by Robin Janney
He chuckled. “Did it work?”
“It did.”
“Then that’s what we’re calling it.” Craig lifted himself enough to kiss her lips. Her eyes shone from leftover tears, but there were no new ones. Only flaming desire. He wiped the last traces of sorrow and fear from her warm cheeks. “Would you like some more?” he asked in a whisper.
“Yes!” Angela answered without hesitation, and she smiled at him. “I’d love more Mr. Moore.”
He chuckled. “I have not heard that since our wedding night. It will be my pleasure, Angel.” He pressed his lips to hers and began again.
I t was early when Craig walked into the kitchen of his home, having already sent Princess outside for her morning run. His young brother-in-law sat at the small table eating a bowl of cereal, a mug of coffee sitting at his elbow.
“When did you start drinking coffee?” asked Craig as he helped himself to the coffee.
“At the last hotel we stayed at,” answered Jared around a grin.
“Breaking free of your parents’ rule?” he teased with a smile as he set about frying eggs and making toast.
“Mom’s anyway,” the boy admitted, still grinning. “By the way, nice going last night.”
“What?” asked Craig, momentarily confused. Surely…?
“Come on, Craig. We’re all adults here. Well, I’m close enough anyway.”
Craig groaned as he realized the teen must have heard his and Angela’s nighttime activities. He grimaced as he imagined Maude’s scolding, but this was his home and his wife. And Jared hardly seemed put off by it. But still, Craig said, “Sorry, Jared. I’ll try to be more discreet next time.”
Jared snorted. “Hey, don’t change anything on my account. Angie deserves to be happy.”
He did not disagree. Bringing his breakfast to the table, Craig sat across from Jared. “How is it she allows you to call her that?”
His brother-in-law shrugged his thin shoulders. “It just kinda happened. I lost my temper with her at the dinner table one night when she was staying with us after her coma, and it just came out. She didn’t bat an eyelash at it, so I just kept calling her by it.”
“No one else does.”
Again, the teen shrugged. “They’re probably used to her flipping out over it. Craig, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” Craig shoveled eggs into his mouth as he waited, seeing the normally outgoing teen suddenly hesitant.
“I couldn’t help but wonder something. I mean, it sounded like Angie was really enjoying whatever it was you were doing to her last night, and I was just wondering how you did it. Made it enjoyable for her, I mean.”
“Isn’t that something you should talk to your father about?” asked Craig, suddenly in over his head. He drank from his coffee, praying his wife hadn’t woken up yet. Somehow, he didn’t think she’d appreciate this conversation.
“I tried,” admitted Jared. “He just said to make sure the girl consented, and the pleasuring part was something that came with practice once I was married and stuff like that.”
Craig took a breath, considering his words. “And you want to know more, because?”
Jared shot him a withering look. That had to be hereditary on the Carman side because he’d gotten this same look from Angela before. “I lost my virginity a year ago, Craig. And it wasn’t a one-time thing. Eryn and I dated steadily until a week before graduation.”
“Okay, and?”
His young brother-in-law sighed and rolled his eyeballs. “Eryn never liked sex as much as I did, and she certainly never screamed like you made my sister last night. I’m just wondering what I was doing wrong.”
Craig sighed, once again drinking coffee as he thought. Setting his heavy mug on the table, he looked at Jared with somber eyes. “Well, I can’t tell you what you might have done wrong. I wasn’t there. Honestly, this is something you should have talked to Eryn about. All I do with your sister is put her first. I watch to see what she likes the most and then give it to her until she climaxes.”
“And how long did it take you to figure out how to make sure a girl finishes before you?”
Leaning back in his chair, he considered his answer. “I had that much figured out before I married your sister,” admitted Craig.
“Angela wasn’t your first?” asked Jared, incredulous.
“Sadly, no. I didn’t have much say in the matter, Jared. My stepmother taught me more than I wanted to learn when I was a teen.”
Jared was speechless, but he soon recovered. “I had no idea.”
“It’s not something I advertise.”
“Is that why you barely spoke to her that day at the farm?”
“Partly. My father says my stepmother admitted to her crimes against me and my brother and was getting help. Is getting help. Still, it’s a hard thing to forgive.”
“I bet,” the youth murmured.
Committed far more than he would like to the conversation, Craig decided to keep it rolling. “So, what made you and Eryn decide you were ready for sex?”
“It just kind of happened. I’m not sure how we ended up being at the farm alone, but it happened one Saturday. We were kissing, and the next thing I knew it was happening.” Jared shrugged again. “I liked it and looked for more opportunities. She gave them to me, but she never seemed to like it that much. Said there were no fireworks, whatever that means.”
“Considering your earlier question, I think you do know what she meant. Have you considered the possibility that maybe she wasn’t as ready as you were?”
“Yeah, but if that’s the case, why didn’t she tell me no?”
“I have no idea,” conceded Craig. “Maybe she didn’t want to disappoint you. Maybe she wanted it but wasn’t prepared for the reality. It’s different for girls.”
“No kidding,” grumbled Jared. “Are there any around here? Girls, I mean.”
Craig chuckled. “I’m not sure you’ll have much of a chance to meet any girls this summer, Jared. The few female employees I have are either married or twice your age. There are some girls at the church I go to, but I’d suggest steering clear of any summer flings. Their father’s might not appreciate it.”
“No, I imagine not.” Jared scowled. “Is my sister worth any headaches she gives you?”
This time Craig laughed. “More than worth it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take her some breakfast and then I’ll take you down to meet Rick and get you started.”
“Alright,” answered Jared, still grumpy. He was quiet as Craig fixed Angela a large mug of tea and grabbed some muffins from a box on the counter. He smiled as his brother-in-law left the room. He could probably learn a lot just from watching how Craig treated his sister. From how he loved her at night, to taking her breakfast the next morning. Jared might not be ready for that level of devotion himself, but he wanted to be eventually, and it was never too early to take notes.
He just wished he understood why God wanted him here because he highly doubted it had anything to do with love and sex.
C oming out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, Angela smiled at finding her husband setting a large mug and a plate of blueberry muffins on her bedside table.
“Good morning, Angel,” he said, coming to greet her. He caught her lips with his own as she turned her face up to him.
“Morning,” she returned. “Breakfast?”
“Tea and muffins. I was going to bring you eggs and toast, but Jared wanted a conversation, and I ended up eating them.”
Angela laughed. “It’s going to be a little weird with him here.”
“Just a little,” agreed Craig releasing her.
Angela sat on the edge of the bed, her towel creeping up and giving him a delightful eyeful. She drank from the mug of tea, sighing in appreciation. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” Craig stretched out on the bed next to her, smiling as he watched her take the paper off a blueberry muffin. “So, what were you dreaming last night that had you so upset?�
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Angela hesitated. “I dreamt I couldn’t find you.”
He waited for more, but when she bit into the muffin without saying more he pressed. “I had that much figured out by what you were saying last night. You cried during sex, so it must have been bad.”
Sighing, Angela set the muffin back on the plate and put the plate on the bedside table next to her charging smartphone. Lying on the bed next to him, she snuggled into his arms. “Do you remember that one storm last summer? We stood on the front porch watching the funnel cloud pass by us to the south.”
“I remember.” He had stood by tense, as his voice was now, ready to carry her to the lower level if it even looked like the massive funnel cloud had decided to switch directions. She’d been fascinated by it.
“It was like a repeat of that…sort of. We were standing on the porch, watching the tornado. Only in my dream, it shifted directions and when I looked to you, you were gone. I tried making it downstairs without you, furious you’d gone without me, but before I could get there I was picked up and tossed about.”
The similarity to his own dream was uncanny, and he wondered what it could mean. He’d call Kevin later, but in the meantime, maybe he should schedule an earlier visit to Pat.
“Was I very loud? Did I wake you?” Angela asked.
“No,” Craig answered. “I’d had a nightmare myself, so I was already awake.”
“Oh.” She rested her head on his arm. “What did you dream?”
“Something similar. I was in the Dragon Dream, in the oasis, but you weren’t there.” He decided not to tell her how he’d been accused of leaving her there defenseless; as he had in her dream. It was inconceivable. He had no intentions of ever leaving his wife in danger.
“Did you find me?”
“Eventually.”
Angela looked up at him, her blue eyes questioning, but not pressing.
Smiling, Craig kissed her forehead. “They were just dreams, Angel. Neither one of us is going anywhere.”
“I suppose,” she murmured. “It’s still weird.”
“That it is.” He ran his hand over her damp hair, brushing it back from her face. “I’m going to take Jared down to meet Rick, get that all taken care of, and then I’m going to see if Pat has an opening this afternoon.”
Angela groaned. “Really? Why?”
“Because you’ve been on the quiet side since Jared’s graduation, and you cried halfway through sex. Both have me a little concerned, Angel.”
She sighed and hid her face. “Fine, whatever.”
“Trust me, I plan on calling Kevin too…”
Angela made a disgruntled sound. “That’s different. Kevin’s your friend.”
“I thought you liked Pat.”
“Like is too strong a word. I tolerate her because I must. I don’t consider her a friend. Not like Toni. I wouldn’t invite her to dinner or anything.”
Craig smiled. “I’ll leave you to get dressed now, and I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Alright.” Angela sighed as her husband released her and got off the bed. She lay there after he left, looking at her reflection in the full-length mirrors on the closet doors set on far side of the room. There had been a stark reality to her dream that scared her still, and now her husband was going to take her to her therapist and make her relive it. Pat was going to mark it up to insecurities.
But Angela knew better.
It was a warning. Because the funnel cloud in her dream had been red sand…and she’d only ever encountered red sand in one other place. Dream or reality, she didn’t know…just remembering standing on the edge of her field of daisies and looking out into the red sandy desert. Her husband had somehow shared that particular dream with her and the red sand was from his…reality? She didn’t understand it.
Angela just knew something bad was coming – like she’d known about the tornado when she was younger. She still remembered that one. Whatever was coming, she also knew it was something she wasn’t going to be prepared for.
Neither was Craig.
12
C raig’s iPhone emitted a ringtone he didn’t immediately recognize, and he checked the display as Rick talked with Jared about the various details of the job. Why was his father calling him this early in the day? wondered Craig. Granted, it was later in New York, but not by much.
“Excuse me,” Craig said to the men he was with, and walked a short distance away, out of the stable office and the building to answer. “Hey Dad, what’s up?”
But it wasn’t Les who answered him.
“Craig, it’s your mother.”
It was on the tip of Craig’s tongue to correct Veronica, to remind her that she was only his stepmother, but the edge of tightly controlled panic in her voice caught his attention before he could.
“Veronica? What wrong?”
The woman on the other end of the phone took a deep breath. “There’s been an accident.”
Fear seized Craig’s heart, his father’s strong image forming immediately in his mind. “Dad? Is he…”
“He’s in surgery right now,” Veronica answered.
“What happened? How serious is it?” asked Craig, numbly sitting on the nearest hay bale.
“I’m not completely sure.” Again, Veronica’s voice trembled. “Just what the police have told me. I haven’t even made it to the hospital yet. Les was coming out of court with Dan, coming down the steps and somebody drove by and just started shooting.” There was a sniff. “They think it was a black Mercedes. Your father had to be a hero; he pushed his client out of the way and took a bullet in the side. Nothing immediately life threatening was hit, but they’re worried about how close it is to his spine.”
“Oh my God,” whispered Craig, his hand coming to his face. Images ran in his mind. How as a small boy, Les had always let him crawl in his lap while at his desk. How even as his father became more and more distant the more successful he became, he was always a strong figure for his boys to look up to. One news report had brought his father to his wife’s hospital room and back into his life. “Does Tim know what’s going on?”
“I tried getting through to him, but the prison requirements for me to get even a message to him are too much for me to handle right now.” Veronica made a frustrated sound. “There’s nothing he could do but worry anyway. I was wondering…I know we’ll never be close, but I could use some help right now.”
Craig sighed. He would have gone for his father anyway but her asking him made him feel uncomfortable. “I’ll be there as soon as I can, Veronica. I have a few things I need to take care of first before I can come, but it won’t take long.”
“I knew you’d come, Craig.” The distraught woman sniffled again. “I have good friends, but this calls for family. Don’t be afraid to bring Angela along, if you think the poor thing can handle the city. She’s family too after all.”
Oh God, what was he going to do with Angela? His wife would want to come, but Craig hesitated at bringing his wife anywhere close to the woman on the other end of the phone. “I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he repeated.
“Your old room is always ready. Do you want me to send your father’s limo to pick you up from the airport?”
“No, that’s not necessary. It’ll be late when I get there, so I’ll just grab a taxi.”
“Alright.”
The call ended, and Craig took a deep breath, holding it before he released it. Rising from the hay bale, he refocused to the business at hand, but his mind was already racing ahead to everything he needed to take care of. He turned back and reentered the small office he’d just left.
“Everything alright, Craig?” asked the ever-perceptive Jared.
He could be too much like his sister, Craig thought with irritation. “Nothing to worry about right now,” he answered. “Look, I’m going to leave you with Rick for the moment. He’ll get you set up with a training schedule with Gary. They’ll show you what horses you can pick from.”
“I assume Bust
er is still not an option?” asked Rick.
“Correct. He’s not to be ridden by anyone other than Gary until his bad habit is broken,” answered Craig. “That beast damn near killed my wife.”
“What?” Jared exclaimed. This was probably the most he had heard about the accident.
“Rick can tell you about it.” Craig turned his attention back to his foreman. “Once you have him on a horse, come up to my office. We have a few things to discuss.”
Rick nodded. “Alright.”
“I’ll see you later Jared.”
Jared watched him go, aware of Rick doing the same. “I forgot how moody he can be,” muttered the younger man. When Rick choked on a laugh, Jared shot the older man a look. “Know what I mean, don’t you?”
“I’ve worked for worse,” was all Rick would comment, his mouth twitching grimly. “Still, I wonder what about the phone call bothered him that bad?”
Jared shook his head, feeling he was about to learn the reason why God wanted his presence here this summer. He wasn’t exactly looking forward to it. “I’ll find out later. In the meantime, get me set up with a horse and tell me how this Buster almost killed my sister.”
S lamming his office door behind him, Craig had his smartphone out and calling Angela’s psychiatrist before he had taken his seat. “Hi Andy,” he said in response to the receptionist’s greeting. “I need to make an appointment for Angela Moore, preferably this afternoon if possible.”
As he spoke, he opened his laptop and turned it on. He had too many things needing to be done all at once.
“Hello Mr. Moore,” replied Andrew pleasantly. “Let me check to see what Pat has available.”
While he waited, Craig had his laptop browser searching for flights. He still hadn’t decided whether to book seats for one or two. Given their dreams last night, he knew he didn’t want even a brief separation from his wife and knew she would feel the same. But he also did not feel like putting his wife anywhere near his stepmother.
“Pat has an opening this morning at eleven,” said Andrew. “Nothing this afternoon I’m afraid. Would you like me to check tomorrow?”
