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- @progressivesoccer
“Will you please tell me already?” Kadence tries again. It’s the fifth time since we’ve left the house. I’m getting the impression she’s not a fan of exercise or surprises.
“I wanted us to have a chance to check out the ranch and then talk about it on the way back.”
“How can we talk about it if you won’t tell me what we need to discuss? Your brother doesn’t have a building full of women or anything, right?”
“No more creepy movies with Clyde while I’m helping Nate with fence repair.”
Her shoulders bounce in a small shrug, while her eyebrow props up like it’s my fault she was subjected to watching some horror movie with my brother. She could’ve come along with Nate and me to replace the pickets.
“And we’ll talk about it once we get to where we need to be. We’re almost there anyhow.”
I had to get Clyde’s consent to even tell her about his side business. He thought it’d be better to show her and be able to thoroughly answer any questions she may have. If we hadn’t been together for this long and him know how serious I am about her, he’d never had agreed to it.
The walk from the house isn’t too far, and the breeze is refreshing as we trail under a cluster of trees toward a small shed heavily surrounded by brush and vines. If you didn’t know what to look for, you wouldn’t notice it. And that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be. My dad built the small building when Clyde was a baby and times got rough for him and my mom, trying to have enough money to keep up with the ranch.
My mom was a good woman. She never approved of my father’s ‘side hobby’ as she liked to call it, but she knew he had his reasons to do it. No matter how important following the law was to her, it never came above her love for her family and seeing that they had all they needed.
My father taught my brother the ropes at age ten and carried on the tradition with Nate and me. We can all work everything and help out if needed and we have many times. I’m not as involved as I used to be now that I’m away most the time. I like to give Nate shit for sitting on the porch all the time, but he’s really just keeping watch when Clyde’s off doing stuff. Our father always had someone outside, just in case we had an unexpected or unwanted guest show up.
“Oh God, I was right, wasn’t I?” Kadence mumbles as we head around the side to the only door.
Rolling my eyes, I grin at her dramatics. “No, Pretty. You trust me, right?”
“Of course, or I wouldn’t have come this far.”
“Good, because I’m trusting you too, with the well-being of myself and my family by letting you in here.”
Swallowing, she glances at me warily and nods.
“It’ll be fine, I promise.” Using the old bent up key, I unlock the top lock and the bottom and then pull hard to get the door open. I don’t know if someone smaller than myself would be able to wedge the heavy metal door open enough to even get inside.
There’s room for us to each squeeze inside through it, barely. I hold my hand out, gesturing for her to lead the way.
“Wha-what is all this?”
The opening lets in plenty of light, the shine glinting off the copper. I flip on the battery-powered lantern so she can see everything better.
“Is Clyde a scientist or something? What is this contraption?” She waves at the pipes and huge copper barrel, glancing over all the glass Mason jars we use to store the liquor in.
Chuckling, I pull her into my side and kiss her forehead. “No. Kay, this helps us make moonshine.”
“To drink?”
“Yes, it’s liquor.”
“You make it?” Her eyes grow wide, excited.
“Yep, all sorts of flavors too.”
“Geez, this is amazing. I’ve heard of people making it before, but I’ve never actually seen how they do it.”
“You haven’t watched it in a movie or anything?”
“No, I read, remember? TV isn’t my thing. I’ve read a bit about it, but it was mostly just about the actual liquor not about the process or the machines that are used.”
“Well, this is it. And it’s illegal, hence all the caution and not telling you about it the first time we visited the ranch.”
“No, I get it. I’m not generally excited about breaking the law in anyway, but this is neat. I don’t understand why it’s illegal in the first place. People have beer and wine kits; this should be allowed, too, as long as people are cautious. It can be dangerous, right?”
“Yes, very. Our father always made sure we were extremely careful though, and it’s made us responsible moonshiners.”
“There are so many layers to you, Tyler Owens.”
“Good layers, I hope?”
“Yes. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but when I first met you, I thought you were just some dumb jock with one thing on your mind, besides football. You’ve done nothing but prove me wrong each day. You have so much underneath that outer shell. I don’t get it; how am I the lucky one you chose?”
“Pretty, you know I’m the one who’s lucky. I love you, woman.”
She grins, popping up on her toes to press a soft kiss to my mouth. “I love you, too, Ty. Thank you for trusting me.”
I nod and gesture to my father’s creation. “Do you have any questions about this?”
“Can we make some moonshine? I haven’t tried it before, and you have me curious. Oh, and can we do a yummy flavor, like strawberry?”
“Not right now, it’s a process. One day I’ll definitely teach you, though.”
“Ohhh, another ranch visit?” She mutters happily following me back outside.
Latching the two locks, I turn to her. “Yes. Is that okay, if we come here when we have time off?” I don’t want her to get bored, but I need to be here when I have the chance to.
“Absolutely.”
“I don’t want you to think we can’t ever go somewhere else or stay on campus if you want. I just know my brothers need as much help as possible, so I like to come home when I can and pitch in.”
“You’re such a good man, Tyler. I understand, and honestly, I love it out here. When I visit my dad, he stays in a big house they call ‘the compound’ that was built for him and the other bikers. Anyhow, it’s like this.” She gestures around us. “Lots of trees, land, and no one bothering them. I love it.”
“I’m a little uneasy knowing you’re around a bunch of bikers, especially if they’re all as big as your dad,” I mutter as we begin our trek back toward the house. I probably sound like an over possessive ass, but what if they hurt her? She’s pint-sized compared to her dad.
“It’s not like that when I’m there. I mean sure a few have flirted with me...” I shoot her a glare, and she laughs. “They would never go there; my dad would turn ballistic. But what I was getting at is it’s not scary. It’s like having five dads, all there ready to protect me if needed and they make sure no one is ever disrespectful. I usually load up my Kindle before I visit and just read and relax the entire time I visit.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad, besides the flirting bit.” It comes out a bit gruff, but I can’t help being a little peeved at other guys chatting it up with her.
“It’s really not at all, and I didn’t even realize they were flirting with me until my dad told them to stop during one of my visits.”
That’s what I mean. She has no clue just how beautiful she truly is, and not just that, she’s so damn sweet inside too. It’s way too soon to put a ring on her finger, but it’s definitely in the overall plan. Hopefully, I get picked up by a good team this year, and she can move away with me. Flirting bikers can’t compete with a man who loves her like I do and will be able to spoil her with anything she dreams up.
“You’re um, happy, right?”
“What do you mean? Of course, I’m happy. I don’t think I could be any happier right now. Well, maybe if you were naked and dancing, but that’s beside the point.”
“Don’t rule it out; I can dance. The helicopter counts, right?”
It makes her laugh, and I adore that sound coming from her lips.
“I mean are you happy being with me, as my girlfriend? If the NFL called me up and asked me to go somewhere, are you content with us and do you love me enough to pack up your belongings and come with me, if I asked you to?”
“Geez, we’re covering all sorts of stuff this trip, huh?”
I nod, waiting for her to think it over and respond.
She replies immediately, thank God. “Yes, to all of it. I’d pack my things and not look back because I can’t stand being away from you for two days, let alone an entire football season.”
“Good answer.” Beaming a bright smile her way, I reach out and brush her hair back behind her ear as we get closer to home.
“Just good?”
“More like the absolutely perfect answer. I don’t want to scare you off, but someday I hope that I get to ask you. I want you beside me wherever this road takes me.”
“Good answer,” she replies cheekily and winks.
“I think my brothers have been rubbing off on you.” Grinning, I open the front door for her.
“It is possible,” she acknowledges as Clyde comes around the corner.
“What’s possible?”
“I was telling Kadence that y’all are rubbing off on her.”
“Oh yeah, she likes us more, but she told me not to tell you.” His mouth pulls up in a smirk, and she huffs.
“I did not!”
It’s never ending around here; someone’s always getting hassled.
“She knows, I take it?” Clyde asks, nodding my way.
Tyler letting me in on the family secret has nearly floored me. I tried not to come off as too surprised about it all, but really, I was. Never in a million years would I have guessed that they make moonshine. I want to learn how. The machine they use is impressive considering his father actually built it by hand. They’re a family of many talents so it seems.
“Yep, I showed her everything.”
“Do you have any questions?” He mumbles, gazing at me curiously.
Nate comes in, interrupting us, “Hey, sister.” He greets me with the nickname he and Clyde have given me.
“Hey.”
“She knows now,” Tyler shares.
“You do?” Nate gazes at me, his eyebrow hiked up.
“Yep. It’s official, I know.”
“You’re becoming a smartass.” Nate grins, and Clyde rolls his eyes.
“She was sweet before, this is your fault,” he mutters.
“Guys?”
“Yeah?” I get their attention.
“She is right here. I’ve always been a bit of a smart aleck but being around your constant horseplay and smack talking has indeed brought mine to the surface with you. Now that we have that out of the way, when can I learn how to make moonshine?”
Clyde beams at me, a proud look in his gaze. Nate laughs, and Tyler pulls me into a hug, kissing my forehead.
“Soon, little sister, just don’t run off telling anyone.”
“She’s not going to say anything.” Tyler sticks up for me.
“I won’t, I promise.” The guys each nod at my declaration. I’ve learned that a promise to the Owens brothers from someone they trust, is pretty much gold. You don’t make it unless you absolutely mean it. “Can I tell my dad though?”
“Hell no. Why would you want to involve him?” Clyde’s hand rests against his hip, on guard.
He and Nate have no idea about who my dad is, only Ty. “Because he belongs to a motorcycle club that always has a bar fully stocked with liquor for their members. I think he’d like to take some back when he visits if you would let him. And if they like it, I’m sure his club would buy some whenever my dad comes through town.”
“If Ty thinks it’d be a good fit then maybe next time your father’s around, he can stop over for a meal, and we can have a chat.”
“Sounds good. When he visits again, I’ll ask Ty to text you.”
He nods and just like that, I’ve helped their ranch out, only they have no idea yet. I know the President of my dad’s club—Viking—and he’ll buy cases and cases of liquor from them each visit for his own club, and if he likes it enough, he’ll send it to other clubs. Clyde’s about to become a whole lot busier, and hopefully, it’ll help with the tax problem that I’ve heard Tyler speak to Nate about.
