Page 9 of Triple Puck Valentines

I rush toward her, making sure she doesn’t fall down the rickety porch steps. I have to find out where the money I sent every month went. It certainly hasn’t gone on upkeep.

Mama’s stick-thin arms wrap around me the best she can. I’ve put on a lot of muscle in the last five years. I’m no skinny seventeen-year-old anymore. I can protect myself and those I love.

“Mama. How are you? Why aren’t you eating?” She attempts to simper coyly, instead she cackles. Cackles like one of the old wily hens in the yard. Her grin is of a Halloween pumpkin. Gums with one or two teeth left. How has this happened. She’s not that old. Only sixty-three. She was seventeen when she married Noah’s father. Still in high school. Never graduated. She looks ninety.

“Who’s the young lady son?” Her voice is thin and reedy.

I hold a hand out in the direction I think Katrina is in, but I’m not quite sure. I can’t take my eyes off Mama. A slight hand grips mine in a steadying clutch.

“Mama. This is Katrina. My girlfriend.”

“Young lady you are a beauty. You take good care of my boy?”

“Yes ma’am. I think so.” Katrina turns to gaze at me and winks. Minx.

“You make sure you do.” Mama shakes a finger, her frown makes her look like a gremlin.

“Yes ma’am.”

“I need to talk to Noah. Where is he?” I need to get to the bottom of this. About what is going on with the ranch. With the money I send. With our mother. Why does she look so old?

“Oh. I don’t know. The ranch somewhere. Let me make you lunch.” She turns to head back inside. I hold out my hand to hold Katrina back. I need to talk with her.

She wraps her arms around my waist and I feel complete again. I rest my cheek against the top of her head, close my eyes. Just for a minute. Two minutes maybe if we’re lucky.

“Jeremiah. Come on in now boy. Wash up both of you.” Mama’s voice is almost as strong as it used to be when I was a boy. Maybe there’s hope for her. She’s not that old.

“Coming Mama. Be there in a minute. Why don’t Kat and I make you breakfast?”

“What? In my kitchen?” Laughter that’s strong floats toward us like smoke. Here one minute, could be gone the next. “Don’t be silly. I make the breakfast in my kitchen. Noah would never make that suggestion. You’ve been around those modern women too much. Wants a man to be a woman.” She grumbles the last part out.

“I don’t want my man to be a woman.” Kat leans up and whispers in my ear, bumping her hip against my thigh. I grin, not being able to wait to get her alone. My dick tightens in my jeans for me. I can’t go in to the kitchen like this. The thought of my Mama seeing it makes it instantly shrink to a more manageable size. Kat’s teasing laugh makes me want to spank her sassy ass. That’ll have to wait till we get back to L.A. All three of us might take turns. But she’s probably enjoy it too much.

“Where’s the bathroom to wash up? So I can help your mother make breakfast for my man.”

“Don’t tempt me woman.” I lean my head down and growl into her neck like a wild animal. She giggles and I love that sound.

“Don’t you think you two can wait until tonight. This is your mama’s home. Not a playground for your depravity.” Noah’s voice barrels over us, attempting to run us over like a semi.

“Depravity?” Kat giggles again. At a harsh gaze from Noah she abruptly stops almost choking on her laughter.

“Noah. Fuck off. Leave her alone or you’ll regret it.” I tug her against my side, the other side is facing the bully that is my brother.

“What? She can’t stand up for herself?” The sneer on his face is as deep as the one in his voice.

“Kat doesn’t deserve to be treated badly here. I’ll take her on the next plane back to L.A. Don’t think I won’t.”

“Of course you will. I can tell she’s a precious, hothouse rose. Not a wild one that grows and fights to live free. No she needs a lot of care to stay bottled up and safe.” His contempt of both of us is as obvious as his clenched hands that rest at his side.

I push Kat behind me, rise to my full height attempting to tower over Noah. He’s not going to let that happen, so we face off. Two dominant men, the same height. Both work out. Me with weights, Noah working the ranch. Bales of hay, hundred-pound bags of feed. Digging new holes for broken fences. A lot of hard work for a man. I know any lesser man than Noah would have broken under the weight of what’s expected. I don’t know if I could have done it all.

“Come on brother. I’m not a seventeen-year-old kid you can push around anymore.”

“No, you’re a pansy-ass super hockey player. On television all the time. We’ve seen you. With her. And your two friends. I can beat your ass any day. Any night.” He spits out at me, spittle flies striking my cheek. I’m not about to wipe it off. I won’t give him the satisfaction. I stand my ground, staring him straight in his eyes. I won’t back down. He can try to beat the crap out of me. He just might not realize I’m a lot stronger than I used to be. Stronger than even five years ago. What he doesn’t know is I have a ranch in the mountains outside of Los Angeles. No one knows. Not even Kat or the guys. I will tell them soon. But right now, I’m keeping it to myself. My secret place.

“You’re not going to fight in your mother’s house.” Kat spits the words back to stop a fight. Still behind me, she grabs my arm, trying to tug me away from Noah.

“Your woman keeping you safe boy? Hiding behind her?” He criticizes us. He doesn’t know us. He doesn’t know Kat. He certainly doesn’t know me anymore no matter what he believes.

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