Pitchfork in the Road

by M. J. Schiller

  Joe grabbed my shoulder, jerking me in front of him. I don’t know where it came from, but something sharp and cold bit into my neck, presumably a knife, but who knew what Joe might have.

  “Whoa.” Ben held his hands out in front of him, waving them. “Hey, pal. Take it easy.”

  “I don’t want to go with them!”

  Ben connected his gaze with mine. He seemed to be searching for an explanation. I had none. He looked back at Joe. “No one’s making you go anywhere.”

  Joe’s grip tightened. “You’re just saying that. You’re trying to trick me.”

  “No. I wouldn’t do that.” Ben again made eye contact with me and licked his lips. “Listen. You don’t want to hurt Zoe.”

  “Zoe?”

  Ben tilted his head in my direction. “She’s a nice person.”

  His arms, which were taut as cables, loosened some. “She is nice. She’s always nice to me.”

  “See what I mean?” He took a half-step forward. “I think you’re scaring her, man.”

  “I-I don’t want to scare her. She’s nice.”

  “I know. Maybe you should let her—”

  “Who told you where I was?”

  The blade sliced my skin, and I let out a cry.

  “Hey. You’re hurting her!” Ben looked as panicked as I felt. It didn’t help me. Joe dragged me back a couple of feet. Ben peered over my shoulder. “Who are those guys?”

  “What?” Joe swung his knife hand around, ready to use it for a rear attack, his other hand gripping my shoulder like an eagle’s talons. Ben dove, ripping me out of Joe’s grasp and guiding me behind him. Joe turned back. “You tricked me!” He brandished his knife. “I don’t like people tricking me.”

  “Then you’ll hate this.” Ben sprang forward, swinging his forearm up and under Joe’s, knocking the knife flying. He drove his shoulder into Joe’s chest and they fell to the ground.

  Joe struggled underneath him. “No. Stop.”

  Ben rose up, pressing Joe’s shoulders into the ground. His elbow came up.

  “Wait! Don’t hurt him.”

  “Uhh…Zoe…there’s a time for nice, and this ain’t it.” He delivered his punch, and Joe whimpered.

  “No. Please, Ben. He doesn’t want to hurt us.” I bent over them, placing my hands on Ben’s shoulders. “He’s scared. Let him up.”

  “Yeah. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Trust me.”

  Ben hesitated. “Fine. Have it your way.” He shoved Joe one more time, then got to his feet, standing over him.

  Joe got up on one shoulder, staring at them with his mouth open and trembling. Blood trickled from his nose. “You hurt me.”

  “Believe me, buddy, I’d do more than that if she wasn’t here.” Ben clenched his fists. “Get the hell out of here.”

  Joe scooted back from under Ben’s feet, crunching pieces of loose gravel beneath him as he moved. “You won’t tell them about me?”

  Ben seemed more confident now. “I’m not making any promises.”

  I shoved his shoulder. He half turned. “What?”

  I clung to Ben, a hand on each of his shoulders, and raised up on my tippy toes to see over him. “We won’t tell, Joe.”

  Joe’s eyes were wide. He moved his gaze from Ben to me skeptically.

  He looked so scared. I felt sorry for him. “No one wants to hurt you.”

  “He does,” Joe argued, gesturing at Ben.

  “I do,” Ben stated matter-of-factly.

  “Shut up,” I growled in his ear, bunching his jacket up in my hands.

  Joe staggered to his feet, and Ben took a step backward to give him room, but his fists were up and ready to do damage. For a tense moment we all stood, considering our options, then Joe turned and ran. Once he made it about ten feet away, he did a little hop.

  “Whoo!” He giggled maniacally, glancing over his shoulder.

  “That dude’s crazy.”

  “No shit, Sherlock.” I exhaled and laid my forehead on Ben’s back, relaxing my grip on his jacket.

  Ben spun around and took my forearms, ducking to catch my gaze. “You, okay? Let me see that cut.”

  I lifted my chin for him to examine it.

  He felt around. “It’s not bleeding anymore.” He looked me in the eye. “You were lucky.”

  Now Joe was gone, I started to tremble, but I nodded. To my shock, Ben took me into his arms. “It’s okay.” A car drove into the lot, framing us in its lights. Ben stepped in front of me. “Great. Who’s this now? Does that guy have a car?” We both threw our arms up to block the blinding light. Ben’s other arm reached behind to wrap around me.

  “I don’t know. He usually walks to work.”

  Ben swiveled his head. “He’s a teacher?”

  The engine didn’t stop, but a car door opened.

  A figure stepped forward. “Oatam?” Nick moved into the light. “Seriously? What the hell are you doing here?”

  Ben took a step toward him. “Nick Adams?”

  The next thing I knew, Nick barreled into Ben, and I was forced to move quickly to get out of the way as Nick slammed him against my car.

  “Nick!”

  Nick’s face was savage. “You son-of-a-bitch!”

  “Oh, my God. Stop it,” I screamed. “He just saved my life.”

  Nick turned to look at me, not releasing his grip on Ben’s jacket. “What?”

  I stared at Ben, and said in wonder, beginning to process it. “He…saved my life.”

  Nick backed away a fraction, his feet shuffling in the gravel and broken glass. A wail rose from Ben’s van.

  “Shit. Ryker.” Ben knocked Nick back a little as he shoved past him, running to his vehicle.

  Nick looked at me. “Who the hell is Ryker?”

  I frowned, barging past him. “His son.” The poor kid was probably terrified. How much did he see or hear? Maybe it was a good thing he had a hearing problem at the moment.

  Ben yanked the van’s door open. “Hey. It’s okay, pal.” Little hands came around Ben’s neck as he leaned in to hug him.

  “Ryker?”

  Ben turned sideways, looking back over his shoulder. It gave me room to see Ryker. His eyes were wide and wet.

  I smiled. “Hey, honey.”

  He shifted his gaze from me to Ben.

  “See. Teacher’s okay.”

  “What the hell is going on here?” Nick bellowed.

  “Shh,” Ben and I said at the same time.

  “Whatever,” he muttered.

  I smiled at Ben. “I owe you. Why don’t we go get a drink?”

  He exhaled. “That sounds great.”

  “Now she’s asking him out.” I didn’t have to look to know Nick rolled his eyes.

  Ben focused again on Ryker. “But I promised Ryke ice cream.”

  I thought quickly. “They have ice cream at the place I’m thinking of. They make the best Bailey’s shakes.”

  Ben stared at me.

  “Well, I’m sure they can make them without Bailey’s. Come on. You’ve got to be hungry. And I owe you.”

  Ben shook his head vigorously. “You don’t owe me.”

  “No. Come on. It’ll give us a chance to catch up. And you’ve got to be hungry. You didn’t have dinner, right?”

  “I’m starving,” he admitted.

  “All right then. You know where The Irish Snug is?”

  “That place over on Colfax?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. That’s it.”

  Ben put a hand on Ryker’s knee. “I don’t know. Do you want ice cream, Ryker?”

  The boy smiled. “Yea.”

  “It’s decided then. Meet you there.” I turned and took Nick’s hand.

  From behind us, Ben asked, “Are you sure, Zoe?”

  I twisted my neck to glance back. Ben looked from me to Nick. “Yeah. We’re sure. Aren’t we?”

  Nick twisted his upper-half and eyed him for a second, then exhaled. “Yeah. Whatever. You can join us.”
<
br />   Ben smiled. “All right, then. The Snug it is.”

  Chapter 10

  Nick

  I listened to everything Zoe said about Ben and his “saving” her life on the way to the pub. She may have been buying what Ben was selling, but I wasn’t. Nobody changes that much. I mean, did she somehow forget he took her to an isolated place intending to force her to have sex with him? Then, when she tried to escape, he dragged her across the pavement like a piece of garbage.

  I hadn’t forgotten. And I wasn’t the forgiving sort. And I would make that clear to Ben at the first opportunity Zoe wasn’t around.

  But I put on a happy face for Zoe. My money was on her really just being hung up on the kid and transferring those good feelings to his dad. But, in a way, I was grateful to Ben. He unwittingly provided me with an easy way back in. Zoe seemed to have forgotten she was mad at me.

  However, I was still mad at me. What a bone-headed mistake. I’m trying to win her over and I mention her ex in the bedroom. Even the most clueless wouldn’t go there, but I had to open my big mouth. I’d almost blown it. I wasn’t about to make that kind of mistake a second time.

  A half-hour later, the kid spouted, “Can we play the game again, Daddy?”

  “Are you kidding? You’ve already played it seven times.”

  Zoe hopped to her feet. “I’ll take him.”

  “Oh, no. I’ve got it. You’ve been teaching all day and you probably need a kid break.”

  “No. Really. I want to.”

  Ben looked at me. Did he want permission or something? He’d been acting strangely since he spied me holding Zoe’s hand. Was he jealous? The point became irrelevant as Zoe extended her arm.

  “Come on, Ryker. I’ll help you.”

  The kid put his hand in hers, and she led him over to the pinball machine in the corner, lifting him up on the pub stool Ben used when he stood over there. This gave me an opportunity to speak my piece with him, but before I could, he opened his mouth.

  Leaning forward, he laid his arms on the table. “Zoe may be buying whatever it is you’re selling, but I’m not.”

  I nearly spit out my drink. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  He sat back, crossing his arms against his chest, and working his jaw while he studied me. “Does Zack know you’re with her?”

  Oh, geez. That name.

  “What the hell does it matter? She’s not Zack’s anymore.”

  He cocked his head. “I’ll take that as a no.”

  I could hardly find words. “Who appointed you—you of all people—Zoe’s little guardian angel, anyway? You’re gonna take care of her? The guy who tried to rape her?”

  “I didn’t—” He lowered his gaze to the table for a second, then glanced in Zoe and the kid’s direction. He spoke more quietly. “I did. I hurt her. I scared her. I showed no care for her wellbeing whatsoever. I have no place to talk.” He paused, then put his folded hands on the table. “But, at least I know who I am, and am making changes, unlike—”

  I leaned in, too, biting off my words. “Save it for Zoe. I know you haven’t changed. You think you’ve got this—” I waved my hand around, really getting steamed. “—this…cute kid. And you can use him to fool Zoe because she’s got a soft heart. But I’m on to you.”

  A vein pulsed near his temple. “Oh, yeah. Is that right?”

  “That’s right. And how about What’s-His-Face? The kid—”

  “His name’s Ryker, dickhead. I’ve only told you five times.”

  “Ryker.” I sneered. “He doesn’t even have a real name.” I slid my eyes in his direction. “Does ‘Ryker’ know Daddy tried to rape Teacher?” He didn’t answer, which was answer enough. “Maybe someone ought to let him know.”

  He blinked and glanced over at Zoe and What’s-His-Name, too. For a second, I thought he would cry on me, but he rallied.

  “Clearly I underestimated you. You’re an even bigger asshole than I thought.”

  I smiled. “Thank you. I try.”

  “Then, again, you are a lawyer. I should have taken that into account.”

  I chuckled. Who doesn’t love a good lawyer joke? “Yes. You should have.” It was obvious the kid was his weak spot. And his guilt over the assault. I could use both.

  “Even I wouldn’t use a child to—” He shook his head. “You’re a manipulator and a liar. I know, because I was one.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Was?”

  He threw a hand up. “This is all a game to you, isn’t it? But it’s not a game for Zoe. And she doesn’t deserve to get hurt.”

  “Again. Don’t you mean hurt again, Ben? That’s rich coming from you. I’m only protecting her from her former rapist.”

  “She doesn’t need protecting from me.”

  “So you say.” We stared at each other in silence. Seconds ticked away. “You know, as a lawyer, I’ve made a few connections in my time. With the Department of Human Services, for example. They may be interested in knowing more about your background. I can provide ample information. May make it hard to keep the kid—”

  “Ryker! His friggin’ name is Ryker,” he screamed, this time causing Zoe to look over. I smiled at her and she grinned.

  I had him. I sat back, lacing my fingers behind my head and leaning into the booth’s cushions. He clenched his fists on the table, his jaw tighter than a strung crossbow.

  “What are you going to do, Ben, my boy?” I whispered. For some reason I got off on our confrontation. Maybe because I’d never gotten a chance to pay him back for what he did to Zoe. “Are you pissed off?” I narrowed my eyes. “Wanna hit me? I’ll guarantee I’m a much better fighter than Zoe was. If you want to have a go, I’ve got no problem with that.”

  His eyes flashed across the room. I could tell by his rushed voice Zoe and the kid were on the way over. “I don’t need to do anything, Nick.”

  I gotta give him credit. He had balls for not backing down.

  “Zoe’s a smart girl. You may have her now, but she’s gonna see through your bullshit eventually.” He scooted out of the booth, dragging the kid’s jacket with him. “Come on, Ryke. Time to go.”

  Zoe looked from Ben to me and back. “What’s wrong?”

  “Ben’s not feeling so hot.”

  He helped his kid into his jacket while still glaring at me. “Yeah. I’m suddenly feeling sick to my stomach.” He turned to Zoe. “Thanks for dinner. It was a nice treat. I’ll be in touch with you to discuss…that problem you’re having with Ryker.”

  Hmm…the kid’s having some sort of problem? That could be interesting….

  “Are you sure you have to go?”

  He frowned at me. “Yeah.” Then he returned his attention to Zoe, and his tone changed. “It’s late. Way past Ryker’s bed time.”

  She nodded. “You’re right. It is a school night. We’ll be leaving as soon as we pay the tab.”

  “Good night then.” He didn’t look back again. Just stormed off.

  Zoe stared at me. “Don’t you think that was kind of…odd?”

  I shrugged and changed the subject. But some of what Ben said stuck with me.

  When we got into the car, I turned to her. “Zoe, about last night—”

  She put a hand on my arm. “I’m sorry about that.”

  She’s sorry?

  “I completely overreacted.”

  I took her hand. “No. I’m sorry.” I studied my fingers wrapped around hers. “You know I had a crush on you in high school. Well, to tell you the truth,” for the most part, “I didn’t forget you all these years.” In fact, I kinda stalked you. “And I was always jealous of Zack.” She started to say something, but I charged forward. “But the feelings I have for you now, the reason we were in that bedroom,” even the mention of it made my blood stir, “have nothing to do with competing with Zack. And if you’d agree to give me another chance, I’d like to prove that to you.”

  She tilted her head. “We’d need to take things slowly. And perhaps cut down on the alcohol
intake a smidge.”

  I smiled. “I can do that.” An idea hit me. “Why don’t we start by going out on a date this weekend? To see a play.”

  “Oh. That sounds like fun. I’d love that.”

  “Good.” I started the ignition, then turned to her. “Can I ask for one more thing?”

  She nodded.

  “Can I kiss you again?”

  Instead of answering, she leaned forward. Our lips met softly, but she bit my bottom lip as I pulled away.

  I closed my eyes. “Oh, my God.”

  She laughed, and, although it never went further than that, we enjoyed the rest of our evening together.

  Things were back on track.

  Zack

  Why the heck was I so nervous? I wasn’t the one asking the girl to a dance. But I played an integral part, and I swear I was about ready to sweat out of my blue, button-down shirt. I’d carefully counted out the books to be sure Ginny ended up with the right one, the one we’d doctored for the occasion.

  However, I didn’t foresee Tori Walker being absent for some social studies mock trial outing. I neared Ginny’s desk with my stack of books to hand out and saw Tori’s empty seat. I panicked. It would look a tad bit suspicious if I switched the books around now. I decided to go with ignorance and put a book on Tori’s desk anyway.

  “Oh, no, Mr. Issaacs. Tori’s not here today. Mock trial,” Ginny volunteered. Staring at her wide-eyed, I gulped. I knew Tim waited outside in the hall right now depending on me to set things up for him to ask Ginny out.

  “Uhh—”

  “Mr. Issaacs? Here’s that paper I owe you.” Oscar Alvarado saved the day.

  “Thanks. Here’s something for you,” I shoved a book in his hands. “Don’t ever say I’ve never given you anything.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Gee. Thanks.”

  Internally, I sighed in relief. Externally, I was cool as a cucumber. I turned to Ginny. She was talking to the girl across the aisle from her. “Here you go,” I said with a smile, perhaps a trifle too loudly.

  She stared at me.

  Oh, no. I was too obvious.

  “Yeah. Thanks.” Her head swiveled back, and her conversation resumed.

  I spun on my heel and marched up the aisle to the front of the room. Clearing my throat, I waited until all eyes were on me. “Please open your books to chapter eleven.” I settled onto the stool I used, situated behind a music stand, where I set my books or notes, and pretended to scan the room, really keeping my focus on Ginny. She opened the book, still looking at and talking to her friend. She finished her conversation and squared up more to the front of the classroom, peering at her book. She froze for a few solid seconds and it made me wonder if something was wrong. Then she reached in and carefully, almost reverently, removed the novel we hid within the textbook.