Sweet Little Lies

Ch. 17 Whipped

Ajax West
    Watching Harp run to the barn after taughting me with sexual suggestions I cant stop the string of profanities flowing from my mouth. She laughs loudly making me even more irritable. She and Remy make their way to her parents house arm and arm talking happily. I watch their progress until the front door opens and Mrs. Morgan steps out. As always she looks like the perfect Rachers wife compete with her floral apron I hardly ever see her without. She greets Harps friend with warmth and affection. I still don't understand why the guy would want to meet her so badly, I'm sure its a joke of some kind between those two.
I'm not sure how I'm supposed to handle the situation and its putting me on edge. Harp's ex-boyfriend, now friend has showed up on her doorstep without any notice. And he's staying with me, shouldn't be awkward at all. It's not that I don't trust her, I do. But to say I'm suspicions and weary of his actions is an understatement. I hear Dan and Clint banging on a tractor thats older than I am. It was bought brand new for my mothers father, but over the years it seems like we spend more time fixing it than running it. "What is it now I ask?"
"Looks like the belt. Second one this month." Dan answers, bringing up a black split belt.
"I think its time to start looking at a new tractor."
"Its about time. We've got more man hours on this hunk of junk that all of the other equipment combined." Clint says, unwrapping a new belt.
Shifting uncomfortably I ask, "What'd you guys think of Harps friend?"
Clint shrugs, "Nice enough, fellow. A talker though."
"I got the same impression." I agree.
"He says he's visiting for a couple days, that he wanted to surprise Harp. Not sure where he thinks he's going to stay, though." Dan says, taking the belt from Clint.
I groan. "Harp talked me into letting him stay here."
Dan chuckles and Clint whistles. "That, Sir. Is what you call, "whipped."
"Fuck off." I grumble. I don't know why I thought talking to these assholes was going to make me feel any better.
"Let me get this straight. Harps ex is here and you're going to offer him comfortable accommodations?" Clint questions, throwing his head back laughing.
"They're not together anymore. They're just friends." I state, annoyed.
"Oh, yeah sure. And he's here just to say hello, before he goes back to Flagstaff." Clint replies, sarcastically.
The way they're looking at me, like I'm the biggest idiot in the world has me seeing red. "What are you implying?" I ask, gruffly.
Dan scoffs. "He's here for Harper you moron."
"Did he say that?" I question, feeling my blood pressure rise.
"No, but you don't travel this far just to see a "Friend". I'd watch your six if I were you." He responds, turning back to the tractor.
I look at the Morgan house, is that what he's doing here? I'll kill him before I let him take Harp from me.
"Why don't you stop looking at the house, and go stake your claim? Show him just what your relationship with Harper is, before he gets any ideas." Clint advises. I nod, yeah that makes sense. I cant trust a guy that would drop everything to come see his "Friend," There is a motive and I think the guys are right as to the reason why. They wont be alone together for the remainder of his time here, not if I can help it.
"Yeah, good idea." I reply, not looking back I walk to the Morgan home and let myself in. I smell coffee and baking. The sound of talking and laughter stops when I walk in. "Ajax, sweetheart." Mrs. Morgan says, coming to give my a hug and kiss, like she always does. "What are you doing here? Have you ate?"
Answering her second question first I respond, "Yeah, we ate in town." Looking at Harp. "I figured I get to play hookie if Harp does."
Her eyebrow raises but if she is suspicious of what I'm doing she doesn't say anything. I watch her stand up from the kitchen table, and turn towards the counter, "Coffee?" She asks, already reaching for a cup.
"Please." I answer, joining Remmy and Mrs. Morgan at the table. "Looks like you were right about the apple pie." I comment as she slides a chipped red mug in front of me.
She huffs loudly. "Was their any doubt?"
I smile. "Nope. Our Mrs. Morgan is a creature of habit." I agree, lifting the coffee to my mouth.
"And here I thought we were soulmates." Remmy, comments. Smiling widely at Mrs. Morgan. "I thought our mutual love to drag Harper kicking and screaming to parties and embarrass her was a match made in heaven."
Mrs. Morgan laughs, "She does hate to be the center of attention and she loathes crowds. I could never understand her." She admits, smiling weakly at Harp.
Clearing her throat Harp says, "The only habit Remmy has is Brushing his teeth."
"True." He nods. "I find plans ruin the excitement in life." He explains. Harp scoffs loudly at his explanation. Smirking at Harp he adds, "Your daughter is a lot like you."
Mrs. Morgan smiles at his statement and asks, "Is that why you guys broke up?"
There's an awkward silence and I see the tension in Remmy's body language. "Harper?" He asks, looking at her to explain. She glances my way then back at Remmy. "It was part of it. We are two very different people." She clarifies. "Definitely better off as friends. If we would've stayed together I'm sure I would've killed him by now." She states, narrowing her eyes at him from across the table, jokingly.
"You say that, but I know the real reason." He argues, confidently.
She sits back in her chair and crosses her arms. "This should be good."
"You were always planning on coming back to Montana. As soon as we got close you closed the door to anything else but friendship. We might be two different people, but in the end you just didn't want to start something you didn't plan on finishing. I was up against Montana and I lost."
She nods, admitting. "You're right. I loved my time outside of the Ranch and small town life, but in the end every night and every morning I wanted to come back home."
"That would've been good to know, Harp. We all thought you were going to stay in Arizona." I say, quietly. Turning to look at her accusingly. I wouldn't have missed so much sleep had I know that she always planned on coming home.
"I realize that, now." She, replies.
"Ajax and Harper have started to see each other." She whispers, to Remmy loud enough for all of us to hear. Remmy's face is priceless and I smirk into my coffee mug.
"Mother!" Harp yells, embarrassed.
"What? Its not a secret anymore. Kira called and said your lunch was, how did she put it? "Hotter than the Sahara Desert." The whole town knows." I laugh as Harp covers her face.
"One thing I did forget is the gossips in this town." She groans, mortified.
"It ain't gossip if its true." She sings, happily picking up another apple.
"I bet you already talked to Phillis Gould about the wedding invitations and Deborah O'Kelley about the flowers." She accuses.
"Don't forget Kim at the bakery." I add, amused. Harps reaction to my helpfulness tells me I'm not being useful.
"Of course I did. I want to get a good price." Mrs Morgan replies, proudly. There is a moment of silence before she continues, "We just got to make sure we get our order in by the end of next month. Thats when the discount ends."
"Mother!" Harp, shouts exasperated.