by Nancy M Bell
She shook her head and stood up as the light faded from the sky and the first stars peeked out in the dark heavens. Looked like another clear night, might still get some frost. Good thing it was still too early to hurt the hay crop. A glance at the clock showed it was almost six o’clock. Cale must be held up with an emergency. Well, better him than Doc. A frown creased her forehead remembering Mary’s worries of earlier. Doc wasn’t that old—she stopped and considered while doing a quick calculation—it didn’t seem possible. The old vet must be close to 70, he’d always seemed invincible and ageless. Although lately he hadn’t looked well, getting a bit breathless when he talked sometimes, letting Cale do most of the surgeries. She bit her lip. Mary was right. Her old friend did need to go see Doc Lewen. She’d talk to Cale when he got home and see if he could convince the older man to see reason.
Picking up a sheaf of papers from the shelf over the desk, she closed the ranch program on the computer and opened Cale’s invoicing program. Storm wandered in with her offspring and made herself comfortable on the thick rug by Michelle’s feet. “Might as well make myself useful, eh dog?” Cale never seemed to have time to keep up with the paperwork.
Engrossed in the intricacies of the billing and posting payments Michelle cursed when Storm scrambled to her feet barking. The puppy added his shrill yelps to the flood of noise. The kitchen door shut with a bang, she pushed back the chair and got to her feet.
“Storm! Leave off, it’s just Cale. Pipe down, both of you. I’m in the office, Cale,” she called.
Footsteps sounded in the hall as she turned to save her work and shut the program. Finished she looked up and froze. “What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded.
“I saw the vet’s truck over at your old place and figured you might be lonely.” Rob leaned a hip against the door frame effectively blocking the exit.
“Well, you’re wrong. Get out. Go home to your wife.” Beside her Storm crouched belly to the floor and growled low in her throat.
“What, you gonna sic that tripod mutt on me?” Rob laughed and took a swig out of the flask he pulled from a back pocket.
“Storm, no.” The dog quit growling but kept her lips peeled back from her teeth. The puppy yipped from the safety of his mother’s side. “Have you quit drinking at all? How’d you get here anyway, the cops still have your truck?”
“Can’t you shut that mutt up? Hurts my ears.”
“The puppy is fine, which is more than I can say for you. Move out of the way and I’ll make some coffee. You shouldn’t be driving when you’re pissed to the gills.” She shoved at him to make room in the doorway. “You need to get out of here before Cale comes home.”
Rob grabbed her arm and yanked her toward him. “I told you, he’s over at your old place with that little blonde who’s shacked up with your brother. I’m bettin’ he won’t be home for a while, if you know what I mean.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
“Let me go, you jackass. If Cale is over there it’s because some animal needs tending. Nothing else.”
“Ah, Chelly Belly, you always were a trusting soul. C’mon, let me keep you company, for old time’s sake.” Rob dipped his head and tried to kiss her, his lips sliding off her cheek when she turned her head. “Is that anyway to treat your first love? A little messing around won’t harm no one. I’m thinking that’s what that Stacey girl had in mind when she called the office.”
“I said, let me go,” Michelle warned. Rob grinned down at her and slid his arm lower, grabbing her butt.
“You always did have a fine as—”
Michelle’s knee crunched into his groin at the same time she whacked the side of his head with the heel of her hand. He let her go abruptly and slid down the wall. She stepped over him and headed to the kitchen. Storm followed by leaping over the prone figure, the puppy however, decided to gnaw on his boot before clawing his way over. Rob slouched against the door frame half supported by the wall. He kicked feebly at the puppy while clutching his abused anatomy and muttering curses between groans. She spared him a glance before pushing the kitchen door open and stepping through. Served him right, the ass. A thread of guilt worried its way through her anger. Maybe she shouldn’t have hit him so hard…No dammit, he got what he deserved. Rob had no right to come marching in and assume his advances would be welcome.
Water splashed out of the glass carafe as she filled it at the tap. Anger and frustrated annoyance coursed through her, setting her hands to shaking. Mumbling curses, she slid the pot unto the hot plate, filled the coffee maker and flipped it on. She kept an ear cocked for sounds from the hall. Surely, he should be up by now. She hadn’t hit him that hard. Damned if she’d go check on his well fare.
The coffee was ready when Rob limped into the kitchen. “That was unfair, woman. Takin’ advantage of me when I was only giving you what you asked for. We’ll never have us no babies if you keep that up.” He slumped into a chair at the table and put his head in his hands.
Michelle slapped a mug of black coffee in front of him. “How drunk are you? I want nothing to do with you. I’ve told you to leave. And, no, we are never going to have babies. You’re married, remember, and not to me, thank God.”
“Aw now, Chelly darlin’, that was a mistake you know? You were pestering me about having kids and all that other stuff—” He peered at her through bleary eyes.
“All that other stuff? Like you boinking every buckle bunny that came your way when I wasn’t with you? Like putting off the wedding date again and again? The only mistake was me not figuring out what a dink you really are. Drink the coffee and get out.”
“You’re a hard woman, Chelly. You can’t throw me out of my own home. You always wanted to play house with me before, remember?”
“It’s not your house, jack ass. I have no intention of playing house with you, as you so quaintly put it. I’m calling Kayla to come and get you.”
“C’mon, darlin’, don’t be so hard to get along with. No need to call the wife, unless you’ve gotten way more adventurous…you into a threesome?”
“That’s it, Rob. I’m done!” She grabbed the mug of steaming coffee and dumped it on him.
“Bitch!” He surged to his feet and tackled her. They landed in a heap on the floor, Rob on top. Michelle squirmed and bucked in an attempt to dislodge him. He caught her hands over her head with one large hand. “That’s it, show me how much you want me. You never used to like it rough, I must say this is an improvement.”
He lowered his head and ground his mouth over hers forcing her lips open and attempting to shove his tongue in her mouth. She bit his lower lip hard enough that she tasted blood. A gasp escaped her and annoyance turned to fear when he ripped her shirt open with his free hand in retaliation. Michelle cursed herself as the exhalation allowed Rob to get his tongue in her mouth. She stilled for a moment, maybe if she quit fighting he’d come to his senses. Instead he shoved her bra up and pawed at her breast, pinching hard enough to leave a mark when she thrashed in protest. Suddenly, he was gone and Michelle opened her eyes, gasping for breath.
“What the hell is going on here?” Cale held Rob by the collar, twisting the material tight enough to half strangle him. He glared down at her before dragging Rob out the door and throwing him down the steps. “Don’t come back here. I’ll call the RCMP and have you charged with trespass if you show up here again, is that clear?” Cale thundered.
Rob picked himself up as Michelle reached the door and peered out from behind Cale. “Don’t be blamin’ me ‘cause you can’t keep your woman satisfied. She made the running, I only obliged her. For old time’s sake.” Rob winked at Cale. “Quite the spitfire you’ve turned her into, she wasn’t ever that wild when I had her.”
Cale pulled out his cell phone and started dialing. “You have exactly two seconds to get in that truck and get out before I hit send,” he threatened. “Michelle, get back in the house, and for God’s sake cover yourself up. Let me deal with the Lothario.”
She shrank
back from the anger in his voice and rigid stance of his shoulders. The pieces of her shirt were pulled together over the remains of her bra. She stumbled back into the kitchen and collapsed into a chair at the table. Her hands shook so badly it was all she could do to tie the tails of her shirt together. Really, she should go and change, but her legs refused to hold her. Storm slunk into the room and pushed her head into Michelle’s hand. Absently, she stroked the big head and then lifted the whining puppy into her lap when he bumped against her leg. She should call Kayla and warn about the state her husband was in. In that mood he was sure to show up and demand his marital rights from her. If Kayla didn’t show him the flat side of a frying pan up the side of his head she was an idiot. Michelle wished she’d had one to hand a few moments ago.
Fumbling for the phone in her back pocket she managed to dial Kayla. She waited impatiently for the woman to answer. “Kayla, it’s Michelle. Rob was just here and he’s stinking drunk. If I were you I’d lock the door and not let him in, but that’s up to you.”
“Why was he out there? I haven’t seen him last night, was he with you the whole time?” Kayla’s voice rose to a shrill pitch.
“Not a chance. The idiot got a DUI and called me to come and pick him up at the cop shop in Okotoks. They impounded his truck—”
“What? The bastard was driving my truck. I’ll kill him when I get my hands on him.”
“You might want to wait until he’s sober so he remembers it. Right now he’s crazy drunk. I dropped him at the Twin Cities earlier and I have no idea how he got a truck to come out here. He was so pissed he seemed to forget he didn’t live here anymore. Cale just sent him packing. Look I gotta go. Be careful, Kayla. Rob can be a mean drunk sometimes.”
“You mind your own man and let me handle my husband. I’d appreciate it if you’d quit coming onto him. He’s married to me, or have you forgotten?”
Michelle stared at the blank screen in disbelief. Coming onto him? What load of crap is he feeding her?
“So, Michelle. You want to explain to me what was going on here? I don’t appreciate coming home to find you screwing around on the kitchen floor. If you’re not happy here, just say so.” His expression was carefully blank, only the rigidity of his body betrayed his anger.
“Are you kidding me? Screwing around? He was trying to rape me for God’s sake!”
“So you say. I’m sorry, Michelle, but it’s all over town how you’re still hung up on him and not over getting dumped.”
“That’s not true! I am over that jackass. I told you I love you, isn’t that enough?”
“Those are just words, Michelle. What am I supposed to think when I find you half-dressed rolling around on the floor?”
“You could try believing me! You’re a fine one to talk anyway. Do you think I haven’t heard about you and Stacey?”
“What about me and Stacey?” His voice was so low it scared Michelle more than if he’d yelled.
“Everybody is quick to tell me they saw the two of you having lunch at the Steakhouse and having coffee at the café. Even tonight, you were over there before you came home. It’s almost nine o’clock, what was so important you couldn’t come home?”
“One of the mares had trouble foaling, your brother lost a mare and foal tonight. That’s what I was doing. Stacey was upset and worried about telling George, so I stuck around until she got hold of him. As for the rest of it, Stacey and I are old friends, friends, that’s all. I’ve told you that over and over—”
“And I’ve told you over and over, I’m over Rob Chetwynd. But you don’t believe me.”
“And you don’t believe me. Maybe we’ve made a mistake, Michelle.” Cale sounded weary all of a sudden. “I think it best if you sleep upstairs for now. If there’s no trust, what the hell are we doing?”
“Cale,” she began.
“Not now, Michelle. I can’t, I’m too tired to think and I’ve got a full day tomorrow.” He walked past her toward the hall door.
“Cale,” her voice was small, “do you want the ring back, then?” Tears choked her throat.
He stopped as if she’d shot him. Without turning around he leaned a hand on the door frame. “No, Michelle. Just you think about what it is you really want and then you decide if you want to keep it or not. Then we’ll talk about what I want.”
He continued on out the door, and Storm, the traitor, went with him. The puppy trailing behind his mother stopped in the doorway and looked back at her over his shoulder before disappearing into the shadows of the hallway.
Chapter Three
Michelle turned over and thumped the pillow for what seemed like the millionth time. The sky was lightening outside, pale gray light spilling through the window panes. A quick check of her phone revealed it was almost 5 am. Spring on the prairies meant long hours of daylight as the seasonal clock wound its way toward the summer solstice.
Knowing that sleep wasn’t an option, she got up and padded over to the window. Fresh tears came unbidden as she looked out over the sweep of land coming alive under the strengthening daylight. Across the deep slash of shadow that marked the coulee, the Wilson home place was still in darkness. Stacey must find it lonesome over there by herself with George away so much. It didn’t seem to make sense the woman would stick around just to do chores and keep the place up while George was gone. Her brother was no big catch in Michelle’s estimation. No, she’s staying there so she can be near Cale. She twisted the diamond and gold ring on her finger, slipping it on and off. Returning it wasn’t something she wanted to do at all. But was she being fair to Cale? Maybe he was right and she wasn’t really over Rob, childhood sweetheart and first love, and all that clap trap. She rejected the idea as soon as it crossed her mind. Whatever lingering romantic feelings she might have had for Rob Chetwynd were gone. Running her hands up and down her arms, she shivered. The boy she grew up with had changed into someone she hardly knew or recognized.
Dressing quickly, she stole downstairs and started the coffee for Cale. Before any sounds came from the front bedroom she crept back upstairs. She wasn’t ready to face him just yet. More tears blurred her vision when she re-entered the bedroom she’d camped out in last night. How could he think she encouraged Rob? Honestly, as far as she could see, she’d never given Cale any reason to distrust her. How was she supposed to control what people gossiped about, for heaven’s sake? Longview was a small town and the extended ranching community that surrounded it was fairly close-knit. Like any small place, everyone knew everyone else’s business and felt it their duty to comment on it.
Cale’s footsteps sounded in the hall below and the click of Storm’s nails told Michelle he was up and about. Her heart stuttered when the steps halted at the foot of the stairs. She let out the breath she’d been holding when he continued on to the kitchen. Unsure whether she was disappointed or relieved, Michelle jammed the pillows up against the headboard and made herself comfortable, knees drawn up to her chin. She waited while Cale took Storm and Crazy Puppy out to do their morning business. She grinned, they really had to come up with a better name for the little dog. Nobody seemed to want the mutt, so it looked like he’d be staying with his momma. Her grin faded. Wherever she went, the dogs were going too. Storm was hers.
The growl of Cale’s truck leaving the yard pulled her from her reverie. Better call Mary before she got wind of this latest fiasco. The shrill of the phone had her jumping up and racing down the stairs. How did that woman find out so fast? It’s only 7:30 in the morning. “Hey, Mary,” she answered the land line without checking the caller ID.
“Michelle? It’s Stacey…”
“Why are you whispering? I can hardly hear you.”
“There’s a weird guy asleep on the porch. He keeps waking up and banging on the door, yelling for you to open up. I’m scared. Can you come over right away?”
“You didn’t let him in, did you?”
“Lord, no. Are you coming? Do you know who it is?”
“Best guess is it’
s Rob Chetwynd. Cale threw him out of here last night. Kayla must have locked him out of their place.” The sound of Rob yelling and hammering on the door interrupted the conversation.
“Michelle, I’m scared. What should I do? Please come over, right now.”
“Stacey, I’m not Rob’s keeper. He’s not my responsibility. Call the cops and tell them you’ve got an intruder. Don’t open the door and don’t let him know you’re there. He might well decide George is out of town and the place is empty.”
“You really think I should call the police?”
“Yes. Or you can try calling Kayla, but I’d go for the cops if I were you. That idiot caused enough trouble here last night he can fall in the river for all I care. Call the cops, Stacey.” Michelle broke the connection. She stared at the phone for a moment and then dialled Kayla.
“’Lo?” the woman’s muffled voice was barely audible.
“Kayla, Michelle here. Did Rob show up last night?”
“He’s not here, why? What did he do now?” She sounded resigned and aggravated at the same time.
“Stacey just called. It sounds like he’s passed out at my folks place and scaring the crap out of her. I told her to call the cops, but I thought I should let you know in case you wanted to go and collect him.”
“I know he’s a really old friend of yours and you know him better than me, but what did you ever see in him?”
