up after three rings.

    “Hey girl”

    “Hey, I need a favor”

    “Sure, what’s is it” I paused realizing she was going to have a field day with this. Biting the bullet I asked.

    “Can you located Dalton for me” I was more then right, as her high pitched squeal ripped my ear drum apart.

    “Ohh I’m so proud of you” Her fingers typing away as she told me I was doing the right thing, and further embarrassed me. After a few more minutes she chirped.

    “Found him”

    “Really?” Rethinking the whole thing.   

    “You underestimate me?” I could almost see her razed brow.

    “No never.”

    “Good, so the address listed is at another residents, so I’m guessing he works on the property.”

    “Yea he did the same thing at grams”

    “Here’s the address” Giving me a second to write it on an old piece of paper. Taking down the address, I hung up after a quick thank you. Looking at the address, I made my feet hold my body up. Typing the address into my cells gps, it was screeching for a signal. A loud bing as it located my locating and his. Checking the cell every so often, I kept it in my pocket. The long dirt road, started to trail dust as a pick up truck started my way.

    Watching as it was coming up behind me fast, I stepped out of the middle of the road. The bright red blinding me as the dust chocked my lungs. Small rocks and more dust kicked up, as the truck came to a stop. An old man poking his head out the drivers side window.

“Hey! You need a lift?” He called, spitting his chew out.

    “Yea” Shifting my bags weight, as I climbed into the bed.

    “Where you headed?” As I leaned over the side.

    “I’m headed to Big Timber”

    “Well I’ll be turning before that, but I’ll take you as far as I can”

    “Thanks” He went back in, as I sat down. The truck pulled away, as I got to relax.  The wind flipping my hair all over the place, as the truck flew down the lone road. Lots of wide open spaces, and cattle. Funny how I traded large cities with building everywhere, with even more people. For the spacious country with more cows then people. Fields of vegetables and fruit trees, lines like soldiers. A few horse farms, mixed with pigs and chickens.

Dogs barked as we passed a few random houses along the way. Some children playing in the front yard, as the fathers plowed and moved hay around on john deere tractors. The color reminding me of my mustang, maybe I’d get another one…some day.

    A school or a church would fly by, with about as much interest as a bug to me. Without any kids and no where near being religious I just saw another building. Woman in floral spring dresses and white shoes, made me laugh. What would I have to do to fit in, certainly not that. Dresses were not my thing, I loved a good pair of jeans. Chuckling as the old man came to a slow stop.

    “This it love” Smacking the side of his door.

    “Kay thanks” Grabbing my bag, dropping it to the dusty ground, before following suit. He waved before leaving me in another cloud of dust. Checking my cell, I had a few more miles before I would be there. It was about noon, so I still had plenty of time. Swinging the bag over my shoulder, walking onward. People stopped to look me up and down. Shaking my head with a smile, I must look so weird to them. I stopped in a small store buying a water, before moving on. Grabbing out a pair of head phone, turning on the radio. Music would make this little trip go so faster.