also peering downward, her eyes huge. “Why, of all the outlandish . . . Do you suppose Molly’s right and this here fella really is from the future?”
Jessica, too, looked awed. “I never would have thought . . . but after looking at his wallet and this . . . well, I must admit it’s looking more and more possible.”
By now Lucky was thoroughly perplexed, not sure what to believe. And although he was not a particu larly modest man, his face was burning. These two women, babbling away about the future, were likely as crazy as the minx who had kidnapped him, and their frank perusal and blunt talk were tormenting the hell out of him. “Will you two ladies kindly quit staring at my crotch?” he managed, mortified to hear his voice crack.
Both of the ladies burst out laughing. “Full of piss and vinegar, ain’t he?” asked Grandma. “He’ll be a right good match for our Molly”
“Possibly,” mused Jessica. She reached for the zipper. “Now relax, son, so we can have a look at your injuries.”
He seized her wrist. “Hey, lady, that ain’t where I’m injured.”
“I know” she soothed in motherly tones. “But we can’t exactly look at the rest of you without pulling off your pants, now can we?”
Lucky was reduced to pleading. “Ma’am, please, just show me to your phone and I’ll be out of here in two shakes.”
She shook her head. “I’m afraid we don’t have a tele phone out here on the ranch.”
“Though they do have some of them newfangled contraptions in town,” added Grandma.
“Newfangled?” Lucky repeated in bewilderment.
Jessica’s lips curved with amusement. “Don’t worry about that now. So your name’s Lucky Lamont, eh?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Much as Lucky hated to admit it, this woman had a calming effect on him.
She carefully unzipped him and began tugging down the tight jeans. “Well, Lucky, you seem to be one lucky fellow.” She ran a hand down one leg, then the other. “You’re bruised up, but no signs of anything bro ken here.”
“He’s well endowed, too,” put in Grandma with a grin.
“Ma!” Jessica scolded, while Lucky turned every shade of purple.
Unrepentant, Grandma scowled at Jessica. “Well, we need to make sure he didn’t lose none of his essentials when he crashed into that there gorge. All his child- making equipment looks intact to me.” She pointed at Lucky’s briefs. “And as skimpy as that undergarment is, it leaves nothing to the imagination, if you know what I mean.”
Both women took another look.
“Will you two please quit staring at my privates?” Lucky implored.
The ladies only laughed again, then removed his shirt and began seeing to his many cuts and scratches, cleaning them with soap and water. Although at first the soap stung, causing him to grimace and grind his teeth, once the cool compresses were applied, Lucky had to admit the ladies’ ministrations felt good.
Their touch was a damn lot more soothing than that of the hellcat who had hauled him back here.
Afterward, Grandma dried her hands. “He’ll live but could use a good soaking in Epsom salts. I’ll go ready a bath for him while you tug off that underwear.”
The woman lumbered out of the room, and Lucky glowered at Jessica, pressing his hands to his crotch. “ Touch it and I’ll kill you, lady.”
She winked. “Don’t worry, son, we’ll allow you a little dignity.”
Scant little, Lucky grumbled to himself.
As if reading his thoughts, she touched his arm and spoke solemnly. “Lucky, I know a lot has happened to you, a lot of bizarre things you can’t possibly under stand right now. In time, I’ll try to explain it to you. You see, it all happened to me, too. It has to do with your destiny.”
Lucky eyed her askance. What the hell was going on here? Was she the same Jessica he had heard about, the one who had disappeared? If so, had the same wacko cult kidnapped her, as well?
***
“I had a bath, too, right after I first arrived
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley