Feeling the winter cold bring to a close Christmas Day, the four friends huddled around the burning fire in the campsite across the road from Luke’s former home. Darkness surrounded their impromptu celebration while Kolt leaned over to focus on unraveling the paper tie binding together a strand of Black Cat fireworks.
Over the Bronco’s speakers, a voice from the lone radio station within reach announced, “This is KMPS, Country with a K,” before continuing on to play ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ by Doug Stone. The song masked Luke’s drunken footsteps as he stalked across the frozen moss-strewn clearing. Wearing his NASCAR racing jacket, he snuck up behind Kolt.
“Bang!” Luke roared, startling Kolt into turning. The older man snatched the string of firecrackers from the boy and tossed the entire bundle into the blazing fire.
“No!” Kolt cried, reaching out before pulling back from the heat.
“That’s how to celebrate!” Luke said with a sneer that matched his recent moodiness.
Seconds later a loud bang followed three, five, nine more. After playfully punching the boy’s bicep, Luke wove his way back to the best seat by the fire, a smooth cedar log five feet long that he guarded like a bad-tempered porch dog. Propped against his seat was a recently acquired Remington 12-gauge deer gun.
“Those cost me seven bucks on the Rez,” Kolt complained.
The roar of small explosions tapered off and the night returned to its former peace. The boy stomped over to his own seat and slumped against the base of a Douglas fir. Grabbing his beer, he took a long sip and stared off into emptiness.
“Why would I give a shit what they cost?” Luke asked, watching with amusement. Picking up his new shotgun, he aimed it at the treetops across the county road. The camp reverberated with the blast as pellets ripped through the far canopy.
“Holy Mary!” Chad exclaimed with a jump, turning from where he had been staring off into the dark on the opposite side of the fire. With beer in hand, he crossed the campsite to a massive old growth cedar log and kicked out a bench seat in the semi-soft mound of deep red decay.
“For someone that says he don’t like this place, you sure come here a lot,” Lina noted, staring into the dancing orange flames. The only one remaining near the fire, she was soon lost behind a dreamy expression while repeatedly repositioning the pink one-hitter between her lips.
“Ain’t like old times, is it?” Kolt asked in a dejected tone.
“How’d you know what old times was like?” Luke asked. “I’m the one sitting outside my own damn homestead in the middle of winter like some piss-ant beggar.” He stared across the road. That place’ll always be my family’s home. Shaking his head, he tried not to think about the good times, now three years ago—before the fire and the big news ‘she’s gone’ ran away with the best piece of my lousy life.
“What do ya think that guy’s gonna do with your place?” Chad asked.
“How the hell would I know? Looks like he’s building a shit-shack.”
“Think he’ll move out here?”
“No city prick’s gonna live where I was born… That’s where I’m supposed to be. My old man never should a sold us out. He didn’t even have the ‘nads to say so himself.”
“It’s not like Abe had much of a choice,” Chad said.
“Drop it. I thought we was out here to party.” Luke lifted his shotgun again and pointed it directly across the road. “Kolt, bring me a beer.”
Before Kolt could rise, Lina rushed to the six-pack sitting on top of a nearby rock and retrieved a beer. At a more casual pace, she then carried it over to Luke. His tired blue eyes trailed up her figure before locking eyes with her.
Even if she is crazy at times, she looks a lot like Holly. If it weren’t for that scar, she’d be nearly as pretty too.
Handing him the near freezing red-and-gold can, Lina held it so their fingers touched. Luke reached out with his other hand and slid it down her thigh. Wonder if she’ll ever be as good in bed as her mama? He withdrew his hands, uncomfortable with the stirring in his groin, and looked at Chad, who was talking with Kolt and had missed the exchange.
“I don’t need it,” Luke said, leaving the beer in Lina’s hand and turning to stare at his former home.
“Why not take the place back?” she asked with a spreading smile. “I could help.”