Krista

Yeah, the coach finally got through to them that he's worried about Joel. I do wonder how many calls it took for his father to finally say, "call him and tell him..." I would hope it only took one, but we don't know that. He did survive Raven and by extension his first class with Lacey. She graduated him pretty quick mid-lesson too. Do we have a future junior rodeo champ in the making? You'd have to ask Lacey for that assessment, I bet she'd be the only one that would give it to Joel straight. An empty house, two by-the-pants thinking twins, a hot tub, and beer... it seems like a recipe for something, but we'll see.

Isn't it the way it goes with teenagers? They'll pick at someone for not doing something/being afraid to do something, knowing full well they've never accomplished the same thing. He didn't throw it back at Davin either, he allowed Lacey's information to stay safely between the two of them and not use it against either twin. I'd say if the prodding keeps up, he might not keep it that way. And, the words Joel used were a bit close... probably too close and if he thought about them after the fact, he maybe... could start to worry that he's said too much. We'll see.

Hmm. Maybe. Also, entendre, you say?

Despite being sore and a little tired from sleeping in the back of a truck, sleep didn’t come easy. I kept thinking about the lie I told Celia. Trace knew her better; he told me that she would see through it. The room was also too bright for a nap. The sheer curtains that weren’t pulled over the large window did nothing to block the sun. It didn’t seem like I had been asleep long when I heard the door to the bedroom open. My eyes shot open to see Lacey standing just inside, with a smile, dressed

They create this and then they're... and you have to forgive them...

Aww. It may go either way. She may remind him so much of Cody that it hurts him, so he creates distance and it isn't her fault. Or, maybe it can go the other way. And yeah, I don't think Lacey has much of a filter when it comes to what she is thinking... at least in the little bits we've seen her speaking her mind anyway. I do know, that if you want family secrets kept or embarrassing stories not to be shared... you do not let your young children anywhere near any of that knowledge. They do not care, at all. Then you get phone calls from your Mother and she's both accusatory and laughing... and that is the best case scenario. The worst being a phone call from school.

Maybe... about some of the things you've said here... I will let you fret over which ones. Also, a good start at facing challenges? We don't even know if the boy stays on the backside of the horse... or ends up on his backside looking up at it. 😮

Unfortunately. And invincible as well. Neither of which are true, but I'd take sneaky over daredevils any day of the week. I can catch them out on sneaky behavior. And if not, I think both me and the husband has nailed down interrogation techniques over the years. He says I'm better at it than he ever was, so we'll see.

Does a good knock in his noggin shut him up? It doesn't seem like it done him much good. It might have made Joel feel better... for about five seconds. busted up knuckles and all.

Now I've behaved! Every Friday or Saturday evening, with the odd Monday thrown in. I can't do the Monday postings anymore, for sanity's sake. Speaking of important updates, Preferably with your lovely snarky enticing word usage and sentence structure, and hilariously placed trademarks... very important update.

Ugh, I've deleted this comment three times. Thinking I'm borderline going to spoil things if I talk too much. I don't want to just fling my favorite word at everyone... but... maybe? Just a big ol' wet blanket maybe, I think is the safest bet for my response. Although, know that I did make the attempt to ramble in a round-about non-spoiler-y way, and erred on the side of caution. Thank you for enjoying this chapter.

Yeah, the truth does get rather bite-y at your ankles... hover-y over your shoulder... or slaps you right in the face.

Hope the boy is ready for such a thing, seems to be his biggest fear.

Maybe. *whistles*

It does seem sad that he thinks he still has to lead with the small lies. Although, Colt did advise him to... but Colt is a teenager thinking he's managing his own lie(s) with them... and he's probably gotten away with a couple of his own. But yeah, they pile up... unnecessarily most of the time. Also, thank you for sticking with the story.

Maybe Joel will start believing wise words.

One can hope. Or, maybe it is too soon for that? 😮

When you have to build up walls for your own self-preservation, you get used to the house you built from them. People don't want to feel their own anxiety, panic, fears, shadowing after them all the time. We can become rather protective of ourselves in that way. I think all people do it, with something, to some degree. It can be lonely, and it can lead to people who you may want and would love to be in your life to up and leave you, because they can't reach you. And you let them, because you can't bring yourself to let them inside that house. And yes, he has it better, leagues better, than what you described. It is horrific to think about being from where Joel is and knowing what happens in other places in the world. Despite that though, the only world he had ever known did come to an abrupt end and then another abrupt beginning. Even without the fear of bodily harm, persecution, or worse - there's not a whole lot of people that would come out the other end of that very easily.

I also missed the punchy Joel, and when I reread it I laughed. Maybe, they have to take that in stride, or risk catching his hands. 😮

I know how the lesson goes. I cannot for the life of me remember what else happens. So, I shall be rereading chapter eight soon. I've been living in the later chapters and in Ellis' head now, so this chapter triggered the obvious for me, but not the rest.

Yeah, not a hint of a fallout yet... I mean, what gives? Some people have all the luck. If I dragged my butt in at the ass crack of near Noon with busted knuckles, with my friends who are... obviously a bit hungover and in no state to function... I'd not make it far into the door without a Momma in my face asking me questions that will just make her angry if I answered, and extra angry when I don't. Maybe surprised by the fists, but maybe the rest of the night he finally paid Joel enough attention... to not see him as a three toed, ten-eyed alien being that invaded his household. One could hope, at least. Who knows with him. I think Davin would be proud of that descriptive. The question mark part anyhow.

If he decides the path of 'new' and not 'old,' that is. He could make the decision to stay a Tiger still. Maybe? I wonder if he did a pros vs. cons list what that would look like for him... I am imagining it now in my head.

Thank you! Glad you liked the early release of my last chapter. It kind of put my poor Wildthing in a pickle though. I may need to behave myself from here on out and finally stick to a more set in stone posting schedule. No, it seems Joel cannot escape history... he landed in the county where the schools are big rivals in sports and seemingly have been that way for decades... and yeah, the distance is that far either.

For animals that live off grass and grain, they are rather high maintenance beasts... I'd say the only thing worse would be goats... because you look at them wrong and they find a way to run up a vet bill on you.