Joint Venture

by Tey Holden

  “And we will rebuild, Marshall. We’ll have ourselves a better facility. We’ll install a security system with cameras and alarms. We will go with the best. I’ll make sure this does not happen again.” Addy remarked. Until now, all the security had been focused on the cottage and the Manor house.

  “The apartment burned also. All our stuff, except a few items of clothes we got out in time,” Carol commented.

  “I’m so sorry Carol. We’ll put you up in the Manor house until we rebuild. I think we should make the new living area a cottage detached from the stables. This will not happen again.” Addy repeated.

  Carol cheered up some with the news of a new cottage. But both women were so exhausted and emotionally drained that Carol began to cry. Marshall quickly comforted her.

  “As soon as we are done with breakfast, I’ll take you over to the Manor house so you can settle in, and don’t worry, the insurance will cover everything. The security company already called them. They are going to investigate also.”

  “I think the investigation could take a while.” Addressing Karen, Marshall continued to speak. “Karen, there was no reason for the fire. I check the stables, tack room, and all of the surrounding property every day and all was fine yesterday. Also, last night there was no lightning or anything else that could have caused a fire.” Then she turned to face Addy. “I’m sorry, Addy, I know this is not what you want to hear, but it’s how I feel, and I have to say what I feel. I suspect foul play.”

  “Thank you for your frankness, Marshall. You did well, certainly above the call of duty.” Addy replied.

  “You don’t need to thank me, Addy. We think of you as family and we just did what families do.” Marshall spoke with a firm tone again. Addy was so touched that she couldn’t speak. She walked over to Marshall, tapped her arm and hugged her.

  ***

  Marshall had already made arrangements with a neighboring farm to temporarily board the horses. Unknown to Marshall was the fact that the owner of that neighboring farm was a friend of Isabella Ludwig, whom Addy and Karen met at one of Isabella’s party. It was customary for Isabella to hold private parties for her business acquaintances and friends, among which were Addy and Karen.

  Isabella, who claimed not ever having lesbian friends in her entire life, was fascinated with Addy and Karen’s relationship. After Addy told her the story of how she and Karen had met and ended up together, Isabella told her that if she had ever found a woman to love her like she and Karen loved each other, she would have never married a man. She was often heard saying that men lacked a ‘je ne sais quoi,’ which left them only suitable for procreation and nothing else. It was at one of Isabella’s parties that Addy and Karen met Richard Brenton, the owner of the neighboring farm.

  Karen didn’t like the idea of the horses staying at the Brenton farm. She had only agreed to it because it was the closest and best-suited farm. She was not overly fond of Richard Brenton. When they first met at Isabella’s party, he showed interest in Addy and invited her to dinner. He quickly backed off when he realized that he was treading on thin ice. As soon as he knew that Addy was very much ‘taken’ he apologized to both of them with great Scottish chivalry. However, even after the situation cleared, the thought that someone else had ‘eyed’ Addy did not sit well with Karen.

  Addy insisted that Karen stay with Alex at home. Karen didn’t want her gone either but someone had to go with Marshal to take Alejandro to his new temporary quarters. After they dropped Carol off at the Manor house, Marshall and Addy delivered Alejandro and the mare to the Brenton Farm. Then she and Marshall headed back home by way of the stables.

  Some of the stable hands were there with the other horses getting ready to take them to the Brenton farm. Fortunately, when Addy decided to concentrate her efforts on Alejandro, she had stopped boarding other horses. In addition to Alejandro and the mare, there were only four other horses at the stables, which also belonged to them.

  When Addy saw the stables, her heart sunk. Her eyes filled with tears when she saw the devastation. Marshall saw the pain on her face and put her arm around her. “It will be alright, Addy. We will rebuild.”

  “I know, Marshall. It’s just that I cannot comprehend evil. You have no idea what this is doing to my Karen. It kills her to know that her own blood might be behind all of this!” She pointed to the scorched buildings. There was nothing left, just the remains of structures, and the lingering smell of smoke.

  “You cannot comprehend evil because you are a good person, Addy. Come on, let’s go. It doesn’t do you any good staying here either. Let me take you home.”

  While Addy was gone, Karen called Phillip and told him what happened.

  “What do you want to do?” Phillip asked with concern.

  “That private investigator you know in London, contact him. I’d like to set up a conference call. I want to get to the bottom of this, and I want Police Scotland to feel the pressure.”

  “Okay. I will call him right now.”

  “Thanks, Phillip.”

  The meeting was set up before Addy was back. The minute Addy walked in, Karen felt immediate relief. She had been standing next to the window looking out for her. She quickly brought her up to date.

  “When is the conference and where?”

  “Tonight, in my office. I want this moving quickly.”

  “What are we doing with Alex?”

  “I’d like you to stay here with her. Addy, I need to do this personally. And I need to know that Alex is safe with you. I also don’t want her around all this talk. I don’t want her to be frightened.”

  “Okay.” Addy didn’t like the idea of having to separate again, but agreed knowing that Karen was right.

  After their conversation, Karen still appeared to be hesitant. Addy sensed it and asked. “What else is bothering you?”

  “Addy, I’m concerned with Alex and school. What if—.”

  “Let me think and worry about that. I’ll take care of it.”

  Karen hugged her. “I love you, baby. You give me the peace that keeps me together.” She kissed her on the head.

  “I have you, sweetie, I have you.” Addy kissed her also.

  Awake now, Alex emerged from the rec room. “M’Addy, can I have some lunch?”

  “Sure, sweetie pie. What do you want?”

  “Pizza.”

  Addy was still looking at Karen’s hypnotic stare. ”Go on Addy, make the pizza.” She kissed her, slapped her on the butt, in her usual way, and Addy went to the kitchen to make lunch for them.

  “Mommy Karen, can we go to the pool?”

  Addy replied when Karen didn’t, she could tell that Karen’s mind was somewhere else. “Maybe later, sweetie.”

  The phone rang and Karen picked up, it was the constable. He and the fire chief wanted to come over and talk to them.

  “Yes, we will be here.”

  ***

  When the constable and fire chief arrived later that afternoon, Karen greeted him at the door.

  “Good afternoon, ma’am. We’d like to talk to you about the fire.”

  Alex, who had not been told about the fire yet, immediately opened her huge eyes in surprise. She said nothing, but her inquisitive eyes were fixed on the constable and Karen. Karen invited the men to the living room, and noticing Alex’s eyes on her, she looked to Addy for help. Addy immediately caught on and took Alex to the rec room in the back.

  As they walked into the room, the question was immediate. “M’Addy, was there a fire?”

  “Come here, Little Bit.” Alex sat on her lap, and Addy wrapped her arms around her.

  “Alex, I always tell you everything, and when you ask me questions, I answer them, right?”

  “Right.”

  “So, I’m going to tell you what happened, and then you can ask.”

  “The first thing I need to tell you is that Alejandro and his mommy went for a little vacation.”

  Alex gasped, “a vacation?”

  “Yes. He and
his mommy went to visit their friends there at a nearby stable.”

  “When will they be back?”

  “Alex, the reason they went on vacation is because they need a place to stay while we rebuild our stables.”

  “Why?”

  Addy couldn’t bring herself to tell Alex about the fire. She wanted to make it sound like inconsequential, but how is a fire ever inconsequential? There was no way around the incident. “Well, Alex, this is what happened, last night there was a fire in our stables and that is why Alejandro and his mommy went to visit their friends at that other farm.”

  Alex’s eyes were huge now. “A fire!”

  “Yes, sweetie. I’m afraid so. We don’t know how it happened, but the stables need to be repaired.”

  Alex frowned. What about Silver, Tawny, Ping Pong, and Brut where are they?”

  “They are with Alejandro and his mom at that farm also, until we build our new stables.”

  “We are going to have new stables?”

  “Yes, real pretty ones.” Addy saw the opportunity to lighten the mood and maybe even change the subject.

  “I was wondering about what color to paint them. What color do you think we should paint them? What do you think about pink?” Alex did not like pink. It was unusual for a girl not to like pink, but she didn’t.

  “Ugh! No, M’Addy, who ever heard of pink stables?”

  “You are right! How about purple?”

  “No! M’Addy, how could you have purple buildings? How about red?”

  Addy opened her eyes now and Alex smiled. “Na! Red is too . . . , red?” They laughed. Alex, who loved to be a clown, dropped to the floor laughing.

  She was still on the floor laughing when Karen walked in. She smiled when she saw the refreshing scene. “What’s going on here?”

  “Alex and I were discussing colors for the new stables.”

  Karen looked at Addy in surprise. “You told her?”

  “She asked. We have for sure eliminated pink, purple and red.”

  Karen looked at Alex who was sitting on the floor. “I’m glad that Alejandro and his mommy are visiting their friends,” Alex remarked nodding.

  Karen looked at Addy and smiled when she saw Addy’s grin. “Visiting friends, huh?” Karen was relieved knowing that Addy had been able to give a positive spin to the situation, and that Alex was taking it so well.

  “Mommy Karen, when are they going to start building the new stables?”

  “Well, Alex, it’s going to take some time, but I’m sure we will try to get everything started as soon as possible.”

  “What about Marshall and Carol? Where are they going to live?”

  “They will be staying at the Manor house.”

  “What about Alejandro’s training? Is Gyro still going to ride him?” Alex seemed worried.

  “Yes, we need to call Gyro and tell him that he has to go to the Brenton farm,” Addy replied. Alex didn’t say a word, and Karen wondered if she also didn’t like Brenton.

  “Hey, let me start dinner. Mommy Karen has some work to do tonight.”

  “Can I go to that other farm to see Alejandro?”

  “Yes, I will be the one taking you,” Karen replied and immediately looked at Addy, who rolled her eyes, shook her head, and walked towards the kitchen.

  After they ate, Karen got ready to leave for her meeting at the Manor. “I’ll call you when I get there.” She came close to Addy and whispered in her ear before kissing her. “You know where I keep the gun.”

  “Yes, go in peace, baby. We’ll be fine, you know me.”

  When Karen left the house, she talked to the two security guards outside. “Be on high alert.”

  “Yes, Ma’am. We will be.”

  When she arrived at her office in the Manor, Phillip was already there with the private investigator. He took down all the information and agreed to get back to Karen in a couple of days with a preliminary report. He was hoping to, at least, establish the family’s whereabouts on that night in question and then look at any possible associations of any of them with people who might possibly lend themselves to illegal activities.

  When Karen returned to the cottage, Addy and Alex were resting on the couch in the rec room watching a show on the television. Alex was reclined against her.

  Addy looked up. “Did it go well?”

  “Yes, we can talk later. Now let’s watch this show.” She ruffled Alex’s hair.

  “Mommy!” Alex climbed on her lap and hugged her.

  The three sat on the couch enjoying each other’s company in front of the television, but Addy knew that Karen’s mind was elsewhere. She had just agreed to sit with them to be close to them.

  That night neither woman could find a way to tell Alex to go to sleep. They didn’t want her out of their sight. “I’m sleepy. Mommy, can I sleep in your room? If there’s a fire I don’t want to be alone.”

  The women looked at each other. Karen didn’t know what to say, and it was Addy who replied. “There are not going to be any more fires. Why would there be another fire? But you can sleep in our room if that makes you feel better.”

  Alex spoke in her usual way nodding and wrinkling her nose. “It would make me feel much better, M’Addy. Thank you. I’m going to put on my jammies.” Alex left to go upstairs.

  Karen wiped her face with her hands. “Bastards! I hate what they are doing to us! If they had anything to do with this, I swear—.” She punched one of her hands with her fist.

  “Ker, don’t! Don’t do this to yourself. Come on, let’s bring Alex’ mattress to our room and put it next to our bed. She wants to sleep in our room not our bed.” Addy smiled and wiggled her eyebrows.

  Karen chuckled. “You are a very smart woman. And we are going to have to talk about visits to the Brenton Farm.”

  “I’m not going to dignify that comment with an answer, Ms. Larsen.” Addy kissed her, prompting a slight smile from Karen. They went upstairs and moved Alex’s mattress next to their bed. Alex immediately climbed on it and cuddled with her stuffed toys to sleep. After they kissed her good night, she fell asleep immediately. The women then began to get ready for bed themselves.

  Addy was sitting on the sofa in the sitting room when Karen came out of the bathroom. She sat next to her and told her the details of the conversation with the private investigator. Addy took her hand and remained quiet. “Ker, I’m pretty sure you didn’t, but you didn’t do anything crazy, did you?”

  “Like what? Hire someone to kill them?”

  “Oh God, Ker! Sssh!”

  “No, I didn’t Addy, but I’d be lying if I told you that I haven’t thought about it.”

  “I know, baby. To be honest it has also crossed my mind.”

  Karen caressed Addy’s hair. “Lord! What those bastards have done to us is unpardonable!”

  As they went to sleep, Addy noticed how tense Karen was. “You need to relax, baby.” Addy caressed, massaged her back, and planted small kisses on her neck. It was then when Karen broke down. “I’m afraid, Addy. I’m afraid. It’s our daughter and you and me they are after. My life, Addy, you and Alex are my life, how could I not be afraid? I’m fucking mad too that they continue to mess with us. Maybe I should get someone to come out and beat the heck out of Charles, and then maybe he’d leave us alone. Oh God! I’m so sorry, Addy that you have to go through all this shit again.”

  “Sssh, I love you, and we’ll do whatever we need to do together to overcome all of this. Try and get some sleep. You need to rest and calm down. I don’t want you getting sick over this, plus we still don’t have enough details. Come on, close your eyes and relax.” Karen slowly gave in and fell asleep in Addy’s arms.

  In the middle of the night, Addy noticed that Karen was not in the bed. She thought that Karen had gone to the bathroom, but the bathroom light was off. When she realized that Karen was taking too long coming back, she got up and went to check on her. She found her in the office room checking her gun. Addy said nothing and went back to bed. A
few minutes later, Karen came back in the room and locked the door. She put the gun away in its safe and came back to bed. Still Addy said nothing.

  “Are you mad at me?”

  Addy turned around and snuggled to her. “No.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.” She kissed her on the neck. She could feel Karen’s fast heartbeat.

  Karen began to caress Addy’s hair. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what? I said I’m not mad.”

  “For all the grief this causes you.”

  “Stop apologizing. None of this is your fault.”

  “It’s my dammed family.”

  “We do not choose our families, we are born into them, and we need to deal with them. “Sssh, now. You’ll wake up Alex.”

  “I’ve thought about moving, you know?” Addy listened patiently caressing her hair knowing that Karen needed to talk. “I’d return the property to the monarchy and go back to the States, buy a ranch in Montana or Wyoming and get away from these people and have a normal life.”

  Addy chuckled. “Ker, I hate to mention this, but our lives have never been normal. What the hell are you talking about?”

  Karen chuckled. “True. Actually, if it hadn’t been for you, my life would have been pretty boring. Before I met you I just lived from day to day. You gave me a reason to wake up every morning and look forward to whatever would happen that day, however crazy it was. You made our lives beautiful here.” She was quiet for a little while. “And then you wanted Alex, and she changed our lives. You made a difference in my life, and gave me more than one reason to live.” She was waiting for some sort of response, but when none came, she looked down to find a sleepy smiling Addy. She chuckled, thinking how much she loved her. She looked for Addy’s lips and found them. Even asleep, Addy always responded to her. It was a long, wet, deep kiss. When Karen pulled away she chuckled again. “God, even half asleep you arouse me!” Addy couldn’t hold back and chuckled. “Are you pretending to be asleep, Ms. Addy?”

  Addy smiled and moaned. “Ummm huh.” She cuddled closer to Karen. Karen brought her hand down to explore the back of the southern hemisphere. “Ummm! I think I found something I like.”