Hell and Gone

by Tal Bauer

His voice choked off. “You’re somethin’ special, Army.” “So are you, Law.” Everett tipped his head up and kissed Lawrence, a soft press of their lips together. “Thank you. For everything.” Lawrence smiled. “Anytime.”

Sheriff Braddock pulled into the Delaney ranch just before two in the morning. His Sheriff’s Department truck rolled up the gravel drive, tires crunching dirt and rocks, headlights bouncing across the ranch house living room wall.

Logs had tumbled free from the fireplace with Everett’s mad grab. Flames danced across the carpet and climbed the chairs in front of the hearth. Smoke rose, choking the air.

Why didn’t you just go along with where I was herdin’ ya?

Everett spun him, shoved him over the kitchen counter and pulled Braddock’s arm back, twisting until he screamed.

“You don’t know how I feel about men who betray.”

A month later, they signed the documents and made it official.

He taped a cardboard sign over the iron gate that afternoon, his last name spelled out in duct tape and lashed up there.

His thoughts were interrupted by a truck engine slowly grinding its way uphill, tires chewing dirt and spitting gravel.

Across from the heap, Lawrence’s new trailer waited, two new lawn chairs in front of a shiny new fire pit, all still with that brand-new smell on them from Wal-Mart. He’d built the place for two instead of one, purely on hope.

When Everett beamed, Lawrence melted, all of him going loose and weak inside, his stomach slip-sliding as his heart burst. “I love that,” he blurted out. “Your smile. God, I love it. Makes me go crazy.”

“You know, someone once told me once you get the Crazies in you, you can’t get them out. I think that man was right. I’ve gotten a bit of the Crazies inside me, but I want more. I want a lot more. I want all I can take, in fact.” He inhaled, a quick breath. “I want everything. I want my chance at everything, at least.”

The feeling bloomed inside of Lawrence like summer wildflowers, like his fields bursting to life. He tipped his head back and smiled at the sun.

Everett wrapped his arms around Lawrence’s neck and beamed. “Give me your Crazies, Law. I want it all.”