Belinda

by Colleen Coble

  Belinda felt limp and weak from the stress of the confrontation. She really shouldn’t have spoken to Alice like that. She sent a quick prayer for forgiveness heavenward then went to the bedroom to change. Horseback riding was the last thing she wanted to do right now. She’d have to put a smile on her face and pretend to be happy and joyous when her whole world was falling apart. That final parting shot of Alice’s meant real trouble. She just might call the lawyer tomorrow. Then what would she do? Near tears, she found her jacket and picked up her car keys. She was in charge of this little get-together, so she had no choice but to go. She prayed for strength, then got in her rusty Escort and headed toward church.

  The parking lot was full of cars when she pulled in. Dawn waved at her when she stopped and got out. She was talking to a man wearing a Stetson hat, and Belinda’s heart gave a jump. It had to be Rick. She hadn’t known he was coming. Dawn must have invited him. She pinned a smile in place and walked toward them.

  Rick looked good. Too good for her peace of mind. His jeans were dark and almost looked starched with a center press like the country western stars wore. His snakeskin boots gleamed, and the black shirt stretching across his wide shoulders darkened his gray eyes. Dawn waved at Belinda and darted over to talk to another group. She was the greeter in the class.

  Belinda stopped beside Rick. “Hi,” she said.

  “Hi yourself,” he said softly. “Where’s Andi?”

  She relaxed. He really was just interested in Andi. It would keep things a lot simpler if it stayed that way.

  “She’s with my mother-in-law,” she told him.

  His eyes raked her face. “What’s wrong?”

  How had he known she was upset? She’d been careful to keep the smile pinned on. She forced her smile wider. “Nothing’s wrong.” She tried to change the subject. “I didn’t know you were coming. I suppose you can ride?”

  He gave a snort of laughter. “Do I look like a greenhorn to you?”

  She smiled. “You look like you could rope a calf with one hand and wrestle bulls with the other.”

  He took her elbow and guided her a bit farther away from the group. “Don’t think you can sidetrack me. I’m like a lamb clinging to its mother. I know something’s wrong. You can tell me about it.”

  Tears welled up in Belinda’s eyes, and a lump grew in her throat. It had been such a long time since she’d had anyone to share her burdens with. It somehow seemed unspiritual to even admit everything wasn’t always wonderful and joyful, so she usually kept her worries to herself and tried to concentrate on helping others with their problems. She blinked back the tears and told him about her argument with Alice.

  “That woman sounds like a menace.” His expression was grim. “Do you think she’ll really close down Timeless Treasures?”

  “I have a feeling this is it,” Belinda admitted. “I think I pushed her over the edge.”

  “It’s not your fault,” he said. “You’ve been way too patient with her meddling.” His warm fingers touched her chin, and he tilted her face up so he could gaze into her eyes. “You put a smile on that pretty face today and remember God is in charge of this situation. Let’s have a fun time, and we’ll worry about this later.”

  Belinda swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded, then followed him to the church van. He’d called her pretty! She suddenly felt pretty. Even Andrew had never called her pretty. He said she looked interesting, whatever that meant. She glanced at Rick through her lashes. Did he really see her that way? She gave a rueful grin. There was no accounting for tastes.

  Sam drove the church van, and Rick rode in the other front seat as navigator. The trip to Logansport went quickly, and Belinda was surprised to find she was enjoying herself.

  She was given a black mare with a white blaze on her forehead. Rick pulled his gray mule beside her and smiled down at her. “First time I ever rode a mule,” he said. “This fellow is huge. He must be eighteen hands. Richard said his mother was a Belgian.”

  Their guide, Richard, led them out of the stable and down the track to the meadow. They went single file, and some of the trees hung so low Rick had to duck to avoid being brushed off. When they came to the creek, Richard stopped and warned them to be careful and go across single file. This was the part of the trip Belinda hated. In her mind, she could see herself pitching over the horse’s head and landing in the water. The water ran swift, but it wasn’t deep, so she wasn’t quite sure why the thought bothered her so much. She was the last one across. Her horse dipped down for a drink, and she jerked on the reins after a minute to get the mare moving again. She felt relieved to be safely on the other side with no mishap.

  They reached the meadow, and Richard told them how to press down with their feet in the stirrups to avoid being jarred when cantering. Belinda caught Rick’s grin and knew he could probably do a better job of instructing than their guide. He was a good sport to go along with everything, though. She forced her attention back to the instructor. Dawn was eager to try and took off across the meadow, with Rick shouting encouragement as he galloped beside her. It was a beautiful sight with the gelding’s mane and tail flowing in the wind. Belinda wished she could be more adventurous like her friend. By the time everyone else was cantering and galloping around the meadow, she had finally gathered enough courage to try it herself. She didn’t want Rick to know what a complete coward she was.

  She dug her heels into the mare’s flank and leaned slightly forward like she’d been told. The mare took off like she’d been shot out of a cannon. The force of the forward leap caused Belinda to lose her balance, and her right foot came out of the stirrup. Her foot shot into the air, and she flipped off the saddle backwards and landed on the ground. The force of the fall pushed the air out of her lungs, and she lay there a moment gasping for breath. Finally rolling over to her stomach to get to her feet, she found herself face-to-face with a snake.

  Its tongue forked out of its mouth, and it raised its head and stared at her. Her tongue dried up in her mouth, and she froze in place. She wanted to scream, but the muscles in her throat wouldn’t work; the only sound she could make was a faint rattling sound. The snake’s head came down, and its tongue flicked her hand, then it slithered across her arm. That broke her paralysis. She leaped to her feet and shrieked at the top of her lungs. Dancing around in a circle, she shrieked again and again. Her horse bolted for quieter parts, Dawn’s horse reared and threw her to the ground, and the guide stopped in midsentence with his mouth hanging open. Rick had been at the opposite end of the meadow instructing Sam, but he turned his mule and galloped to her side at the commotion she was making.

  He slid out of the saddle and took her arm to calm her. At the touch of his fingers, she practically climbed into his arms. Realization dawned on his face, and he picked her up and carried her toward the woods.

  “A snake, a snake,” she sobbed. She buried her face in his neck and felt his arms tighten around her. She shuddered again at the memory of the feel of the snake’s scales against her skin.

  Rick patted her back and murmured to her. “It’s okay; I’ve got you. The snake is gone.”

  Moments later the rest of the class members had clustered around her. When Dawn heard about the snake, she shuddered. “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get out of Dodge and back to civilization.”

  “Me, too,” Sally Montel said. “I don’t want to see a snake.”

  At the sound of the disquieted murmurs around her, Belinda gathered herself together and slid out of Rick’s arms. She was reluctant to leave the safety of his embrace, but she couldn’t let her terror ruin the day for the rest of the class. With a final shudder, she squared her shoulders and raised her hand to quiet the group.

  “Sorry I was such a ninny,” she said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “I’m not leaving until I learn how to gallop. The snake is gone, so let’s mount up and have some fun!”

  Rick’s mouth dropped open, but he quickly closed it and gave her an approving smil
e. She felt warmed by his approval. It gave impetus to her resolve, and she gingerly stepped across the meadow to catch hold of her mare’s reins.

  Rick was right behind her. “You’re something, you know that?” He twisted a curl around his finger and gazed down into her eyes. “Scared to death, but brave all at the same time.” He grinned. “Has anyone ever told you what your name means?”

  When she shook her head, he leaned forward. “Beautiful serpent,” he whispered in her ear. “Funny how your namesake just opened my eyes a bit. You’re beautiful, Belinda, inside and out.” He helped her into the saddle and adjusted her stirrups before going off to find his own mount.

  Bemused, she stared after him. From pretty to beautiful. The man was blind, but she couldn’t help the warm feelings the words gave her. Unfortunately, she knew he’d open his eyes soon and see her as she really was. Belinda realized she hated to think of that day.

  Chapter 5

  The next few weeks flew by. Timeless Treasures was busy as people tried to get some last-minute projects done before the temperatures plummeted and snow fell. Belinda had a run on porch posts and gingerbread as well as the usual bathtubs and stained-glass windows. She felt very thankful for the income, especially since she didn’t know just what Alice was planning. She felt as though she were walking on a minefield every time the phone rang or she went to the mailbox.

  She was washing windows when Andi came barreling into the west display room that housed the lighting fixtures. “Mommy, Mommy!” Skidding in her haste, she nearly knocked her mother off the ladder.

  “Be careful, Andi,” Belinda scolded.

  “Mommy, the mailer man has a letter for you. He says you have to sign it.”

  Belinda’s heart dropped. It must be a registered letter. There was only one person who would send her a registered letter. She laid her squeegee on the top of the ladder and climbed slowly down. Her heart pounded so hard, she felt as though she might suffocate. She followed Andi to the front display room and signed the card for the mailman. Mallory & Mallory, Attorneys at Law was in the upper left-hand corner. Tears came to her eyes, and she just held the letter in her hand for a moment and stared at it. Her life was about to change, and she didn’t know how she could handle the confrontation barreling toward her. She prayed quickly for strength, then opened the letter with numb fingers.

  The cream sheet of linen stationery informed her that she must vacate the premises within thirty days, and that, furthermore, Mrs. Alice Mitchell was suing for custody of the minor child Andi Mitchell. The words blurred in front of her eyes, and she felt faint. With one swoop, her mother-in-law was taking away her livelihood and attempting to take her child. Did she hate her so much? Biting her lip, Belinda fought the tears welling in her eyes. She’d tried to get close to Alice over the years, but Andrew’s mother had always felt her son had married beneath him. Her daughter-in-law was too plain, too poor, and too pious, all things Belinda couldn’t change.

  “Mommy, why are you crying?” Andi tugged at her hand, her blue eyes anxious.

  “I’m all right, pum’kin.” She scooped her into her arms. “Are you ready for some lunch?”

  “Can I have Spaghetti-Os?” She smacked her lips and peeked at Belinda.

  “You had Spaghetti-Os yesterday. Wouldn’t you like something different? How about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?”

  “No!” She wiggled to get down.

  Belinda set her on the floor, and her daughter raced toward the kitchen. “Okay, you can have Spaghetti-Os.” She went numbly about the task of preparing lunch, but inside she felt like a quivering child afraid of the dark. She longed for someone with whom she could share her burden. After lunch, she could call one of her three camp friends. They were far enough away from the situation that they could give some perspective. She hated to bother Collette. She’d talked to her last week, and she’d been tearful and frightened of California. Maybe she’d call Dani or Amanda.

  She put Andi down for a nap after lunch, then sank weakly onto the sofa. She knew she had to contact a lawyer, but she couldn’t seem to get past the paralyzing fear. She wanted to throw herself across the bed and let out the tears she’d been choking back. The business doorbell buzzed, and she forced herself to her feet. How could she go out there and smile when her heart was breaking? She wiped at her face and opened the door.

  Rick’s engaging grin faded when he saw her face. He pushed his Stetson back and simply held out his arms, and she fell into them. She released all the tears she’d been holding back since she got the mail. His chest was broad and firm, and she could smell the freshness of the fabric softener he used mingled with the musky scent of his skin. It was a comforting smell that made her feel safe and protected. Rick patted her back and let her cry. After a few minutes, he guided her toward the sofa and sat down, pulling her onto his lap. Still she sobbed, and he stroked her hair and held her close.

  After a while she lifted her head and hiccupped. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  He thumbed away a tear from her wet face. “Don’t apologize,” he said. “I was glad I was here. You needed to get that out. What’s wrong? Did you hear from your mother-in-law?”

  Her jaw dropped. “How did you know?”

  “Only something catastrophic would make you cry like that. Want to tell me about it?”

  When she explained what the letter said, he frowned. “I have a friend in Fort Wayne who’s a crackerjack lawyer. Want me to call him?”

  “I don’t know if I can afford him,” she said haltingly.

  “He’s a friend. It won’t be expensive. Get me the phone, and I’ll call right now.”

  Sliding off his lap, she wished she could stay in the warm haven of his arms. She’d made a complete fool of herself, but he didn’t seem to mind. She handed him the phone, and he punched in the numbers. While he was talking, she washed the few lunch dishes and tried not to fret. The Bible said not to worry, and though it was hard to leave it in the Lord’s hands, that’s exactly what she had to do. She thanked God for sending Rick to help her. She’d felt so alone, but now she felt strong enough to tackle the problem.

  He came into the kitchen with a smile on his face. “Charles says the first thing we have to do is find you another job or another location for your business. Which do you prefer?”

  Neither solution held much promise. She didn’t have the money to rent another location big enough to house the stock, and she had no skills for another job. She opened her mouth to tell him so, when he smiled as though a light had dawned.

  “Let me see if I can get her to reconsider. You try not to worry about it.” He sprawled on the sofa and grinned up at her. “I don’t suppose you would like to sit on my lap again, would you?”

  She felt the hot color sweep up her cheeks, and she shook her head. She wanted to nod and go right back to his arms, but she knew it wasn’t wise. She had to guard her heart. He would soon find some beautiful girl who deserved him. In the meantime, she could at least take care of him as best she could. “How about some lunch?”

  Jacob Mallory made a teepee with his fingers, pursed his lips, and stared at Rick speculatively. “Where did you hear about this property being for sale, Mr. Storm?”

  “I stopped by to buy some lighting fixtures, and the owner mentioned she wouldn’t be open much longer.” Rick was not impressed with Mr. Mallory. He oozed self-confidence with his three-piece suit, slicked-back hair, and round yuppie glasses. But Rick didn’t have to like the man; he just had to do business with him. He didn’t trust him, though, not even as far as the next room.

  Mr. Mallory named the asking price; Rick dickered with him a bit, and they settled on a price. Rick whipped a purchase agreement out of his briefcase, filled out the amount, and wrote him out a check as earnest money.

  Mr. Mallory smiled thinly. “I see you came prepared.”

  “I’m a builder, Mr. Mallory. I buy a lot of property. I didn’t become successful by lack of preparation.” Rick normally didn’t brag,
but the smarmy man got his goat. He didn’t want him to think he was dealing with an amateur. “I want you to call Belinda Mitchell and tell her the property has been sold, but that the new owner is not in any hurry, and that she may stay there rent free until further notice. It will be at least a year.”

  He felt about ten feet tall when he left the office building on Canal Street. Now he had to figure out how to give it to Belinda without her getting all prickly about it. He’d been thrilled when she came right into his arms today. Maybe she was beginning to care about him. Holding her had felt so right. She was the only woman he could imagine as his wife. He wanted to build her a beautiful neo-Victorian home and fill it with their children. The house could ring with the sounds of love and laughter. He just had to convince Belinda.

  He could hear Andi’s Sesame Street tape playing the theme song when he got out of his Jeep. It was nearly six o’clock, but he hoped they hadn’t had supper yet. He felt like celebrating. Wait until Mrs. Mitchell found out just who owned Timeless Treasures! He suppressed a grin. He had to wait for the right time to let Belinda know, too. She wouldn’t take kindly to charity. If he ever broke through her defenses, this building would make a great wedding gift.

  When she opened the door, he caught her in a bear hug. After a moment’s hesitation, she hugged him back, then pulled away with an embarrassed look on her face.

  “I can’t believe it!” Her eyes were shining.

  “What?” He figured the only thing it could be was that the Mallory fellow had already called.

  “This place has been sold already, but I don’t have to move. They aren’t in any hurry and won’t need it for at least a year. I can stay here rent free. It gives me some time to figure out what to do. That’s so much better than I’d even hoped for. At least I don’t have to deal with Alice anymore.”

  “Well, that’s great news! Let’s celebrate. I’ll take you both to Bob Evans.” He stepped farther into the living room and called to Andi. “Hey, Kemosabe, you want to go out to eat?”