by Lani Aames
Mace pushed back and leaned against the wall, her sock‑covered feet resting in his lap. He fished out two cigarettes from the pack in his shirt pocket, lit them, and handed her one.
“Was it good for you?” he asked, gray eyes twinkling.
“Oh yeah. How about you?”
“Right now, I wish I raised sheep instead of cows.”
“Ooooo, that's awful, Mace!”
“Trying to lighten the mood.”
“I think you just lightened it enough to blow it out of the room.”
He gave her feet one last squeeze and got up off the bed. He spread the blankets over her and tucked her in.
“I don't need to be on that bed with you. Too much of a temptation.”
She nodded. “I wonder how long we'll be trapped up here.”
“We can find out.” He walked across the room and brought back a battery-operated radio. It took a few minutes to find a clear station.
Waiting for a weather report, they listened to the music.
“I'd ask you to dance, but I think you'd turn me down.”
“I wish I could. We've never danced.”
“We've never done a lot of things, Lee. I wish it could have been different. I wish I'd seen you first.”
“It would have been illegal,” Talley teased.
“Now it's just immoral.”
That sobered them both. “Don't, Mace. We did the best we could.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, I know.”
After a while, they heard the weather report. The ice was expected to stop in a few hours and would be melted off in a few days. Mace turned off the radio.
“It'll be daylight in a little while. When the ice stops, I'm going out to call for help.”
“You can't walk that far in this weather! It's more than five miles to the nearest house.”
“That's going back toward Randolph. Henry Davis lives up the other way about a mile, two at the most.”
“But that's the same weatherman that predicted it wouldn't accumulate. We can't trust what he says.”
“I've got to get you to a doctor, Lee.”
“No, Mace. I'm fine. A few bruises, that's all. They'll heal.”
“I want you to get checked out. Something might be messed up inside. And I need to call the sheriff, tell him what Jack did to you.”
“Mace. If you go to the sheriff, he'll want to know exactly what happened. If I tell him where I was and who did this, then word will get out I came up here to see you. Jack said something about there being talk about us a while back.” She rubbed her eyes, careful of her bruised cheek. “There's no reason in the world why I should have come looking for you in an ice storm except the obvious one. Even though I wanted to talk to you and nothing else, no one's going to believe it. Especially Mitch.”
“Don't you want Jack in jail?”
“I want him hog-tied and skinned alive, but not at the risk of you losing Mitch again.”
Mace's face was stony. “Then I can take care of Jack.”
“Mace, you wouldn't…?”
“No, but I'd make him wish I had.”
“Just let it go, Mace.”
“All right, Lee,” he agreed too quickly and Talley felt it was the first time Mace had ever lied to her. “You still need to see a doctor.”
“Same thing, Mace. If I go to a doctor's office or the emergency room, they'll have to know what happened. People will talk.”
Mace thought that over for a moment. “If I can get you to Doc Benson's place, it won't be a problem. Doc owes me one.”
“He's retired.”
“Doesn't mean he's forgot everything he learned in medical school. He can look you over, but if he says you need to go to the emergency room, then you go. No arguments, Lee. We'll just have to face whatever happens.”
She nodded. “Mitch won't be in until tomorrow. He might have tried to call, though. He'll call me and he'll call you. And neither of us will be home.”
“I was here mending the fence and got caught in the storm. Your phone was turned down and you didn't know until late.”
“Okay, but Junior knows I'm up here.”
“Junior'll keep his mouth shut. If he knows what's good for him.”
“Good thing I didn't have to work last night, but Dylan will expect me this evening.”
They thought a while, but neither could come up with a solution.
“Looks like that's that,” Mace finally said. “As soon as it stops, I'll head up to Henry's.”
“No! There has to be a way. If either of us had a cell phone, I could just call in sick tonight. You ought to have one if you've been staying here alone. Anything can happen.”
“Damn nuisance. I don't like to answer the phone when I'm at home. Why would I haul one around with me?”
“For emergencies. Like this.”
“Fine. I'll get one as soon as we get back to Randolph.”
She ignored his sarcasm.
“There has to be a way,” she said again. “If I don't call in, Dylan will know something's wrong. I've always called him even if I'm going to be late a few minutes. He knows I live on Morning Glory Hill and he knows I don't drive in this weather. He might send somebody out to check on me. When they find me and my car gone, they might start looking for me. That will bring a whole lot of attention to where I'm found, Mace.”
“Lee, I don't see…” Mace broke off and slapped his forehead with the heel of his hand. “Cell phone. Shit. Henry has one. All I have to do is walk up to his place, borrow his four-wheel-drive and make sure I get his cell phone too. I'll tell him I need to get back into Randolph right away. Then I'll drive you to Doc's and if he says you're okay, I'll take you home. Mitch won't be in till tomorrow. You can still call in sick. You won't be in any shape to work tonight anyway.”
“I can tell him and anybody else I lost control of the car and ran off in a ditch because of the ice.”
“After I take you home, I'll get Junior and we'll tow your car out to the farm. You ran off the road at Murphy's Bend and I found you on my way back home last night. That explains your car at my place.”
“Okay, sounds good.”
“If we're gonna play it that way, just let me take you to the emergency room.”
“No, it's too late for that. I should have gone last night. Besides, they can tell bruises that come from a beating.”
“All right.” He lit up a cigarette. “We're too damn good at this. It's scary.”
“I know.”
“Get some sleep, Lee.”
“What about you?”
“I'll catch a nap in this chair.”
They didn't say anything for a while. Talley yawned and nodded toward the light coming through the window. “It's Saturday, Mace.”
“I know, darlin, I know.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Talley couldn't believe it, but it all worked out as they’d planned. A couple of hours after dawn, the ice stopped and the sun came out. The weatherman was right for once. Mace got ready to go to Henry's and kissed her chastely on the forehead.
“I'll get dressed while you're gone.”
He sighed. “I would have to miss that,” he said and headed out.
Talley dressed and within an hour Mace was back with Henry's four-wheel-drive and parked it on the road. Mace put out the fire in the old woodstove. He put his arm around her and they left the cabin. She curled up on the backseat and he drove her to Doc Benson's. The going was slow and Talley dozed off and on during the ride.
Doc took their surprise visit in stride. After he examined her he told them he couldn't find anything wrong other than contusions that would heal. He disinfected the small cut on her throat and gave her some pills for the pain. Mace did all the explaining, telling him what really happened. Doc looked at the back of Mace's hands then looked her straight in the eye and asked if it was the truth. She looked him straight in the eye and said yes. Doc believed her and told Mace he'd keep their visit to himself.
Once agai
n, Talley lay in the backseat and Mace drove her home. The going was faster since most of the roads near Randolph had been salted. The warming sun and stirring traffic helped too. With a running start, they barely made it up Morning Glory Hill, almost sliding into a ditch. At her place, Mace carried her inside and set her down gently.
She couldn't let go of him just yet. She rested her head on his chest. “Stay and have coffee with me, Mace.”
“Much as I want to, I can't. You know that.”
“I only know—”
“Don't say anything, Lee. It ain't time yet.”
She nodded against his coat. “Call me when you get through with everything. I want to know you're safe.”
“I will.” He laughed. “I feel like we've committed a murder and we're trying to cover up the evidence.”
“It's guilt. But remember, Mace, we don't have anything to feel guilty about this time.”
“Tell that to your toes.”
He didn't kiss her before he left.
Talley spent the rest of the day anxiously waiting to hear from Mace, but Mitch called first later that afternoon.
“Tal! I've been worried about you. I tried calling last night a dozen times but there wasn't any answer.”
“I guess I turned the ringer on low and didn't notice till sometime today. I'm sorry, Mitch.” She held her breath. She was no good at lying. Surely, he had to hear the deception in her voice.
“I'm glad you're okay. I heard Randolph got hit with ice.”
“It's not too bad. It stopped early this morning and the sun's been shining all day. Uh, Mitch, I was in a little accident yesterday afternoon. I'm okay, but I have a few bruises and I banged up my car.”
“Are you sure you're all right, Tal? Do you need me to come home now?”
“No, I'm fine. Like I said, just a few bruises. I have one on my cheek where I popped the steering wheel when I hit the ditch. I was up around Murphy's Bend and the ice caught me by surprise. I took the curve too fast. Before I could get out of the car, Mace came along.”
“Mace?”
“Yeah, he'd been mending a fence, by the old homeplace, I think he said.” Talley held her breath again.
“Good thing it was Mace that found you, Tal. Jack Sandler lives up that way.”
“Yeah, I know. Mace brought me home then he and Junior towed the car out to Shady Hollow. When the roads clear, I'll get someone out to pick it up.”
“Are you sure you're all right, Tal? You don't sound good.”
“I'm sure. Still a little shaky from the accident, I guess.”
She asked how last night had gone and smiled at the excitement in his voice as he told her. “The guy from the recording company was there last night instead of tonight. He said he liked to show up early to hear how a band really sounds and how it can work a crowd. He's right. We'd have been too keyed up to play well if he'd waited till tonight. He wants us to make a demo and send it to him.”
“That's great, Mitch!” Her enthusiasm was real. This was the break he'd been waiting for.
“He really liked 'Desperate Hearts'. He said to make sure that song is on the demo.”
“Oh Mitch, I'm so happy for you. Your dream is coming true.”
“Not just yet. We checked into it, Tal. Coming up with the money to make the demo is going to be a problem. Looks like it may be a while before we get can get it together.”
“You could ask Mace.”
There was silence at the other end. “No. No. Mace'd probably do it, but I won't owe him anything. I have to do this on my own. Besides, he has enough financial worries with the farm.”
“Okay, Mitch.”
He talked more about the talent scout until Talley told him she was tired. They said good-bye and hung up. She stared at the phone a while and wondered when things had really begun to go bad between them. Neither of them had said, “I love you.”
Talley kept the phone close to her. Mace was an excellent driver, but anything could happen.
Mace didn't call until after dark. “Everything's taken care of.”
She closed her eyes and imagined him in his house holding the phone. She wanted to reach through the line and touch him. It didn't seem fair that she couldn't be with him since he’d told her he loved her and what he wanted.
“Do you realize this is the first time we've ever talked on the phone?”
He was silent for a few seconds. “I don't think there'll be any need for it to happen again...any time soon. How are you feeling?”
“A little better.” She drew in a deep breath. He obviously meant to keep her at arm's length even over the phone.
“Good to hear it.”
“Mitch called earlier.” She repeated their conversation, then gave him the good news.
“I'm glad for him, Lee.”
“You don't sound glad.”
“I'm tired. It's been a hell of a day.” She heard a pouring sound in the background and hoped it was coffee. “I have to go now. If you need anything, call me.”
“I will, Mace.” But she knew she wouldn't.
“Good night, Lee.”
She waited until she heard the click of his receiver, then whispered, “I love you.”
Mitch came home the next day and was concerned over her bruises. She didn't show him the huge circular bruise on her side. She had no way to explain it and all the other places covering her body. A dive into a ditch as shallow as the one at Murphy's Bend wouldn't have produced them all.
Mitch stayed with her all evening and she learned more about the music business than she ever wanted to know. That wasn't fair, she knew. Mitch was so excited about their shot at making it, he couldn't think of anything else.
But Talley could. Her mind wandered most of the evening. It was, after all, Saturday night.
Finally realizing how tired she was, he kissed her good night and went away.
Go to Bonnie, Talley thought. She never should have come between them. She had returned to Randolph to try again with Mitch, and although she never flirted with Mitch while he was seeing Bonnie her presence had been enough. Bonnie had been angry with them both, but the band and their music were in her blood as much as Mitch's. Bonnie loved the traveling and loved to spend every waking moment talking about their music.
It had been a mistake from the beginning, coming back to Mitch...except for one thing.
Days passed, her bruises healed. The band was booked most nights. Talley refused to go with him.
“You really don't like traveling with me, do you?” Mitch complained. “Don't you realize I'm going to be gone two weeks?”
“I know, Mitch, and I'll miss you. I have a job here. Dylan won't let me off for days or weeks at a time then let me waltz back in when it pleases me. He depends on me.”
“So get another job!”
“I like working at the Rose!”
It had become a constant argument. Before, she had always given in or let the subject drop. Now she argued with him. It wasn't fair to Mitch, but she was tired of having to pretend. Once, the night he found her and Mace together, she had assured him she never pretended anything. That had changed since she knew Mace waited for her.
He swiped at his hair with angry strokes. “Where are you, Tal?”
“Right here.”
“No, you're not. You're always a million miles away.”
Talley lit a cigarette and Mitch wrinkled his nose. He didn't smoke because he didn't want to ruin his voice.
“Do you have to do that now?”
“This is my house, Mitch. If you don't like it, you can leave.” She pressed her lips together. She hadn't meant to go so far.
Mitch shook his head. “It's not working, is it?”
“I'm sorry, Mitch.” She crushed out the cigarette.
“It's not just that. It's...It's everything.”
“I don't like the traveling. I hardly ever see my father because he can't stay long in one place. Then my mother married a man who's job takes him to a different city ev
ery couple of years.” Talley sighed. “I’d been following them around to be close to my mother and sister, but when we came back here I realized I wanted to have a home in one place. I came back to Randolph to find that as much as to find you again.”
“When we get the record deal—”
“When you get the record deal, it's only going to get worse, Mitch. For me.”
They sat in silence for a while.
“Is this it, Talley?”
She drew in a deep breath. “It's up to you, Mitch. If you can accept that I won't be traveling with you much and stop nagging me about it.”
“Aw, Tal—”
“No, I mean it. I feel bad enough because I can't help the way I feel. Your nagging makes it worse.”
He leaned close to her. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mitch. I always have.”
“But we don't have much fun anymore, do we?”
She shook her head.
“I'm sorry, Talley. I guess you were right all along. We have changed. We want different things.”
She nodded and tears flooded her eyes. It hurt to lose him this way. For all the wrong reasons.
He reached for her, his fingers spread along her neck, his thumb at her ear. He kissed her slowly and deeply. “Good-bye, Talley.”
“Good-bye, Mitch.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Talley waited.
She didn't know what else to do except wait for Mace to come to her. Every Saturday night she put on a pot of coffee and, while she didn't leave the door unlocked, she slept on the couch waiting for him. By the third Sunday morning as she dumped out yet another full pot of coffee, she felt quite foolish. He had come to her throughout most of their relationship and she thought it would be appropriate if he came to her to start over.
Talley spent Christmas in Knoxville with her family. While there, she’d almost decided Mace must have changed his mind. She didn't know if she could bear it if, in the end, he had decided he didn't really want her. Hadn't he promised he would come to her? Was she supposed to wait forever?
