by Candy Quinn
Marcus’ eyes both widened and narrowed somehow, and he looked downright savage!
“That’s a dang lie, sure as shootin’!” he said obstinately, but already Asher was within earshot, pullin’ his shirt on over his head, tuggin’ it down around his broad shoulders and bulging torso.
“Hey you,” Marcus said brazenly to Asher, puffin’ up his own puny lil’ chest as he attempted to intimidate the much larger man, but gettin’ only a furrowed brow and a confused look from the hunk. “You better keep yer paws off a Shelby here. ‘Cause I only live down the road, and I got more’n enough guns to stop whoever gives our family trouble, y’hear?”
Of course, Asher just continued to stare, standin’ there like a colossus.
“Marcus,” I hissed, reaching for his shoulder. “He ain’t been nothin’ but a gentleman and already finished squarin’ off the patch for the flower garden, just in the one afternoon!”
Marcus brushed off my hand, and continued on though, stubborn as a mule.
“You best watch your behaviour ‘round here, fella. The Sherriff’s a friend of the family—” which was true, but then Hank was everyone’s friend, it weren’t like there was a ton of people “—so just you watch out, hear?”
Asher for his part simply stood, starin’ down at Marcus like he was some yippin’ dog and he couldn’t figure out what the pup wanted.
“Fine, Marcus, you made your point!” I protested, and really, I was getting worried that Asher might be put off from all of it. Just hop on his hog and take off to someplace he wasn’t gonna be told off for doing not a thing wrong.
Hell, even if he had touched me, ain’t nothing wrong with that. Not like I didn’t want it.
Marcus glanced at me irritably before glaring back at Asher, and with no response, he just stormed off on his own, back to his pickup and left in a huff, the gravel of the driveway kickin’ up in a mess.
Asher just adjusted his shirt back down over that gorgeous physique of his as he watched Marcus leave, then looked to me.
“Seems awful worked up. What’s his problem?” he asked simply, in that deliciously dark voice of his.
I didn’t even know how to explain, so I sighed, and motioned for the door.
“C’mon, I made a huge feast, and I’m sure you’re way hungrier for food than family drama,” I said, brushin’ back some of my blonde hair from my cheek and hoping that I looked calmer than I felt.
“You bet,” he said in a gruff, firm voice, and I could tell he wasn’t gonna pass up the opportunity for some food.
So we traipsed on into the house, where I had laid out an embarrassingly big meal before us, and Asher sat himself down.
“And it’s just the two of us?” he asked, sounding surprised as he tore off a drumstick and wasted no time helpin’ himself. Not that I could blame him, I still remembered what my pa was like, and it weren’t pretty come dinner time!
“Yup, so eat as much as you need. Seriously, you did awesome work out there today, Asher,” I gushed, and I tried to dial it back a notch.
“I got your room all ready too. I mean, we have power and all that, so if you wanted to hang out for a bit after sundown, we got the family room.”
Asher didn’t need much encouragement, the big lug was tearing into his drumstick even as he scooped up some mashed potatoes with his other hand, and it was clear he was ravenous. Couldn’t blame him after a hard day of work like he’d put in.
“That’s damn good,” he managed to get out in the short span between bites.
I smiled, watching him eat before more lightly beginning my own dinner. I couldn’t help but get enjoyment out of watching such a gorgeous hunk devouring my cooking.
“Thank you,” I said with a sigh. I had been planning on changing before Marcus pulled up, but instead I was stuck in my daisy dukes and button down shirt. He didn’t seem to even notice, though.
Asher helped himself to a generous portion of everythin’ on offer, and of course, I only welcomed it. I’d served up ma’s portion to her in her room before hand, not that she got much enjoyment outta such things anymore. And best of all, he took great relish in enjoyin’ it too. He ate fast, but the number of savoury mmm’s and ahhh’s I got were not to be diminished!
“You’ve got a real knack for cooking,” he said, looking across the table at me with his dark, intense eyes. “Shame you’ve not had anyone to cook for out here.”
“Yea,” I admitted, a bit more morose about it than I intended. Loneliness is a hell of a thing, but I’d done well to ignore that nagging feeling and just do what needs to be done. One day at a time and all that.
I took a bite of my own chicken, and I couldn’t help but agree. I was a damn fine cook if ever there was one, though the wholesome ingredients didn’t hurt.
“You eat like you ain’t had anything decent in ages,” I finally said with a sparkle to my eyes.
He looked over at me, across the table and our eyes locked a while as we chewed.
“You could say that,” he remarked, and his shirt still left his bulgin’ biceps and thick forearms exposed delightfully. “You can’t get good food like this in the city. No way about it,” he said firmly, shakin’ his head as if in regret for all the misspent years with lousy meals. “Even when I knew a good cook, she didn’t have the kind of ingredients you have to work with. You’re a miracle worker in the kitchen.”
Somethin’ about praise from him felt a lil’ more genuine, and a lil’ more flatterin’ than the usual.
Maybe that was my loins talkin’, but it felt good. Real good.
“You charmer,” I grinned, trying to hide the fact that I was blushing like mad.
Thankfully I still had a bit of a tan, so hopefully that muted it a bit.
Asher never took no notice to my blushin’, but instead looked about the place, soakin’ it all in as he ate. He slowed a little, but not much, he was still intent on devourin’ the whole feast I’d prepared, it seemed.
“That fella,” he began, dipping some bread into the gravy I’d prepared, “Do you really think he’s going to cause trouble with the sheriff?” he asked.
“He’s my cousin, just lookin’ for trouble,” I said with a sigh. “He don’t want me to spend my money on hired help and thinks you’re gonna burn the farm down with me in it.”
“Ahh,” he said, as if coming to some great realization.
“What?” I asked.
“Oh, nothin’. Just figured he was some jealous boyfriend, that might get me into some trouble with the law,” he responded in between hungry mouthfuls.
I laughed out loud at that.
Marcus wasn’t only my cousin, but he wasn’t my type neither. I didn’t have time for that book stuff, for sitting around and bein’ idle all day. Even though he lived out in the country, he wasn’t like most guys around, not the rougher sort, and that was what I liked.
“No, not at all,” I said with a laugh.
Asher grunted and smiled approvingly as he continued to devour my cookin’.
“I didn’t figure,” he said knowingly. “Yer too good lookin’ and womanly to be fallin’ for a pencil neck worry-wart like that.”
Well it wasn't like he was wrong but it’s hard listening to anyone talk about your family that isn’t family, and I looked back at my plate, putting some food in my mouth to silence the words. His compliment, though, was like a double edged weapon, said so casually it took me a while to even realize it was there.
“Well I don’t want any trouble either way,” he said, and it seemed so funny comin’ from such a big hunk of a man, covered in freaky lookin’ tattoos. He looked like trouble personified. “And if I’m gonna cause any just by being here, I should probably move along,” he said so casually.
“Don’t,” I said, a little too fast. Too urgently. Not after a day!
I wanted more time, to get to know him, and I was certain Marcus was bluffing.
Again, though, I felt my cheeks start to burn, to spread that warmth down towards my chest as
those butterflies within my stomach woke up. I knew it wasn’t love at first sight, I was more reasonable than that, but I couldn’t deny the attraction I felt, how strong it was.
“You sure?” Asher asked me, peering across the table at me, brow raised in questioning before he moved on to help himself to another slab of chicken with that appreciative air about him. He was like my father in that way too: he ate a ton, but he seemed to enjoy and appreciate every bite he took.
“I don’t wanna risk causin’ any trouble. Especially not with the law,” he reiterated, not elaborating on that a whole lot.
“Well, sure, no one wants the law on their back,” I said, though the comment took me through a loop a little. Was he on the run from something?”
“But the Sheriff, he just wants to keep the peace, and Marcus’ll calm down before dawn, I’m sure. He just needs time, don’t cope well with change.”
Asher nodded his head slowly then took a generous helping of his water, in fact the whole glass, before pouring himself some more.
“Good. It’s a lovely farm you’ve got, I’d love to stick around a while,” he said, and I swear I could see a glint of somethin’ in his eyes.
I wanted to ask him more, about himself, about what brought him out my way, but it was hard. Impossible.
I was instead lost in his beautiful eyes, and the little hidden hint of something. The little bit that I wanted to ask about but didn’t have words for.
I didn’t have no pa to ask what his intentions were with me.
So instead we ate supper together until he’d polished off every last morsel and left the chicken a rather bare set of bones for me to toss. As I tidied up, he got up and stretched, makin’ that broad body of his bulge and present to me in such a tantalizin’ display.
“You wanna watch some TV?” I asked him hopefully.
“I wouldn’t mind,” he began, lowering his arms back down, “but it’s been a long day, and I really need to make up for some lost sleep. Been on the road for a long while.”
I’ll admit, I was a might disappointed with that then and there.
But what could I say other than a soft, “Alright, maybe tomorrow then. The sun saps my strength like you wouldn’t believe.”
I got up, beginning to clear the table so he wouldn’t see the stormclouds over my eyes.
“Where’s my room again?” he asked, but of course, I didn’t show it to him a first time yet.
“Oh, right, yea,” I said, setting the dishes aside and leading him towards the stairs. The wooden staircase was old and worn, but it was sturdy even with the creaking it made as I stepped on it.
The guest room was right next to mine, and I’d just done it up with fresh sheets and pillowcases. I opened the door, showing him the simple room, dresser and mirror on one wall, bed on the other with a large window looking out over the fields.
“I’m just right next door if you need for anything. Wake up at dawn, you know, to fulfill the stereotypes,” I say, trying to keep it light.
It earned a genuine chuckle from him though, and he smiled at me. A big, broad smile that showed off his handsome face.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be up bright and early to get the work done,” he said. “Thanks so much for giving me a chance,” he added on, looking at me as we stood there in the hallway.
I knew I’d been wrong about him a little bit. He appreciated the things I’d done for him, no word of a lie. I smiled, tilting my head down and brushing some hair from my cheekbone, tucking it behind my ear.
“Well we’re all part of society, and we gotta look out for each other, you know?”
“Damn straight,” he said to me, hands on his hips as he flashed me a wink. “And don’t worry, I just need to catch up on some lost sleep, tomorrow I’ll be right as rain,” he pledged, as if he was readin’ my mind.
I gave a small smile, hope eking its way into my expression.
“Sure, well, I’ll keep the TV low and all that, don’t you worry none, and will be quieter than a mouse when I come to bed.”
“No need to put yourself out on my account, I’m a heavy sleeper,” he said, and though he was honest to a point, the events of that night proved he had a certain weakness to being disturbed by certain sounds.
* * *
A dull night of watchin’ TV by myself again, and tendin’ to ma on the off chance she needed it, ended much as all my other nights had. I headed up to bed alone, passin’ off Asher’s guest room to the sound of silence.
I went to bed, and it weren’t nothin’ to recollect on any further.
Though in the middle of the night, I awoke to the sound of someone movin’ about.
I got up, threw on my bath robe and went out to take a peek. There I saw someone movin’ on down the hall, faint an’ ghostly, like they was creepin’ on by.
With someone I didn’t know in the house, I s’pose I shoulda been worried, but truth of the matter was I was only a lil’ bothered. So I came on out, made my way quietly to the halfway point, just a couple meters away from the figure, an’ very quietly twisted the switch on the lamp in the hall, sheddin’ some light on the situation.
There before me was the weathered figure of my ma, shufflin’ around lost as can be.
“Ma,” I said, exasperated, “you know ya ain’t supposed ta be outta bed at this hour.” I chastised her, but truth be told, it was more for my benefit than hers. These days she weren’t much on communication no more, and I went to guide her by the arm back towards her room.
It was then I heard the spare room open up, and Asher step out, dressed in naught but his tight black boxer-briefs!
“I heard somethin’,” he said, lookin’ around suspiciously.
“Thought you was a heavy sleeper,” I said, giving him a pained smile despite my humour. It wasn’t that I was embarrassed by my mom, not at all. It was just hard explaining to strangers, seeing their pity.
“It’s just my ma, don’t fret none, I’m takin’ her back to bed,” I said, reassuringly. Though it didn’t seem to do that at all. He looked around, peerin’ out the window at the end of the hall into the outdoors.
“It isn’t that,” he said, though honestly, seein’ that big man bent over, his back and rear on display was a lil’ more distractin’ than I’d like. “I’m gonna check it out,” he said, but I knew I had to get mom back to bed before I could do a lick more.
“Go back to bed,” I said with a roll of my eyes in annoyance. Wasn’t nothing outside but the wind.
I led ma further down the hall, opening her door and hearing the rattle of her name tag against the wood. I put it there when she started forgetting where her room was, she didn’t use it by that point. I doubted she could read.
But after only a long enough moment for Asher to pull on some jeans, there he was, goin’ on past down the stairs on the alert.
“Men folk,” I muttered to myself with another roll of my eyes. They were always so paranoid, just like Marcus. Even if they don’t want to admit it.
By the time I got ma settled back in and shut her door, I went on down to check on Asher, see how he was doin’. But I couldn’t locate him right away, even with as many stars as there was lightnin’ the night sky, I couldn’t make hide nor hair of ‘im.
I poked my head out the door.
“Asher? Ash?” but got no response.
I picked up a flashlight by the door and turned it on, flashin’ it about the area over towards the barn. That’s when I caught sight of someone comin’ up behind topless Asher. The two of ‘em about equal height.
“Watch out!” I called, my blood suddenly chill from the sight of it. But my warnin’ was all the man needed, and he turned around with his fist in motion like a lightnin’ bolt!
Bam!
Right in the jaw!
The other fella went sprawlin’ back onto the ground in a heap, and Asher pounced upon him, pinnin’ him to the ground!
I ran towards them, without regard for the fact that I was wearin’ my camisole and shorts,
without a bra on. But I was pushed on by adrenaline.
What was going on?
Asher gave the guy another slug across the face with his massive fist, and the fella beneath him gave lil’ more than a groan of defeated pain from the blow. Whoever it was couldn’t withstand the brutal assault of my new hired hand.
“Don’t fuckin’ move one goddamn inch, you hear me?!” Asher yelled at him, brandishin’ his fist to intimidate the fella into submission, so he’d not push his luck with any further attacks.
“What’s goin’ on?!” I said in a panic, but then I remembered my flashlight and turned it upon the fella beneath Asher, only to see an all-too-familiar face.
Marcus. Nose and lips bloodied, but it was Marcus, dressed in some puffed up leather jacket that added a lot of bulk to his figure.
Oh no.
“Marcus!” I screeched, dropping the flashlight to the ground as I ran over to him. “What in blazes are you doing around here, creeping around like a... a creeper?” Wasn’t exactly my finest wordplay, but I was in a panic!
I was livid at him, but I was scared too, scared at why he was here and what he was planning to do.
Marcus groaned, his face bloody and battered as he lay beneath Asher. He lifted a hand to wipe at his face, while Asher kept the other arm pinned.
“Get off’a me,” he groaned. “Get off’a me!” He yelled again, but Asher first wrenched something from his hand before getting up off him.
“What’s that?” I asked, but even with the undirected light from the flashlight I could see it was crowbar that Marcus had been holding.
“What were you planning on doing, Marcus?” I shouted, and I could hear some of the animals in the barn beginning to stir from the ruckus.
I walked over to Asher, glowering down at the pummelled man. I’d have felt bad for him if I couldn’t see exactly where this was going. He was going to try to do something and then blame it on Asher, then he’d tell me that he was right about the stranger all along.
