Radioman (A 2/19th Spinoff) - Complete

Buried Past

Bet you didn't know that. If your family member slams into a utility pole and damages it, their survivors get to buy a new one.

And those things ran $1,250 for the pole, $2750 for installation.

But that was over, behind me.

Aine had handled most of it. Quietly, gently, holding my hand the whole time. She'd paid each bill, accepted the receipts, and quietly thanked each person standing there with their hand held out for assisting a serving member of the military during such a trying time.

Every time those people had left shamefaced.

It occurred to me during the whole thing that Aine had done this before, had been part of this before. I was grateful for all of it.

We drove by where the house was and Aine turned and looked at me.

"Where are we going, my Paul?" She asked, cocking her head slightly.

"I want to surprise you," I told her.

She sighed wistfully. "I like good surprises."

I dug out my cigarettes and lit one, cracking the wing window for the smoke, as we drove another three miles to a place outside of town.

When Aine saw the horses moving around the field in the rain she pressed her hands and her nose against the window.

"They are so beautiful," she said softly, her breath fogging the window slightly.

I pulled in, next to a sign that said "Horse Rides! $5 Child $10 Adult!" and shut the car off.

Aine looked at me, her eyes wide. "Really?"

I nodded. "I thought you might miss your home. Thought you might like this."

She jumped out of the car. "I love this! Oh thank you."

I followed her into the barn, where a man who had obviously just escaped the set of Rawhide was leaning against an empty stall, a hand-rolled cigarette in his mouth. He looked us both up and down from under his hat then pushed off, standing up.

"Ya sure ya wanna ride in that there suit?" He asked us. His voice was rough from years of trail dust and filterless cigarettes.

"I will go change. Permit me a moment of privacy?" Aine said. She was staring at the horses, almost trembling in excitement.

"Well," the cowpoke started.

Aine rushed outside, disappearing behind the hay bales. After a few moments she came running back, dressed in jeans and a loose blouse with combat boots. She moved up and curtsied in front of the cowpoke. "May I ride?"

The cowboy looked her up and down. "Ya done ridden' afor, right?"

She nodded, her eyes bright. "Yes, sir," she said.

"All right. Most of dem, dey don't like bein' out inna rain," he said. He led us down the row of stalls, naming each horse. Some he petting on the forehead, others were napping, some were eating.

A placid looking gelding poked his head over the stall door to nudge Aine, who giggled and rubbed his forehead.

"OK, I'd like that," she said. She looked at the cowboy. "He will let me ride him out in the rain."

The cowboy gave a slow nod. "Ya know how ta get 'im ready to ride?"

Aine nodded again. "Yes, sir."

I stood and watched as they saddled him up. The cowboy didn't seem surprised at the way Aine just vaulted into the saddle, setting her boots into the stirrups. She leaned forward and hugged the horses neck.

While I watched, the cowpoke led Aine out to the corral. When he unclipped the lead rope the horse stood stock still for a moment, then shuddered before racing off into the rainy grass and mud.

I watched as the horse pranced around, or raced back and forth. We were silent, only the horse's neighs and Aine's delighted laughter joining the thunder.

When the horse was rearing up, pawing at the air, the cowboy broke the silence.

"He's showin' off fer her," he shook his head. "Pretty young thing make all us boys act the fool."

"Yes, sir," I said, watching as she laughed and hugged the horse's neck again.

"Yer that Foster boy, aincha? Tha one e'rryone wuz lookin' fer a few year back, right?" The cowpoke drawled.

"Yes, sir."

"Aw, don't sur me none, boy," he said. "Made myseff Lance Cerprawl 'for I left the Corps. Ain't no awfisser here."

I just nodded.

"Uniform looks good on ya, boy. Gotcha a girl who matches ya," he mused. "Ya done good in hard times."

I knew he'd glanced at my Purple Hearts.

Finally, Aine came back, red faced, sweating, panting like the lather covered horse, but smiling.

"He's tired now. We had fun," Aine smiled.

Her smile was warm sunlight to my soul.

"Welp, lets put 'im up den," The cowboy said.

Aine insisted on rubbing him down and feeding him a treat by hand, then putting away the tack and gear. The cowboy mostly watched her, smiling, glancing my way now and then. As I paid him the ten bucks Aine ran behind the hay bales for a few moments before emerging wearing her Class-A's again.

She stopped in front of the cowboy, gave a curtsy, and smiled. "Thank you, sir. It was a lovely ride."

"Yer welcome, girly," He nodded back. "Ya take care now, ya hear?"

She smiled at him, taking my hand.

Together we walked back to the car.

"Did you see me riding, Paul?" She asked, still breathless, as I put the car in gear and pulled out.

"Yeah," I smiled at her.

"It was wonderful," she sighed. She gave a big yawn. "When we get back, I'm gonna nap."

"Want me to tuck you in?" I asked, waggling my eyebrows at her. She giggled and blushed.

When we got back in, I unlocked the door and we went inside. We showered together, slow, luxuriating in each other, the hot water, and the lather. When we were done I carried her to our bed, tucking her in. While she watched, I got dressed. Jeans, t-shirt, flannel shirt, boots.

I sat there with her, watching her drift off to sleep. Once her breathing had deepened and evened, and I could see her eyes flicking back and forth beneath the closed lids, I got up and headed into the front room. I stopped long enough to grab a beer out of the fridge.

The house felt... right. Like I could live here. Really live.

We could come back here. Raise children here. I could get my old job at the mill back. Here, in this house, in Aine's arms, I could live.

My musing was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Still thinking about Aine, about living here, about raising children here, I got up and answered it.

Gail stood on the front porch, Dave standing back by his truck.

"Paulie, I, like, want to, like, talk to you and junk," She said. She tried to look past me, into the house, but I shifted to block her view. "Like, alone, Paulie."

Thunder rumbled in the distance.

Grabbing my hat off the hook I stepped out the door, closing it behind me.

"Then talk."