Chapter 5

I was surprised, but then not really. The day had been a revelation, in many ways.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Les. It’s Wade.”

“What’s up, man? Why are you callin’ me on a damn Sunday? Curtis out o’ town?”

“Nah, man. I’m gonna be out tomorrow. His Dad died, and we’re going to the funeral.”

“Sorry to hear that. Give him my best and safe trip.”

“Okay. See ya Tuesday.”

“‘Bye now.”

I set the cell phone aside and sipped my beer.

“Everything all right?” Damien asked.

“A friend of mine at work, his partner’s Dad died. Funeral’s tomorrow, so he won’t be in. It’s gonna be busy as hell, too, since it’s rodeo week.”

“Always something, right?”

“Yup.”

A bluegrass song came on and my foot started tapping. I noticed that Damien was giving me a sly look.

“What now?” I groused.

“You don’t even know what’s playing, do you?”

“‘Course I do. Bluegrass.”

“Yeah, but it’s a cover of a Metallica song called ‘Enter Sandman’.”