Maybe, With Conditions

by Mariella Starr

  Nicole closed her eyes for a couple of seconds before answering him. "I'm not against taking the courses. I'm against you unilaterally deciding what you think is best for me. I've been running my life for a long time without help!"

  "Have you?" Dalton asked. "Where was Mrs. O'Cleary when you were running your life? Wasn't she advising and sometimes setting you straight when you went off course?"

  Nicole met Dalton's eyes for a moment before quickly looking away. "She was there, and yes, she helped me make decisions."

  "She also kept you on the straight and narrow when it was necessary, didn't she?"

  Nicole looked away from him. "Sometimes," she mumbled reluctantly.

  "I'm not doing anything different. Kay wants to take summer extension classes sponsored by Western Nevada College where she will go this fall. They call it Hawthorne Community College, but it's really at the Mineral County High School in Hawthorne. It's a single school building doing double duty. During the school year, the High School hosts the Community College night classes for adults. In the summer, the Community College switches to day classes.

  "Could it be any more complicated?" Nicole asked sarcastically.

  Dalton grinned. "It's not really complicated. This isn't the East Coast and our population is scattered. We don't build schools only a few blocks or miles apart. This part of the state doesn't have a lot of money for separate schools and colleges. The same buildings serve multiple purposes. Kay wants to get a head start in her first-year classes so she can get some credits squared away before she begins this fall.

  "I read the class schedule and saw a few subjects I thought might interest you. What is the harm in taking a few classes while gaining credits toward your degree at the same time? I also thought it would give you a break from Matty. Admit it, sometimes even the best mother needs a break from their kid. He's a handful and kindergarten is still two months away."

  "Will you try to treat me as an equal in this relationship?"

  "We aren't equal," Dalton said firmly. "We're in a relationship. In every partnership, one person is always stronger and more dominant. That's my role in our relationship. It's who I am. I'm not going to change." He leaned over and kissed her. "You like me being in charge. You like me being the dominant one. It's in your nature as much as it's mine."

  "I'm not talking about what we do in bed!" Nicole exclaimed.

  "I'm not talking about our sex lives, either, although I am dominant there, too," Dalton agreed. "Some decisions we'll make together, some we won't. It doesn't make you a weaker person, Nic. It means you care enough to trust me to take care of you. It's important that ultimately I make the right decisions for you and my son. Do you trust me?"

  Nicole's emotions were conflicted, but she did trust Dalton. It was too late for her to back out, now. She was committed to him, even if she wasn't ready to admit it to him yet. She nodded her head in agreement.

  "I do trust you, but we have to talk about this ass-blistering thing. It's wrong, just plain wrong!"

  "Not to my way of thinking," Dalton said yanking her to her feet and giving her a nudge toward his oversized truck. He opened the passenger door and gave her a boost upward to the seat, along with an extra-hard stinging swat.

  "Ouch!" Nicole yelped. "What the hell was that for?"

  "I don't like being called a liar!"

  * * *

  "I'm so glad you decided to come with me," Kay Calloway exclaimed tossing her backpack into the backseat of her Jeep and settling in the front seat with several pieces of toast on a napkin in her lap. "Sorry, I'm late. Gran just took a call from Doris. She isn't coming back, at least not today. She's had to go back to the hospital and now says it may be a couple of months before she returns."

  Nicole watched as Kay expertly shifted gears while holding a piece of toast in her mouth. "I can drive. I need the practice.

  "I'm okay," Kay mumbled around a mouthful of bread. "I wanted to do this so much."

  "I don't know if I would have given up my last free summer to get a head start on my first college semester," Nicole said.

  "Well, yeah, that's why I'm going," Kay said.

  Turning in her seat, Nicole gave the girl a look of disbelief. "Why don't you tell me the truth? I can spot a cover story a mile away. What's your real motive for taking these classes?"

  Kay bit her lip. "Promise you won't tell."

  "No, but I won't purposely tattle-tale, either! Does this have something to do with a guy?"

  "How did you guess?" Kay demanded. "I want to take extension classes in Hawthorne because Mark Treberly will be there. He's teaching several adult education classes during the summer break."

  "He's a teacher?"

  "Yes, but he's not old. He's young and he's the most wonderful man I've ever met. You'll like him, everyone does. He's smart and very mature," the girl gushed.

  "Why haven't I heard of him before this?"

  Kay gave a sigh. "Because Mark is a forbidden subject at home. He was a substitute English teacher last fall at Mineral County High School. He took over for Mrs. Wright when she went on maternity leave. We fell in love."

  "He was your teacher?" Nicole repeated and frowned. "You were romantically involved with a teacher?"

  "No, we weren't involved," denied Kay. "We felt something for each other instantly, but we never acted on it, I swear," Kay exclaimed. "All we did was talk occasionally. With him being a teacher at my school, we couldn't do anything. If we had done anything inappropriate, Mark would have lost his job and possibly his career. We knew how we felt about each other, but we had to cool it until I graduated.

  "I called him after graduation and we've gone out on several dates since. When Mom and Dad found out, they had a fit. Mark isn't my teacher, now. They think I'm too young to date him, but he's only five years older than me. We're in love, but everyone thinks I'm too young to know what I'm talking about. They won't listen, especially Dalton."

  "You are young.

  "I'm nineteen," Kay countered. "I'm of legal age. I'm a year older than most kids when they graduate from high school. Age doesn't matter when you're in love. Gran married at seventeen. Dalton's mother was eighteen. You were only seventeen when you met Dalton. It didn't stop you from falling in love with him. You're still in love with him even though you were separated for years!"

  "You can't use me as an example," Nicole protested. "I was an unwed mother who dropped out of college. It wasn't easy even though I had a lot of help. Do Helen and Roy Mac know your former teacher is an instructor on campus this summer?"

  Kay looked uncomfortable. "I didn't tell them. He took the job after the schedules were printed, so he's not listed as an instructor. He won't be teaching any of the classes I'm taking, so there's no conflict of interest. He's teaching adult education classes, which are separate from the WNC courses."

  "Let me get this straight, though. You're taking classes to be near him."

  "There wasn't any other way for us to see each other without causing a ruckus. This is a win-win situation. I'll take classes I need while Mark and I can see each other."

  "Okay, but when the shit hits the fan, don't pull me into it," Nicole warned. "I won't lie for you."

  "I wouldn't expect you to," Kay agreed and then she smiled. "I haven't lied. I just haven't told them. Mark thinks they already know. If he finds out, I'll really be in big trouble."

  "Not nearly as much as when Dalton finds out," Nicole warned.

  Nicole met Mark Treberly and she did like him. The young teacher knew where he was going in life and seemed to want Kay by his side. Mark was convinced their age difference was the only reason behind the senior Calloway's disapproval. He didn't want to cause Kay any problems with her parents.

  Mark was a sensible young man and a popular teacher. Each time Nicole ran into him, she was more impressed by his maturity. She was only on campus once a week, though. She had decided to take a single class at Hawthorne once a week and two more online. The online courses only required her to be on
campus the day of registration and for the final exam.

  Meanwhile, Nicole had contacted a gallery owner and agent, Dick Chambers, in Reno where Dalton had taken her for a meeting. The gallery had commissioned her for three paintings, two landscapes, and one portrait.

  She averaged twelve hours a day at her easel except on her class day when she still managed to put in six or seven hours. She had full days taking care of her son, studying, and working. If Dalton was late coming home, Nicole worked in her studio until late in the evening. Both Helen and Roy Mac disapproved of her self-imposed work schedule.

  Dalton ignored her protests. He would go out to the studio, toss her over his shoulder, and bring her into the main house when it was time for him to retire at night. He finally had her in his home and his bed, and he wasn't willing to give it up.

  He was treading a slippery slope when it came to Nicole. She agreed with his plans most of the time, but sometimes he pushed too hard. His punishing Matty for bad behavior was a sore point between them. The boy needed discipline. He was only five, and a little corner time wouldn't hurt him. He needed to understand certain behaviors weren't acceptable.

  If Dalton thought it would work, he would have put Nicole's nose in a corner a time or ten. If he pushed too hard, she was a force of nature, flying off the handle and jumping to conclusions, not that he couldn't settle her. He did it every day, but he never knew where he stood. One day she was compliant and sweet, the next she was rebellious and stubborn.

  The only parts of her life where she was consistent was her painting, being a parent, and being the best sexual partner he had ever experienced.

  Unlike her, he couldn't claim she had been his only conquest. He had taught Nicole the art of sex and after their breakup, he had gone a little crazy. After the betrayal of his marriage, he had been celibate for a while. As a man, though, he wasn't willing to live a life without sex. He had been a lot more cautious in his conquests. Those women had been strictly for pleasure. They had known upfront there would be no strings attached.

  Nicole was different. He wanted a full commitment from her, but she wasn't ready or willing to give it to him.

  "I need to deliver my paintings to Reno next Saturday," Nicole informed him one morning over breakfast.

  "Good, you need a break," Dalton agreed. "You've been working yourself to death."

  "No, I haven't. I've been doing what I love," Nicole corrected him. "I don't interfere with your jobs; you don't interfere with mine! We have a deal, remember?"

  "You weren't listening. I will interfere if you continue with these crazy hours," he warned.

  "Daddy, are you mad at Mommy?" Matty asked.

  "Not yet," Dalton said.

  "Are you going to get mad at her?" the boy asked.

  "Maybe, if she doesn't take the time to slow down, enjoy life, and stop working so hard."

  "My work is my art and I do enjoy my life," Nicole protested. "I'll enjoy it more very soon. I've been researching online and I am buying a new car."

  "Why?" Dalton asked. "I told you there are a half dozen vehicles always at your disposal."

  "They aren't mine. Besides, I can't get the hang of the manual shifting thing," Nicole said. "I sold my van to move here. Granted it wasn't a great van, but it was mine. This time, I get to buy exactly what I want!"

  Dalton took a deep breath. "And so the spending spree begins."

  "Oh, up yours! I haven't bought anything except a few clothes since I've been here," Nicole said looking him dead in the eye. "Saturday, we're going to Reno and I'm buying a car. I've never had a new car before and there's no reason why I can't purchase one."

  "The Calhoun's are holding their annual barbecue this weekend," Helen said changing the subject as she flashed her grandson a look of warning.

  "It's always fun. If we go to Reno, though, we may have to miss it," Dalton said.

  The Reno trip was successful. Dick Chambers, the gallery agent, praised her paintings and offered her three more commissions. Dalton took her to the auto dealership she suggested and he tried to hide his smile as Nicole turned out to be a master negotiator. She knew exactly what she wanted and exactly what she was willing to pay for it. She also told the salesman what she expected the dealership to consider incentives because she was paying cash. She ordered a medium-sized Honda Pilot with an automatic transmission. She even quoted the 9.3 safety rating as the highest in its range of SUVs.

  "Well done," Dalton praised as they walked out of the Honda dealership.

  "What? You expected me to walk in and buy a car based on its pretty color?"

  "I didn't say anything," he denied. "Sometimes, you still surprise me. I'm impressed. Safety was one of your biggest concerns since you'll be carrying around very precious cargo."

  "Matty," Nicole agreed smiling. "Unfortunately, since they didn't have the model I want in the color I want on the floor, I have to wait until it's delivered to Hawthorne."

  "Are you in a particular hurry?" Dalton asked.

  "No, but it will be wonderful to have a reliable vehicle," Nicole admitted. "Sometimes, I thought my little van spent more time with my mechanic than it did with me. It's a strange feeling to be able to write out a check for the cost of a car."

  "I know you're careful, but you will have to take care not to get spoiled by the idea. A lot of lottery winners go broke within the first couple years and you didn't win very much."

  "I don't think I could ever be so irresponsible."

  "I don't either, really. You've shown yourself to be very responsible since you won. I was worried you would go a little crazy, but you haven't. You deserve a new vehicle. I would've bought you one had you asked."

  Nicole gave him a sideways glance. "We're not going there. I'm always careful with money. I've never had the luxury of buying without considering the long-term finances. Why don't you treat me to a chocolate shake before we go home?"

  Dalton smiled at her words. He was hoping the Double C was home to her, now. "I can't. I have a surprise for you."

  "What?"

  "Sometimes, you're worse than Matty. It won't be a surprise if I tell you." Dalton laughed at her glare as they took a taxi to the airport for him to pilot them home.

  Nicole was getting used to the idea of flying. The distances in the west were well served by small planes. What was a two-hour-plus drive to Reno was reduced to one in the Cessna Skycatcher. As they flew over what she knew was Hawthorne, Dalton banked the aircraft and went further west. He landed the plane on a private airstrip at a ranch where they were met by a group of rowdy cowmen driving a truck. They were taken to a ranch house with a huge front yard of several acres of landscaped lawn in the middle of the surrounding dry desert. The property had been landscaped to perfection. It was filled with tents and several hundred people.

  "Wow," Nicole whispered to Dalton. "I'm expecting J. R. Ewing any minute."

  "How do you know about J. R. Ewing?" asked Dalton.

  "Dee Dee is an old television show addict, both American, and BBC."

  Dalton chuckled. "She and my gran will get along great."

  The party was an old-fashioned western style barbecue with whole sides of beef turning over open pits. Dalton walked her through the crowds introducing her to ranchers and businessmen, along with their wives and families. Nicole met their hosts and briefly spoke to them with Dalton by her side. The guests were all enjoying themselves. Volleyball, croquet, badminton, and horseshoes were set up, and dancing was under a tent with a live country band.

  Nicole watched for a while before Dalton pulled her onto the wooden platform and began to teach her the two-step. The steps weren't difficult and she soon was being swung around while keeping step with the music. Everyone was laughing and clapping, and having a great time. Out of breath and thirsty, they left the tent to find food and somewhere to sit for a while.

  They ran into Helen, Roy Mac, and Matty. Her son's face was smeared with barbecue sauce and what looked suspiciously like chocolate icing. He was having
a great time with his great-grandparents.

  "Do you want me to take him off your hands?' Nicole asked.

  "Goodness no," Helen exclaimed. "We've already been here for a while and it's about time we headed for home. There is a three-legged sack race over by the corral for the kids. Matty and Selena Johnson's grandson are teaming together."

  "We're going to win!" Matty yelled.

  "You don't have to win, only try your best," said Dalton tousling the boy's hair.

  "The first prize is a big bag of black licorice," Matty exclaimed as he ran off with another little boy.

  "We're keeping an eye on him, as is every parent here," Roy Mac said. "You two enjoy yourselves. We'll take Matty home after the race."

  Nicole and Dalton watched the three-legged race, but the two five-year-olds spent more time tangled in their sack rolling on the ground than hopping. They didn't win, but every child received a gift for participating and Matty seemed happy enough with his bottle of blowing bubbles.

  "I'm glad he didn't win," Nicole whispered to Dalton as they waved him off with his grandparents. "He would've been running around with black teeth for days while I chased him with a toothbrush."

  Dalton laughed. "Let's go back to the dancing tent."

  They were following a wide circle of dancers around the platform when Nicole saw Kay and Mark dancing together. They were more than dancing. Kay was beaming at Mark with love glowing in her eyes for all to see. She was practically waving a banner stating, 'I'm in love'.

  Nicole turned to draw Dalton's attention, but she was too late. He had seen them. Dalton made a move toward the couple, but she jumped in his path, stopped him, and grabbed his arm to continue dancing.

  "Let them alone. Don't ruin their evening," Nicole hissed.

  "What? Do you know about this? Did you know they were dating?"

  "Yes. I've met Mark and I like him. What's the problem with them dating? Kay's nineteen. She's not a child. I don't see anything wrong. They're a cute couple."

  "You wouldn't," Dalton snapped.