Page 22 of Country Winds
Grady looked around the room with an expression of approval while he rubbed Piper behind her ears. “I could use a room like this.”
Tucker liked the space—a smaller version of his family room but with team posters on the walls mixed in with some cowboy art. The wall with the big-screen TV had good sound and game systems that he sometimes played on with his brothers.
One wall was filled with books, most of which he had read—history and biographies, as well as fiction, like Clive Cussler, Tom Clancy, and Lee Child. And, of course, some good old cowboy fiction with Zane Grey and Louis L’Amour.
“Come on in and have a seat.” Tucker shifted in his recliner and gestured to the couch. His cave had enough room to invite his buddies over. “Diamondbacks are playing the Mariners at Salt River Fields stadium. The game is just about to start.”
“Arizona has been doing well in the spring training games.” Grady sat on the couch after giving Penny a stroke on her head. “The Cactus League teams are all strong this year—except for the Mariners, which is too bad. Hope they do better during the regular season.”
Tucker raised his beer bottle and nodded to a small refrigerator. “You’re welcome to a beer or soda. Help yourself.”
“I’ll take you up on that.” Grady opened the fridge. “What would you like, Maddee?”
Maddee settled on the couch. “I like the microbrewery beer Tucker is partial to.”
“You’ve got it.” Grady grabbed a Coke and a beer, then closed the door. He used the opener on the side of the fridge to remove the cap on the brown bottle, which he tossed in the nearby waste basket. He handed the beer to Maddee, then twisted off the lid of his Coke.
“Anyone up for popcorn?” Maddee set her bottle on an end table and stood. “I’ll make some.”
Tucker nodded. “Thanks, sis.”
Grady sat on the couch. “Sounds good.”
“Coming right up.” Maddee left the room and headed to the kitchen, where he had stocked a large box of microwave popcorn from Costco.
Tucker turned his attention to Grady, sizing him up since he’d been spending time with his sister. “Are you originally from King Creek?”
Grady shook his head. “Transplanted here from Seattle.”
“I’ve been there once.” Tucker took a swig of his beer, then lowered the bottle. “It was rainy, cold, and green. Nothing like here.”
Grady smiled. “The weather here is terrific half the year, and the other half is hotter than hell. But I like living here a whole lot more than Washington.”
“I’m with you on that. We’re Arizona and Gold Canyon natives.” Tucker set his bottle on his end table. “How did you get into a firefighting career?”
“I’ve always admired people who put their lives on the line, and I wanted to be a fireman from a young age.” Grady blew out his breath. “I graduated from college with a degree in fire sciences. After I graduated, I went straight into the Washington State Fire Training Academy and was hired by the Seattle Fire Department. In a roundabout way, I ended up in King Creek and have been with KCFD for several months.”
“So, you’re a Mariners fan.” Tucker inclined his head toward the TV, where the Diamondbacks just took to the field. “How about a wager? Mariners win, I buy you a drink at the Gold Strike Bar in Gold Canyon. If Diamondbacks win, then you’re buying.”
“Mariners are having a rough season, but I’ll take you up on that wager.” Grady raised his bottle. “To Seattle. I have a feeling this will be a good night for them.”
Tucker liked the firefighter. He wondered what kind of relationship Grady had with Maddee—casual or a little more serious. But he wasn’t going to ask like a protective older brother, which he was.
“Have you always been a Diamondbacks fan?” Grady asked.
Tucker nodded. “They became a team thirty years ago when I was a kid. I remember when their colors were purple and teal. Never made sense to me why they changed the colors to red, yellow, and black.”
“Popcorn has arrived.” Maddee swept into the room, balancing three bowls of popcorn. Grady got up before Tucker could and helped her pass out the bowls.
She kicked off her shoes, curled her legs under her on the couch, and started eating her popcorn. “This stuff is pretty good for microwave popcorn.”
“Thanks, sis.” Tucker turned his attention to the TV. “We’ve been talking and missed the start of the game. Top of the first, Mariners already have two outs and a guy on third base. The player up to bat has two strikes.”
“Make it count, Ochoa,” Grady called out.
The player swung as if he had heard, and his bat connected with the ball. The powerful hit sent the ball flying out of the stadium. Tucker groaned at the home run, the game now two to zero in the Mariners’ favor.
Grady pumped his fist. “Way to go, Ochoa.”
