Ring of Fire

by Hestand, Rita

  "So if you were to fall in love with one of them…you'd back off."

  Hank moved away, afraid the old man had already seen and heard too much. "Yeah, I'd back off."

  "You don't think love is more precious than money?" Caleb frowned.

  "It doesn't matter what I think or feel, I could not support her in the manner she would be used to. And I wouldn't be much of a man if I let her and her old man's money support me." Hank was getting annoyed, his back tensed, he began to sweat and he couldn't imagine why Caleb was concerned one way or another.

  "I know what you are sayin', boy. I do. But, love is the best thing in life."

  Hank nodded. "You are probably right, but there are some places you just don't go, Caleb," Hank muttered under his breath as he turned away.

  "If one of them McKay girls loved me, I'd never back away from that," Caleb barely uttered as he passed him to go into a stall.

  Hank shrugged, realizing that he wished the old man would quit talking about it.

  He could never afford the luxuries that Letty McKay was used to. He would never make enough money to support her. It was useless to go there and he damn sure wouldn't make love to her and leave her.

  The old man got quiet and Hank thought he wouldn't have to explain anymore, but Caleb came out of the stall, stood right in front of him and stared at Hank like a rattlesnake.

  "And what about Cade Weston, he took what he wanted. He married Julie McKay because he loved her and always had."

  "That's different. Cade makes a darn good living for himself. He could support Julie well enough. He's a manager here. I'm just a cowboy, there's a big difference."

  Caleb's frown subsided, but he still eyed him. "Don't think it don't show, boy. You got lovesick written all over you."

  Then he walked out of the barn.

  Lovesick? Hank sighed heavily. Caleb was right, he was lovesick, and what was worse, he was going to stay that way. He usually had an even disposition, but right now it felt as though the world was caving in on him.

  ***

  On Friday, Kellie came over to spend the night with Letty, just like she promised. Letty was excited. She had planned the entire evening. At last there was someone to distract her from Hank. Just what she needed.

  "Are you two going to be alright tonight?" Julie asked.

  "We'll be fine. Sandy has a date with Mike, and Wendy is helping Wade with something." Letty laughed. "And I've got a movie, and popcorn planned with lots of talk about boys and friends and getting along in school."

  "Sounds good." Julie laughed then added, "Wendy doesn't give up, does she?" Julie asked.

  "No, and for that I'm kind of proud of her. Wendy hasn't been a real go getter about much of anything, but Wade, I never saw that in her before, but at least she is true blue and sticks to her guns. She's bound to get Wade to see it soon. Sooner or later Wade Weston is going to be hit by the love bug." Letty was busy with the beginnings of cookie dough. "Because Wendy is no longer a little girl."

  Kellie washed her hands and giggled. "What's the love bug?"

  "Oh, we'll get to that later, I promise." Letty laughed.

  They were making a huge mess and Julie couldn't stand it. "Okay, I hope the two of you know what you are doing. And I'm glad I don't have to clean up the mess."

  "We are making a mess, we're making a class A mess." Letty laughed and Kellie smeared cookie dough on her cheek. "But it's pure fun…."

  "Kellie," Julie admonished.

  "It's all part of the fun Julie, now scat," Letty protested.

  In no time the kitchen smelled like a chocolate haven. Kellie was already full from testing the cookies.

  "Guess we'll have to have our hot dogs later." Letty looked at the miserable face on Kellie.

  "Hmm. How about just the popcorn and cold drinks with the movie?"

  "Do you know what movie we are watching?" Letty asked. "Okay, but if you get hungry during the night, don't look at me."

  "I won't." Kellie's eyes got round and big when she saw the movie Letty had rented. "When a Stranger Calls." Kellie laughed. "It's about this babysitter who keeps getting these creepy calls…"

  "Oh, I know, I can't wait to see it. Wendy claims it's a terror." Letty smiled and took her cookie into the living room, where she sat down and indulged herself.

  Kellie followed.

  "Aunt Letty, can I have Aiden over tomorrow?" Kellie asked out of the blue.

  Letty smiled to herself, knowing Kellie had probably planned that too.

  "I don't see why not. Wanting to go for a ride?" Letty asked.

  "Can we?"

  "Of course you can. But if you don't mind, I'll tag along." Letty chuckled.

  "Well, of course, I thought you would." Kellie laughed. "I mean, if you feel like it and all."

  Letty noticed how Kellie was wearing a dab of lip gloss and dressing a little more tastefully. Julie's little girl was growing up and Letty wasn't sure Julie was ready for it or not.

  Kellie was still very young, but if she chaperoned it, everything would be fine. Letty would see to that.

  "How old is Aiden?" Letty asked.

  "Nearly twelve." Kellie blushed.

  "Twelve isn't very old, but I guess there are some things you could do together. And some things an adult will have to be present for too. Hope you don't mind."

  "No, I don't mind. I'll be eleven next month, Aunt Letty."

  "I know, and I can't wait to celebrate it with you." Letty took another bite of chocolate chip cookie. "Hmm, these are so good."

  "Yeah, but I think I ate too many."

  Letty laughed. "I know you did."

  "Do you think I'm fat?"

  "Fat, now where on earth did that come from?"

  "I don't know. There are some girls at my school that all they do is talk about diets and not eating and how to stay slim."

  "At your age?" Letty yelped. "I wouldn't think that would be on their minds."

  "Yes, I guess it all started with Heather and her mother."

  Letty put her feet up in the chair and curled herself comfortably as she stared at her niece. "Heather and her mother, what about them?"

  "Heather's mom is skinny. I mean, maybe skinnier than you. She used to be a Hooter's waitress and she spends most of her time trying to keep the fat off because she says she has had three kids that put it on her. So Heather is always dieting, she's almost skinny."

  "Kids your age shouldn't be worried about how skinny or fat you are." Letty shook her head and stared at her with disbelief.

  "It's just a few kids that are that way," Kellie explained.

  "Well, you might want to rethink your friendships, Kellie. This isn't something that should concern you until you're a teenager," Letty reprimanded. "And maybe not even then."

  "I know. Most of the girls in my class don't. But…these three girls make fun of the rest of the girls in class because they are over-weight," Kellie blurted. "At least that's what Heather says. I don't think they are overweight. And I didn't care, but every now and then I see them staring at me too and I wonder if I'm fat."

  "Are you kidding me? That's terrible. Does your mother know about this?" Letty asked.

  "No…Mom is so busy these days, I don't talk to her about this kind of stuff. But I wanted to know what you thought. I mean, you've been a model. If anyone should know you should." Kellie smiled.

  "Who would have ever thought kids your age would even think of such things. Listen to me, Kellie. These are not the right kinds of girls to run around with. They are hurtful to others; you don't want to be like them do you?"

  Kellie thought about it a moment, reddened, then shook her head. "I guess not…but all the boys like them…"

  Letty reached across her chair to the sofa and grabbed Kellie's hand. "Listen to me Kellie, you should be worrying about having a good time, about doing some of the things you want to do. Not how you look all the time. And certainly not talking about others and hurting their feelings."

  "I know…I don't say
anything."

  "No, but if you are with these girls when they do, then everyone else will think you think that way too. And that's not the right thing to do. Honey, if a boy likes you at your age, it's usually because you have pretty eyes, or smile at him a lot. Not because you are skinny and can wear all the latest fashions. You are way too young to be worrying about stuff like that. And I would hate to hear of you hurting someone's feelings. Please tell me you won't hang around with them anymore."

  Kellie grew silent, as though she were thinking about what her aunt had said.

  "I guess. I was just trying to be popular."

  "Being popular isn't that much fun. One of the first things you learn in the modeling career is that there is always someone prettier than you and you had better get used to it. Being popular isn't half as important as being nice. And yes, being a model means you have to be slim and stay that way, but it is a different thing than what they are talking about. And they certainly aren't models."

  "But Aunt Letty, if I don't hang out with them, they will be talking about me," Kellie cried.

  "Let them. Talk is just talk. It can't hurt you. You are a strong and beautiful young girl. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing. Does Aiden like you because they do?"

  "I don't know…"

  "Well, if he does, he's just following the crowd too. You see Kellie, real beauty comes from within. If it isn't there first, then sometimes it's never there. And a really nice boy will like you for it, not how you look."

  "I hope you don't think Aiden is that way," Kellie cried.

  "I don't know. But time will tell. Especially if you quit hanging around those girls."

  "I guess. I really don't like them that much. I don't like how they hurt some of the other girl's feelings. But it's just, well; it is nice to be popular."

  Letty didn't want to spoil the entire evening with this little talk and she didn't want to make a huge issue of it so she changed the subject and before long, Kellie was laughing and getting the supplies out to pop popcorn.

  It was already dark outside, so after popping the popcorn and getting some cold drinks, they moved into the living room and put the DVD in the player.

  They crawled up on the couch, putting the popcorn between them and waited for the movie to come on.

  Letty loved being this close to Kellie. She felt she could help Julie in the long run keep Kellie going in the right direction. She didn't feel it a responsibility, but a strong sense of loyalty to Julie, and love for them both.

  Letty had decided long ago that she wanted several children. Kids were fun to be around and they kept you young, she had reasoned. Now if she could only interest a certain fella into proposing, then her life would be set. Of course she knew what a fantasy it was to think Hank might propose, they hadn't even dated, a fact everyone reminded her of.

  It felt as though they had dated, and like she had known him for a lifetime.

  Deep down, Letty knew that she had a lot to prove to Hank before he would ever ask her out. She wasn't going to dwell on Hank tonight though. Tonight was for her and Kellie.

  The movie became intense and Letty and Kellie were popping the popcorn into their mouth like crazy.

  "I hate that house. I'd never babysit anyone with a house like that. It's so dark, and creepy," Kellie screeched.

  "Yeah, it's way too dark, and those lights that flash when someone moves into the room, how creepy is that?" Letty mused. "I wonder why she didn't check on the kids earlier, though."

  "Yeah, strange, huh?"

  Just as the music seemed to create the mood, Kellie burst out with some news Letty hadn't expected.

  "Mom's been talking to me a lot lately about having another baby. Do you think she's pregnant?"

  Letty nearly choked on her drink. "Pregnant? Wow, where did that come from?"

  "Well, they've been back from the honeymoon for a while and I just thought…"

  "Hmm, never dawned on me, but you know it's possible." Letty cleared her throat. "What would you think of a baby brother or sister?"

  "I'd love it, at least for a while. But I don't want to be babysitting all the time either."

  "Yeah, that wouldn't be fun." Letty laughed. "I think I need to talk to your mother…"

  When the bad guy nearly had the babysitter, Kellie reached to grab Letty's arm. Letty laughed.

  "Boy," Kellie shook her head minutes later. "I'd be scared like that too, if I had to fight off a bad guy like that."

  "Me too, that was a good movie." Letty smiled as she picked up the popcorn bowl and drink they had finished. "Yeah, you know…they never have a can of mace available for the bad guys, ever notice that?"

  "What's mace?"

  "Bad stuff you spray in a bad guys face if he tries to harm you. A lot of women keep it in their purses."

  "Wow!"

  Letty laughed. "You are too young to need it, I guess, but you can always scream and kick."

  "I would too."

  Kellie helped her and in no time the kitchen was clean again.

  "Do you want to sleep in your old room, or bunk in mine or sleep down here on a pallet?" Letty asked.

  "I'll sleep in my old room, I guess. I love that bed."

  "Yeah, I know, I laid on it the other day and went to sleep. I don't know how you lucked out with such a bed."

  For a couple of hours, they talked about Kellie's school, and a few people she had become friends with. Letty felt like an older sister rather than an Aunt.

  When they finally went to bed, Letty was sure Kellie would see bad guys half the night but she didn't hear a peep out of her 'til morning.

  Everyone seemed to gather in the kitchen that next morning as Letty began fixing pancakes and bacon. Letty figured the smell of bacon frying must have motivated everyone.

  "Did you two have a good evening?" Sandy wanted to know.

  "Yeah, we watched a great movie, then the country music awards." Kellie laughed. "And then we talked for a long time."

  "That sounds nice." Wendy came breezing into the kitchen, helping by getting out the syrup and butter.

  Kellie set the table and they all gathered around and talked.

  When breakfast was over, Letty told Kellie to take a shower and get dressed, while she cleaned the kitchen.

  Sandy came in to help. "So, why were you home on a Friday night without a date?"

  "Do you see any men breaking down the door to take me out?" Letty asked.

  "No, and I find that strange. Why haven't you and Mike ever dated?" Sandy asked out of the blue.

  "Mike?" Letty considered the question as odd. "Because we work together, I guess. You don't mix the two. Besides, Mike isn't my type." Letty shrugged. Dating Mike would have been like dating a brother or something to her.

  "He is so much fun to be with." Sandy smiled.

  "Yeah, you guys have been dating a while now." Letty watched her sister turn pink.

  "Nothing heavy, we're just good friends." Sandy glanced at her. "We don't neck half the night, if that's what you are thinking."

  "But you like him, don't you?"

  "Of course…but I don't expect anything to come of it. He's been a perfect gentleman with me, but I have to say, he's so much fun," Sandy insisted.

  "Mike isn't a casual dater. He rarely goes out with a girl unless he's really interested," Letty informed her. "And believe me; he's had the chance to."

  "That's what he told me too, but I didn't want to take that too seriously."

  "He's really a nice guy, Sandy," Letty informed her.

  "Yeah, I know…"

  Then Sandy left, leaving Letty wondering why her sister insisted it was only casual dating.

  ***

  Aiden showed up that morning at the door and Letty greeted him. He had a full head of dark hair, and dark brown eyes that danced when he talked. He talked a lot about nothing, but seemed nervous, so Letty speeded Kellie up.

  Kellie acted a little shy at first, but as soon as Letty decided to leave them alone in the living r
oom she heard more banter going on.

  After a while, Kellie came into the kitchen where Letty was laying something out for supper.

  "Can we go riding?" Kellie asked.

  "Sure, let me do a couple of things and we'll head out to the barn."

  At the barn, Caleb was in a jolly mood and helped the youngsters pick out a horse and he gave a little speech on safety. He then turned to Letty and raised a brow. "So, you riding Whitey this morning?"

  Letty nodded, with a slight frown. "I guess I am."

  "Whitey is a good gentle horse. I'll just get him ready for you. You are going with them, right?"

  Letty glanced at the two who had their heads together. "Yeah, I'm going with them."

  "Good. Just don't try nothing fancy, Whitey is pretty tame and don't like sudden moves," Caleb instructed.

  "I'll remember that." Letty smiled as Caleb brought Whitey out of his stall and prepared him for the ride. Letty watched with amusement at how gentle the old man was with the horse.

  "I could've done that," Letty protested.

  "No problem, you don't need to strain that arm yet," Caleb said.

  Letty sighed. There was no getting around it; Caleb was bound to protect her.

  On the ride, Aiden moved alongside Kellie and they talked as Letty hung back a bit, pacing Whitey to a slow trot.

  Letty did hear some of their conversations, though, even though she wasn't ease-dropping.

  "Your folks own all of this?" he asked as he seemed to look about a lot.

  Kellie's head seemed to jerk about to frown at him. "Yeah, they do."

  "They must be pretty rich!" Aiden chuckled.

  "I don't know. I never asked them about money." Kellie frowned again.

  "My dad says your family is the richest in the valley," Aiden announced.

  Kellie shrugged her shoulders.

  "Someday, it will probably be yours," Aiden told her.

  "Maybe, but I may not want to live here. I might want to be something."

  "Be something? Like what? Why would you ever have to work?" Aiden asked.

  Kellie stopped her horse and stared at him. "Look, I live like all the others in our class. My mom stays home now, but she helps my dad. My dad helps run this place. We are an ordinary family. You seem awfully interested in money Aiden, and you're still just a kid."