Forbidden Entry

by Sylvia Nobel

  “I suppose so. I just don’t like the idea of Sean being influenced by those guys.” Because Elizabeth Hinkle lived on the neighboring ranch from me, I’d always waved at her when we passed each other on the road and had talked briefly with her several times at various town functions. I’d always wondered why she wore such a sad, harried expression and felt sorry for her. After questioning Tally, he’d filled me in on a few salient details about her background. Being the only not-terribly-attractive daughter of rancher Buster McCracken, she’d remained single until the age of 38, when she’d married widower John Hinkle and taken on the thankless task of raising his two out-of-control ten-year-old sons who had been running wild since their mother’s death four years earlier. According to Ginger, whom I affectionately referred to as the Castle Valley Gossip Queen, Elizabeth had finally ordered the two aggressive young men off the Hinkle ranch earlier in the year, but had recently allowed them to return and stay in the bunkhouse, even though they continually harassed her for money, claiming their father’s ranch rightfully belonged to them.

  Tally nodded sagely. “No question they are a couple of certified misfits. But how do you know it was them?” he asked, folding his arms over his chest. “Suppose it was your brother who provided the dope?”

  Good point. Fuming, I groused, “Apparently my brother learned nothing from getting busted and spending the night in jail.”

  “I wasn’t as concerned about them drinking and smoking a joint as I was about the white powder being passed around.”

  Intense dread knotted my stomach. That confirmed my fear that he was experimenting with other, possibly more lethal drugs. “Did you say anything to them?”

  “I told them I wouldn’t tolerate that kind of behavior on my property and to take it someplace else.”

  I shook my head sadly. “I ought to slap the crap out of him for being so stupid and irresponsible! Where is that little shit anyway?”

  Tally expelled a long breath. “I hate to tell you this, but I don’t know.”

  CHAPTER

  9

  My grandmother would have pronounced this a fine kettle of fish. I fought to corral the mixture of emotions roiling in my empty stomach. Think. What to do? I’d had so many ups and downs the past two days I could not wrap my brain around this new problem or what to do about it. “What do you mean, you don’t know?”

  “I mean, I saw him leave with them and I don’t know where they went.”

  For a few seconds, I really felt like I was going to lose it. “I don’t believe this.” I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Sean’s number, only to be disappointed when it went to voicemail. “The brat is not answering.” I fired off a quick text demanding that he get his butt back to the ranch pronto. “Oh, my God,” I moaned, resting my forehead in one hand. “I cannot seem to catch a break.” Sighing heavily, I looked up into Tally’s sympathetic eyes. “Having them all here was supposed to be fun and some of it has been, but it’s also been kind of stressful. I mean, if you start with my dad’s fractured foot, then proceed to learning about Sean’s arrest,” I said, counting on my fingers, “factor in Ginger’s cousin’s death, then consider the rotten scene with your mother and finally add in Walter getting sick and probably being absent from work while I’m gone...” my voice faltered as I tried to conceal the tremor in my voice.

  Without saying a word, Tally stepped forward and enfolded me in his arms. I leaned into his muscular frame, slid my arms around his waist and immediately felt more at peace than I had for days. I wished I could stay there forever. Listening to the lilting strains of a slow country ballad in the background, we were soon moving gently to the beat of the music. Locked in a tight embrace, it wasn’t long before he tipped my chin up and locked his sensuous lips against mine, igniting all my senses. It was a blissfully romantic moment and I was enjoying myself so much I lost track of time. When we eventually pulled apart, he said softly, “Listen to me, Kendall. There’s no use worrying yourself about things you have no control over. Most of this stuff will work itself out. I’m sorry as hell about Ma’s behavior and I will make damn sure she apologizes to you and your folks.”

  “What if she refuses?”

  “Then she won’t be coming to our engagement party.”

  My breath caught in my throat. “And you’d be okay with that?”

  “I’d be okay with that.”

  His selfless offer sent a powerful surge of love and admiration coursing through me. “Thank you for that,” I said, caressing his cheek then kissing him again passionately, deeply gratified to have this pragmatic man as the love of my life. When we finally came up for air, I added, “And thank you, thank you, thank you for that super-amazing rescue of my mom. That was some kind of riding, cowboy.”

  He chuckled. “Think she likes me a little better now?”

  “I’m thinking…mmmmm… yes.”

  “Good. So, what about you,” he said, pushing a stray curl away from one eye. “Has your mood improved any?”

  I hesitated before saying, “For the most part.”

  He fixed me with a perceptive look. “I know. You’re worried about your brother. Look, he’s a big boy and I’m guessing that group all went someplace to party the way young people do nowadays.”

  “That’s what worries me. I’m really bothered by his juvenile behavior. He acts like he’s fifteen, not twenty-five.”

  “Let’s face it, if your brother is a stoner, you may just have to accept it.”

  “I get that, but considering what he’s just put my folks through, wouldn’t you think he’d cool it on the drug use at least while he’s here with all of us? What am I going to tell them? When they find out he’s not here, they’ll have an atomic cow.”

  “Maybe, but I’ll tell you what. First, we’re going to get you something to eat,” he said, his tone soothing. “Then we’ll deal with it. Okay?”

  I agreed and when we returned to the festivities, I was heartened to see my parents seated at a table with Tugg, Mary and two other couples laughing and engaged in lively conversation. They looked so happy and relaxed I decided to postpone telling them anything at least until after I had eaten. Maybe I’d luck out and Sean would return soon, sparing me the task of having to explain his absence.

  While Tally and I stood in line waiting for grilled steaks, baked potatoes and corn on the cob, scores of friends and acquaintances congratulated us on our engagement and when we finally got to eat, I must admit my temperament did improve. I was still sampling various desserts when Tally excused himself to go find Ronda. I kept checking my phone to see if Sean had returned my call or text, but he had not. There was, however, a text from Ginger asking me to stop by Marcelene’s house later. She’d talked with her aunt and had information regarding Jenessa that might be significant. That got my imagination cooking. I could hardly wait to find out what it was and yet, I knew myself well enough to realize it would be better for me if I didn’t know. Whatever it was would no doubt drive me crazy because I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

  It was closing in on ten o’clock, getting cold enough to see your breath, and guests were saying their goodnights when I spotted Jim Sykes talking with Tally some distance away. Wait a minute! He’d been with Sean earlier. Maybe he knew something. I sprang off the chair. He and his girlfriend were almost to his truck when I intercepted them. “Hey, Jim, got a second?”

  They both turned and he asked, “Sure, what’s up?”

  “A couple of quick questions.”

  “Okay, well, let me turn on the heat for Sheryl, she’s freezing.”

  “Hi, Sheryl,” I said, waving to his tall, blonde companion. “Did you have fun?”

  “I sure did! Thanks for inviting us, Kendall.” She wrapped her scarf around her neck and climbed into the truck. Jim started the engine, then stepped out and shut the door, rubbing his hands together before buttoning his coat. “What’s going
on?”

  “Earlier tonight, I saw you talking with my brother Sean and the Hinkle brothers. Do you know where they went?”

  His expression turned crafty. “I gather you already know Tally ran ’em off the ranch.”

  “Yes and I’m assuming you know why.”

  He hitched his shoulders. “I don’t know all the details, but I’m thinking they might’ve gone to their ranch, or I overheard Danny say something about maybe going over to the Rattlesnake to play pool.”

  The Rattlesnake Saloon was well-known as a hangout for the rougher element of Castle Valley. “Thanks, Jim. Oh, and I heard Walter went home sick. Do you know if he talked to Duane or stopped over at the sheriff’s office? He was supposed to check out some things for me.”

  He shook his head. “Unless he met up with Duane in the can, I don’t think he did. He was in there most of the day.”

  My spirits sank. “Man, I sure hope it’s just food poisoning.”

  “Me too,” Jim concurred, jamming his hands in his pockets, “because he looked like he was at death’s door when he left. I mean it. His face looked sort of green. If he’s got some kind of creeping crud, I definitely don’t want it.”

  “You’d better not get sick. I’m counting on you guys to hold down the fort until I get back.”

  He gave me a thumbs-up. “That’s the plan!” He jumped into his truck and as he roared off into the night, the sinking sensation in my gut intensified. There was no way out of it. I could not put off telling my parents any longer, but decided that I didn’t have to tell them the circumstances just yet. Tally was right. He was not a kid and I had to believe that at some point someone would drive him back to the motel.

  Keeping that optimistic thought in mind, I met up with Tally and we went to find my parents, who were still visiting with Tugg and Mary. They both looked so cute sitting there wearing their new western hats. After we all said our goodnights and waved goodbye, I reminded them of my plan to pick everyone up at seven-thirty for our drive to Prescott for breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants. From there we would travel the scenic, winding road up Mingus Mountain to visit the former ghost town of Jerome, now turned artist colony. Later, we’d join Tally for dinner at the new Crab Shack for dinner.

  “Where’s Sean?” my mother asked, pulling her coat closer as she shouldered her purse. “I haven’t seen him for hours.”

  I didn’t miss the observant gleam in Tally’s eyes when I explained that he’d been invited to join some of the other younger people at another party and that I expected they’d drop him back at the motel later on. My mother gave me a long, searching look before exchanging a suspicious glance with my dad who then transferred it to me.

  “You’d think he could be considerate enough to at least let us know he was going someplace, but no, he only ever thinks of himself,” my mother fussed, her mouth fixed in a straight line.

  It seemed to be an evening of regrets. I should really tell them the whole truth, even though it would absolutely ruin the evening and perhaps the entire visit. Wasn’t I only postponing their eventual pain by giving Sean the benefit of the doubt? What was I going to do if he didn’t return tonight?

  As we sailed through the pitch-black landscape, illuminated solely by the bright haze of starlight, I tried to quell my apprehension and enjoy the scenery, but failed. Why wasn’t Sean answering my phone or text messages? What if he wasn’t at the Rattlesnake? He was in new surroundings, mingling with strangers well-known locally for their corrupting influences. What if he did something stupid and got himself into more serious trouble? I was driving myself crazy with ‘what ifs.’

  “You’re awfully quiet,” my dad remarked softly. “You must be pooped, I know I am.” He absently rubbed his leg above the ankle boot and I could tell by his drawn face that he was in pain again.

  “Yeah, it’s been a pretty active day. How about you, Mom? Are you feeling okay after your wild ride? I’m really sorry about that.”

  “My shoulders and neck are a little sore, but in an odd way, I’m kind of glad it happened.”

  I glanced in the rearview mirror, but it was too dark to see her face clearly. “Why?”

  “Because, it was…kind of a revelation of how wrong I’ve been about Tally all this time. I think you’ve chosen a good man, a brave man, and I couldn’t be happier for the two of you.”

  After so many months of listening to her constant criticisms and engaging in heated exchanges on the phone, her unexpected answer triggered a rush of euphoria. “Thanks, Mom. I think I’ll keep him.”

  “I’m with her one hundred percent, Pumpkin,” my dad interjected, reaching over to pat my shoulder. “But, I certainly don’t envy you having to put up with his mother. She is something else again and I know you’re kind of light in the patience department.”

  “It’s been a real struggle,” I admitted, turning into the motel parking lot. I walked them to their room and hugged them both while they thanked me profusely for what my dad called ‘a one-of-a-kind day and a first class party.’ As we waved goodbye, I noticed the agitated look in my mother’s eyes when she glanced next door at the darkened window in Sean’s room. Sharing her sentiments, I drove around the front of the building, parked beside Ginger’s car and hurried along the rose-flanked walkway that lead to the small cottage tucked behind the motel office. As I walked up the shallow steps onto the well-lit front porch, I decided the manicured honeysuckle vines crawling along the railing added just the right amount of character and assisted in making the place look more like a big dollhouse.

  My light knock on the door was answered within seconds. Illuminated in the bright rectangle of golden light, Ginger waved me inside. “Get in here, Sugar! It’s colder ’n a frosted frog out there tonight.”

  “It’s not too bad.” It was hard not to smile when Marcelene’s pug, Squirt, rushed to greet me. He emitted friendly snuffling noises and showed his pleasure by whirling around in circles. I knelt down to pet him and was rewarded by squealing grunts. “You are so darn cute!” I said with a laugh, petting his taut, little body.

  “Sorry about missin’ the cookout,” she lamented with a sigh. “I was yakkin’ with Doug a minute ago and he said it was a real big success.”

  “It was. I’m sorry you both missed it, but I understand.” Having become accustomed to being out in the cold night air for so many hours, it seemed stuffy inside so I immediately shed my coat.

  “Just toss it over the back of the couch and come on into the kitchen,” Ginger said. “Marcelene’s got a story you need to hear.”

  “Okay.” Super curious to hear what she had to say, I followed Ginger and Squirt towards an arched doorway, noting that the place was just as cozy inside as I’d imagined. The small living room was tastefully furnished in a country decor—lots of bric-a-brac on the tables and shelves, an upright piano, colorful throw pillows brightened beige overstuffed furniture and a highly polished parquet floor with scattered area rugs. When we entered the little kitchen, Marcelene sat slump-shouldered at a round maple table pouring steaming water from a flowered teapot. Behind her, the cheerful blue and white gingham curtains adorning the windows, along with the animated chirp of a cuckoo clock, belied her downcast expression.

  “Hi, Kendall,” she said, looking up at me with a forlorn smile, “I’m glad you came by. Would you like a cup of raspberry tea? I have some freshly baked cookies too.”

  “Thank you. How are you holding up?”

  Her shrug and wordless grimace said it all. Once she’d set out more cups and we were seated, Ginger urged, “Okay now, tell Kendall what you just told me.”

  Marcelene took a sip of her tea and at the same time, slipped a piece of cookie to Squirt, who gulped it down and then sat on the floor gazing up at her with bulbous, adoring eyes. Her hand trembling slightly, she set the cup down with a despondent sigh. “It was July, fourteen years ago. Jenessa was seven years ol
d. Arnold and I had rented a houseboat on Lake Powell along with Jack Dugan, a family friend, and his son, Eric, who was eleven, I think. Jenessa had begged us for weeks to allow her best friend Kailey to come along and after some hesitation and consulting with her parents, we finally said yes.”

  “Why were you hesitating?” I asked.

  “Because she was not a well child. We debated taking responsibility for her, but Jenessa was insistent that she be allowed to come, so...we eventually gave in.”

  “What was wrong with her?”

  “She suffered from a congenital heart issue called ASD. She was small, kind of skinny, tired easily and didn’t have many friends, so Jenessa being the kind of person she is…” she swallowed hard and drew in a controlling breath, “was…befriended this child when few else would.” Tears shimmered in her eyes. “That’s who Jenessa was—compassionate, loving, always there to lend a helping hand. You remember?”

  “I do.” Even though I’d only met her a few times, she struck me as a gentle soul and goodness seemed to radiate from her.

  “Kailey’s parents balked at first, because she was scheduled for a second heart surgery the following month,” Marcelene continued, “but we convinced them that she would be fine and that we would keep a close eye on her. They finally agreed, so we packed up our van planning to spend the week there.” She stared blankly into space for a few seconds as if she were remembering something and then resumed. “Anyway, the first three days were a lot of fun, but on the evening of the fourth, Arnold started the boat generator so he could watch TV and cool the interior before we went to bed. All three children were having a grand old time swimming and playing in the shallow water near the shore. I can still hear their peals of laughter…” While Marcelene cleared her throat and drank more tea, I wondered where she was going with this seemingly innocuous story. I didn’t have to wait long to find out.

  “I remember going below deck to cook dinner,” she said, her voice falling almost to a whisper, “and the next thing I knew Arnold was shouting for me to come up on deck. I could hear the panic in his voice and my heart just froze.” Her voice quavered and as she fought for control, dark apprehension wrapped around my heart. I traded an inquisitive look with Ginger before turning back to Marcelene.