Loretta and Ammo pulled up to a locally own gas station and grabbed the carton of fresh eggs. Loretta opened her door and walked in with the carton in hand.

"Hello Mrs. Birdie. How's the sales today?" Loretta asked the lady at the counter.

"Howdy, darlin. Sales are pretty good this mornin." Mrs. Birdie replied. "Need a roll of grizzly wintergreen?"

"Yes ma'am, and some gas for the truck and to fill the can." Loretta smiled sweetly. She placed the eggs on the counter and a $20 bill. Mrs. Birdie laid the snuff and a Mountain Dew in the bag and opened a beef jerky stick for Ammo. "Have you heard from Ace lately?" Ace is Mrs. Birdie's oldest son who joined the army at 18.

"Yeah, baby he's doin good. Oh and Colt was askin bout you the other night. My boy's been real concerned bout you, hun." Colt is Mrs. Birdie's middle child. He's a year older then Loretta and unknown to most, including Colt and his family, was Loretta's biggest crush for over three years.

Colt's father was a coal truck driver and never was around. His family came to Wayland to find an easier life his sophomore year. That's when he met Loretta and they quickly started spending time together but were never official.

"Hey Lori, I filled your truck and the gas can in the back." A 6'3 man with a lip full of Skoal longcut walked in the door. His green eyes as bright as the new spring leaves on the hickory trees. His hair the deep black of coal. He had on a black flannel, faded blue jeans, and black cowboy boots, his camo hat faded from years of wear and work.

"Thank you Colt," Loretta said. Colt walked over to the ladies and squatted down to pet Ammo. Ammo licked Colt's face.

"How you been doin lately? I know it's been rough since the accident. I been wonderin bout you," Colt looked up at Loretta's blue eyes that had never been has bright since that cold icy night.

"I've been al'ight, the boys are comin in t'morrow," the teenager girl replied.

"I don't like you bein up there on that mountain alone. I know Ammo ain't gonna let nothin happen to ya, but..." Colt said with a mixture of concern and what seemed like love but Loretta could never tell if he was just being friendly or if it was more.

"We'll be al'ight." Colt stood up and grabbed the bag and walked Loretta out, opening the gas station and truck door for her.

"Why don't we go over to Maddie's and get a pizza? I bet you ain't ate today" Colt smirked.

"What bout Ammo?"

"Momma will take care of 'im."

"Al'ight, Ammo stay with Mrs. Birdie." Both kids climbed in the truck and headed to Maddie's Pizza in the next county.

"Let me stay with you t'night. Just till ya brothers come in. I just don't feel right bout you up 'ere with nobody. I'll sleep on the couch or in the boys old room. Please Lori."

Colt had a odd tone in his voice one Loretta had only heard when her daddy spoke to her momma.

"Colt, folks will talk y'know 'at. And what if Rooster sees you 'ere? He'd kill you," Loretta said. "And don't look at me with 'em bright green eyes."

"Loretta Jane, I 'on't care what folks say, they'll gossip till the Lord comes back. And I didn't know Rooster was back but, it don't change the fact I worry bout you."

"I know, Colt. And yes Rooster got back in the states last night. He's with RC and Ryder."

At Maddie's the two continued to fuss over Colt staying. Colt slid in the booth next to Loretta rather than across, that was pretty normal for the two. They ate their pizza and Loretta finally gave in.

"Fine. But no drinkin or smokin," Loretta said, "those were Daddy's rules for when friends came over and no one else was home and I'm stickin to 'em"

"Lori, when did we ever folla those rules before?" Colt asked.

"Things are different now." She had a tear in her eye.

Colt hugged her and said, "al'ight then, 'ems the rules darlin."

Colt paid for the meal like he always did, Loretta finally got to the point she didn't argue with him about who would pay, and they headed back to Wayland.