The first thing Murphy noticed was he was lying on his left side.
The second thing he noticed was he was breathing through his mouth instead of his nose.
The third thing he noticed was his upper lip felt swollen and his head hurt.
Finally, he noticed he was having trouble opening his right eye.
Slowly, he opened his left eye as his vision flickered in and out of focus then cleared and Murphy blinked his eye a few times. The light from somewhere allowed him to see Connor sitting on a chair near the bed and Connor was holding onto his rosary. His eyes were closed and his head was down. Murphy knew he was praying.
"Connor," Murphy whispered.
"You're awake!" Connor said as his eyes opened. Placing the rosary around his neck, Connor reached out to take hold of Murphy's right hand and they wrapped their fingers together. Murphy felt the guilt and concern coming from his twin. His brain replayed what happened when he squeezed Connor's fingers and Murphy frowned.
"Where am I?" Murphy grumbled.
"You're in th'hospital," Connor explained.
"Why didn't you take me home?"
"It was Lisa's idea."
"You hit me."
"Not th'first time."
Murphy didn't feel like smiling after Connor gave him a sad smile and Connor sighed.
"Is that Denny asshole still breathin'?" Murphy asked.
"Aye, he is."
"Did he apologize t'Lisa?"
"No, but he did say he was gonna apologize t'Annie."
"You believe him?"
"Nope."
Murphy heard someone walking in the room while Connor looked at the nurse and she walked to the bed.
"He's awake," Connor said. He got up from the chair as the nurse walked to him then she looked at Murphy.
"Hey there, Sleepyhead," the nurse said with a small smile.
Murphy noticed she had short brown hair and dark eyes. She wore a nurse's uniform and white sneakers and a stethoscope was wrapped around her neck.
"What time is it?" Murphy asked.
"It's around three in the morning."
"You been here th'whole time?" he asked Connor and Connor nodded.
Murphy let the nurse move him onto his back then she examined him. She wrote the information on the chart at the foot of the bed and Connor gave her a concerned look.
"No need for the worried look. He's going to be fine," the nurse explained.
"Thank you," Connor said with the surfer accent.
Nodding, she left the room and Connor went to sit on the chair. He watched Murphy carefully roll onto his left side then Connor took hold of Murphy's right hand.
"Go back to sleep."
Murphy barely nodded his head. He closed his left eye while Connor blinked the tears out of his eyes and Murphy made a soft humming sound.
"Stop bein' an eejit," Murphy grumbled.
"Can't help it," Connor said.
"I was th'one who's sorry. Shouldn't've distracted you. Jus' wanted t'warn you about Lou."
"Still sorry."
"Then can we forgive each other so I can go t'sleep?"
"Sure."
Connor watched Murphy's face soften as Murphy drifted back to sleep and Connor held onto Murphy's right hand with both hands. Closing his eyes, Connor started praying again and he placed the knuckles of Murphy's hand against his forehead.
the Golden Cactus Ranch
The white truck came to a stop at the front of the farmhouse when Connor turned off the engine and Murphy opened the door. Getting out of the truck, Murphy slid the strap of the overnight bag over his right shoulder while Connor walked around the white truck and Connor stood next to him. Murphy looked at the screen door as the screen door opened and Annie walked outside. She headed down the stairs when she stopped in front of Murphy and she noticed the scabbed over cut on his upper lip and the bruising around his right eye and nose.
"What am I gonna do with you?" she asked in her Irish accent and he shrugged his shoulders.
"What did the doctor say?" she asked, looking at Connor.
"Th'doctor said his nose's not broken, but he does need a day or two off t'rest," Connor said, walking closer.
"Ok," Annie said and they headed up the stairs. Connor opened the screen door while they walked inside and Murphy saw Lisa standing in the hallway.
"What's the damage?" Lisa asked.
"His nose isn't broken, but he needs a day or two off," Annie said.
"But you don't want to do that, do you?" Lisa asked as she looked at Murphy.
"Nope," Murphy said with a small shake of his head.
"Then go put your stuff away then get to work."
Lisa turned as she headed down the hallway and Annie glanced at Murphy.
"You heard her," Annie said.
Murphy adjusted the strap of the overnight bag when he headed up the stairs then he headed down the hallway toward his bedroom.
"Mister Murphy," made him stop as he puffed out a breath of air and he lowered his head. He heard small footsteps quickly coming toward him when Nichole hugged his legs and he reached back with his right hand to touch her head.
"Did yer mommy tell you what happened t'me?" he asked.
"She said Mister Connor hit you," she said.
"He didn't mean to."
"Did he say he was sorry?"
"Aye."
She let go of his legs when she moved to stand in front of him and Murphy knelt down on his haunches. He noticed the shocked look on her face after she saw the bruises and the scabbed cut and she held the teddy bear against her chest.
"Do I look that bad?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said with a nod.
Standing up, Murphy headed into the bedroom when he placed the overnight bag on the floor near the bed and he sat down on the mattress. He glanced over at Nichole standing in the doorway when she walked to the bed and she held out the teddy bear. He took the teddy bear in his hands and she left the room. He placed the teddy bear on the mattress then he removed his boots and he placed the boots on the floor. Stretching out on the mattress, he noticed Ebony lying on the pillow to his right and he reached over to scratch the top of the cat's head. Murphy picked up the teddy bear as he held the teddy bear in his hands then he placed the teddy bear against his chest. Closing his eyes, he rolled onto his left side as he slid his left hand under the pillow and he slowly drifted off to sleep.
Downstairs, Annie walked in the living room when she saw Connor standing near the bar and he was holding a glass of whiskey in his left hand.
"Hey," she said and he looked at her.
"Hey," he said, taking a sip of the whiskey.
"Isn't it a little early for that."
"No."
Annie walked to her brother as he sipped on the whisky and she gently touched his left upper arm.
"I'm sorry," Annie said.
"What are you sorry about?" he asked, placing the glass on the bar.
"I'm sorry I got you involved in my shit. Denny's always been a jerk. Has been for as long as I have known him. And he's right. Diego's always been the one to put him in his place when he does mouth off to me."
"Only this time you wanted to do it."
"Right. What I forgot was how protective my big brothers are. Nether of you ever let some asshole pick on me or disrespect me."
"Damn right, we didn't," he said with a small smile.
"Mind telling me what you were going to do if Denny hadn't agreed to apologize to me?"
"Not sure. Maybe I would've jus' dropped it. Some people are eejits."
"Yeah, they are."
"Still doesn't help me with my guilt."
"Did Murphy forgive you for sucker punching him?"
"Aye, he has."
"But you still want to make it up to him?"
Connor nodded his head.
"Then follow me."
Confused, Connor followed her out of the room and they headed down the hallway toward the kitchen.
A few hours later
Being lightly shaken woke Murphy as he slowly opened his left eye and he saw Darcy kneeling next to the bed. She did have a concerned look on her face and he felt a small pang of guilt move through him.
"Dinner's ready," she said in a soft voice.
"I missed lunch?" he asked.
"Yeah."
"Stupid painkillers."
Nodding, she stood as he looked down at the teddy bear then he looked at Darcy.
"Nichole gave this t'me," Murphy said, holding up the teddy bear.
"She thought you needed it," Darcy said, taking the teddy bear.
He slowly sat up when he placed his hands on the mattress and he fought the urge to yawn.
"What's wrong?"
"Jus' tryin' not t'yawn. My lip starts bleedin' when I do," he said.
He pushed off the mattress when he headed for the bathroom and Darcy walked to the doorway. He watched her leave then he went into the bathroom and he closed the door behind him. Turning on the light, Murphy headed for the toilet when he peed, wiped then flushed the toilet and he walked to the sink. He ran the water as he washed his hands, turned off the water, dried his hands on the towel, but he didn't want to look in the mirror.
"Fuck it," Murphy whispered.
He looked at his reflection. The bruising around his right eye didn't look as bad as he thought nor did the bruising or the cut on his upper lip. He lightly touched his nose and made a small hissing sound then he ran his tongue over his front teeth. None of his teeth felt loose and he placed his hands on the top of the sink.
"You've looked worse," he grumbled.
Turning, he headed out of the bathroom as he turned off the light and he headed for the doorway. He felt something move by his right leg as he watched Ebony head down the hallway and he tried hard not to smile.
"Asshole," he whispered then he walked down the hallway. He stopped at the framed photographs as he looked at the photo of Darcy and a man with dark hair and blue eyes and they were smiling. Shrugging his shoulders, Murphy headed for the stairs when he went downstairs and he walked down the hallway toward the kitchen. Murphy walked into the kitchen as he looked at the others and he gave them a small wave.
"How're you feeling?" Diego asked.
"Still a little sleepy," Murphy said, walking to his chair and he sat down. He glanced over at Nichole as she lightly patted his right hand and he arched his eyebrows up. "Thank you fer lettin' me borrow Teddy."
"You're welcome," Nichole said.
Murphy sat back in the chair when he saw Connor and Annie placing food on the plates and Murphy tilted his head to one side.
"You two made dinner?" Murphy asked.
"Yep!" Connor said.
"What're we havin'?"
"You'll see," Annie said.
Connor and Annie headed for the table when they placed the plates of food in front of Diego, Lisa, Darcy, Murphy and the kids then they walked back to the kitchen island. They headed back to the table when they placed the glasses of milk and juice in front of the kids then the cups of tea in front of Diego, Lisa, Darcy and Murphy. Murphy could barely smell the light lemony scent coming from the teacup when he looked at the food on the plate and he blinked his left eye.
"This looks like what Ma or you make when I'm sick," Murphy said.
"Thought you'd like it," Annie said while she and Connor sat down on the chairs.
"Mind if I say grace?"
"Go ahead," Connor said.
Murphy took hold of Nichole's left hand and Connor's right hand when everyone closed their eyes and Murphy said grace. He lightly nudged Connor's right knee with his left knee as Connor smiled and Murphy finished. They opened their eyes as they started eating and the guilt Connor was feeling faded.
A few days later
The screen door opened while Murphy walked outside and he arched back the black cowboy hat.
He put on the sunglasses when he headed down the stairs and he walked down the path.
"Hey!" made him stop as he turned around and Connor ran to him.
"What's up?" Murphy asked.
"Diego wants us to go check th'pigs."
"Why?"
"He said one of th'guys might have seen a coyote sniffin' 'round the pen."
Nodding, Murphy followed him as they walked to the red truck and they opened the doors. They got into the truck then closed the door and Connor started the engine. He put the truck in gear as the truck moved down the path and Connor arched the white straw cowboy hat back.
"You look better," he said, glancing at his twin.
"Feel better," Murphy said.
The truck tires bounced on some bumps in the path when they arrived at the pig pen and Connor parked the truck near the fence. They opened the doors as they got out of the truck then they closed the doors. The sunlight warmed their skin while Connor and Murphy walked to the fence and they slid their forearms over the top railing.
The piglets were playing in the mud as they made little squealing sounds and the large hog was sleeping on its stomach. The sow was nibbling on some corncobs as she made a low grunting sound and her tail swatted at the flies buzzing around her bottom.
"Seein' them like this makes me feel a little guilty," Connor said.
"You mean all those pigs we used t'cut up back at th'plant?" Murphy asked and Connor nodded. "Me, too."
They watched the piglets heading for the sow as she went onto her right side and the piglets started nursing. Suddenly, Connor remembered why they were there as he nudged Murphy and they went to check the fence line for any sign of coyote tracks. Diego had taught them what coyote tracks looked like, but they didn't see any tracks and Connor removed the walkie-talkie off his belt.
"Diego," Connor said after he pushed the button then let go of the button.
"Diego. Find anything?" Diego's voice asked.
"That is a big negative. No sign of coyotes."
"Good. Do the pigs need fed?"
"Hold on."
Murphy went to check the trough as he saw the pig slop was low and he nodded to Connor.
"Looks like they could use a snack," Connor said, releasing the button.
"Then…"
The sudden sound of a siren filled the air as the pigs started squealing and Connor and Murphy looked at each other.
"What th'hell's goin' on?!" Murphy said as he covered his ears.
"Dunno!" Connor said, covering his right ear then he pushed the button. "Diego, what's goin' on?!"
"Hank just reported in! Brutus is loose!" Diego's voice said.
"How th'hell did it get out!?"
"Hank said Brutus bolted after he, Jeff and Kenny opened the doors to clean out the barn!"
"Why wasn't th'damn thing put in th'paddock first?!"
"He said he thought it was!"
"What do you want us t'do?!"
"I need you to help us find it!"
"Right!"
Connor put the walkie-talkie back on his belt as they headed for the red truck and they got in the truck. Closing the doors, Murphy watched Connor start the engine, put the tuck in gear then the truck moved down the path.
"How does Hank still have a job?" Murphy asked while the trunk moved over the bumps on the path.
"I have no fuckin' idea," Connor said, shifting gears to make the truck go faster.
"Got any idea where we should go look fer Brutus?"
"I think that answers yer question!"
Coming down the path at full speed was Brutus.
Connor quickly scanned the area when he steered the truck down a side path and the bull ran by them.
"Shit!" Murphy gasped, feeling his heart slamming in his chest.
Connor put the truck in reverse as the truck headed back onto the main path then his eyes widened when he saw the bull in the rearview mirror.
Brutus grunted, snorted and clawed at the ground with its hoof as Connor tried to figure out what to do and he slammed his foot onto the gas pedal. The truck lurched forward while he heled onto the steering wheel and the bull followed them.
"He's getting' closer!" Murphy shouted, looked into the sideview mirror.
"I see that!" Connor shouted, turning the steering wheel to make the truck go down the side path and the bull followed them.
"Should we jump?!"
"Maybe! But that still means we have t'deal with Brutus!"
One of the paddock gates was open as Connor steered the truck by the gates and the bull followed. Connor steered the truck around the empty paddock as the bull got one good hit with its horns and the truck lurched forward.
"Shit!" Murphy shouted.
"Hang on!" Connor said, turning the steering wheel. He made the truck move to the left as the bull followed then Brutus headed for the fence. Connor slammed his foot down on the break pedal as the truck came to a stop and they watched the bull ram into the fence.
Backing up, Brutus ran at the fence when the bull rammed the fence and snorted. Brutus slammed into the fence a few more times until the fence shattered and the bull ran.
They got out of the truck as they ran to the fence then they stopped as Brutus ran headlong into a large boulder. Staggering to one side, the bull shook its head, backed up then charged at the large boulder.
"Oh fuck," Connor said.
A loud cracking sound filled the air as Brutus staggered to one side then the other and the bull fell to the ground.
"I can't believe that just happened!" Murphy said with a shocked look on his face.
Connor removed the walkie-talkie from his belt when he pushed the button, but he had to lightly grab hold of Murphy's right upper arm to stop him from going to check on the bull.
"Diego," Connor said then let go of the button.
"Diego. Did you find Brutus?" Diego's voice asked.
"Oh yeah!"
Connor told him what happened while Murphy went to check the damage to the truck and Murphy puffed out a breath of air.
"Damn! Ok. We're on the way," Diego's voice said.
"Right," Connor said, placing the walkie-talkie on his belt. He walked over to Murphy when Connor saw the black puddle moving under the truck and the large dent in the back bumper and the back hatch.
A short time later, the sounds of trucks made Connor and Murphy hop off the top railing of the fence and they watched the trucks and what looked like a large forklift heading into the paddock. The trucks and the forklift stopped near the truck as the engines cut off and the doors opened.
Hank, Jeff, Kenny, Diego and some of the other ranch hands got out of the trucks and the large forklift as a white Ford truck headed into the paddock and the truck stopped Lisa got out of the truck when she closed the door and she walked to Diego. She looked at the damaged fence and she placed her hands on her hips.
"Did you call Doctor Clay?" Diego asked.
"Yeah. He's on his way," she said, walking to the fence. She looked at Brutus lying on the ground while Connor walked to her and she glanced at him. "How's the truck?"
"Th'back bumper an' th'back hatch are dented an' it's leaking oil," Connor said.
"Shit."
"What're you gonna do with….?" he asked, pointing at Brutus.
"After Doctor Clay examines the body, we're going to take it to the market."
"What about th'truck?"
"We're going to leave it until we can get someone from the garage to come get it."
Nodding, Connor watched her head for Diego as she talked to Diego and Hank and Hank got into the large forklift. Hank started the engine as he steered the forklift toward Brutus and they watched the forklift lift the body off the ground.
"What is she gonna do with it?" Murphy asked, nodding his head toward Brutus after he walked to Connor.
"She's gonna take it t'market," Connor said.
"You mean they're gonna make Brutus burgers outta him?"
"Looks like."
"What 'bout th'truck?"
"She says someone from th'garage will come get it."
They watched the forklift moving toward the long bed truck as Diego and the other ranch hands helped get Brutus onto the bed of the truck then they hopped down. Hank got in the long bed truck as he closed the door then he started the engine. The long bed truck headed out of the paddock while Diego and the ranch hands got into the other trucks and the forklift and they started the engines.
Lisa walked to Connor and Murphy while they looked at her and she crossed her arms under her breasts.
"Are you two alright?" she asked.
"We're good," Connor said and Murphy nodded.
"Why didn't you just make a run for it after you got him in here?"
"Didn't have time."
"An' we didn't know if he would come after us if we got outta th'truck," Murphy said.
She gave both of them an icy stare as they swallowed the lumps in their throats and she lightly shook her head.
"Let's go," she said.
They headed for the white truck as Lisa and Connor got in the truck and Murphy climbed into the bed of the truck. Lisa started the engine as she put the truck in gear and she steered the truck to the gate. The truck headed down the path while she saw the guilty look on Connor's face and she gave him a little smile.
"Was going to send him to market anyway," she said and he frowned.
"What?" he asked.
"Brutus. I was going to send him to market."
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
"You think they'll mind having slightly dented meat?"
She didn't answer for a few seconds when she broke out laughing and he smiled.
"Annie's right. You are funny," she said.
The truck headed down the path as the dust blew out from under the tires and Connor slid his right arm out of the window and he lightly tapped his fingers on the truck door.