by Taylor Lee
“Alone.”
“This is how you will speak to me.”
He hesitated, then conceded to the reality.
“Lei, I won’t let you keep me from my child.”
“That is not your choice. You will never see this baby.”
“Lei, you know the whole goddamn Tong can’t keep me away from my child.”
“But I can.”
He moved toward her, quietly, slowly.
“Lei, please. Lei, look at me.”
She turned to face him. His heart constricted painfully at the sight of her beautiful face. She looked fragile but she was carrying the baby proudly even regally. He squeezed his eyes closed holding back surprise tears. He ached to hold her. He wanted to take off her clothes and run his hands over her belly. To feel for the baby’s arms, legs, anything that was available. He saw that her breasts were swollen, enlarged. He wanted to hold them, kiss them, suck on them. But more than anything, he wanted to hold Lei and not let her go.
He took several careful, slow steps toward her. She shook her head no. As if she could read his thoughts—as if he had spoken. He saw her body was trembling.
“Lei, let me hold you.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she shook her head again. “No.”
“Please, honey.”
“I am not one of your honeys.”
“No, you’re not.”
He moved closer to her and reached out to touch her.
She stepped back to the windows and nodded to the men who closed in around him.
“Go, Wyatt.”
Heat flooded over him as his anger rose.
“Lei, if this child is mine there is nothing you or your father can do to keep me from him.”
‘“If’, Wyatt?”
Her eyes flashed. She motioned to the men.
“Throw him out.”
Twenty men moved to surround him. He waved his hand as if to brush them away. His face frozen with rage, he stalked to the door.
Lei said to the one with the angry eyes. “Don’t hurt him. Do you hear me? That is an order.”
Ri stayed in the room after they left. He was pale, shaking with anger. His voice was shrill. “He said it might not be his child!”
Lei sighed. “He was angry, Ri. He didn’t mean that; he knows this is his child.”
“No, I will not permit this further insult. I will kill him.”
Their father came from the adjoining room.
Wan said, “No, I will.”
Lei knew Wan conceded to her demand that she see Wyatt because it fit his strategy. Lei knew from the beginning her father would find a way to back out of his agreement not to hurt Wyatt. Knowing that it might be the last time, she insisted that she see Wyatt. She knew that Wan would use it as an excuse to do what he planned to do all along — kill him.
Chapter 27
Wyatt sat in his private quarters, sipping bourbon watching the flames in the fireplace, conflicting thoughts coursing through his mind. He thought with a start that he had never shown Lei this room. It ran the length of the back of his cottage and faced the Colorado Rockies. It was his sanctuary, his and Vivian’s.
The anger that haunted him all his life was raging in him now. But since he had seen Lei standing by the window looking pale and fragile, other emotions fought for the stage. He was surprised that the sight of her pregnant silhouette had brought memories of Vivian more vivid than he thought possible. He remembered how excited they were when they discovered Vivian was pregnant. Scared but overjoyed. He had worshipped her, remarking on every change in her body. He had treated her as a glorious temple doing what no woman on earth had done before and that was to carry his child. Their days were consumed making plans. Their nights with filled with joyful, careful lovemaking. He never left her side.
With Lei, the difference was achingly apparent. Though she was surrounded by a small army of men, she was alone. There was no one celebrating the miracle taking place within her. She faced her pregnancy alone — in shame. He was sure that as her body changed and she grew more obviously pregnant those around her grew quieter, even less willing to talk as her shame became more apparent. There was no one to tell her how beautiful she was, even more beautiful than before. No one to marvel at the miraculous changes in her body. No one to argue whether it was a boy or a girl or endlessly consider the best names. And there definitely was no one to tell her how loved she was, that he would always be with her, that she wasn’t alone. Wyatt remembered the look in her eyes when he asked to hold her. He knew how much she wanted and needed him even though she refused. But he wasn’t there and she was alone. For the first time since she walked out of the hotel in Cheyenne Wyatt’s anger at her dissolved into profound regret. Finally to shame at what he had done.
~~~
Wyatt went to Joey’s office at the dojo. He sat down in one the chairs by Joey’s desk.
Joey looked up and didn’t speak.
“I owe you an apology, Joey.”
Joey looked surprised, but didn’t answer.
“You warned me many months ago not to get involved with Lei. I didn’t listen.”
“You fell in love, Wyatt.”
“You’re right. I did. But I didn’t honor that love.”
They were silent.
“I apologize to you, Wyatt, for not telling you Lei was pregnant.”
“You made an oath.”
“I never should have done that. I am also your sensei.”
“No, you shouldn’t have. But now we need to move forward.”
Wyatt hesitated a minute. “Joey, you don’t believe that Lei’s being Chinese has anything to do with my actions, do you?
Joey sighed. “No, Wyatt, I don’t. I was trying to hurt you.”
The two men sat together without speaking, trying to absorb and deflect the hurt and anger they both felt.
After several minutes, Joey said, “Wyatt, Wan contacted me last night. He wants a one on one fight to the death – here, at your dojo.”
“That’s poetic.”
“He is sending Longwai.”
Wyatt nodded.
“He is the strongest fighter in the Sing Leon. No one has ever bested him.”
“Yeah, I met him at the hotel.”
“Wyatt, he is a kobudo fighter; his greatest skill is with weapons.”
“I know that, too. It’s been a while, Joey. I’ll need to brush up, don’t you think?” he said with a rueful grin.
Joey’s face was pale. “I don’t think you have time. They’re coming in three days.”
Wyatt had known from the minute Joey told him about the baby that Wan had marked him. No matter what agreement Lei thought she had with her father, Wyatt knew Wan would find a way to break it. He wasn’t surprised that he intended to make it a rematch of the one with Chinbau Li. It was to be expected. Wan grudgingly admired him and honored his defeat of Chinbau Li, but Wyatt knew this time it was personal. Wyatt understood. Wan was determined there would be no repeat. Wyatt needed to die. For Wan it wasn’t enough to kill him. He wanted to beat him to death, destroy him. To do it in a way that would bring the most shame to Wyatt. He wanted to kill him in a fair fight in his own dojo, where Wyatt had killed Chinbau Li nearly twenty years ago.
Wyatt and Joey turned to what they knew best – how to fight. They tested his staff, a weapon he didn’t use with students because of its unusual size. It was the standard six feet long but had a four inch octagonal base as opposed to the usual rounded one and a half inch base. The larger base and the multiple sharpened edges had allowed him to drive it through Chinbau’s chest, killing him. The disadvantage was that his staff was heavier and less flexible than a typical staff. It took extraordinary strength to wield it.
Joey shook his head not trying to hide his concern. “Wyatt, I know you are strong enough to use this, but Longwai is an expert with the staff. That is his point of difference.”
“Then, Joey, I need to take it away. That’s where my heavier staff will make a difference. My goal is to
get to my jian blade as quickly as possible. I don’t think he can beat me there.”
“I agree. But I’m worried about giving him the advantage up front. It may be over before you get to your strengths.”
“He’s that good, huh?”
“From what I hear, yes, he is.”
“Joey, there is one irony in this at least I think its ironic, not sure Wan will. My flying skills have always been my strategic advantage. But the work I did with Lei, coming up with new aerials and combinations for her, gives me moves no one at Sing Leon has seen before. Given that Longwai outweighs me by about the same amount that most men outweigh Lei, the moves I created for her are going to be the way I win this match.”
“God, Wyatt, you have the strongest man in the most vicious gang in the country coming to kill you in three days and you’re still the cockiest son of a bitch around.”
“Hell, Joey, I can’t lose. What would you and Chief and Alono do without me to push you around? But besides you three men, who I’ll admit can take care of yourselves, I have four people who need me to take care of them.”
“I know Elena and Alex are more reasons than you’ll ever need and I assume you are talking about the baby. Who is the fourth?”
“Lei.”
Seeing Joey’s skeptical look, Wyatt added, “She just doesn’t know it yet.”
“You haven’t said anything about how it went.”
“Well, let’s’ see. They put me in a room with thirty Chinese fighters who had me strip so that Longwai could size up the guy he’s planning to kill. I had a three minute conversation with Lei in front of another twenty fighters. Lei threw me out after she told me I would never see our child. Other than those things I would say the evening went well.”
“I’m glad you have your sense of humor back, Wyatt. You omitted one detail – the detail that Wan found most compelling. When you questioned whether you were the father of Lei’s child.”
“Yeah, shit. I did say that. Hell, I was angry. Lei knows I didn’t mean that. And that son of a bitch, Wan—who I presume was in the other room – knows that, as well. He needed an excuse to break his bargain with Lei.”
“And you had to give him one right, Wyatt?”
Wyatt grimaced. “C’mon Joey. You’re supposed to give me confidence. I have a move I’ve been thinking about and I want to work on it privately. Will you make sure the dojo is locked at midnight? Will you meet me here? If I can figure out how to do it, it’s going to be the way I take away Longwai’s advantage and his staff. Let’s put it this way, Joey. I am a cocky son of a bitch, but I know if I don’t have the upper hand within three minutes in a match with a killer guy who outweighs me by forty pounds, your pessimism will be well-founded.”
After he left Joey, Wyatt met with Chief and Alono. They had heard the news and put out the word for reinforcements of Caballeros from other properties. The word through the Chinese network was Wan would arrive in three days with a minimum of fifty armed men. Chief recommended they stage the match in the training ring. Wyatt and Alono agreed. It was on the outskirts of the ranch and would allow both camps room for their men. Chief and Alono thought the dojo was too easily surrounded. They didn’t want to put the family, students, and ranch hands in danger should shooting break out.
As angry as Wan Chang was, Wyatt believed he would honor the Tong code of conduct for a kung fu death match. The purpose of the death match was to use the two fighters as surrogates for the outrage being addressed. Wyatt believed when he won, Wan would not allow his men to take revenge on anyone else at the ranch. Chief and Alono were making preparations in the event he did. Neither of them raised the issue of what would happen if Wyatt was killed. It was unthinkable.
~~~
On the day of the match, Wyatt spent the morning and early afternoon with Elena and Alex. He practiced in the dojo with them, then the three of them rode up to the stream to swim and picnic.
When they finished eating, Alex, who was the more somber and serious of the twins, said, “Dad, Daniel said you are going to be in a big fight today. Can we watch?”
“No, Alex, this is not a fight for young children to see. We are going to be using weapons. I haven’t shown those to you yet. This is not the way to see them.”
“Dad, can the weapons kill people.”
“Yes, Alex, they can. It is likely that the person I fight today will be killed.”
Elena got huge tears in her eyes. “Daddy, you aren’t going to get hurt are you?”
“Well, I may have a few bruises and scratches—maybe even a cut or two. I am going to be fine. I will come up and kiss you good night after the fight is over.”
Elena said, “Do you promise?”
Alex didn’t say anything, but waited for Wyatt to answer.
“I promise both of you that everything will be okay, that you will be safe.”
Alex frowned. “What about you, Dad? Will you be safe?”
“Well, Alex, let me put it this way. I’ve trained all my life for this fight tonight. I don’t plan to lose. So, yes, when it is over, I will be safe.”
When they returned to the ranch the children helped Alono to put the horses away. Wyatt found Chief in his medicine room.
“How are you feeling, son?”
Wyatt smiled. “Probably better than I should. I have this extraordinary person in my life who has taught me how to handle great pressure by his example.”
Chief nodded, acknowledging Wyatt’s compliment. “I have been praying and chanting for three days, Wyatt. I am feeling good about this fight. You have too many things left to do in this life for it to end now.”
“Thank you, Chief. Keep these for me — just in case.”
He handed Chief seven envelopes, one for each of the people who mattered to him; Elena, Alex, Alono, Joey, Chief, the new baby, and Lei.
Chief held back tears. “I’ll keep them for you, but will be giving them back to you after the fight tonight.”
The two men embraced and Wyatt left to go to the canyons to prepare for the match.
~~~
At five p.m., the Caballeros arrived at the ranch and waited for the Sing Leon. Wyatt spent the two hours before the match at the canyons meditating the way Chief had taught him years before. He’d been doing it for so long he was surprised when Lei had asked him how he conquered and controlled his anger in a match. He said it was simple; fight from a place in your spirit where you can never lose. When he meditated, he entered that place and didn’t leave until the match was won.
By the time he returned from the canyons, the Sing Leon had arrived and were positioned on one side of the training ring perimeter. The Caballeros faced them from the other side. All the men were on horseback, their weapons visible. Joey was waiting for him with his staff and blades. Wan Chang and Longwai were positioned across the ring. Joey and Wan Chang had agreed to the format of the fight. They were to begin with their staffs. At any time either fighter had the choice of relinquishing his staff and going to his knives. It was understood that jian blades were great for finishing off an opponent, but no match for a flying staff with a six foot plus reach.
Wyatt entered the ring. He walked over to Joey, his sensei, and bowed low. He strode across the ring to Wan and Longwai. He bowed respectfully and said to Longwai in Chinese, “Welcome to my dojo. I am honored to fight you.”
Longwai was surprised at his use of Chinese, but returned the bow and honor words. Wan bowed stiffly and left the ring. Longwai and Wyatt moved to the center of the ring to stretch. At the end of the five minute period, Joey sounded the gong. Wyatt and Longwai turned to retrieve their weapons. Longwai wore the traditional death match uniform. Wyatt was wearing the pants, but as was his custom, he removed the jacket and tied on his bandana.
Longwai asked Wyatt to strip at the hotel for more than curiosity. He heard the stories of Wyatt’s prowess and couldn’t believe the tall lean man who entered the room with a grin was the man everyone feared. When Wyatt was naked, he saw a powerfully built
well muscled man, but he wasn’t intimidated. Longwai, at nearly six feet tall, was three inches shorter, but weighed at least forty pounds of solid muscle more than Wyatt. And he was ten years younger. He earned his reputation as a merciless killer. By killing Wyatt he would not only avenge his leader’s shame, but that of the Sing Leon from years before. There was no question he would leave the ring tonight at the top of the kung fu ladder of grandmasters. His intent was to take Wyatt down and take him down fast.
With a fierce spirit yell, Longwai came out whirling the staff over his head in a fantastic blur of wood and air. The motion was so ferocious that you couldn’t tell where the weapon began and the man ended. The crowd gasped in amazement. Wyatt sidestepped him and laughed out loud at the display. When Longwai flushed with anger, Wyatt added another weapon to his arsenal. Wyatt and Joey had choreographed the next three minutes of the fight, move by move. If Wyatt could pull it off and get to his blades he knew he would win. He’d planned a series of defensive moves. His goal was to stay in the match, but not try to win the staff portion until he was ready to strike with his secret move. Longwai’s anger was a gift he hadn’t expected, one he quickly exploited. To each of his defensive moves, Wyatt added a soft chuckle or grin. His eyes never stopped twinkling. Murmurs from the crowd confirmed they saw what was happening, further infuriating Longwai. Seeing Wyatt’s grin, for the first time since he instigated the fight, Wan Chang saw the possibility of defeat.
Wyatt dove to the ground to avoid a flurry of flying strikes. Reaching out with his staff, he caught Longwai’s feet and tripped him to the ground. Joey’s eyes widened. That move had not been on the agenda. Longwai flushed with anger as he picked himself up. He flew at Wyatt, his staff a flash in the air. Wyatt rolled out of range and the wood struck the ground harmlessly. That pattern continued. The sounds of the crashing staffs were ferocious, as were the grunts and groans of the fighters. Wyatt was holding his own and nearing the three minute mark. Joey put his head in his hands and prayed to every god that existed to help him now.
Wyatt’s aerial skills were second to none and he had barely used them. As he wound up for his defining move, he flipped three times in the air, front to back and then front again, throwing Longwai off balance. He backed against the railing and with a wild animal cry ran across the ring at top speed. As he neared Longwai, he planted the base of his staff in the ground and catapulted his body feet first high in the air and arced down his feet landing squarely in Longwai’s startled upturned face. There was a resounding crack and Longwai’s face exploded, blood splattering everywhere. With a leap and a fearsome yell, Wyatt flew from the other side of the ring, planted his staff and catapulted twelve feet in the air. He landed full force against Longwai’s neck, driving him face first to the ground. As he fell, Longwai’s staff spun across the ring. Wyatt swooped down, grabbed it and with a fierce scream, threw it over the fence. Sobbing soundlessly with joy, Joey dropped his head in his hands. Wan’s face froze with dread.
