Always Tried and Proven

by Nancy Hopper

  Callie shrugged. “We can. But if you need a break, Sam, we can stay here for a day -- or a week. Whatever’s good for you.”

  He shrugged. “Today would be most prudent; I have some business right now. But If you’re tired, it can wait another day or so.”

  “I don’t mind.” Callie assured him. “I’ll start packing. Call me when it’s time to eat.” She requested. She made her way down the hall to her room, her hair swinging behind her.

  “While you’re at it, Rose, perhaps you could pray a bit for me too?” Sam teased.

  Rose gave him an dumfounded look, and shook her head. “Sam, I don’t know what to say. I’ve never seen her like this; she’s … oh, my!”

  “I’ll tell you exactly what she is. She’s angry and challenging and insistent and willful.” He said deliberately. “She’s also sweet, and lovely, and a lot more naive than she thinks she is.”

  He pressed his lips together as he thought about the situation. “She’s irritated with me for insisting that we slow down a little bit. That’s all it is, Rose. Don’t be too alarmed. As soon as I’m convinced she’s ready to handle it, I’ll give her what she wants.”

  Rose gave him a worried, wary look. “Sam; you do know what she wants, don’t you?”

  He laughed as though he might cry. “Oh, yes. I know exactly what she wants. But she’ll have a ring on her finger and a commitment I can count on before she gets it.” He said with quiet conviction.

  “Sam, what she really wants is a love she can count on; a wedding ring, and a man who will truly care for her. But, how much of this can you take? She’s obviously provoking you, half to death.”

  He smiled. “Oh, I know she is, to some extent. Not all of it is intentional, though. Callie’s just spontaneous and uninhibited, and I don’t mind a bit. She loves to challenge me, and test the ropes. It’ll be easier on me when I get her to the tent. We’ll have plenty of work to do, and the living arrangements are completely separate.” He sighed. “Thank God.” He added with a chuckle.

  “Indeed.” Rose agreed vehemently. “Sam; I want you to know. I appreciate all you’re doing for Callie.”

  Sam waved her thanks away. “Rose; come on, now. I’m doing this for myself. That girl’s meant to be mine -- and I’ll go through whatever I have to, to get her. Make no mistake.”

  Rose blushed and shook her head. “Well; then I say Callie’s a lucky girl.”

  “Why’s that? You two talking about me?” Callie challenged as she entered the room. She was wearing jeans and a top of eyelet lace.

  “Yeah. What else are we going to talk about?” Sam challenged teasingly.

  “I don’t know.” Callie grumbled, as her mother put a plate of food down in front of her.

  “Don’t get all bothered. Sam and I are just getting acquainted.” Rose soothed her as she served them.

  “Huh.” Callie huffed.

  Sam ignored her and said a blessing, at Rose's prompting. Then, he dug in and ate. Rose did the same. Callie picked at hers.

  All of a sudden, things didn’t feel right, to Callie. She knew her mother had been shocked by her affectionate behavior earlier, and she knew Sam hadn’t been comfortable. So, surely they’d been discussing it. Callie didn’t like that.

  When he was done eating, Sam pushed away from the table, and stood up. “That was great, Rose. Thank you again. If you’ll excuse me, I think I’d better start getting things put together.” He looked at Callie, who stared up at him mutinously. “Can you be ready in an hour or so?”

  “No problem.” She growled.

  Sam gave her a long look, and smiled. “Good.” he said lightly. Then he went to his room.

  “Ooh.” Callie steamed.

  “Callie,” Rose admonished.

  “Don’t you start! Don’t you say a single word! And don’t talk about me to Sam behind my back like I’m some kind of spoiled brat!” Callie hissed, jabbing her fork in her mother's direction.

  Rose raised an eyebrow in warning. “Don’t give me any reason to.” She answered sternly.

  “Don’t try to make this your business, Mother.”

  “I’m not, Callie. But you need to realize that you are the only link Sam and I have at this point. You are also a great delight to both of us. There is no reason for you to be so touchy just because your name comes up in conversation.”

  Callie glared at her mother, and whirled out of the room. Rose rolled her eyes and collected the dishes.

  Sam took his bag to the van, and then came back to the house to see how Callie was faring. He didn’t like the storm clouds he saw brewing. He had a feeling the forecast was calling for an unpleasant day.

  Callie met him on the porch. She was obviously steamed, and ready to fight.

  Sam sighed. “Callie, are you okay?”

  “Just dandy.” She snapped. She turned away, and started walking. A firm hand whipped her around.

  “Mind at least telling me what I’ve done?” he asked pointedly.

  Callie was a little bit taken back. Sam was dead serious. His eyes were glittering.

  “No. Not at all. You cut me off emotionally, and hang me out to dry. Then you barge into my room when I’m not decently dressed, and do whatever you want. Then you have the gall to discuss me in the morning with my mother. And I heard you tell her how glad you are that our sleeping arrangements will be safer. Ha! You just bend the rules to fit your mood, don’t you? You don’t think twice about telling me where to get off, but when you feel like it, you just bust in and help yourself. Then, you act all coy and chaste, and make out that it's all me aggravating you, and egging you on! I wish she'd seen you barge into my room last night, you two-faced, self-righteous puck!”

  Anger kindled and burst into flame in the depths of Sam’s eyes. His jaw tightened. “It’s nothing compared to the flagrant seduction you’ve put me through. Do you think it’s any easier on me? I’d like nothing better than to throw you down and put it to you right here and now, Callie, but you know very well that I can’t! So, you torment me because I won’t give you what you want, when and how you want it!”

  “I can’t believe you expect me to tease you along and keep your ego inflated, until I can be sure you won’t run out on me when the mud starts flying. Or perhaps you’re just as happy with the idea of driving me over the edge, so I’ll have to do it your way. At this point, I’m not even sure you’d marry me if I did! You’re so bloody insecure, you go flying off and running away at the least provocation. Haven’t I already chased you across two states? What more do you want?” he roared.

  He turned away and ran a hand across his eyes, trying to calm down. He hated losing his temper, but he couldn't stop his tongue. He glared at her with a righteous anger in his eyes.

  “You’ve been behaving like a spoiled brat, Callie. Not the woman I fell in love with. I’ve been putting up with it, because I know you’ve been going through it. Now I’m going to tell you this once, and you’d better get it through your head: I will not be shaken off. I will not be shocked. I will not be driven away. And I will not be tempted into your bed!”

  “I’m going to get hold of you, Callie, and when I do, there is not going to be the slightest doubt in your suspicious little mind what I’m hanging around for! Believe me, I’d much rather indulge myself in your charms, than take cold showers. When I do things I know I shouldn’t, it isn’t a willful bending of the rules, Callie. It’s because I can’t help it!”

  She looked at him in astonished fascination.

  “Shut your mouth, Callie.” He ordered. “You know you’re a sexy little minx, and you think you’ve had me on the business end of the bull whip. That may be true, but don’t you dare think I can’t swing it as hard as you can! If I’m taking the beating, it’s only because I choose to allow it. But don’t you push much harder.”

  She couldn’t believe it. He was absolutely tongue-lashing her! He watched her in furious frustration, watched the emotions battling in her eyes.

  “Now, don’t you lo
ok at me like that. You had this coming! What am I supposed to do with you, you little rogue?” He sighed, and rubbed his eyes. “Damn it. Come here, Callie. We’re going to get through this. I love you. I’m not going anywhere. What can I do to make you understand?” he growled.

  “Nothing. I think I’ve finally got it all figured out.” She snapped. She turned to leave again, and he grabbed her arm – none too gently.

  “No, you don’t.” he hissed. “You can’t run from me, Callie, you can’t run from your feelings about me. And if you ever think you ought to try it, you can remember this.” He pulled her into his arms and laughed, low and predatory.

  “You make me mad, Callie Anna, but you’re mine. You are all mine. You belong to me, heart and soul, and I’ll never let you go.”

  He lowered his head to kiss her, and she hissed a warning. “Kiss me, and I’ll bite you.”

  He shook his head. “Yeah, right. You’re in worse shape than I am, right now. Don’t you try to tell me you don’t want me! I’ll show you the difference.” He threatened. The heat of his body and the hardness of his muscles against her caused a spreading fire. Sam’s eyes devoured her as he lowered his face to hers.

  The kiss was devastating. Callie whimpered as if it was painful, and in a way, it was. He was ripping a hole in her defenses, pressing his advantage. He plundered her until she was helpless and pliable in his arms. She couldn’t have denied him anything at that point.

  “Mmm.” Sam growled against her mouth with satisfaction. He tasted her throat. “Don’t pretend you don’t know that you belong to me, Callie. I’ve known it since the first time I saw you. Do you need more convincing?”

  “No!” she wailed. “Stop it.”

  His kisses were killing her. She felt totally vulnerable. He had the power to lay her heart open and filet it, if he wanted to.

  “Callie, I could take you right now. I could even marry you now. But I want more than your body, lady. I want your promise and I want your commitment, for a lifetime. I won’t have my wife running off whenever I get too close to her heart, or whenever I make a mistake. I will make my share of them, Callie, but when you’ve made your promise to me, I’ll expect you to stay with me and trust me.”

  “I’d never try to hurt you, Callie. But I want a partner, and it takes time to build that kind of trust. That’s the only thing that’s keeping us apart. I know you don’t understand. But you will. Spend some time in the tent, and you’ll understand my world a whole lot better.”

  Sam’s mouth and hands were driving her out of her mind. Desperation filled her. She needed him!

  She simply had to feel his lips and hands on her; she had to become one with him, fulfill her need. She was incomplete. He alone could fill what she was lacking. He was the one, the mate she needed. She wanted him desperately!

  Callie’s lust was incomprehensible to her. She’d never been desperate for any man, but this was completely overpowering. She was dying!

  She slipped her hands around his waist and began to stroke him, beg him with her hands. “Sam.” She begged. “Okay, Sam.”

  He looked at her with a glint of steel in his eyes. “Say you’ll marry me, Callie, and mean it.” He challenged. “For life. No divorce possible, no nights on the couch, no driving home to mama, especially without even telling me. And don’t ever forget, you’re not marrying the tent, you’re not marrying your band again. You’re marrying me.”

  Callie felt as though she’d been soundly slapped. She felt like a two-year old child in his eyes. A very spoiled child. Rage filled her, and she glared up at him coldly.

  “I’ll tell you a secret, you bullying tyrant.” She said vehemently. “I don’t need you! And now, I won’t have you! I won’t marry you, or your tent, or your band. You can take the whole, bloody mess along with your holier than thou demands, and go straight to Hell! And if you think I’m waiting around here like a fool for you any longer, you are sadly mistaken.”

  “The next time you think of me, you think of me in the arms of some other man, because that’s exactly where I’ll be! You have no idea how many men are just waiting for a call from me, all of them extremely eager to deliver everything you don't know how to! And, I'll be glad to let them.”

  “Frankly, one man is as good as another. I'd really prefer to have sex out of wedlock, and plenty of it. It's all about the pleasure, for me! I'm not waiting around one minute more, for you to decide whether I'm good enough to deserve your holy intimacy!”

  “Now, why don’t you just go? I wouldn’t marry you now, if you were the last man alive!”

  Sam closed his eyes, and shook his head. He sighed, and then he looked at her, again. There was sadness and yet, a steely sureness in his eyes.

  “Callie; for you, I am the last man alive. You know you wouldn’t be satisfied with anybody else. Trying to prove me wrong is just going to make you miserable. And me, too! I know I’ve made you angry. You’ve made me angry, too. Why don’t we just …” He sighed, and thought.

  “Let’s take a walk, and calm down. Or take a couple of hours to think about this, and then talk? I don’t want to leave without you, Callie. I can’t afford to keep running back here. Sweetheart, please! Forgive me for going too far. I’ve been on the raw edge. Let’s work this out, and then we’ll go to Vermont. You know that's really what we both want. Please?”

  Callie saw the earnestness in his eyes. She was furious! How dare he think he could just beat her up verbally, and then immediately be forgiven? She didn’t have to take it from him! She could have plenty of other men! She squared her shoulders.

  “I’m not interested in you, or your tent. Now, if you will excuse me, I want you to leave.”

  Sam gave her a narrow, calculating look. She was making him angry again

  “Callie.” Sam warned. “Think twice, before you do this. There is a whole lot at stake.”

  Callie’s eyes were full of furious fire. “Not for me. It’s all over. Goodbye.”

  Sam sighed heavily and closed his eyes. “Callie.” he said quietly. “Callie, please. I love you so much, Sweetheart.”

  “That’s too bad for you. So do a number of other men. Believe me, I can have my pick of any number of men who don’t have your ridiculous hang-ups.”

  “I’m sure that’s quite true, Callie. But you don’t love any of those men. You love me.”

  “Did. I thought I did love you. I’m getting cured quickly, and seeing the light. Infatuation is fleeting, actually. Suddenly, I am thoroughly convinced that marriage to you would be an uptight, unsatisfying, religious pain in the ass. You turned my head with your strong come-on. That's all. The more I see of you, the more I know that you don't even have the guts to make a commitment. And yet, you pretend I'm the problem! And believe me, you are not the only fish in the sea. If I were inclined, there are plenty of men who’d marry me today. I’d just have to say the word.”

  Sam shook his head. He was almost amused. “But if you were inclined to do so, you’d have done it already.”

  “I’ve been tempted. If it will get rid of you, it will be well worth it.” she snapped. “And it will make Gregory’s day. He’s been after me to marry him for three years. He’s handsome, and rich and he adores me. I think he’ll do nicely.”

  Sam sighed. “Callie, stop this. You are going to be my wife.”

  “But, Sam.” She protested sweetly. “That’s just the point you have so aptly been making. I am not your wife.”

  “You are, Callie. We just haven’t had the ceremony. You are, in spirit. You love me, Callie, and I love you just as much. You’re the one God has for me, and I’m not letting you go.” He challenged her, with pain in his voice.

  She gave him a cold look. “You’re wrong. You have no hold on me, whatsoever. And I don't have the same feelings about marriage you do. Obviously. I'm going to do what I bloody well please, from this moment on. That includes sex, Tarzan.” she threatened, with narrowed eyes.

  He shook his head. “No, I’m not wrong.” He s
aid quietly. He silenced her retort with a penetrating kiss. When he pulled away, Callie stared defiantly up into his face.

  “Your caveman tactics won’t change anything, Mr. Stringer. One more time, I will ask you to leave. I am not coming to work in your tent, and I must ask you to relinquish any crazy idea you have, that I belong to you and that we are going to be married. It simply is not so! From this moment on, you are out of my life. And you have no one to blame but yourself. Take your big, sanctimonious mouth, your uptight puritanical ideals, and get lost!”

  Sam raised his eyebrows, and sighed heavily. Those words hurt. He knew he'd be hearing them over and over again, through the nights ahead.

  "Are you very sure you mean that?" he asked quietly.

  She couldn't look into his eyes. The pain she saw there, made her want to cry. "I've told you once before I wouldn't marry you. You shouldn't have so much trouble with the concept, should you?" she answered coldly.

  "You had good reason, then."

  "And I do now. You deserve this, you self-righteous snob." She sneered. "Get away from me. Get out of here, and don't come back. You are not God's gift to women. Now, get lost!" She snapped coldly. The venom in her eyes was real, and staggering. Sam had never seen anything like it in her eyes.

  “Dear heaven, Cal! What’s happened to you, honey?” he asked quietly. “Can’t we argue without it coming down to goodbye? Can’t I let off steam, when I get upset? Maybe it’s foolish, but every now and then, it happens.”

  She laughed at him coldly. “Oh, now we’ll just make light of it, shall we?” She taunted. “Slap the spit out of her, and then say we just needed to let off a little steam? Here’s the deal, dear Sam. Your good looks swayed me, I’ll have to admit it. But this thing happens when I’m around men for awhile. They always remind me before too much time passes, why I’ll never marry any man! Your flagrant, ego-boosting, woman-bruising, nasty tactics always show themselves.”

  “Your self-centered, patronizing abuse, and your self-serving ways make me sick! You can find the nearest cliff and jump off, because your charm isn’t working anymore. You’re nothing but a bore who doesn’t know when his welcome’s worn out. Get away from me, and don’t bother me again!” She snapped.