Free Gravel's Road by Winter Travers Page A

she said no one knows. As far as anyone around here knows, Nick moved away,” Rigid explained.
    “Right now there isn’t a lot we can do. We are turning over every stone we can, and we are going to find something. These guys aren’t exactly smart. I’m sure they made a mistake somewhere. All we have to do is find it,” King said, his eyes going to Ethel’s front porch.
    I followed his gaze and saw Meg, Ethel, and Cyn walking down the steps towards us.
    “Dinner’s ready whenever you guys are,” Ethel said as she bent over to pick up a few stray sticks.
    “I’m starving,” Remy said, walking up to his mom and threw his arm over her shoulders.
    “When the hell did you get taller than me?” Meg asked, looking up at Remy.
    “About a year ago,” Remy answered.
    “Well knock it off,” Med replied, elbowing Remy in the side.
    “Everyone is taller than me,” Cyn complained.
    “It’s not hard to be,” Rigid said, leaning down, planting his shoulder in Cyn’s stomach and picked her up.
    “Son of a bitch, Ash! Put me down!” Cyn shrieked as Rigid carried her to the house.
    “Fucking crazy,” King said.
    “Looks like fun,” Meg said, watching Rigid trip and almost drop Cyn.
    “I guess if almost landing on your head sounds like fun to you, babe,” King laughed.
    “It does. Hell, you didn’t know what fun was until you met me,” Meg sassed at King.
    “No, babe. I knew what fun was. What you showed me was crazy,” King pointed out.
    Remy threw his head back laughing at the outraged look on Meg’s face. “Traitor!” She yelled, pointing her finger at Remy. ‘You’re supposed to be on my side, not his!”
    “Mom, he’s got a point,” Remy said.
    “Humph, no one asked you,” Meg whined, crossing her arms over her chest.
    “Babe,” King said, shaking his head.
    “Don’t you ‘babe’ me, Lo. Raise the kid for seventeen years and you just waltz right in and suddenly he’s siding with you,” Meg said walking away, headed for the house.
    “Is she serious?” Remy asked Lo.
    Lo shrugged his shoulders at Remy. “Meg!” King called.
    “What, Lo?” Meg said, not turning around.
    King jogged towards her retreating back and called her name again. Meg turned around right before Lo swept her off her feet and carried her into the house, with Remy following close behind. You could hear Meg’s laughter even after the door swung shut behind them.
    “You’re not expecting me to carry you in the house, are you?” I asked, looking at Ethel.
    She laughed, her eyes lighting up. “I’m pretty sure if you picked me up, we’d both throw our backs out.”
    “You’re probably right, woman,” I said, watching her.
    “I would settle for holding your hand, though,” she said, holding her hand out to me.
    I grabbed it, lacing my fingers with hers and tugged her close and wrapped my other arm around her. “God dammit, I’m sore,” I said, feeling the muscles in my shoulder tighten. I had over done it today between helping cut the tree and stack the wood.
    “That’s what happens when you try to keep up with all the young ones,” I said.
    Gravel kissed me on the top of my head and tugged me towards the house. “You’re only as old as you feel.”
    “Well, you just told me you’re sore as hell, so I think you’re feeling the appropriate age today.” Ethel giggled.
    “I guess you’re right about that, darlin’.” I chuckled, climbing the stairs side by side with Ethel.
    “Although you don’t look a day over forty,’ Ethel said, turning to face me and ran the tips of her fingers down my face. ‘You could use a haircut,” she mumbled, her fingers traveling over my shoulder and grabbing some of my hair I had held back.
    “I can’t even remember the last time I had a haircut,” I mused.
    “Well, I think it’s time we remedy that,” she said running her fingers through the end of my hair.
    “You don’t like my hair?” I asked, briefly wondering if Ethel was trying to change me.
    “I