Southern Comfort

by Ciana Stone

  "Then let's do it, hot stuff."

  She smiled, gave him a quick kiss and then together they headed for the house. Analise thought about David. It bothered her a little that he'd confided in Riley before her, but she told herself maybe Riley was a father figure for David. His own father had not shown much interest in him, and in the short time David had been here, he and Riley had gotten close.

  That brought a smile to her face. "Oh, did I tell you that Cody asked me to help out at the bar during the after homecoming party?"

  "No." Riley looked down at her. "Waiting tables?"

  "And working the bar."

  "You want to do that?"

  "Yes, actually I do. You're going to be playing with the guys aren't you?"

  "That's what I'm told."

  "You don't mind if I help her out do you?"

  "Not at all. In fact, I think it's real nice of you."

  "You know, I love Cody. I know there's a difference in our ages, but she's become a good friend and I'm happy when I can help out her and her family. They're all such good people."

  "Yeah, they are."

  They walked in the house to find David and Bobby hard at work in the kitchen. "What's all this?" Analise looked around.

  "We're cooking."

  "You're cooking?"

  "Well, sort of. I started the grill. Hope that's okay, Riley. And defrosted some steaks. Bobby's got potatoes all clean and in the coals and I'm making your homemade macaroni and cheese and a salad."

  "Sounds good." Riley said. "And since you fellas have it all in hand, we're gonna go clean up." He took Analise's hand and tugged her in the direction of the hall. "Oh, hey, Bobby, will you check and make sure there's enough cold beer? Don’t' know about you guys, but I could use a few. I have a case in the pantry you can throw in the ice bucket It's in the laundry room and there are bags of ice in the big freezer in there."

  "On it, Boss!'

  "Good man."

  He tugged Analise across the hall and into his room, closed the door behind them and started peeling off his clothes. Analise followed suit and was just sliding out of her jeans when his phone rang. "Check to see who that is, will ya honey?"

  She picked up his phone where he'd tossed it on the bed. "Holy shit." She handed him the phone. He took it, looked at the display and hit ignore.

  "Riley! Didn't you read the caller ID?"

  "Yep."

  "And you're not curious what—"

  "Nope."

  "Really?" She finished undressing, took her dirty clothes to the hamper, then went into the bathroom and started the water in the shower.

  "Nope."

  "Why?"

  "They or one of the other studios call every now and again, trying to get me to take a part."

  "And you're done with acting?."

  "Yep."

  "You're not even a little bit tempted?"

  "Nope."

  She was secretly glad to hear him say that. Living here with him as Riley Morgan, in a place where everyone knew him and accepted him for the man he was and not the roles he'd played, was comfortable and safe and –normal. She was certain they wouldn't last if he went back to being Nate Bridges. There would be too much distraction, and too many women offering themselves to him.

  Analise wasn't unsure of herself as a woman, but she knew she'd never be able to handle that. It would make her jealous and miserable.

  "So, you have everything you want here?" She asked as she stepped into the shower and he stepped in behind her.

  Riley took her in his arms. "I do now."

  Funny how three little words had the power to make her so happy. Pushing him under the spray of water, she lifted her face for his kiss. For this moment, everything was right in her world and she was going to enjoy it.

  By the time they were out of the shower and dressed, David and Bobby had dinner ready. They ate, listening to Bobby and David talk about David's exploits learning to ride and round up cattle. There was a lot of laughter and good natured teasing and for a little while she found herself imagining this was her life.

  After dinner, she and Riley took care of the dishes and David and Bobby went into the den and turned on the television. Analise was just putting up the last of the dishes when she heard David's voice.

  "Mom! Mom! Get in here!"

  She and Riley ran into the den to see David pointing at the television. Analise took one look and felt all of the happiness of the day evaporate. The news report was about Rodrick's family business. An indictment had been handed down for money laundering, insider trading and a host of other things. They showed Rodrick's father and his brother, Rolf, handcuffed and being loaded into the back of police cars.

  And then the report focused on Rodrick. A spokesperson for the FBI was shown. There was an active manhunt for Rodrick Becke.

  When the newscast ended, Analise looked at David and then at Riley. He simply offered her his hand and led her to the couch. They took a seat and she looked at David again.

  "He's in deep shit, mom."

  "Yes."

  "Are you okay?"

  "Yes. No. I don't know. Are you?"

  "Yes."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Yeah. He did this to himself mom. We had nothing to do with it and he never asked if we wanted to be part of it. He did it without considering what it might to do us and I hope they find him and lock him up."

  "David you don't mean—"

  "Yes, I do. Look, I know you taught me to respect him because he's my father, but the truth is, he gave me less attention than he did the dog."

  "We didn't have a dog, honey."

  "Exactly my point. I love you mom, but dad? I don't even know who he is except the man who disapproved of everything I ever did. Nothing was ever good enough. I was never good enough. He didn't care about me. I was no more to him than you – we were just window dressing, props he thought he needed to give the appearance of a stable married man with a family. A successful man, pillar of the community."

  "David, your father does care—"

  "Yeah, that's obvious isn't it? He cares so much that we've both been questioned by the FBI, are in danger from a bunch of mobsters and can't go home. What kind of caring is that?"

  "I—" Suddenly she couldn't do it anymore. Couldn't make up excuses and try to spin Rodrick's behavior. "I agree. He doesn't care for either of us the way we would have wanted, and I'm sorry for that. I guess I thought I could care enough for both of us and if I didn't, I'm sorry. Really sorry.

  "But he's not a bad man, David. He'd never intentionally hurt—"

  "Mom stop it!" His voice rose in anger. "He might not be a murderer or drug dealer, but he took money from people who are. The money you put in my trust is money he stole from people like that. It's blood money and I want nothing to do with it – and nothing to do with him."

  "I understand—"

  "No." His voice lowered. "No, you don't, mom. You always look for the best in people and sometimes that makes you blind to who they really are because you're wanting so much for them to be who you want them to be. But he's not, mom. He never has been. He – he's been cheating on you for a long time."

  "I know about that girl."

  "She's not the first. He's had others."

  That was news that both hurt and embarrassed her. She hated to have Riley and Bobby hearing all of the sordid details of her failed life. "Okay, he was a bad husband and a bad father. But we're away from him now and you never have to see him again if you don't want to. I just don't want what he's done to make you resentful or bitter. I don't want it to ruin—"

  David bounded across the room and sat down beside her, pulling her into a hug. "He's not going to ruin my life. Or yours either." He pulled back, looked at her and then at Riley. "You have something good here, Mom. You have someone good here. Someone with honor. Hang onto that and be happy.

  "I'm going to be happy. I spoke with Kade today. As soon as all of this is settled with my father, I'm going to apply to the FBI.
Kade said if I am accepted, I can go through the training and they have special arrangements that can be made so I can go to law school and work. I can be part of the division he and Cia work with. I want to do that. I always wanted to make a difference and now I can."

  "With the SACU?"

  David nodded and she took his hand. "If that's what you want, then do it. You know I'll support you every step of the way."

  "That I do. And now—" he got up, grabbed the remote and turned off the television. "Enough of that. What say we have a couple of beers and throw some darts? Bobby has a dart board at the bunk house."

  "Why don't you men go ahead and do that? I'm kind of tired and I have a busy day tomorrow helping Cody get ready for the weekend homecoming thing."

  "That's a pretty big deal around here isn't it?" Bobby asked.

  "Oh yeah." Riley answered. "And I think I'll call it a day, too. You guys take as much of the beer as you want, but remember that in the morning we've got a good half a mile of fence to replace on the western border, and I expect you up and ready to go by six."

  "We won't be late." Bobby said with a grin.

  "If you're on time, you're late." David added.

  "Okay, get out of here. Me and Annie need some quiet."

  David gave Analise a kiss on the cheek, then he and Bobby headed to the kitchen. She heard them as they got their beer and left via the back door. Then she looked at Riley. "Well, the shit's hit the fan now, hasn't it?"

  "Yep."

  "Are you still sure you want us here, Riley?"

  "Absolutely."

  "I don't know why."

  "Yes, you do."

  She smiled and leaned over, snuggling up to his side. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead. "I like that boy of yours, Annie."

  "I'm glad. I think it's good for him to be around you."

  "Yeah?"

  "Yeah."

  "And is it good for you to be around me?"

  "You have no idea how good."

  "Then how about we make it permanent?"

  She pushed away to look at him. "Meaning?"

  "Meaning live here with me. I mean live, as in this is your home, too. Be mine and let me be yours."

  "I notice you didn't say anything about marriage."

  "Is that what you want?"

  "No. I don't need a piece of paper, Riley. I know I love you. That's enough for me."

  "Me too, honey. Me too."

  Chapter Seventeen

  Analise heard the sound of voices on the back porch. She saved the file she was working on, closed her laptop and placed it on the coffee table, then got up and went to the back door. Riley and David were sitting on the back steps talking.

  She opened the door and walked out. "Hey guys. I wasn't expecting you for another hour."

  Both men turned to look at her but only Riley smiled, a fact she took note of. "Everything okay?"

  "Fine." Riley stood with his boots in one hand. "Just talking about all the homecoming doings that start tonight."

  "That's it?"

  Riley looked down at David and David shook his head. Riley blew out his breath. "Fine. I was going to wait until later to tell you."

  "Tell me what?" A shard of fear had her tensing.

  "Seems some eager beaver reporter figured out you were here, connected the dots and has been calling wanting Nate to make a statement on what he's doing shacked up with a mob wife on the run."

  "A mob wife?" She looked at him and then at David. "A mob wife?"

  "Well, Dad is wanted by the FBI and he's all over the news in the case they have against his family and their ties to organized crime."

  "But a mob wife? Me? That's – that's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. But—" she looked at Riley, "but I know you don't want your privacy invaded and I'm so sorry, Riley. Tell me what to do and I'll do it. If you want us to leave—"

  "You're not going anywhere." He glanced down at David. "Either of you. I can handle the reporter. It's not my first rodeo, honey. It'll be okay. It's just an eager guy trying to land a story."

  "Eager is an understatement," David commented. "The guy's been blowing up Riley's phone for the last three days."

  That kind of hit Analise wrong. "Why didn't you mention it?"

  "It didn't seem worth getting you upset."

  "But you could confide in my son?"

  "He heard me talking and asked. I wasn't going to lie. And I was going to tell you. I was just waiting for the right time."

  Analise didn't want to make more of it than there was, so she let it go. "Okay. So, are you men excited about the big day? Cody says there's a parade after the game and then the high school is having a dance, and everyone else will he headed for the bar."

  "Yep, I'm ready. In fact, I let everyone have the rest of the day and half the day tomorrow off."

  "Well then get yourselves in the house and get cleaned up. I told Cody I'd catch up with her after the parade and help her get things set up in the bar. Oh, and her family wanted to know if we wanted to have an early dinner with them at the bar before the crowd arrives. Around five?"

  "Fine by me." Riley looked at David. "Dave?"

  "Works for me." David stood. "I'll head on up to the shower. I'm riding with Bobby, by the way, so you guys go on whenever you're ready. I'll see you at Billy's at five?"

  "Yep. And invite Bobby." Riley said to David's back, and to Analise's questioning look added in a lower voice. "They like him and it'll be good for David to have a friend there. So, you upset with me Wildcat?"

  "No. And I wasn't trying to start a fight, Riley. I guess it just hurt my feelings that you told David and didn't think you could tell me without upsetting me."

  "Are you upset about it?"

  "No. But then our situations aren't the same. For people to know that I'm here with you is no hardship at all. It's like being homecoming queen or the girl who dates the quarterback. Kind of exciting to be basking in the warmth of that star's shine."

  "Honey, I'm no star."

  She stepped over and looped her arms around his neck. "Riley Morgan, you'll always be a star to me."

  "Riley or Nate?"

  "Is there a difference? Now when I see you in a movie, I'll see Riley. Riley playing a role. Nate is just a name you used to use. Kind of the way I've been Analise my entire life, but now when I think of myself I think, Annie."

  "Have I told you today that I love you?"

  "Not nearly enough."

  "I love you, Annie Becke."

  "And I love you. Now go get clean so you can take me to town, cowboy."

  "Yes ma'am. But first…"

  The kiss had her nerves sizzling. Would he always have the power to excite her this way with a kiss?

  She hoped so.

  *****

  Analise started waving the moment she spotted KC Sweet on the homecoming float. KC looked beautiful and was beaming. It wasn't every day a girl was crowned homecoming queen and Analise had no doubt that this would be one of the red-letter days of KC's life.

  Once the float passed, she tugged on Riley's arm. "I'm going to head for the bar to help get everything ready."

  "Want me to run you over there?"

  "No. I'll ride with Cody. She's right down the block with Billy and Stella in front of the Sweet Shop."

  "Okay, so I'll see you in a little while."

  She stood up on tiptoe and kissed him. "See ya."

  Analise started working her way through the crowd. It seemed like everyone in Cotton Creek was lining the street. She smiled and inched her way along, smiling and speaking to the few people she knew and smiling at those she didn't.

  It took nearly ten minutes to cover half a block. Analise worked her way to the rear of the crowd and made her way to the end of the block as quickly as possible. There she made a left turn. She could cut through to the next street and make much better time.

  The alleyway wasn't very wide, barely enough for one line of cars. When she made it to the end of the alley she start
ed to make a right turn and was suddenly pulled back. Some had a tight grip on her right arm and had put their other hand over her mouth.

  Analise struggled against her captor but he was bigger and stronger, and twisted her arm up behind her. She was shoved along by her unknown assailant, led down the block to an old beat-up car, and then shoved against it.

  She whirled around, intent on fighting. One look at her captor and she froze in shock. "Rick?"

  Her husband looked at her through eyes set into hollow sockets. Dark bags beneath his eyes and more than a few days unshaven growth, combined with a really horrible black dye job to his hair gave him the look of a drug addict.

  "What are you doing here?"

  "Analise, we need to talk."

  "We don't have anything to talk about. I filed for divorce."

  "I'm in trouble. You've got to give me that money back."

  "No, I don't. The FBI have already been here, Rick. They know everything. You need to turn yourself in and see if you can cut a –"

  "That's what I'm trying to do, you dumb bitch. But I can't do it without the money."

  "Yes, you can. I know an agent. The one who brought – the one who came here to talk to me. He can help—"

  "I want that money."

  "Rick, that money is the least of your worries. The FBI doesn't want it. It's simply a trail that leads back to that mobster. What they want is to put him behind bars."

  "And what I want is that money so that after I turn state's evidence against Moretti I can get away."

  "But the FBI can help you with that. They have witness protection and—"

  Her head whipped to one side from the slap he gave her, before he slammed her into the side of the car. She righted herself, staring at him in shock. He pressed in close and his breath was foul in her face. "You listen to me. You're going to give me that money. Moretti already probably has men headed here since that story came out about you screwing that old cowboy actor. How long do you think it's going to be before they find you?

  "And let me assure you that they won't think twice about killing you, Analise."

  "What purpose would that serve? I don't have the money. It's in David's—" Sudden realization had her stopping in mid-sentence. "They'll kill me and David and then the trust will go to you. You don't want the money to escape, you want to try and buy your life back."