Be My Guest

by Caroline Clemmons

  Pausing a moment, Rose answered, "I believe he does. I've never told him, but he's dropped hints a few times that let me know he understands. He's always been very attentive to me--much as a son would be."

  Rose leaned forward and took Aurora's hands in hers, "Now I don't want you thinking I'm unhappy or that I think I've wasted my life. I've had a good life and expect to continue doing so for many years. The whole reason for this depressing story, my dear, is to prevent you from making the same mistake I made."

  She stood. "If you love Will as I think you do, tell him so. Don't make him pay for another man's mistakes. He can't help loving Nancy, but that doesn't mean he'll love you any less. As for the travel, well, you can take trips together that will mean much more than any you could ever take alone. You can grow together instead of separately."

  With resignation, Aurora stood and paced about the room. "I know you're right, Rose. I'd reached the same conclusion myself during the week, but needed reassurance, I guess. That bad experience with Russell made me afraid to trust my own feelings, afraid to trust Will. I thought he might have chosen me because I happened along when he decided to get back into circulation. And there was the terrible fight about my owning my own business."

  "I'm sure you can work it out, dear. Just give him time and a chance. The only woman in our family who has had a career is me. It will take him some getting used to, having a working wife. It isn't that he doubts you."

  Before Rose could protest further, Aurora continued, "I knew deep down that was true, but I had doubts. I know that I love Will more than I ever imagined possible."

  Aurora twirled around to face Rose, "I'll call him now. No, wait, this is not something to be discussed over the telephone. I'll tell him in person tomorrow night at his party--that is, if it's not already too late."

  Chapter Ten

  Aurora could hardly wait for the day to pass on Friday. More than the usual number of customers came into the store, choosing cards as well gifts for birthdays, Father's Day, or a June wedding. There were so many customers, that Aurora found it impossible to get away in the afternoon to make her usual trip to the bank.

  About half past four, Rose and Vivian came in to take her with them to the ranch. Susan's mother had become ill while her husband and father were on a fishing trip, though, so Susan had left at four to get her children from her mother's home and check on the ailing woman. Emily and her family were on vacation and Mattie back at work, but even with her improved eyesight Mattie could not close out the cash register and make the bank deposit. Surgery’s miracles only accomplished so much.

  Aurora’s spirits dipped. “I have no choice but to remain until closing.”

  Vivian hugged her. “Now don’t you worry a bit, dear. We’ll go on and tell Will you’ll be there in time for dinner.”

  Aurora asked Rose, “Does he know I’ve told Peggy I’ll buy the shop?”

  “We’ll let you tell him the news tonight.” Rose patted her shoulder. “Everything will be fine, you’ll see.”

  Finally six o'clock arrived, closing time, and the last customers left by a quarter past six. Aurora hurried to get the day's receipts ready for night deposit. When she finished preparing the deposit, she slipped into the new clothes purchased for tonight. Changing at the store rather than at Rose's would only save a few minutes, but time was precious.

  She hurried to change clothes and repair her makeup in the mirror of the tiny employee's bathroom. At last, she could slip out the back door on her way to the bank and then on to the party. Vivian and Rose would already be at the party enjoying the evening. She thought again that it was too bad she could not have accompanied them.

  Actual starting time for the party was at six. When Will told her about the party, he mentioned the meal would not be served before seven to give all the guests time to arrive. Vivian and Rose offered to wait and go with her, but Aurora insisted they go ahead. She assured them she would arrive there as soon as she could. With luck, she could be there by a quarter of seven.

  Last week, Aurora had spent a large part of her salary from Peggy on clothes for this party. She chose a long blue denim broomstick skirt. At the same store, she found a western-cut blouse with a vent flap in back. Aurora knew the greens in the blouse’s pattern made her eyes turn an even deeper green, a fact confirmed by both Rose and the sales clerk at the dress shop. At Rose's urging, Aurora splurged on a new silver necklace and earrings in a Zuni sun pattern.

  She wiggled her toes and wished she had taken time to break in her new brown boots. Kelly would approve of the beautiful tooling on the sides, but the stiff leather made them unwieldy. At least the new clothes gave her the boost of confidence she needed to face Will tonight. Reassured, she picked up her handbag, the gift she had for Will's birthday, and the bank deposit pouch.

  The Jeep sat parked facing the sun all afternoon. Even though she had one of the folding sunshades in the front window, Aurora could hardly touch the blistering hot steering wheel. She folded the sunshade and searched about the seat for something to use to hold the steering wheel. Suddenly, the door flew open and a dirty hand gripped her arm.

  Connected to the hand stood the bearded blond man who had tried to force her car off the road on her first day in the area. He must have walked up the alley behind her or have been hidden in a doorway. The dark-haired man drove the red truck now rolling to a stop behind her Jeep.

  "Let go of me!" Aurora yelled as she pried at the fingers of the bearded man.

  "We heard you'd been asking for us, honey. We thought we'd help you out. You just come with me, now." The burly man tightened his hold on her arm. She could smell his stale breath and foul body odor as he reached across to grab her other wrist. Aurora bit his arm and then shoved him as hard as she could. She twirled sideways and kicked him in the groin and tried to slam the Jeep door. Doubled over in pain, the cursing man used his shoulder to keep the door from closing.

  The second scraggly man appeared, coming around the front of the truck to assist his friend. Aurora slid across the seat and exited the Jeep on the other side. The dark-haired man saw her intention and rushed to prevent her escape.

  Aurora searched around for assistance, but no one appeared. The other stores and businesses which shared the alley were closed and their personnel either gone for the day or working inside.

  "Help! Call the sheriff!" She yelled as loud as she could before a greasy hand clamped across her mouth.

  As the men dragged her into the red truck, Aurora thought she glimpsed a face in the window of the back door of the feed store across the alley. She prayed she was right, that someone saw her and heard her cries. Suddenly, peering from a window, she saw Eunice Foster's face dawn with the comprehension of what happened.

  The dark-haired man drove the truck. The blond had Aurora's left arm twisted behind her back so far that she had to turn sideways in the truck seat.

  The driver gave her a leering grin. "Well, well, you think you're purty smart don't you? You 'n that fancy boyfriend of yours, asking all over the county 'bout us. Me and Billy have some nice plans for you to show you what we think of that."

  * * *

  Will stood at a massive barbecue wagon borrowed from a friend who used it to hold chuck wagon cookouts. He checked the meat once more. Perfect. Ready to serve, but a few minutes longer would be all right.

  Some of his guests swam in the pool. A small western band set up under an awning on the sun deck played "Tennessee Waltz," and a few couples danced on the patio. Other guests sat or stood about in small groups visiting with one another. Most also glanced frequently at their host, ready to eat their share of the meat and the multitude of other dishes prepared for the backyard party,

  Worry creased Will's brow. At ten minutes past seven Aurora hadn't shown up. A knot balled up in his stomach. She's not coming. You should have called. You should have let Kelly call her. Instead he decided to give her time to think, and he brooded all week.

  Rose stopped beside Will, her brow fu
rrowed in a worried frown. "I can't imagine what could be keeping Aurora."

  The knot in his stomach grew and a ball lodged in his throat. Busying himself with the meat, he said as casually as he could. "I guess she's not coming."

  Rose waved a hand at him in irritation. "Oh, but of course she is, Will. I helped her get everything ready this morning so she could change as quickly as possible at the store before coming here. She had a new skirt and shirt to wear and she took her clothes and jewelry with her this morning. Vivian and I stopped by the store on our way out here. She was short-handed at the store or she would have come with us. Aurora said she would be here before time to serve the meal."

  Hope seeped slowly through him. "Maybe she changed her mind." As he acted devil's advocate to Rose, he prayed he was wrong.

  "Will, you know that's not true. No one who spent as much time as she did choosing a gift for you would fail to show up to give it to you. Besides, she had something very important to tell you." Rose caught herself, surprised at her lapse--even for her favorite relative. "Oh, but I mustn't speak for her. I just can't imagine what could be taking her so long."

  Relief showed on Will's face. "You're sure?" The knot in his stomach began to unwind slowly.

  "Yes, dear, I'm positive." Rose gave her nephew's arm a squeeze and then gave his face a close scrutiny. "You look like five miles of bad road, Will."

  "Aw, we thought we'd gotten rid of all the hay that got wet during that flood, but apparently we missed one leak in the big barn. Some of our good hay got wet. The new stablehand is used to cows and didn't know moldy hay makes horses sick. Raul and I have nursed sick horses most of the past three days. I haven't had more than a few hours sleep all week."

  He ran his fingers through his hair. Doubt shadowed his weary eyes. "You're certain Aurora's coming here tonight after work?"

  "You can count on it, Will. She was going to change clothes at the store, make a night deposit at the bank, and then come here."

  A new worry sprang to bedevil him. He checked his watch. "Then I wonder why she's not here? It's 7:15. She should have been here at least half an hour ago."

  Raul walked over to where Will stood. "Mi amigo, I think I know of the two men who tried to harm your Aurora. I suspect they are also the same two who are responsible for the disappearance of this other woman and our cattle."

  "What other woman?" In addition to the time spent with the sick horses, Will had been in such a foul mood all week, he had been oblivious to the rest of the world.

  "Yesterday morning the car of a woman was found abandoned on Highway 669. It was while we were working with those sick horses, amigo, so perhaps you did not hear of it. This woman has not been found. I think it must be that these same men have kidnapped her as they tried to do with your Aurora."

  Will's head came up and he almost barked at his old fiend, "Who are they?"

  Raul shook his head thoughtfully. "My cousin Paulo knows of two such men who are muy malo, muy malo. Billy Gunter and Lenny Williams have been paroled from prison, and returned to this area only a few weeks ago--about the time Aurora came here, so that fits with her first encounter with them. They are real trouble makers."

  Will became frantic. He practically shouted at his old friend. "Does Paulo know where they live?"

  "Ah, sí, and now so do I." Raul appeared very pleased with himself.

  A frenzied Lori Beth hurried toward her brother as fast as possible for a very pregnant woman. "Will, Eunice Foster from the feed store behind the card shop just called. She and Milton were working in the back of the store before they left for your party. She saw two men force Aurora into a red truck. Eunice got the license number and Milton called the sheriff. The sheriff found Aurora's handbag, the bank deposit, and a gift on the seat of her Jeep. The Fosters figured Aurora was supposed to be here this evening and phoned to tell you."

  All color drained from Will's face. "Come on, Raul. You know where they live. Let's go. I'll get my gun." Will turned toward the house, but Raul grabbed his arm to stop him.

  "Wait, amigo, we must let the sheriff know where these men live."

  Will jerked his arm free and called over his shoulder, "We can use the phone in my truck. Round up some men while I get my rifle."

  Will became a madman. Those men had Aurora! Why hadn't he talked with her, told her he'd come into town for her? No, that wasn't practical. He should have had someone come by for her, should have insisted that she come with his mother and Rose. His mind whirled with recriminations and, at the same time, planned his assault on the villains.

  By the time Will emerged from the house with two rifles and ammunition, Raul, Tommy, and Bob Hankins had rounded up Raul's cousins and some of the other guests at the party. Paulo Garcia rode with Will and Tommy in Will's truck. Raul followed with his double cab truck filled with two more of his cousins and three other men from the party. Bob Hankins and Greg followed with another party guest in Bob's truck.

  Will handed the phone to Tommy. "Call the sheriff's office. While Paulo gives me directions, you relay them to let the sheriff know where those men are probably headed."

  Cautiously, Paulo said, "Never have I seen you in this state. Will, I need to tell you these are very dangerous men. They almost shot me because they thought I was snooping on them when I checked my fences yesterday. Finally, they called me a stupid greaser and went away." He said as if it were an aside, "Do you know how long it's been since anyone called me a greaser?"

  He shook his head and reasoned with himself aloud. "Better for them to think I am stupid because I am Hispanic. I think they would have shot me right there on my own land if I had been a gringo. You must move with much caution, Will."

  Caution was not in Will's mind as he sped through the evening.

  * * *

  Cotton lined Aurora's mouth and her heart pounded like a drum in her breast, but her other reaction surprised her. Frightened, her anger for these two men grew far greater than her fear. Just when she had a chance at everything she wanted in life, these two had the nerve to intervene.

  What if she never got the opportunity to tell Will how deeply she loved him and he thought she didn't care enough to stay in Post? She thought of Will's gray eyes filled with passion. What if she never got to make love to him again, to feel his strong body mold to hers? The thought of the same act with either of these men filled her with revulsion. Anger boiled up inside her and her jaw clamped. I have to get away from these creeps. I have to find a way.

  She fought anger and fear to keep her wits about her. These two were probably killers who had no intention of letting her go free to identify them. If she appeared cowed and ready to cooperate, perhaps she would have her chance. Just one chance to get away, she prayed. Lord, give me just one good chance.

  The cab of the truck reeked of stale body odors and alcohol from the men whose names she now knew to be Lenny and Billy. As they drove, they took turns telling her of their plans for her.

  "Yep," Billy said as he pulled at his scraggly beard. "We just 'bout used up that other gal. 'Sides, we decided we needed two women so's we’d have us one a piece. Piece, get it? " He chuckled to himself at his imagined cleverness.

  Lenny guided the truck onto a rutted track and up to a small, dilapidated house. The cattle trailer parked at one side of the house struck a chord in Aurora's memory. These two men must be responsible for the recent cattle rustling at the area ranches.

  Two barrels for burning trash were overflowing, and trash too heavy to be blown away by the ever-present wind lay scattered about the area. Left over car parts also littered the yard. An old washing machine sat discarded beside the porch of the house. A rusted-out car body stood further back near the remains of a collapsed carport.

  "Now don't you go gettin' any ideas, little lady. You're mine now, and your fancy boyfriend can find hisself another woman," Lenny sneered.

  Billy opened the truck door and complained, "Aw Lenny, it was me she kicked." Billy released her arm from behind her back an
d stood sulking by the open door.

  Pain once again shot through her when Lenny tugged her by the same aching left arm and jerked her out of the truck on the driver's side. "Now, Billy, you know we agreed this one 'ud be mine. I seen her first. Anyways, you picked out the other one."

  Aurora searched the littered yard for anything she might use as a weapon against these two. She pretended to be even more frightened than she was and stumbled as if in terror.

  As she fell, her hand grasped a two-foot length of galvanized pipe. Lenny jerked her up, then raised his other arm to protect his head when he saw the pipe in her hand. Instead of striking the man, Aurora used the pipe to poke his flabby gut.

  She rammed with all her strength and gasped when the pipe sank into Lenny's flesh. Lenny released her arm and clutched at his stomach and the pipe. Aurora darted away before Billy came around the truck.

  "Ow-w-w, man, my stomach." Lenny called, "Get me my gun. I'm gonna get that bitch. She'll pay for this."

  Aurora didn't look back. In a flash, she ran into the brush and down a ravine. Her stiff new boots made her awkward and she wished for her little canvas shoes. The tops of the boots rubbed her calves raw as she ran, but she raced onward. With luck, she thought, Lenny and Billy are only renting this place and are unfamiliar with the terrain. If one of them had grown up here, she hadn't a chance of eluding them for long.

  Soon darkness would help Aurora evade the two men. If she could last a few more minutes, she would have a chance. Lenny and Billy shouted to one another. A shot rang out and sand sprayed Aurora as the bullet pinged near her on the ravine’s soft, sandy floor. Her chest heaved with each gasp of breath, but she ran blindly forward down the twisting ravine.

  When Aurora could no longer hear the two men, she slowed down to get her bearings. Blood pounded in her head so loud she wondered if the men would hear it. She crouched low and crept up out of the ravine behind a scrawny bush. In the fading light she saw Billy's blond head bobbing as he walked down the ravine. Lenny called to him in a hoarse whisper from directly across the ravine. Both men had guns.