Taking a Gamble

by P. J. Trebelhorn

  “They’re going to want me to babysit. Don’t people expect as much from their siblings when they have a baby?” Cass shook her head but never broke eye contact. “I am so not that person.”

  “What do you mean?” Erica seemed appalled at the notion. “You won’t babysit your own nephew?”

  “Small children frighten me.” Jesus, she’d never admitted that to anyone before. “I mean, what if I drop him or something?”

  “Hey, what’s happening?” Danny asked as he handed her a cigar. He offered one to Erica, but she shook her head.

  “Congratulations on becoming a father,” Erica said with a smile.

  “Thanks. I’m Danny.”

  “Erica.”

  Danny smiled as he looked back and forth between them. He wouldn’t be happy until Cass settled down and had a family of her own. Not happening. Ever. When he turned to her and raised an eyebrow in question as he tilted his head toward Erica, Cass shook her head.

  “Cass was just telling me how she can’t wait to babysit so you and your wife can go out to dinner and a movie. You know, enjoy some time alone.”

  Cass looked at her in disbelief. What the hell was she doing? Erica refused to look at her and was smiling sweetly at Danny. When he looked at her she was too dumbstruck to do anything but stare. She was sure she resembled a deer in headlights.

  “Really? I had the impression she was dreading it. Thanks, sis. I can’t wait to tell Barb the good news. And to think, she wasn’t even going to ask you to babysit.”

  He walked away then, and Cass glared at Erica until she finally met her eyes, a pleased look on her face.

  “What the hell did you just do?”

  “You need to babysit your nephew.”

  “Then you’re helping.” Cass smiled at the idea forming in her mind. Erica laughed and shook her head. “You owe me. You threw me under the damn bus. I can’t believe you just did that. You can’t deny you owe me.”

  “Fine. If you ever agree to babysit, I’ll give you my phone number so you can call me for advice.”

  Cass watched as Erica got up and walked out the door without another word. Cass liked her. She was so much more interesting than the women she met at the bars in either Buffalo or Rochester. But those other women she never had to see again. Eddie’s comment made it apparent Erica was the new window clerk at the post office in Dallas, and Cass would therefore be seeing a lot more of her. Hooking up with her was a bad idea. Even though she was the sexiest woman Cass had met in a long time.

  No, she thought as she downed the last of her beer, Erica was off-limits.

  Damn it.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Cass thanked Trish for holding the door open so she could maneuver her hand truck inside the post office. Selling things online was a pain in the ass, but she couldn’t deny how totally awesome it felt when someone purchased something out of the blue she’d had listed for months and more than likely forgot about. She was shipping three boxes today, but once the storage auctions were in full swing, she’d probably have three times as many going out every day.

  She made her way to the window and placed the first box on the counter before realizing no one was there to wait on her. She glanced back and saw Trish emptying the blue box out front, so she rang the bell to get someone’s attention. It took a few seconds, but Erica finally emerged from the back. Cass couldn’t help the smile when their eyes met and Erica’s step faltered ever so slightly.

  “Hello again,” she said, trying her best to act nonchalant and hide the fact she found Erica attractive. “Fancy meeting you here.”

  “I’m sorry, do I know you?” Erica took the first package from her and set it on the scale, but Cass saw the grin she was trying to hide.

  “So this is how you want to play it?” Cass asked with an amused grin. “Hard to get? I don’t mind. I like a challenge.”

  “What makes you think you can get me at all?” Erica asked, finally meeting Cass’s gaze.

  “The look in your eye right now. It’s the same look you gave me Friday night in the bar.” Cass grabbed the second package and set it on the counter. The next words out of her mouth surprised even her. “Have dinner with me.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Erica was looking at her as though she’d lost her mind, and maybe she had. She reminded herself Erica was a local, and therefore off-limits. In fact, anyone she might run into at the local grocery store was off-limits.

  “I would like to take you out to dinner.” She had the feeling Erica was going to turn her down, and now her ego was ruling her thought process. Women didn’t often turn her down, but when they did, Cass treated the rejection as a test of her willingness to pursue.

  “I don’t think so,” Erica said, turning her attention back to her job. “Anything liquid, fragile, or perishable?”

  “No,” Cass answered. “Why do you not think so?”

  Erica questioned her about how she wanted to ship the packages, reciting the prices displayed by the credit card machine on the counter in front of Cass. They only talked about the shipments until Erica finished the last package.

  “Just so you know,” Cass said, leaning across the counter so she wouldn’t have to speak too loudly. “When I see something I like, I don’t give up. Are you sure you won’t have dinner with me sometime?”

  “It would be a bad idea, Cass.”

  “No, it wouldn’t.”

  “It would,” Erica said with a sad smile. “Why are you wasting your time trying to get me to go out with you when you could have anyone you want? I mean, let’s face it. I’m no prize in the looks department.”

  “Are you serious?” Cass was stunned at the declaration. She heard Trish coming back inside so she waited for her to disappear into the back. “Erica, I don’t know what you see in the mirror, but I see a beautiful woman standing before me.”

  “I’m overweight and out of shape.”

  “Who isn’t?” Cass took a step away from the counter and grabbed her hand truck. She certainly hadn’t planned on asking Erica to dinner, but she’d done so because she was attracted to her. It was ridiculous to her that Erica would see herself in a negative light. Before she left she gave Erica a long look. “You don’t even know me. I’m sorry the impression you have of me is someone who’s so shallow.”

  She turned and walked out of the building without looking back, even though she heard Erica calling her name. If Erica thought so little of her, why should she waste her time?

  *

  Erica wanted to go after her, but she knew by the time she got outside, Cass would probably be long gone. The look on her face as she’d delivered her final words had pulled at something deep inside Erica. She felt the overwhelming desire to protect Cass, but from what, exactly? Like she’d said, Erica didn’t even know her.

  But she wanted to.

  The thought startled her. If it was true, then why had she said no to Cass’s offer of dinner? She should have said yes, wanted to say yes, but it was a bad idea. If they got along, Erica wasn’t sure she could force herself to take things slow. She had a tendency to rush into things where women were concerned. She’d always become lovers without even knowing if she liked the other woman. It was time to slow things down and become friends with a woman before jumping into bed with her. The only problem? Cassidy Holmes was all kinds of sexy.

  “Hey, are you all right?” Trish asked, breaking her out of her thoughts.

  “I’m fine,” she answered, forcing a smile.

  “Did Cass say something to upset you?”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “Because she’s a flirt. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a great person, the type who would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it, but she flirts with everyone. Do you want me to tell her to back off?”

  “I’m a big girl, Trish. I can handle it.”

  “Are you…I mean…”

  Erica could tell by the way Trish shifted her weight from one leg to the other and kept looking awa
y what she was trying to ask. She thought it might be fun to let her squirm for a few minutes. Erica didn’t usually come out to just anyone, but she’d never lie if anyone came right out and asked if she was gay.

  “Am I what?” Trish’s cheeks reddened and she looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there, having this particular conversation. Erica decided to give her a break. “A lesbian?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Would it make a difference if I was?”

  “Not to me,” Trish said with conviction. “But there are a lot of people who think it’s wrong. Just because the Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage is legal doesn’t mean everyone agrees with it.”

  “Trust me, I know,” Erica said, her father’s angry face flashing through her memory banks. “And yes, I am a lesbian.”

  “Then maybe you should give Cass a chance. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so dejected as she looked when she walked out of here.”

  “Maybe I will,” she answered thoughtfully.

  She couldn’t shake the feeling that this was so not a good idea.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Cass was on her way home from Batavia after selling some scrap gold and silver she’d found in the storage unit with all the antique furniture when she saw a group of four kids in a field alongside the road. She was going to just keep on going until she saw one of them knock another boy down, and then they all started kicking and punching the boy.

  She pulled over to the side of the road and grabbed the baseball bat she kept in the backseat for protection before running into the field. It was no easy feat with the snow so deep, but she somehow managed. None of them saw her coming because they were too intent on beating the shit out of the kid they’d knocked down. They were laughing and taunting him, and it took everything she had in her to not swing the bat at their heads. Instead, she grabbed the closest one by the collar of his jacket and pulled him backward, causing him to land on his ass.

  “What the fuck?” he said as he looked up at her. When he saw the bat cocked above her shoulder, he hurried to cover his head with his arms.

  Cass looked back in time to see the other two kids running off toward the road. Just as she thought. Cowards. The boy they’d been attacking was still lying on his side in the fetal position, his arms also covering his head.

  “You okay?” she asked him from where she was standing, keeping the bat raised so the kid on the ground wouldn’t get any stupid ideas. There was blood in the snow near where his head was, but it didn’t appear to be enough to cause any real concern.

  She watched as he slowly uncovered his head and looked around to make sure his assailants were really gone. He then turned his eyes to her and she saw he looked totally pissed off.

  “Who the hell are you?”

  Cass didn’t answer, but glanced at the kid she’d knocked on his ass to make sure he wasn’t planning an attack on her. He was still exactly where she’d left him, but now he was crying. She felt absolutely no sympathy for the guy. Her mother had always told her if you stood up to a bully, they’d run away with their tail between their legs. She’d never truly believed it until now.

  “I’m the one who just saved your sorry ass, so how about a little gratitude?” she asked when she looked back at him as he was getting to his feet.

  “I didn’t ask for your help.” The kid definitely had attitude, but she suspected it was for the other boy’s benefit. He didn’t want to let on how scared he really was. She couldn’t blame him. If she hadn’t come along when she did, they might have very well killed him, because they hadn’t looked like they were going to stop beating him anytime soon.

  “Sorry. Not how it looked from where I was sitting.” She turned her body so she could keep an eye on both boys and finally let the bat rest against her shoulder. She didn’t allow herself to completely relax though. Who knew what the dynamic between this set of boys was? The one they were beating could be part of their group, and they could both turn on her if she were to let her guard down. “Why were they beating you up?”

  “Are you a cop?” he asked and touched a finger to the corner of his mouth. When he pulled it away and saw blood, he wiped it on his pants that were wet from the snow.

  Cass rolled her eyes and pushed the other kid’s leg with her foot. He shied away as though he expected the bat to connect with his head any second.

  “Why were you guys attacking him?”

  “He’s a faggot,” the kid said, sounding like he was finally finding his courage again. Cass tightened her grip on the bat just in case. He pulled his arms away from his head and looked up at her, his eyes full of defiance. “If you’re here to save him, you must be a dyke.”

  “I’m not sure I follow your reasoning, but before you decide to get all cocky and shit,” she said with a smile, “you might want to take a look around. Your buddies are long gone. Probably ran all the way home crying to their mommas.”

  “You don’t scare me, bitch,” he said as he got to his feet.

  “You sure about that?” Cass gripped the bat like she was going to swing it and took a step toward him. She shook her head and let out a nervous laugh when he turned and ran off. After a moment, she went back to the other kid. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” He jerked away from her when she reached out to touch his jaw.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Kyle.”

  “Kyle what?” she asked when it became obvious he didn’t intend to give her a last name.

  “Jacobs.”

  “Okay, Kyle Jacobs, where do you live?”

  “Dallas,” he said after thinking about it for a minute.

  “Dallas? In Orleans County?” Cass asked. Kyle shrugged and nodded. “Is that a yes, or an I don’t know?”

  “I don’t know what county it’s in,” he finally admitted, suddenly finding something immensely interesting at his feet. “It’s north of here, and this road runs through it.”

  “Do you drive?” Kyle shook his head in response and Cass sighed. It was more difficult getting information out of this kid than she thought it should be. “Then what the hell are you doing in Elba?”

  “Walking.”

  “Smartass. Come on, I’m taking you home.” She grabbed him by the arm, but he pulled away from her. He was a big kid, probably close to six feet, and Cass knew she should probably be wary of him, but she had a gut feeling he wasn’t a threat to her.

  “I’m not getting in your car. You think I’m stupid?”

  She was seriously beginning to wonder, but she simply shook her head. She sighed and opened her arms toward him, looking down at herself.

  “Do I look like a kidnapper?”

  “You were going to hit that kid with your bat,” he said, and she thought she saw the ghost of a smile. He used a hand to brush his blond hair away from his eyes. “Maybe you’re a serial killer. Maybe you want to kill me.”

  “I wanted to kill him because he was attacking you, but I didn’t,” she pointed out. “I just want to get you home so your parents don’t worry about you.”

  He hesitated as if he were considering his options. Maybe it was because they were a good twenty minutes by car from Dallas, or maybe his reasons were something else entirely, but he finally nodded and followed her back to her car. She got him to give her an address before she pulled out onto the road.

  “Are you a lesbian?” he asked after they’d been driving for ten minutes or so. He didn’t look at her though. He just stared out the window.

  “I’m not sure my sexuality is any of your business.” Cass wondered if she should be honest with him. Maybe he was gay and was looking for someone to connect with. “You didn’t know those kids, did you?”

  “No.”

  “Why were they beating you up?”

  “Like he said, because I’m gay. Because the one you almost made shit his pants was pretending he was interested in me, and I took the bait.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Sixteen,” he answered
and looked at her. “Almost sixteen. But before you tell me I’m too young to know I’m gay—”

  “Whoa, totally not why I was asking, all right?” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and saw a scared kid. Obviously, his adrenaline had faded and he realized what had happened. “I knew I was a lesbian when I was like five, okay? I’m not going to judge you.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.” Cass looked at the street signs and found the one he said he lived on. She turned and went slowly down the road in the trailer park until she found the address he’d given her. “You stay here, all right? I want to talk to your parents.”

  He looked nervous but nodded, and she got out of the car. She didn’t know what to expect. He hadn’t told her why he was so far from home. What if his parents were abusive, and he ran away to escape them? He was carrying a backpack, and it appeared as though it might bust at the seams. She went up the steps to the front door and glanced back at the car before ringing the bell.

  She ran a quick scenario through her head, working out what she was going to say to his parents. I found some kids beating the crap out of your son. She shook her head. Too insensitive. None of it mattered though, when the door opened.

  “Cass?” Erica asked, looking as surprised as Cass felt. “What are you doing here? How did you know where I lived?”

  “I didn’t.” She shook her head, and damn it all, she couldn’t form any other words. She glanced back at her car and saw Kyle watching her. What the hell? Was Erica his mother? “Maybe he gave me the wrong address.”

  “Who?”

  “Do you have a son?” Cass focused her attention on Erica, who looked to be truly perplexed.

  “No,” she said slowly. “What’s going on?”

  “I saw some kids beating the crap out of him, and I stopped to help.” Cass shifted her weight from one foot to the other. He had to have given her the wrong address. What other explanation could there possibly be? Cass took a deep breath before meeting Erica’s gaze. “When I told him I was going to drive him home, he said this was where he lived.”