ASHES & PAIN
Chapter 24
DENIED
The familiar outline of Dryden appeared on the horizon just before noon.
Kait rolled through town in the Chevy pickup, the tires humming against the pavement.
Everything looked exactly the way she’d left it.
The market.
The gas station.
Nothing had changed.
Except her.
She turned through the gates of the Nest.
A few brothers looked up from the garage as the truck came to a stop.
Klik spotted her first.
“Toast!”
She climbed out with a tired smile.
“Hey.”
Kloud wandered over behind him.
“Thought the hurricane was gonna keep you up there.”
“It tried.”
That earned a few chuckles.
Kode stepped out of the clubhouse carrying a bottle of beer.
“There she is.”
He held it out.
“Welcome home.”
She accepted it.
“Appreciate it.”
“You hungry?”
She twisted the cap off.
“Not really.”
“Good.”
He nodded toward the porch.
“‘Cause Tracy got sick, so Mandy made lunch and it sucks.”
She laughed.
The two of them sat on the picnic table outside.
Kode finally glanced sideways.
“How was it?”
“Hm?”
“The trip. Hurricane fuck up a lot of shit?”
She nodded.
“No, actually. It wasn’t that back. Few shingles, some flooding… nothing major.”
“Y’all get along?”
“What.”
“You and Kount?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t we?”
Kode chuckled.
“What do you mean, you guys are Tom & fuckin’ Jerry.”
“No, he was fine.”
Kode looked at her like there was something wrong.
“Dude, you okay?”
Kait yawned.
“Didn’t sleep much.”
Kode shook it off. That is not what he meant.
She took another sip.
“They back from New Mexico yet?”
“Nope. But they should be rollin’ in any time now.”
She nodded.
“Good.”
“Did Kolton handle shit?”
Kode chuckled.
“Haven’t seen him, so… I don’t think there was much to handle.”
“Wow.”
She finished her beer.
“Well, thanks for the beer.”
She tossed the empty bottle into the trash beside the table.
“You goin’ home?”
“Not yet.”
She adjusted the strap of her backpack.
“I wanna check on the Judge real quick.”
Kode smiled knowingly.
“Alright. Later.”
The chapel sat quiet beneath the afternoon sun.
Kait pushed the door open.
The familiar smell of cigarettes and leather greeted her.
Randy looked up from a water bowl he’d just finished replacing.
“Well…”
He smiled beneath the brim of his hat.
“Look what the hurricane blew in.”
“Hey, Kowman.”
She walked over to the enclosure.
The Judge lay coiled beneath a flat piece of slate.
The old common krait lifted his head almost immediately.
His tongue flicked once.
Twice.
Recognition.
A small smile crossed Kait’s face.
“Hey, handsome.”
She rested a finger lightly against the glass.
The Judge slowly uncoiled, making his way toward her side of the enclosure.
Randy chuckled.
“I swear that snake knows who you are.”
“Oh, he sure does.”
She looked at the bite scar. It was barely visible anymore.
“He looks good. Skin’s nice and bright.”
“That’s ‘cause he eats better than we do.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”
Randy finished securing the lid before wiping his hands on his jeans.
“Heard you got stranded up in Kountsville.”
“Couple days. How’s the roof coming along?”
He leaned against the workbench.
“Good, we were able to put a cover on it before Blaze left. He’ll finish it up when he comes back… Almost there.”
“Nice.”
“Yeah, that would’ve shit all over the progress we made. Thanks for helping, by the way.”
She smiled.
“Of course.”
The Judge slowly glided toward the front of the enclosure, stopping inches from the glass where Kait stood.
“And thank you for taking back over.”
Randy nodded.
“Sure, we’re old friends. I’m just glad that shit is over. Feels good to be debt free.”
“I’m sure.”
“Friday is my last day at Snake Eyes too.”
“Really?
“Yep, Donnie is putting me back on the road. Gonna do my first run on Saturday.”
“Awesome. Wait, what’s today?”
He let out a slow breath.
“Tuesday.”
“Hm. I totally lost track.”
“Well, good for you. You can finally spend more time at the ranch… And keep an eye on Blaze.”
Randy laughed.
“Lord knows somebody’s gotta.”
Kait laughed then her phone rang.
“Yeah?”
“Hey, sorry, just making sure you got there okay.”
Kait smiled.
“Hey. Yeah, I did. Hold on real quick.”
She looked at Randy.
“I gotta take this. I’ll see you later.”
Kait rushed outside and reached her old room.
“Okay. Hi.”
“Hey, you made it okay?”
“Yeah, I’m still at the Nest, I didn’t want to go to the house just yet.”
“I should’ve broken your windshield.”
Kait laughed.
“You’re so far away again. I hate it.”
“I know, I hate it too… I was thinking the same as I pulled up. What are you up to?”
Lane took a deep breath.
“Trying to go through this skip file. But I can’t even pay attention to what I’m looking at.”
“Why?”
“I keep thinking about you.”
“I haven’t stopped thinking about you for over a year now.”
He chuckled.
Kait sighed.
Where are you?”
“Chapel—”
“Oh, shit. I didn’t get a chance to see it.”
He laughed.
“I know. I should’ve given you a tour.”
“We didn’t have time for that.”
Lane chuckled.
“No, we really didn’t. But soon.”
“You should’ve broken my windshield. At least slash a tire.”
He chuckled, then sighed.
“I would give anything to kiss you right now.”
“Me too.”
“Just a little longer.”
They shared a brief silence.
“Alright… I’ll let you go. Call me when you can. Okay?”
“Yeah. I’ll call you tonight.”
“Okay. Later.”
“Bye.”
Kait kissed her phone and let herself fall back on the mattress.
ABOUT AN HOUR LATER
The familiar little house came into view just as the afternoon sun began settling lower over Dryden.
Kait parked the Kriger in the driveway and shut the engine off.
For a long moment…
She didn’t move.
She rested it on the handlebars and stared at the front porch.
Home.
Or at least…
The place she’d been calling home.
She took a slow breath, grabbed her backpack, and walked to the front door.
Before she could reach for the knob, it swung open.
Kolton froze.
His face lit up instantly.
“Hey, baby!”
He crossed the porch in three quick strides.
“When the hell’d you get into town?”
“Just a little while ago.”
“You didn’t call.”
A small shrug.
“I stopped by the Nest first.”
“How come?”
“Had to drop off the truck.”
She lifted the backpack slightly.
“And I was dying for a beer.”
He laughed.
“Fair enough.”
He took the backpack from her shoulder without asking.
“How was the drive?”
“Long.”
“The roads alright?”
“Yeah, for the most part.”
He nodded.
“Heard they were washed out all over the damn place.”
“They were.”
“You get caught in any of it?”
“Yeah, little bit.”
She forced a small smile.
He started toward the doorway.
“Kyle’s been askin’ about you every day.”
“How is he?”
“Okay, nothin’ serious. Caught a cold, I think.”
“Is he in bed?”
“Yeah.”
“I should go check on him.”
She stepped toward the hallway.
Before she’d made it two steps…
Kolton slipped an arm around her waist and gently pulled her back against him.
“Hey.”
She stiffened.
“C’mere, let him sleep.”
He buried his face against her neck.
