Maybe, With Conditions

by Mariella Starr

"You paid for it, didn't you?" Kay asked.

  "In more ways than one," Nicole grimaced and resisted the urge to rub her backside. "Actually, I only paid the difference between the insurance payoff and its real worth. Is Mark on board with Roy Mac threatening his man-to-man talk?"

  "He has agreed to come. I told him he can ignore whatever Dad says to him," Kay said. "What about Dalton? He has surprised me lately. He was the one making the biggest stink when they first found out I wanted to date Mark. He's been suspiciously quiet since he discovered we are dating."

  Nicole didn't comment. She looked out the window when a car drove up and parked in front of the house. "Mark's here."

  "Wish me luck!" Kay exclaimed not waiting for an answer. She dashed from the room and down the stairs.

  Nicole went into her son's room where Dalton was helping him get dressed. "You're looking real spiffy there, kid," she teased him.

  "Why do I have to wear fancy clothes," Matty grumbled.

  "Long pants and a nice shirt aren't fancy clothes," Nicole corrected him. "Gran and Roy Mac have a guest tonight. It won't hurt you to wear something besides a tee shirt and shorts for a few hours."

  "We want you to be on your best behavior," Dalton said combing the boy's hair.

  "Can I have ice cream after supper?"

  "Maybe, if you behave," Dalton agreed. As Matty ran from the room, Nicole called after him to be careful on the stairs.

  Dalton laughed. "He only has one speed—fast." He pulled Nicole to him and kissed her.

  "I need you to behave tonight," Nicole warned. "Be nice to Mark. Whatever goes down, it is between Kay and her parents. You are only a bystander."

  "She's my little sister."

  Nicole gave him the firm mother look she was trying to perfect. "Tonight, she is your grandparents' daughter, which makes her your aunt. I know the relationship is wonky because of your age differences, but you need to stay clear of this."

  Dalton frowned as he cupped her bottom in his hands. "What do I get for being good?"

  Nicole laughed. "Will you be a good boy?"

  "There's nothing boy about me," he warned nipping at her lips. "I'm all man. Prepare yourself to reward me."

  She wiggled out of his arms. "Later, big boy, later…" she teased.

  Mark was seated beside Kay on one side while Nicole and Dalton were on the opposite side of the large dining room table. Matty was in a chair at the lower end of the table. Roy Mac was at the head of the table where he usually resided. Helen would sit to the right of him if she ever stopped bringing food dishes to the table with Kay and Nicole's help. After everyone was finally seated, and the dishes passed around the table, Roy Mac thought it was time to start his interrogation."

  "I hear you have been going out with my girl. You've been chasing her for a while," Roy Mac exclaimed, "while she was still in high school. I can't abide a grown man targeting a young girl."

  "It's true, I met Kay when I took over the teaching position at Mineral County High School, in the last semester. I think the attraction was mutual, but it would have been inappropriate for me to have shown an interest in her. She was my student and still in high school. Once she graduated, those restrictions weren't applicable."

  Dalton opened his mouth, but Nicole pinched him under the table. He glared at her and stuffed his mouth with a roll.

  "You're still a teacher at her school," Roy Mac stated.

  "Yes, sir, I am, but the circumstances are different. The classes Kay now attends are with Western Nevada College. I teach English as a second language to adult students, in the adult education program. I'm not teaching any of her classes, nor am I working for WNC. There is no conflict of interest.

  "I'm only five years older than your daughter, Mr. Calloway. I know we're young, but we aren't any different than other young people. When Kay goes to WNC this fall, I'll be working on my Masters in Education through California University's online program. Next year, I will have to move there to finish my degree. I've already been offered an Assistant Professorship while I complete my studies there. Meanwhile, I've accepted a job teaching seventh-grade science at Carson Junior High School for this year.

  "We want Kay to finish college before becoming seriously involved with anyone," Helen declared.

  "I realize you have concerns," Mark said. "I was reluctant at first when Kay contacted me. The whole student-teacher situation is touchy. I even discussed the situation with Dr. Price of the school board before I agreed to see her. I didn't want to sabotage my career in Education by stepping into a possibly unethical situation. It was Dr. Price's opinion that as long as I wasn't violating the student teacher fraternization policy, which is very strict, whom I date is my business.

  "The point is, sir, we're not doing anything unethical or wrong. Sometimes you simply meet the right person at the wrong time. Kay and I could feel something drawing us together while I still taught at Mineral County High, but we deliberately stayed clear of each other.

  "I know Kay's only nineteen, but she is an adult. We have plenty of time to sort out our relationship. I also want Kay to complete her education. My family places a high value on higher education. Both of my parents are Professors at Baylor University. My older sister is in medical school while my older brother is an Assistant Professor at Stanford.

  "You have allowed to us to see each other up to this point, so I don't understand your reluctance now."

  "I didn't give permission," Roy Mac growled turning to his daughter.

  Mark looked at Kay. "You told me you had your parents' permission."

  Kay didn't look at her boyfriend but to her father. "I couldn't, Dad. You had a fit when you found out I wanted to date Mark. I'm not willing to let you break us up over a misguided idea that I'm still a child."

  "Excuse us, sir," Mark said taking Kay's hand and pulling her from her seat. "We have something to discuss."

  Before anyone could comment, Mark guided Kay from the room and out the front door.

  Although a few eyes shifted from person to person, no one mentioned the young couple's absence. They continued their dinner and a conversation revolving around Dalton's insurance claims and the delivery of paintings Nicole was expecting from the east coast.

  Someone knocked on the front door and Dalton pushed his chair back. "I'll get it." He opened the door to one of the ranch workers. "Is there something you need, Dan?"

  "No sir, not exactly," the ranch hand mumbled looking embarrassed.

  "Well?"

  The ranch hand looked down at his scuffed boots. "I was in the tack room cleaning my saddle when a man came into the barn with Miss Kay. Dalton, he's whacking the tar out of her. I wanted to know if I should stop him or if you should. He wasn't using nothing except his hand on her backside, but she was bawling something awful."

  "He's spanking her?" Dalton clarified.

  "Yes, sir, but I stuck around to make sure he wasn't hurting her. I've seen her momma whack her harder when she was a little thing, and getting into trouble."

  "Let them be," Dalton ordered. "Dan, I'd appreciate you keeping this to yourself."

  "Yes, sir, I wouldn't want to embarrass Miss Kay."

  Dalton returned to the dining room where after whispering in his grandfather's ear, he sat down to finish eating. Near the end of the meal, Mark and Kay returned. There was evidence of recent tears as her eyes were red and her cheeks flushed.

  "I'm sorry, sir, if there was a misunderstanding," Mark said to Roy Mac. "I come from pioneer stock, Mr. Calloway, solid, hardworking people with strong principles. One of those principles is a man has to take a firm stand to keep his relationship strong. Kay didn't tell me you were against us seeing each other. I was under the impression we had your permission. She and I have come to an understanding. There will be no further miscommunications."

  Roy Mac gave his daughter a stern look. "Katherine Marie, did you lie to this young man?"

  "Yes, sir," Kay whispered.

  "Did you take care of the matter?" Roy Mac d
emanded of Mark.

  "Yes, sir, I did," Mark answered firmly.

  "All right," Roy Mac said. "I'll approve of you two dating, but if Kay's grades slip or she skips classes, I'll hear about it. If I do, I will come down on the both of you like a ton of bricks. Am I understood?"

  "Yes, sir," twin responses echoed. Mark squeezed Kay's hand under the table and she smiled at him tremulously.

  "What was the whispering about at the dinner table?" Nicole asked Dalton as they cleared the table so Helen and Roy Mac could talk to Kay and Mark in private.

  "Not much," he said cryptically. "I think Mark will fit into the family well."

  "They're dating, not getting married," Nicole exclaimed.

  "The way those two look at each other, I'm betting she'll be married by spring," Dalton predicted. "Why don't we take a walk?"

  "After we put away the dishes," Nicole said stacking plates for the dishwasher. "Helen cooked; the least we can do is clean the kitchen."

  "I'll be glad when our housekeeper, Doris returns," Dalton complained.

  "Who's spoiled now?" she teased. "I'm sure the last thing on the poor woman's list of things to do, was to have a setback in her recovery. It'll be a couple more months before she returns according to your gran."

  * * *

  Nicole put the last of her crated paintings into her SUV and closed the hatch.

  "Why do you have to go, now?" Dalton demanded.

  "Because my appointment with Dick Chambers won't wait. It's only a two-hour drive to Reno. I'll be okay."

  "It's closer to a three-hour drive. I don't want you speeding," Dalton complained. "You are used to city streets, not mountain roads."

  "I'll be careful and will be home before dark."

  "Call me when you get to Fallon," Dalton ordered.

  "No," Nicole countered. "I'm perfectly capable of driving a hundred and thirty miles without having to check-in! You're sometimes gone all night. I don't keep track of your whereabouts."

  Dalton plucked the car keys from her hand. "Call me. Otherwise, I will worry."

  "If today is like every other day, you'll be too busy to worry about me!"

  "I'll play patty cake on your backside if you don't stop being so obstinate."

  "Fine, I'll call," Nicole agreed snatching the keys from him.

  "Good, I like it when you see things my way."

  Nicole had given some thought to taking Matty with her, but this was a business meeting with her agent. Kay didn't have any classes today, so she had volunteered to watch him. Nicole went inside to tell Matty she was leaving and he had a full-blown temper tantrum when she would not agree to let him come with her. Kay tried to intercede by promising the boy a pony ride, but he stubbornly refused to be placated.

  Nicole drove off trying not to feel guilty. This was a business trip; one she could not put off. Taking her son with her would have been unprofessional. She waved to Matty as she drove past the corral where Kay led him around astride a small pony.

  Nicole was in love with her new SUV. She played with all the bells and whistles, especially the state-of-the-art OnStar navigation system. Dalton, Roy Mac, and others had warned her to not depend entirely on electronics. Due to the rugged terrain, there were many areas where wifi and even satellite reception was unreliable.

  She was excited about her meeting and couldn't wait to talk to her agent, again. It had been a while since her last showing. With her relocation, she needed local recognition to rebuild her reputation. Nicole stopped at Fallon and called Dalton as promised. While she was there, she also bought a drink and a bag of chips.

  She spent a lot of her time in the SUV enjoying the scenery as she had only seen this part of the country from the air. As the road climbed into hilly areas closer to the mountains, a black sports car whizzed by in a no-passing zone.

  "Idiot," Nicole mumbled as she went back to singing along with the radio. Not a half-mile down the road, she saw the same sports car pulled off at a scenic overlook. She continued on her way until she heard someone gunning an engine. A look in her rearview mirror revealed the same black car riding her bumper. She slowed, rolled down her window, and waved them around. However, the car continued to stay on her bumper. She kept glancing in her rearview mirror, but the tinted windows blocked her from seeing the idiot driver. The driver blasted the annoying horn of the vehicle several times before finally zooming around her SUV.

  At the next scenic pullover, Nicole saw the same black car, again, before it pulled out behind and began to follow her. A prickle of fear rose in her as she realized the driver was stalking her. Then she snorted at her foolishness. Why would anyone want to terrorize her?

  Someone did, though. She realized this over the next ten miles of increasing altitude and sheer cliff drop-offs into the valleys below, not to mention the dangerous switchbacks. The black vehicle stayed so close behind her, at one point the sports car actually tapped her rear bumper. The driver swerved the car from the far right edge of the road to the far left, revving its powerful engine.

  Nicole slowed down hoping the driver would tire of his game and go around her. After three more taps on her bumper, she increased her speed to get away. She fumbled with her phone trying to dial 911. She didn't dare take her eyes off the road as a sign for another switchback was posted. She wasn't familiar with this road, and her call wasn't going through. As she slowed to make the first turn into the switchback, the high-powered sports car's engine roared as it slammed into the back of her SUV pushing her off the highway. She slammed both feet down on the brake, but they weren't stopping her!

  She couldn't scream from the fear blocking her throat. Seconds later, her SUV hurled off the shoulder of the road going airborne into a strangely silent, weightless void. For what seemed an eternity, but was only a second or two, there was nothing but silence. Then came the sounds of scraping metal and loud cracks as tree limbs shattered. The SUV touched down with a screech of metal and then there was nothing except the deployment of the airbag. It knocked the breath from her and she lost consciousness.

  Nicole opened her eyes slowly before she began to fight the smothering airbag. When she felt the vehicle and tree sway, she held her breath, not daring to move. The airbag was so tight around her, she couldn't see past it. She had read the Owner's Manual. The airbag was supposed to inflate then deflate almost immediately after an impact. It wasn't deflating.

  She pushed her hand down between the seats frantically feeling around for her purse, searching inside it by touch until she found something she could use. She grasped a metal nail file and stabbed at the airbag until she heard a hissing sound and it deflated. The SUV began to sway again as she held her breath. She used the sleeve of her jacket to wipe her bleeding nose.

  With the opportunity to view her surroundings, she was even more terrified. Her SUV was wedged between two branches of a tree. Below her was a sheer cliff and she couldn't see to the bottom. She wiggled and tested her body parts concluding that, although everything hurt, nothing was broken. It was a miracle she hadn't been killed. Unfortunately, if she did not find a way to get help, she might be counting her blessings too soon. If the tree didn't sustain the weight of the car, she was a goner.

  Her cell phone had fallen from her hand during the impact, but she found it on the floor under her feet. Ever so slowly, she maneuvered herself down to retrieve it. She tried dialing 911, but only had a single bar of reception, not enough to get through to anyone. She tapped the OnStar button only to hear nothing except static. She tried it anyway.

  "If anyone can hear me, I'm on route 395 fifteen or twenty miles south of Reno. I went off the road and my SUV is lodged in a tree hanging over a cliff. I'm not hurt, but I need help. Can anyone hear me? Please. Help me!"

  A garbled voice and static were her only response.

  Sucking in a sob, she turned off the engine. She started to open the door thinking maybe she could shimmy down a tree limb, but the vehicle shifted and swayed ominously. She froze and the swaying stopped. />
  "Bad idea," she said out loud to herself. She turned the ignition for only battery use and pressed the OnStar, again. "Hello, this is Nicole Bennett. If anyone can hear me, please help me. I'm on route 395, somewhere past the second scenic pullover coming into Reno. I went off the road and my car is lodged in a tree. I'm hanging over a cliff. Please, if anyone can hear me, help me! Please, help me!"

  She repeated the message repeatedly in short spurts as she tried not to run down the battery. She checked her cell phone, again, but neither texting nor email worked. Belatedly, she remembered her phone could act as a walkie-talkie with a range of six to eight miles. She hadn't used the feature before. She had actually thought it was something she would never use. Now, she quickly found the app and began to put out distress calls.

  At some point after the second hour, Nicole started to cry. Her messages weren't getting through and her options were slim. She could try to jump from the car. However, it was a good fifteen feet to the ground and the branches extended over the abyss beneath the cliff. The chances of her making a successful leap and not killing herself in the process were unlikely. If she disturbed the SUV by shifting her weight, it might very well be the catalyst causing the car and tree to go over the cliff.

  By the fourth hour and countless messages later, Nicole was arguing with herself about her options. The problem was none of them were good.

  "Ma'am?"

  Nicole jumped in surprise and the car swayed.

  "For God's sake, don't move!" A man stood on a rocky hillside hanging onto a rope.

  "Can you help me?"

  "My son, Jordy, heard your call on his walkie-talkie, ma'am. I've already called the police and mountain rescue, but we didn't have location coordinates on you. We've been looking for you for a while. You need to sit tight and don't move. I have to climb to the top of the mountain so I can make a cell connection. I need to give the emergency people your exact location."

  "Thank you!" Nicole shouted in relief before waiting, again. It was another thirty minutes until the man reappeared.

  "Ma'am, are you okay?" came his shout.

  "Yes!"