First Instinct

by Suzie O'Connell

  He turned away from the door and hurried upstairs to his room. After changing into a pair of newer jeans and a dark gray sweater, he folded his coat over his arm and returned to Beth’s room to find her dressed in a fitted cable-knit sweater that was the exact shade of dusty blue as her eyes, crisp, dark blue jeans, and knee-high boots. She’d pulled some of her hair back from her face and tied it up in a half-pony that put further emphasis on her eyes, which still gave the impression of innocence. Trey had not taken it completely from her, and Nick considered that to be a blessing.

  “You look incredible,” he murmured, taking her coat off the hook behind the door and helping her into it.

  “It’s just a sweater and jeans.”

  “Maybe, but they look great on you.” Still standing behind her, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pressed his cheek to hers. “And it reminds me of cold winter nights, blazing fires in the fireplace, and keeping close to stay warm.”

  “That sounds downright beautiful,” she whispered.

  “Mmm-hmm. Ready?”

  “Yep.”

  They climbed the stairs to the outer door, and Nick poked his head outside and decided to put his coat on now instead of later, then held the door open for Beth. Their breath fogged in the crisp October air, and brittle leaves skittered across the sidewalk in front of them on a biting wind as they strolled out to his truck with their hands knitted tightly together for warmth.

  “It’s definitely colder than it was last weekend on our ride,” Beth remarked.

  “I’m ready for it.”

  “Me, too.” She wrapped her free hand around his upper arm and briefly touched her head to his shoulder. “Especially after all those wonderful wintertime things you listed off not so long ago. One thing I’ve really missed living in the dorms is that wonderful warmth you can only get from a fire.”

  “Me, too.”

  The Lakeview Lodge was located twenty miles south of Devyn on the interstate on a hill overlooking Armstead Canyon Reservoir. Nick and Beth spent the drive chatting about old times, their siblings, ranch life, and a myriad of other topics, and Nick realized he was as comfortable with Beth as she was with him. There was no pretense and none of the need to impress that had tinged his relationships with other women. He hadn’t noticed it until he’d started dating Beth, but even with Michelle, there had been a glimmer of distance, a feeling that they weren’t always on the same page.

  She moves, you move, Michelle had said of his friendship with Beth.

  That pretty well summed it up, Nick thought. Just like when they danced, they moved together in their relationship, perfectly as one.

  Sam and Michelle beat them to the lodge. They leaned against the hood of her car, oblivious of anything but each other, and after Nick shut his truck down, he watched them for a moment. There was a coyness in Michelle’s smile that he hadn’t seen since their first dates together, but a boldness in her gestures that told him she was very interested in taking her relationship with Sam from new infatuation to familiar intimacy. She kissed Sam, and Nick flinched, waiting for a spark of envy or regret. What he felt was neither. It was joy twined with relief that seeped through him.

  “Is it weird to see her kissing someone else?” Beth inquired with curiosity in her voice.

  “No,” he replied, surprised that he meant it. “I’m happy for her.”

  “That’s great. Let’s go see if this guy will keep making her happy. He’s got a lot of work cut out for him, though, because her last boyfriend set the bar pretty high.”

  Nick leaned across the cab and kissed her soundly. “I’m not so sure about that, but thank you.”

  Both Michelle and Sam seemed a bit embarrassed that they had company. Michelle quickly made the introductions.

  “Sam, this is my ex, Nick Hammond, and his girlfriend and longtime best friend, Beth Carlyle. Guys, this is Sam Delanney.”

  “Pleasure to meet you,” Nick said, extending his hand in greeting. “But I think we had a class together once upon a time.”

  “Right you are. An English class, wasn’t it? Intermediate Composition.”

  “That’d be the one.”

  Beth shook Sam’s hand, but Nick noticed that she stayed safely at his side with her left hand tucked securely around his elbow. Despite how far she had come, she was still wary, and he wondered if she realized it. There had been a time when she wouldn’t have hesitated to greet Sam, but now…. Nick took a deep breath, willing himself to push such thoughts aside. This was going to be an enjoyable evening, and he would not ruin it.

  They couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful night, a thought that was reaffirmed when the hostess showed them to their table beside one of the big windows looking out over the lake. The sun bathed the rolling hills around Armstead Canyon Lake with rich golden light and dark, contrasting shadows, and the rugged mountains to the south and west were capped in gleaming snow. The bitter wind that tossed the waters of the lake into sparkling whitecaps was soon forgotten in the blissful heat radiating from the massive stone fireplace that dominated the wall just a few feet from their table.

  “Michelle tells me you both grew up on ranches near here,” Sam remarked after the waitress had taken their orders.

  “Up in the Northstar Valley,” Beth replied. “Nick’s family’s spread is the Lazy H Ranch, and my family’s is the C-Diamond Ranch. We have about seven thousand acres, and they have just over eight thousand.”

  “Wow. How’s the grazing in Northstar? As good as it is around Devyn?”

  “Better,” Nick replied. “We get more snow, and the soil is richer.”

  “I have to admit, I’m a little envious.”

  “Sam’s family has a ranch out in Eastern Washington near the Gorge,” Michelle explained.

  “I don’t know that I’d call our six hundred acres a ranch,” Sam said. “It’s pretty arid, and we can only run about eighty head, but we’ve got a pretty spot, and Dad wants to look into turning the place into a dude ranch. He doesn’t know anything about the tourist end of it.”

  “The Robinsons did that a while back, and it’s been a smart move for them. Their ranch—the Royal R—is about twice the size of your spread, but where they are, they get so much snow that they sometimes have to feed seven or eight months out of the year, so they started looking into other ways to make money and came up with the idea to turn the place into a working dude ranch. If you’re interested, I could put you in touch with them.”

  “I’d really appreciate that,” Sam replied. “Thanks, Nick. So, Michelle tells me you’re an animal sciences major with a minor in business management. Seems like a smart choice for a rancher.”

  “Smart, yes,” Beth remarked. “But that’s not why he chose that path. He’s got a way with animals like you wouldn’t believe.”

  “And, Beth, you’re a business management major with a marketing minor, right?”

  “Yep. How about you, Sam? What brought you to the university?”

  “The agri-business degree. I think, though, if my folks weren’t so set on trying to make a go with our land, I would have preferred to go into education like Michelle. I don’t have the patience for counseling like she does, but I think I would have liked to teach agriculture or science or even history.”

  After that, the conversation shifted to college life, and Beth launched into her well-rehearsed inquisition, and Nick caught a gleam of amusement in Michelle’s eyes. Chuckling, he sipped his Coke and sat back to observe. If Sam was conscious of what Beth was doing, he didn’t appear to be bothered by it, and his laid-back nature assured Nick he was a good match for Michelle. He liked the way Sam’s attention remained focused on his girlfriend and how he found ways to compliment her even as Beth centered the conversation on him. Nick was relieved to note the easy and natural connection between her and Sam.

  Just before their meal arrived, Sam excused himself to use the restroom, and Michelle immediately leaned forward and asked, “Well, what do you think?”

 
; “You found another good one,” Beth replied. “He reminds me a lot of Nick, so naturally, I approve.”

  Michelle laughed softly. “Thanks. Nick, what about you? What do you think?”

  “I like him. And it looks like he makes you happy, which is what really matters, so he has my approval, too.”

  Dinner was delicious, and the company and conversation were marvelous. By the time they were ready for dessert, Nick was thoroughly glad he and Beth had agreed to the double date. The anxiety that had claimed him earlier when he’d agreed to it rather than decline in favor of getting caught up on his schoolwork had vanished, leaving him delightfully relaxed like he hadn’t been since his run-in with Trey and his three buddies Friday.

  His bliss was short-lived.

  “What the hell is he doing here?” Michelle asked in a low, urgent voice.

  Nick didn’t have to look to know who he was, but he glanced over his shoulder toward the door. Trey stood at the hostess’s station, and though he wasn’t looking in their direction, Nick knew without a doubt that Beth’s ex-boyfriend was well aware they were here. Glancing over Trey’s attire—jeans, a Carhart, and worn lace-up boots, he realized that the man he’d seen darting up the stairs from Beth’s hall earlier wasn’t some random student on his way back to his dorm after dinner in the cafeteria. Which meant it wasn’t a coincidence that Trey was here.

  Could he not have even one pleasant evening?

  “Son of a bitch,” he muttered. “I’m sorry to eat and run, but we need to leave.”

  “What’s the rush?” Sam asked.

  “I’m not supposed to be within fifty feet of the guy talking to the hostess.”

  “Why not?”

  “It’s a condition of my disciplinary probation,” Nick said. “I’m sure Michelle told you I was arrested for supposedly assaulting another student.”

  “She did, but I thought it was self-defense.”

  “It’s complicated,” Nick said. “It truly was a pleasure, Sam, and thank you for inviting us.”

  “Any time, Nick. I hope you and Beth will come out with us again soon.”

  “You bet. Sorry for the crappy end to the evening.”

  “Not your fault, Nick,” Michelle said firmly. “We’ll see you soon.”

  “Do me a favor, would you? If he follows us out of here, send the manager out.”

  “Sure, Nick.”

  He waited until Trey was following the hostess to a table across the dining room before taking Beth’s hand and tracking down their waitress. He pressed sixty dollars into her hand—more than enough to cover their meal and the tip—and assured her that the food and service were great. He and Beth hastily left the restaurant, and as soon as they were outside, he swore.

  “How did he know we were here?” Beth asked.

  “I think… I think it was him I saw running up the stairs when I left your room to change.”

  “Oh my God! I am so sick of his crap!”

  “You and me both, sweetheart.”

  They were nearly to his truck when Trey called out to them.

  Ignore him, Nick told himself. Just get in your truck and go.

  Trey had other ideas and sprinted across the gravel parking lot, beating them to Nick’s truck. Nick bristled and hoped Michelle had done as he’d asked and prayed he’d be able to hold off his anger long enough for the manager of the restaurant to interrupt.

  “You’re stalking us now?” Beth snarled, but her voice trembled. “That’s low, Trey. Even for you.”

  “So, it’s ‘us’ now? I guess the rumors are true.”

  “That’s none of your business,” Nick said tiredly.

  “Oh, yes, I think it is, and I think my lawyer will be quite interested to hear about it. Sort of proves I was right, doesn’t it, that you were sniffing after this little slut,” Trey spat at them. “You can have her. I don’t know what she might have picked up.”

  Beth picked up a rock and hurled it at him, striking him just above his elbow.

  “You little bitch!” Trey bellowed.

  Nick stepped between them, but not before Trey grabbed hold of Beth’s arm. Nick’s fury ignited, and he shoved Trey back. Trey grinned, and Nick understood somewhere deep in his mind that a fight was exactly what his old friend wanted. He wanted to give it to him, but his instinct to protect Beth overrode that urge.

  “Keep your filthy fucking hands off her,” he snarled, planting himself firmly between Trey and Beth.

  “No.”

  When Trey again reached for Beth, Nick slapped his hand away, leaving himself wide open to an attack. Trey did not hesitate to take advantage of it, hitting him square in the chest. Nick reacted with a speed too quick for Trey to counter and landed a punch to Trey’s face and another to his ribs. Trey stumbled backwards with the second punch and stared at Nick as if he hadn’t expected him to take the bait so quickly. Nick took a step forward. Trey took another and another back until he backed up against Nick’s truck. Suddenly, he grinned again, and Nick heard the crunching of several pairs of feet running across the gravel toward them. He didn’t dare turn to see who, not willing to give Trey even a moment to take advantage of his distraction.

  “Thank God you’re here,” Trey said, addressing someone behind Nick. “You got here just in time. I don’t know what he would have done if—”

  “Save it,” a woman said. “I saw everything from the moment you started running toward this young man’s truck to cut them off. I suggest you get in your vehicle and get out of here. Now.”

  Trey flashed a glare at Nick, then strode across the parking lot to his truck. He stood inside the door, leaning on the door with his forearm braced on the roof. “This isn’t over, Hammond!” he called. “Not by a long shot!”

  Then he slammed the door, gunned the engine, and tore out of the parking lot, spraying gravel as he went. Nick tucked his arm around Beth and held her close to his side, infuriated anew to feel her trembling.

  “I’m sorry about that, Mr. Hammond.”

  He finally turned around. The woman who addressed him was clad smartly in dress slacks and a silk blouse, and her brushed nickel name badge proclaimed her as the restaurant’s manager. Sam and Michelle stood just behind her with their hands pressed tightly together, and both their expressions were concerned and sympathetic.

  “It’s not your fault,” Nick absently assured the restaurant’s manager. “I’m sorry we brought our fight here. I hope we didn’t ruin anyone’s meal.”

  “I’m sure not. If everyone is all right….”

  Nick nodded. “Thank you.”

  The manager, clearly upset and without a clue what she should do about the situation, offered a relieved smile and headed quickly back into the log structure.

  “Is there anything else we can do?” Michelle asked.

  “No. Go back in and enjoy your dessert.”

  “Why don’t you join us?” Sam offered.

  “Thanks, but I really just want to head home.”

  He had no patience to spare, and thankfully, Michelle and Sam took his not-so-subtle hint and bid him and Beth goodnight. Nick unlocked the passenger door and held it open while Beth climbed inside. He leaned in and hugged her tightly until she assured him she’d be all right after she had a few minutes to calm down. By the time he walked around to the driver’s side and slid in behind the wheel, the flood of adrenaline dried up, and the consequences of what he’d just done hit him like a tidal wave.

  There was no way a jury wouldn’t convict him of the assault after that. That punch would see him kicked out of the dorms for sure, which meant he would no longer be on campus to make sure Beth was safe. The punch also negated any argument Hal could make about his easygoing, non-violent nature, and with a conviction, there went his degree and three years of hard work. There went five hundred dollars and six months of his life because he was certain the judge would take into consideration this fight and Friday’s when he decided Nick’s sentencing. If Nick were in that position and looking at tha
t track record, he’d go for the maximum punishment.

  He hunched over the steering wheel and wrapped his arms around his head as if he could keep himself from falling apart. Or exploding. Right then, he wasn’t sure which would happen. Tears burned his eyes, and knowing he couldn’t stop them, he let them fall. The unfairness that he and Beth were being punished for what Trey had done and continued to do pounded through him, and it was all he could do to keep the bellow of anger and frustration locked inside.

  Beth scooted across the seat and wrapped her arms around him, pulling his head down to her shoulder. She whispered soothing entreaties and gave him time to let his emotions run their course. Slowly, he began to notice things outside his own tormented mind, and when he realized Beth was still shivering, he pulled her into his arms and held her close. It astounded him that she was able to offer him comfort when their confrontation with Trey had undoubtedly brought back terrible memories.

  “This is so wrong,” she said quietly. “I have seen you cry too many times in these last few weeks, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say the F-word.”

  There was an odd note in her voice, and when he looked at her face, he saw that she was furious.

  “Trey should be the one fighting back fear and anxiety,” she continued. “Not my steadfast, gentle Nick. I can’t watch him do this to you anymore.”

  Fear of an entirely different kind seized him because he didn’t doubt that, if given the opportunity, she would march down to the police station right now and report the rape. Suddenly, at the thought of her enduring the endless questions and judgment and false claims about her sexuality, his worries about college and jail vanished. The alternative was far worse, and it terrified him.

  “No, Beth. It’s not worth what they’ll put you through.”

  “Yes, it is. You are.”