Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2018 20:44:41 GMT -6
“How’s she doing?”
Mitchell shook his head, looking down at the image of Kayli’s face through blurry eyes. “I don’t know. We’ve been here all night, but no one’ll tell us anythin’. Can’t get to her room. Can’t talk to whatever quack they got workin’ on her. Nothin!’” Reaching up, he massaged the swollen bags he felt forming beneath his sockets. Exhaustion had long since set in, but he refused to abandon his post. “T’s gone up to chew out the nurse so many times I’m amazed they haven’t kicked us out, but I think they can tell why we’re here. I heard they brought a few of us in after the show, so they might be tryin’ to be as accommodating as possible.” Dropping his hand, he leaned forward, bracing heavy arms to his knees.
Kayli nodded, tilting her head. “Billy, I’m so sorry. I’m sure she’s gonna’ be fine, though. I only got to talk with her the once, but she seemed like a tough girl.” Leaning in a bit, she eyed her brother with a lifted brow. “She had better be to keep your stubborn ass in line, right?” Mitchell said nothing. At best, he offered a faint smirk. Shaking her head, little sister jumped right back in. “Hey! Knock it off and get your head out’ch’er ass, will you? Remember what dad used to say? ‘It ain’t ballet’. You’re gonna’ get hurt, and sooner or later, you’re gonna’ get hurt worse. She’s been doin’ this for just as long as you, if not a hell of a lot longer. So do us girls a favor and stop actin’ like we can’t take a little bumpin’ and bruisin’!”
Mitchell finally cracked a smile, bringing a hand up in defensive submission under Kayli’s withering glare.
Hell hath no fury.
“Alright, alright. I hear ya’.”
Satisfied with her point, Kayli resumed her softer tone from earlier. “So where is T? Still arguing?”
“No, he went back to the hotel.” Mitchell nodded sidelong towards the door. “Someone needed to be there for check-out. We’re due back in Chicago for the next round of the tournament, and then,” a slow sigh escaped him as he smiled into the screen. “We’re comin’ back home. Just in time for year’s end.”
“Think you’ll make Christmas?” There was a thread of hope in Kayli’s voice, but hesitation as well.
Mitchell knew why.
More than once, the Mitchell family table had been missing a place setting. Their father would always send his love but flying around the world wasn’t as easy then as it was now. If his tour took him through Japan, or England or some other place on the other side of the globe – it usually meant an empty chair at home.
“Workin’ on it. They got me booked for a show in LA around the 30th, so that helps. If I hit Chicago, then turn right back ‘round and catch a red eye, it should be just enough time.” His eyes drifted from side to side as he pictured the back and forth. The Experts still hadn’t pinpointed a date for the next few matches, and it made things hard to plan out that far into the future. With a little luck, he could put Dynamo on his ass and be home before the weekend. Or – “Part of me’s thinkin’ about skippin’ Chicago and just stickin’ around here a couple days. Make sure Georgie’s ok, then come on home with plenty of time.”
Kayli didn’t miss a beat. “T’d kill you.” Within an instant, that earlier fire returned, turning beautiful blue eyes to balls of flame, even through his cellular screen. “You go do your thing in Chicago, and there’s a chance you’ll make it home. You play hooky and T’ll make sure you miss the rest of your damned life!”
And if the old man didn’t – Georgie would.
She hadn’t made a scene of it in the public eye, but even before his first win over the Wilde girl, Georgie’d been on his ass about not holding back, no matter what. Same as she had going into the contendership match back at WrestleFest. She’d been his strongest supporter for the better half of the season, win or lose. In the ring – and out. Every time he looked over his shoulder – she was right there.
Even more reason to stay – now it was his turn to be there.
“Tell you what,” distracted as he was, Kayli’s voice was muffled, taking a second to break through. “I’ll give you a little extra incentive to get your ass back here. Just gimme’ a quick second.”
She held up a finger and set the phone down, walking out of the shot. Mitchell tried to blink loose of his thoughts, but still had his head elsewhere when he noticed someone’s face taking up the phone screen.
Someone with blue hair.
Oh, sweet Christ …
“Hi Daddy!”
Jesse’s beaming smile was all Mitchell could see – other than the silvery-blue strands framing her face.
Struggling to talk through the laughter, he shook his head. “Hey, babygirl! Wh-what? What the hell’d you do to your hair?” The outburst earned him an earnest shushing from the nursing station, but it went ignored as he grinned into the phone. “What’re you doin’ down at Aunt Kayli’s? Is mommy there, too?”
If she was, Kayli was liable to add her to the stew pot.
“No, Mom said she’d be real busy helping Andrew, so they told me I could stay with Kayli for now!” A hand came up to tousle her hair. “She helped me dye it! Do you like it? Does it look like Georgie’s?”
Did it ever – he only wished he could the Rebel's reaction to it.
Pain blossomed in Mitchell’s chest as the ache spread out from his heart. Salted tears stung the corner of his eyes, but he struggled to keep composure as he stared at his daughter’s face. “Boy, have I missed you. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it back sooner. They’ve been runnin’ me ragged all year!”
“It’s ok. I’ve been watching!” A somewhat sheepish look claimed the little girl’s expression. “Is Georgie gonna’ be ok? She looked real hurt. Aunt Kayli says she’s tough, but so are you, and you get hurt a lot.”
From behind the little girl, Mitchell saw Kayli raise a brow, almost challenging him. Not being stupid enough to take that bait, he looked back to the fearful face of Jesse. “She’s gonna’ be just fine, punk. I’ve seen her get hit harder than that, and she’s always come right back for more. Just ‘cause she’s a girl doesn’t mean she can’t play rough, right?” His eyes shifted to meet Kayli’s, who just smiled without apology.
Low blow, Sis.
Jesse’s expression scrunched, unconvinced. Reaching up, she played with a section of tinted hair before letting out a sigh. “I guess. I just want her to be ok. She makes you happy, dad. And I like when you’re happy.”
Mitchell lost his battle with the tears.
All he could do was nod in agreement. “Yeah, she does. She’ll be ok. I promise. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, right? Or Aunt Kayli?” He saw Jesse nod. “Well, I love Georgie just as much as you guys.”
There was that word again – love.
How many times had it come so easily now? How many times had it escaped him without a second thought? Enough to be worth thinking about, obviously. And more than enough to be taken seriously.
Kayli said something in the background, but Mitchell didn’t quite pick it up. His attention had shifted to some guy standing a short distance away. He didn’t recognize him, but the man had been staring at him for the better part of five minutes while pretending to stir a cup of coffee. At a glance, he didn’t look like much. Younger than Mitchell. Haphazard hair. A wrinkled dress shirt and broken-in jeans. Just some guy.
But he wouldn’t stop staring.
“Billy?”
“Daddy?”
The twin voices managed to snap Mitchell out of the impromptu stare down and bring his focus back to the screen, where both Kayli and Jesse watched him with a hint of concern. Kayli took back the phone.
“Everything ok?” She asked.
“Yeah, uh,” trailing, Mitchell looked up to see the guy slowly sit down right across from him, still watching. “Everything’s fine. I think. Let me call you back in a couple minutes though, ok?” Without waiting for an answer, he thumbed the ‘end call’ button. Immediately, his defenses came up, along with a hint of irritation at whoever this joker was. “Need help with somethin’? Or you just enjoyin’ the view?”
The stranger said nothing. The only sound came from the strip of plastic swirling around the inside of his cup. Eventually, he set the cup down and braced arms to knees, hands steeped in front of him. “I guess that’s as good a first impression as I’ll get. Not quite the way I planned on meeting, but it’ll have to do.”
Mitchell’s eyes narrowed in question. “And just who am I meeting?”
“Chris Lemke. Though knowing Georgie, the only name you’ve heard is 'Exile'.”
Mitchell’s eyes snapped wide. That was a name she’d mentioned a time or two. Aside from her brothers Joe and Chris, the infamous ‘Exile’ was basically a third sibling. There from the start. Always at her back. All of it. If he was here, then Georgie was in nowhere near as good a shape as he’d thought.
Or hoped.
He brought his hands up to scrub at his face, uttering a low groan. “Shit. Yeah. I know who you are. Then I’m guessin’ it’s bad.”
“Could sure as hell be better. Didn’t follow much of it. Lot of medical mumbo jumbo with a bunch of words too big for me, but to sum up, she’s unconscious. Not quite comatose, but don’t expect her to be waking up anytime soon, either. Few days, maybe. The staff’s happy with that last part, since it means less worker’s comp for whatever bastard needs to go in there. But my girl took a beating and a half out there last night, and given how familiar she is with concussions,” he sighed. “They’re being careful.”
Mitchell didn’t respond. Sweeping his fingers up through his hair, he let his head fall back. “Damn it.”
Lemke watched him. Unmoving. Barely blinking. Almost studying him from top to bottom. After what felt like forever, he broke his silence. “It's for the best. For us. Because knowing Georgie, if she was here, I wouldn’t be able to say everything I want to say.” There was an obvious emphasis on those last few words.
Looking over, Billy locked eyes with the former legend. “Is that right? And just what is it you got that needs sayin’?” Shifting in the chair, ‘The Outlaw’s shoulders squared, muscles tensing beneath his skin.
The man known as ‘Exile’ didn’t react beyond a piercing stare. “Well, we can start with the obvious. How much of what you said a second ago was true?” Noting the question in Mitchell’s eyes, he continued. “I heard you on the phone. I’d apologize for being nosy, but, no. I’m not. Heard you telling that kid you’re just over the moon for my little Georgie.” His eyes hardened to match his tone. “Was that true?”
Mitchell said nothing, prompting Lemke’s brow to rise. Eventually, Billy’s gaze shifted to the hallway beyond the nurse’s station, to wherever Georgie had been hidden away. The thought of her bruised body hidden beneath a sterile sheet and gown set his teeth on edge – while tearing his heart in two.
No point running from the truth.
“Yes.”
With every fiber in his being.
Lemke didn’t respond at first. His face returning to that impassive expression, carved from stone.
Mitchell matched his silence, staring across the space between them, waiting for whatever would come.
Finally, Lemke nodded. “I believe you.” There was a slight delay in his words, and his eyes focused a little harder than they needed to, but he sounded sincere. “Don’t know if I like it, or you, but I believe it. And for what it’s worth, I think she’s got a soft spot herself.” A cynical smirk pulled at the man’s mouth. “She won’t be scribbling your name on her notebook anytime soon, but you’re getting there.” Leaning back, he finally offered the hint of a smile. “Should have seen her when you won that rumble. Cussing up a storm how it was ‘about damned time’, whatever that means. Guess it’s something between you two.”
Mitchell nodded, smiling himself. “Let’s just say she gets to say, ‘I told you so’ when she wakes up.”
Lemke laughed out loud. “Oh, she’s gonna’ love that. No wonder she’s grinnin’ like a Cheshire cat!”
“I’d like to see that. Been missin’ that smile.”
Growing a bit more somber, Lemke shook his head. “Ain’t my call, cowboy. Think Mac brought the iron curtain down on the staff. Only family allowed. I called Joe and the others. They should be on the way, but it’ll take some time getting out here. They only let me in because I threw a tantrum in the hallway.”
Mitchell tried to smile at the humor but failed to do more than smirk. “I’d figured. Leastwise, I know she’s gonna’ be ok, so that helps.” Shaking his head, he pulled a deep breath into his lungs and forced it out on a hard exhale. “I want to be mad at her. Half the shit that put her here was ‘cause of some dumb risk or another – but what’s the point? How do you tell her not to be her?” He shrugged. “You know?”
Raised hands were all Lemke could offer. “Preaching to the choir, pal. I gave that up years ago. All you can do is sit back and hope she stops short of killing herself. But that’s usually where I come in.” Slowly, he let a single finger point off towards Mitchell. “I guess that’s where you come in now too, Billy Bob’s Burgers.”
Huh?
Lemke looked down into his cup. “Cold as Vanilla Ice. I’m gonna’ grab a fresh cup and head back to the room. I can’t promise when she’ll get it, but,” he offered, slowly pushing up out of his chair. “You got anything to say I can pass it on. A little Merry Christmas, maybe? Maybe write her a little love song?”
Mitchell rolled his eyes. Georgie had mentioned Lemke being a little on the ‘interesting’ side, but this was beyond anything he’d expected. Rising to his feet as well, he shook his head. “Ain’t that kind of cowboy. I did have one thing I wanted to give her, though. Was gonna’ catch her after the show, but, well,” he didn’t finish. The obvious end to that sentence was why they were here. Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out a simple looking postcard. “If you could pass this on to her, I’d be pretty grateful.”
“Of course.” Taking it, Lemke glanced at the photo. It was a ranch of some kind. Sprawling hills of lush green extended into the distant horizon. What looked like a private lake sat surrounded by a few small storage sheds and a two-story home.
Turning it over, he read the message on the back: Told You I'd Find It – Billy.
Lemke glanced up in question, but Mitchell just nodded, a soft smile in place. “She’ll understand.”
He reached out to shake the man’s hand, before slowly turning and heading out into the breaking dawn.
Mitchell shook his head, looking down at the image of Kayli’s face through blurry eyes. “I don’t know. We’ve been here all night, but no one’ll tell us anythin’. Can’t get to her room. Can’t talk to whatever quack they got workin’ on her. Nothin!’” Reaching up, he massaged the swollen bags he felt forming beneath his sockets. Exhaustion had long since set in, but he refused to abandon his post. “T’s gone up to chew out the nurse so many times I’m amazed they haven’t kicked us out, but I think they can tell why we’re here. I heard they brought a few of us in after the show, so they might be tryin’ to be as accommodating as possible.” Dropping his hand, he leaned forward, bracing heavy arms to his knees.
Kayli nodded, tilting her head. “Billy, I’m so sorry. I’m sure she’s gonna’ be fine, though. I only got to talk with her the once, but she seemed like a tough girl.” Leaning in a bit, she eyed her brother with a lifted brow. “She had better be to keep your stubborn ass in line, right?” Mitchell said nothing. At best, he offered a faint smirk. Shaking her head, little sister jumped right back in. “Hey! Knock it off and get your head out’ch’er ass, will you? Remember what dad used to say? ‘It ain’t ballet’. You’re gonna’ get hurt, and sooner or later, you’re gonna’ get hurt worse. She’s been doin’ this for just as long as you, if not a hell of a lot longer. So do us girls a favor and stop actin’ like we can’t take a little bumpin’ and bruisin’!”
Mitchell finally cracked a smile, bringing a hand up in defensive submission under Kayli’s withering glare.
Hell hath no fury.
“Alright, alright. I hear ya’.”
Satisfied with her point, Kayli resumed her softer tone from earlier. “So where is T? Still arguing?”
“No, he went back to the hotel.” Mitchell nodded sidelong towards the door. “Someone needed to be there for check-out. We’re due back in Chicago for the next round of the tournament, and then,” a slow sigh escaped him as he smiled into the screen. “We’re comin’ back home. Just in time for year’s end.”
“Think you’ll make Christmas?” There was a thread of hope in Kayli’s voice, but hesitation as well.
Mitchell knew why.
More than once, the Mitchell family table had been missing a place setting. Their father would always send his love but flying around the world wasn’t as easy then as it was now. If his tour took him through Japan, or England or some other place on the other side of the globe – it usually meant an empty chair at home.
“Workin’ on it. They got me booked for a show in LA around the 30th, so that helps. If I hit Chicago, then turn right back ‘round and catch a red eye, it should be just enough time.” His eyes drifted from side to side as he pictured the back and forth. The Experts still hadn’t pinpointed a date for the next few matches, and it made things hard to plan out that far into the future. With a little luck, he could put Dynamo on his ass and be home before the weekend. Or – “Part of me’s thinkin’ about skippin’ Chicago and just stickin’ around here a couple days. Make sure Georgie’s ok, then come on home with plenty of time.”
Kayli didn’t miss a beat. “T’d kill you.” Within an instant, that earlier fire returned, turning beautiful blue eyes to balls of flame, even through his cellular screen. “You go do your thing in Chicago, and there’s a chance you’ll make it home. You play hooky and T’ll make sure you miss the rest of your damned life!”
And if the old man didn’t – Georgie would.
She hadn’t made a scene of it in the public eye, but even before his first win over the Wilde girl, Georgie’d been on his ass about not holding back, no matter what. Same as she had going into the contendership match back at WrestleFest. She’d been his strongest supporter for the better half of the season, win or lose. In the ring – and out. Every time he looked over his shoulder – she was right there.
Even more reason to stay – now it was his turn to be there.
“Tell you what,” distracted as he was, Kayli’s voice was muffled, taking a second to break through. “I’ll give you a little extra incentive to get your ass back here. Just gimme’ a quick second.”
She held up a finger and set the phone down, walking out of the shot. Mitchell tried to blink loose of his thoughts, but still had his head elsewhere when he noticed someone’s face taking up the phone screen.
Someone with blue hair.
Oh, sweet Christ …
“Hi Daddy!”
Jesse’s beaming smile was all Mitchell could see – other than the silvery-blue strands framing her face.
Struggling to talk through the laughter, he shook his head. “Hey, babygirl! Wh-what? What the hell’d you do to your hair?” The outburst earned him an earnest shushing from the nursing station, but it went ignored as he grinned into the phone. “What’re you doin’ down at Aunt Kayli’s? Is mommy there, too?”
If she was, Kayli was liable to add her to the stew pot.
“No, Mom said she’d be real busy helping Andrew, so they told me I could stay with Kayli for now!” A hand came up to tousle her hair. “She helped me dye it! Do you like it? Does it look like Georgie’s?”
Did it ever – he only wished he could the Rebel's reaction to it.
Pain blossomed in Mitchell’s chest as the ache spread out from his heart. Salted tears stung the corner of his eyes, but he struggled to keep composure as he stared at his daughter’s face. “Boy, have I missed you. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it back sooner. They’ve been runnin’ me ragged all year!”
“It’s ok. I’ve been watching!” A somewhat sheepish look claimed the little girl’s expression. “Is Georgie gonna’ be ok? She looked real hurt. Aunt Kayli says she’s tough, but so are you, and you get hurt a lot.”
From behind the little girl, Mitchell saw Kayli raise a brow, almost challenging him. Not being stupid enough to take that bait, he looked back to the fearful face of Jesse. “She’s gonna’ be just fine, punk. I’ve seen her get hit harder than that, and she’s always come right back for more. Just ‘cause she’s a girl doesn’t mean she can’t play rough, right?” His eyes shifted to meet Kayli’s, who just smiled without apology.
Low blow, Sis.
Jesse’s expression scrunched, unconvinced. Reaching up, she played with a section of tinted hair before letting out a sigh. “I guess. I just want her to be ok. She makes you happy, dad. And I like when you’re happy.”
Mitchell lost his battle with the tears.
All he could do was nod in agreement. “Yeah, she does. She’ll be ok. I promise. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, right? Or Aunt Kayli?” He saw Jesse nod. “Well, I love Georgie just as much as you guys.”
There was that word again – love.
How many times had it come so easily now? How many times had it escaped him without a second thought? Enough to be worth thinking about, obviously. And more than enough to be taken seriously.
Kayli said something in the background, but Mitchell didn’t quite pick it up. His attention had shifted to some guy standing a short distance away. He didn’t recognize him, but the man had been staring at him for the better part of five minutes while pretending to stir a cup of coffee. At a glance, he didn’t look like much. Younger than Mitchell. Haphazard hair. A wrinkled dress shirt and broken-in jeans. Just some guy.
But he wouldn’t stop staring.
“Billy?”
“Daddy?”
The twin voices managed to snap Mitchell out of the impromptu stare down and bring his focus back to the screen, where both Kayli and Jesse watched him with a hint of concern. Kayli took back the phone.
“Everything ok?” She asked.
“Yeah, uh,” trailing, Mitchell looked up to see the guy slowly sit down right across from him, still watching. “Everything’s fine. I think. Let me call you back in a couple minutes though, ok?” Without waiting for an answer, he thumbed the ‘end call’ button. Immediately, his defenses came up, along with a hint of irritation at whoever this joker was. “Need help with somethin’? Or you just enjoyin’ the view?”
The stranger said nothing. The only sound came from the strip of plastic swirling around the inside of his cup. Eventually, he set the cup down and braced arms to knees, hands steeped in front of him. “I guess that’s as good a first impression as I’ll get. Not quite the way I planned on meeting, but it’ll have to do.”
Mitchell’s eyes narrowed in question. “And just who am I meeting?”
“Chris Lemke. Though knowing Georgie, the only name you’ve heard is 'Exile'.”
Mitchell’s eyes snapped wide. That was a name she’d mentioned a time or two. Aside from her brothers Joe and Chris, the infamous ‘Exile’ was basically a third sibling. There from the start. Always at her back. All of it. If he was here, then Georgie was in nowhere near as good a shape as he’d thought.
Or hoped.
He brought his hands up to scrub at his face, uttering a low groan. “Shit. Yeah. I know who you are. Then I’m guessin’ it’s bad.”
“Could sure as hell be better. Didn’t follow much of it. Lot of medical mumbo jumbo with a bunch of words too big for me, but to sum up, she’s unconscious. Not quite comatose, but don’t expect her to be waking up anytime soon, either. Few days, maybe. The staff’s happy with that last part, since it means less worker’s comp for whatever bastard needs to go in there. But my girl took a beating and a half out there last night, and given how familiar she is with concussions,” he sighed. “They’re being careful.”
Mitchell didn’t respond. Sweeping his fingers up through his hair, he let his head fall back. “Damn it.”
Lemke watched him. Unmoving. Barely blinking. Almost studying him from top to bottom. After what felt like forever, he broke his silence. “It's for the best. For us. Because knowing Georgie, if she was here, I wouldn’t be able to say everything I want to say.” There was an obvious emphasis on those last few words.
Looking over, Billy locked eyes with the former legend. “Is that right? And just what is it you got that needs sayin’?” Shifting in the chair, ‘The Outlaw’s shoulders squared, muscles tensing beneath his skin.
The man known as ‘Exile’ didn’t react beyond a piercing stare. “Well, we can start with the obvious. How much of what you said a second ago was true?” Noting the question in Mitchell’s eyes, he continued. “I heard you on the phone. I’d apologize for being nosy, but, no. I’m not. Heard you telling that kid you’re just over the moon for my little Georgie.” His eyes hardened to match his tone. “Was that true?”
Mitchell said nothing, prompting Lemke’s brow to rise. Eventually, Billy’s gaze shifted to the hallway beyond the nurse’s station, to wherever Georgie had been hidden away. The thought of her bruised body hidden beneath a sterile sheet and gown set his teeth on edge – while tearing his heart in two.
No point running from the truth.
“Yes.”
With every fiber in his being.
Lemke didn’t respond at first. His face returning to that impassive expression, carved from stone.
Mitchell matched his silence, staring across the space between them, waiting for whatever would come.
Finally, Lemke nodded. “I believe you.” There was a slight delay in his words, and his eyes focused a little harder than they needed to, but he sounded sincere. “Don’t know if I like it, or you, but I believe it. And for what it’s worth, I think she’s got a soft spot herself.” A cynical smirk pulled at the man’s mouth. “She won’t be scribbling your name on her notebook anytime soon, but you’re getting there.” Leaning back, he finally offered the hint of a smile. “Should have seen her when you won that rumble. Cussing up a storm how it was ‘about damned time’, whatever that means. Guess it’s something between you two.”
Mitchell nodded, smiling himself. “Let’s just say she gets to say, ‘I told you so’ when she wakes up.”
Lemke laughed out loud. “Oh, she’s gonna’ love that. No wonder she’s grinnin’ like a Cheshire cat!”
“I’d like to see that. Been missin’ that smile.”
Growing a bit more somber, Lemke shook his head. “Ain’t my call, cowboy. Think Mac brought the iron curtain down on the staff. Only family allowed. I called Joe and the others. They should be on the way, but it’ll take some time getting out here. They only let me in because I threw a tantrum in the hallway.”
Mitchell tried to smile at the humor but failed to do more than smirk. “I’d figured. Leastwise, I know she’s gonna’ be ok, so that helps.” Shaking his head, he pulled a deep breath into his lungs and forced it out on a hard exhale. “I want to be mad at her. Half the shit that put her here was ‘cause of some dumb risk or another – but what’s the point? How do you tell her not to be her?” He shrugged. “You know?”
Raised hands were all Lemke could offer. “Preaching to the choir, pal. I gave that up years ago. All you can do is sit back and hope she stops short of killing herself. But that’s usually where I come in.” Slowly, he let a single finger point off towards Mitchell. “I guess that’s where you come in now too, Billy Bob’s Burgers.”
Huh?
Lemke looked down into his cup. “Cold as Vanilla Ice. I’m gonna’ grab a fresh cup and head back to the room. I can’t promise when she’ll get it, but,” he offered, slowly pushing up out of his chair. “You got anything to say I can pass it on. A little Merry Christmas, maybe? Maybe write her a little love song?”
Mitchell rolled his eyes. Georgie had mentioned Lemke being a little on the ‘interesting’ side, but this was beyond anything he’d expected. Rising to his feet as well, he shook his head. “Ain’t that kind of cowboy. I did have one thing I wanted to give her, though. Was gonna’ catch her after the show, but, well,” he didn’t finish. The obvious end to that sentence was why they were here. Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out a simple looking postcard. “If you could pass this on to her, I’d be pretty grateful.”
“Of course.” Taking it, Lemke glanced at the photo. It was a ranch of some kind. Sprawling hills of lush green extended into the distant horizon. What looked like a private lake sat surrounded by a few small storage sheds and a two-story home.
Turning it over, he read the message on the back: Told You I'd Find It – Billy.
Lemke glanced up in question, but Mitchell just nodded, a soft smile in place. “She’ll understand.”
He reached out to shake the man’s hand, before slowly turning and heading out into the breaking dawn.