Read Cleats in Clay for Free Online Page B

what, honey?”
“Odis… and a man.”
“Not for us to worry about,” she told John. She turned to Bobby. “Although, I was thinkin’ last night, after the divorce from Marsha, Odis did seem a bit infatuated with Tucker for a time.”
Bobby nodded. “He said I wasn’t the first guy to ever catch his eye.”
“Well.” She looked directly at Bobby. “I’m not one to meddle— much, anyway—in my younger brother’s business. But he hasn’t had an easy time of things lately, so don’t go jerking him around.”
“Certainly not,” he reassured her. “I’m not that kind of guy.”
“Didn’t think you were, or we’d be having an entirely different conversation,” she said strongly.
“Point taken.” Bobby nodded firmly.
“Now, then, Brungess doesn’t have much in the way of things to do. Not much of a tourist town or anything. I’ll see if we can’t come up with something, though. Hate the idea of ya just sitting in your room at loose ends.”
“How about a library? Can always find some reading to catch up on.”
“Great idea. I’ll call over later and set it up. You can take my card and check out a few books, I’m sure.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
    T
WO cups of coffee later, Bobby followed Gertie’s directions to the library and returned with some fiction books to read. He stretched out on his bed upstairs and dug into a recent action novel.
    He was only starting chapter three when he heard the beep noise from the hotel phone on his bedside table, indicating an incoming call.
He placed a bookmark and picked up the receiver. “Hello?”
    A tired voice on the other line said, “Hey, stud. I finished.” “Hi, Odis. You did?”
“Why don’t you grab some fried chicken and beer, then come on
    back?”
“All right. What did you make?”
“Nope, nope, don’t spoil the surprise. Just get over here, stud.” “All right. See ya in a bit.”
    A
FTER consulting with Gertie about where to get the chicken and beer, Bobby picked up the supplies and drove back out to Odis’s place. He left the car and pushed the gate button on the back of the box. Before the gate was completely open, Heimdalla raced up and bounced around at his feet. As soon as Bobby opened the car door, she jumped into the backseat and sat, her square tongue hanging out of a doggy-smile face.
“Guess you’re coming along, huh?”
     
Bobby pulled the car into the property, got out, and closed the gate. Heim just watched him from the backseat, happy as a clam.
    He pulled the car up in front of the shed and turned off the engine. When Bobby reached in for the bags of food and beer, Heim jumped out and bounced around his feet again. After Bobby retrieved the items and closed the door, Heim raced down the stairs and waited for him at the house door.
    Arriving at the bottom of the steps, Bobby saw Odis through the glass. He was sitting at the patio table, looking frightfully like a mad scientist. His hair was all frizzed out, a pair of reading glasses barely clutched to the edge of his nose. The lenses magnified the dark circles under his eyes in a gruesome way. As Bobby approached with the parcels, he could see Odis’s hands were clean, but traces of red clay still clung stubbornly under his fingernails. Odis looked up.
    Then Bobby saw the huge grin on Odis’s face and thought he might be one of the sexiest men he’d ever seen.
“Hey, stud, ya made it,” Odis said as he moved to the kitchen, put his eyeglasses on the counter, then fetched some plates.
“Was beginning to wonder if you were gonna call.” Bobby glanced over his disheveled appearance again. “How much sleep did you get?”
“Sleep? I was busy. Just finished a bit ago.”
The men filled up their plates and opened their beers. Bobby sat at the table.
Odis put his plate on the table. “First things first,” he said, and he leaned over Bobby and captured his mouth with a warm kiss. Odis’s tongue tasted spicy and peppery from the weed still lingering on his