"I didn't come about the automobile," John replied with a tilt to his voice that nobody could miss.
Ellis stared at the man for a moment before he recognized who he was. "You're the guy who brought the Pontiac in last week, aren't you?" He paled slightly and took a step back.
"That's right. John Berg's the name." He stood with his hands on his hips.
Ellis stared up at the monstrous man and nervously wiped his hands again. He then swallowed and spoke. "How can I help you, John?"
"I believe you've been spreading nasty rumours about my wife, Anne," continued John with a tone that he used on the ranch to make the dogs cringe.
"It was nothing, Mr. Berg," whimpered Ellis. "I was just joking, that's all."
"That's not what I heard," John continued and cracked his knuckles.
"Calm down," cried back Ellis. "It was nothing."
"Did you or did you not have sex with my wife?" asked John in a voice so quiet he was hardly heard.
Ellis stared around the room as if he was considering whether to make a dash for it but there was nowhere to go. John had discretely taken two sideway steps.
"Only once," he muttered and stared at the floor.
"I see," replied John. "Only once. So I guess every time you deliver a car you fuck the woman there only once."
He stepped forward and Ellis shrank back against the car he had been servicing.
"She asked for it," muttered the terrified mechanic. "Shit man. She invited me in and started a strip right in front of me. You know"
"No I don't," snapped John. "Tell me."
Ellis gulped. "She wore a white blouse with no bra underneath then she undid a couple of buttons. Shit man, do I have to go into the full details?"
"No," John whispered. " But if you ever go near my wife again or tell one other person about your... err... conquest. I'll have you up on an assault and rape charge." He grabbed the man under the chin and squeezed so hard the mechanic's eyes began to bulge. "Understand?"
"Yes. Yes, Mr. Berg."
“...And my methods won't be quite so civilized next time,’” John stared directly into the other man's eyes and squeezed his arm in a vice like grip. “I don't like little wimps hurting my family. Understand that, too."
"Sure, John. Sure."
John stared at the man for a second, let him go and stalked out the garage.
*
That night and all the next day, John said hardly a word to his wife. Late on Saturday night as he dressed for bed, Anne slipped on her nightgown and walked across to him.
"What's wrong honey?" she said and put her arms around him.
He stared at her in the faint light of the bedside lamp and watched her heaving bosom beneath the garment. Pangs of jealousy and regret flowed through his mind. Why did she do this? Surely he had treated her well through the years. Their sex life was still regular and fulfilling. What was wrong with her? He blinked and fought back his emotions. It was as if a stranger was standing opposite him, not a wife and companion for the last dozen years.
"I talked to Rick this week," he said slowly.
"So," she replied. "Is something wrong at the garage?"
"No," John replied. "He told me about Allan Ellis, his mechanic."
Anne stared up at her husband and a shudder vibrated through her body. Huge tears swelled out of her eyes and a heart-rending sob came out of her throat. She stood there with tears streaming out of her eyes before she dashed out of the room, ran into the bathroom and slammed the door.
John followed her into the hallway just as eight year old Julie came out of the opposite bedroom door.
"What have you done to Mom, Daddy?" she screamed. "Leave her alone."
John turned and glanced at his elder daughter with compassion. "It's nothing I've done, Julie. Nothing at all! Go back to bed."
"What is it, Daddy?" she continued in a quieter voice. "You've walked around like a zombie all weekend and now this terrific argument. If you're having trouble with the ranch, don't take it out on the family."
"Oh Julie, it's not the ranch. Your Mom and I have had a wee problem, that's all."
Before he realized it, huge sobs wrenched through his body and tears burst from his eyes. He turned and was about to walk outside when Julie rushed up and hugged him. She buried her face in his and cried uncontrollably while at the same time tried to comfort her father. For several moments father and daughter stood in the hallway before he kissed her cheek and stepped back.
"It's my fault, I guess," he said. "Don't blame your mother. I've been so wrapped up in the ranch over the last year and a half I've neglected her. Go to bed Julie. We'll work it out."
"You don't deserve this, Daddy."
John smiled and watched as she walked back to her bedroom. He turned, glanced at the closed bathroom door and entered to his own room.
Twenty minutes later Anne came into the darkened room and climbed into her side of the bed. She rolled over and cuddled in close to him. He rolled towards her and brushed the tears that were still coming down her cheeks away. They made passionate love with more emotion and lust than enjoyed for years. Afterwards, Anne lay in the darkness with her hand in his.
"I'm sorry, John," she said quietly. "I really am. Please forgive me."
"I already have," he replied.
He moved his hand to cup her breasts in his hand. Weeks later the memory of that night came back for, in hindsight, he realized he had felt a small lump on her right breast on that fateful night.
*
"I found out later that she had had several one night stands with various men around," John continued.
"Oh John, I'm so sorry," Kylena placed her arms around him.
"It was just her, I guess. She was one of those popular girls in our student days and I think she didn't like growing older. She was quite depressed when her thirtieth birthday arrived. After that episode with the mechanic she settled down for a while. That was when we began to plan our emigration to New Zealand. I think at the back of my mind, I thought a new environment might change her," he shrugged. "It didn't. After she became ill she began again."
"You mean sleeping around?"
John nodded. "Because of her illness, I turned a blind eye. Fiona knew, though, and stepped in to help with the children." He sighed. "When the cancer became more advanced, Anne stopped her affairs and, for a while, became her old self. The cancer went into recess for a while but when the end came, it was horrendous. In the matter of a few weeks she was reduced to just skin and bone and was in constant pain. Her death was, in some ways a blessing."
He squeezed his companion close. "I wouldn't wish those last two on my worst enemy," he whispered.
*
CHAPTER 8
"One day a stranger turned up at my school to enrol his children," Kylena whispered with a twinkle in her eyes as she swung back on the couch with her arms around her knees and gazed at John sitting beside her. "He was a huge bulk of a man with a soft American accent. I remember thinking he was about to tell me he was going to enrol his children at Junction Road School, but he didn't."
"It seemed stupid to travel ten miles when there was a school across the road," John said with a chuckle. "Mind you the teacher was a good looker, too."
"Somewhat harassed, if I remember."
"But beautiful just the same." John exclaimed and glanced at his watch. "You know it is after one. I must away to bed."
He reached forward to kiss the waiting soft salty lips. This was usually accompanied by more passionate kissing and light petting before Kylena would wriggle out of his arms, playfully slap his arm, tell him not to be naughty and say goodnight. Tonight, though she stepped back and ran a tongue over her top lip.
"Why don't we slip into the spare room, John," she whispered.
"I don't understand,"
"Come with me," she continued, took his hand and led him to a second tiny downstairs bedroom where a small lamp glowed beside a newly made up double bed. Somewhere, too, soft music filled
the air.
"Why have you shifted down here?" John asked with a slightly puzzled look. "I thought you liked your upstairs room."
"Oh I do" came the hoarse, nervous whisper, “But thought the girls might hear."
He glanced up and gasped. Kylena had slipped off her sweater and skirt and was standing by the closed door in a black negligee. With the tiny bedside light shining, the elongated shadows and thin material left nothing for the imagination. Nothing. John just stared at the heaving breasts outlined beneath the translucent material, nipples taut with desire.
"Oh My God. Kylena?" John gasped
He reached out as she stepped into his arms. Her scent smelt irresistible as she hugged him so firmly her breasts squashed into him and blonde hair tickled his neck. Her head turned up, lips met his but this was no polite goodnight kiss. It was bruising and frantic with a tongue-lashing. A soft hand brushed his fly.
"My love," he muttered and lifted the black negligee up. His fingers seemed too large for the soft material but he managed. The garment came over her head, she shook her blonde hair out, gave him a slight shove on the chest so he toppled onto the bed and stepped back.
In front of him stood the most sexually attractive woman he had ever seen. There was a distinct line between her bronzed body and her white breasts, which rose and fell as she breathed. Even the few bruises still evident did not detract from her appearance. Beneath, her flat stomach curved down to well-proportioned thighs and on to the briefest of panties. She smiled at him, tucked her fingers in the elastic top and slipped them off to stand, naked before him.
Overcome with emotion, John reached forward and touched the large and desirable breasts. The woman who was about to become his lover, immediately came forward into his arms so she was above him on the bed. His frantic kiss moved to her nipples while her hands found his fly and yanked the zip it until there was room for her hand to reach inside.
"Oh my God," he moaned and rolled her over beneath him while she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him everywhere within reach. Kylena grabbed at him so fiercely, red fingernails scratched across his back. Her whole body was now quivering as she pulled him into her breasts and spread her legs wide to receive him.
"Kylena," he managed to gasp as his sperm surged forward and exploded within her squirming body. Never, in living memory had he experienced this sheer delight and raw passion before.
"I'm just a shameless little hussy," she whispered and kissed him.
"You certainly are," he replied. "A cheeky one too."
"Why?" she asked in an indignant voice.
"You planned this didn't you?" he teased. "I mean the extra special supper, the percolated coffee, soft music and negligee under your clothes. I never had a chance."
"I did not," she retorted. "Well, perhaps. I got sick of you being a perfect gentleman." She stared at him and her eyes became serious. "I've haven't been with a man since my marriage and you heard all about that. After that experience, I vowed never to let another man touch me unless it was someone I loved."
"I love you, Kylena," John whispered. "I loved you from almost the day you walked in the classroom in bare feet and expectant look.”
Kylena reached up to place both hands on his cheeks. She kissed him passionately on the lips. "Again?” John said in a strange voice.
"Hot blooded male," Kylena retorted. "You were exhausted a moment ago," but she wriggled in close. Once again, time for talking was over.
At the height of their passion neither of them heard the footsteps along the polished hall floor nor the tall girl who stopped and glared at the closed door and listened to the muted moans coming from inside.
*
The faint knock on Kylena's upstairs door at first light on Sunday morning was in complete contrast to the verbal abuse that filled the air when it was opened.
Julie stood there with hands on her hips and eyes like daggers. "I want to know why you're fucking my daddy and don't give me any of this shit about being in love. There's no such thing," she hissed.
The teacher's first reaction was to scream at the girl that it was none of her business and if she was going to use such foul language she'd better get her mouth washed out with soap. Her mouth turned up in a faint grin at the thought. As a child, her grandmother had said that for words as mild as "shut up."
But Julie misinterpreted the grin. "It's not a joke, Miss Delton," she continued in a more reconciliatory tone. "Why are you sleeping with my father?"
"I think we'd better go down to the kitchen, Julie," came the quiet response.
The girl bit on the side of her lip but walked down the stairs and accepted Kylena's invitation to sit at the kitchen table.
"Would you like a lemon drink? I made up a jug last night with fresh lemons from the tree out on the lawn."
Julie nodded. Her outburst had subsided and the glare of anger became tears as the youngster stared at the floor. Kylena filled two glasses with the juice and handed one across to her companion who took it with shaking hands and stared at the floor.
"We call it a pitcher."
"I don't understand," Kylena replied and sat beside the distraught girl.
"It's a pitcher, not a jug," Julie looked up with tears rolling down her cheek. "You say everything wrong here."
"I see," Kylena replied and reached out to take her pupil's hand. She expected a sharp retort but Julie just held on and broke into heart rendering sobs. Within reach along the bench was a box of paper tissues. The teacher pulled a couple out and handed them to the girl. "So tell me what's wrong, Julie," she said with empathy in her voice.
Julie blew her nose and looked up still with eyes awash in tears. "You never answered my question."
"And if I was having an affair with your Dad, do you think it would make any difference to how much he loves you?" The astute question broke through the girl's facade.
"I heard you in the back bedroom last night," she cried.
Kylena flushed. Oh hell. Staying downstairs hadn't helped. "I can't deny it," she whispered. "Would it help if I told you I love your Dad."
"I don't want to lose Daddy," Julie sobbed.
"And why would you lose him?"
"If he loves you, you'll go away together and have babies, I'll get shoved in a boarding school and forgotten. It happened at home with my friends. They spent all year at a boarding school and all vacation at a summer camp. Nobody wanted them."
So that was the trouble. Kylena topped up Julie's glass and placed an arm around the shaking shoulders. "Tell me, has your Dad ever said that would happen?"
The girl shook her head. “No."
"And you don't think I'm good enough for your Dad. If you don't like me..."
"Kylena, it's not that. You are the best teacher I have ever had. You are so kind and helpful. It's not that I don't like you. It's the opposite in fact," She glanced up and wiped her eyes again. "The movies are all wrong, you know."
Kylena frowned but remained silent.
"In the old movies on television a woman who is ill sits up in a fluffy bed looking all beautiful and whispers loving words to her husband. He hugs her and..." She stopped. "In real life it is not like that."
"Movies are just stories and the old ones, especially, are quite unrealistic. This is about your mother isn't it?"
"Yes." Tears appeared again in the girl's eyes. "When I was little like Helen, Mom was so happy and so much fun. Helen was a baby and I'd feed her a bottle and we'd push the baby carriage in the park. Daddy would take Mom's hand and mine then she went wild, Miss Delton and it was more than her just being ill."
"Your Dad told me a little about your mother but what do you remember?"
"She changed and became all haggard. Her hair looked thin and cheeks sagged in...”
"That wasn't her fault, Julie."
"I know but she turned mean inside, too. She'd grumble and growl. Daddy had to do everything with Helen. I tried to help but Mom would holler at me and say I did it all wrong. She even screamed
at Daddy. He tried so hard but had to get away. I know he went for long walks across the ranch all by himself. Sometimes I'd run out to him and he'd just tuck his huge arms around me and say it wasn't really Mom being angry. It was the pain inside and she would be better soon." Her mouth shook again. "Once I came home early from school and heard Mom moaning like you were last night but it wasn't Daddy who came out of the bedroom. It was a stranger. Mom screamed at me and the man left. She said if I ever told Daddy I'd get a licking. I was terrified."
*
Julie, at eleven was already tall for her age with a thin body, dangling arms and legs. She was in the kitchen with her tongue between her teeth as she concentrated on cutting the six sandwiches she'd made through the middle.
"Here, let me do it," her mother said and grabbed the knife off her daughter. "If you don't hurry and get these out to your father, he'll be giving you a good wallop."
Julie stepped back and looked defiantly at the scrawny woman. "Daddy never hits me, Mom," she retorted. "Only you do."
Anne Berg swung around and met the angry eyes of her daughter. "Don't you give me lip, young lady," she retorted with her opened hand raised but hesitated and swallowed. “I’m sorry, Julie. I know you put a lot of effort into cutting your daddy's lunch. I would have done it but..."
"But what, Mom? You never do anything for Daddy any more. Nothing. He spends hours and hours working on the ranch and when he comes in for supper, you are not even here. Where are you all the time, Mom?"
"That's not true," Anne snapped. "John told me I should meet more people in town."
"Not men friends," Julie screamed.
Anne Berg's face turned to anger. She grabbed Julie's shoulders and glared into the upturned eyes. “Who told you that? "she hissed.
"Nobody." The youngster pouted. “But I've got eyes, Mom. That man last night. God, you must think I'm dumb."
Anne stopped and her white arms shook. The anger in her eyes changed to alarm. "You haven't told Daddy?" she whispered.
"No but he knows."
Long Valley Road Page 9
