Black Hills Rebel

by A. C. Wilson

  “That’s a damn shame, son. Where will you go?” Travis tucked his hat back on his head and hooked his thumbs into his belt loops. It might have been a carefree gesture had there not been those creased lines in his face. Travis was worried.

  “I’ve spoken with my father and he’s looking to expand his operations. I’m going to meet with my lawyer today and discuss everything. I figure I should be out of her in a week or maybe two.” Randy leaned back against the rock wall that was semi-complete and let the weight of him rest there. This was all so surreal. Never in his life did he think that this would be happening to him. He had nearly fallen in love with Nora the first day he saw her on the back of her horse and again the day he held her in his arms while she cried after finding out she was pregnant. That stunningly rebellious spirit had lit his world on fire until she faded away right before his eyes.

  How did I not notice?

  How did we not notice?

  “How did I not see it, Travis? Please tell me I’m not the only one who didn’t recognize the changes before it was too late?” Randy nearly begged with his palms outstretched for answers. Travis stared at him with all expression nearly wiped out.

  “If I told you that you were the only one, you might start throwing punches right here. If I told you that you weren’t the only one blind-sided by Nora’s hardened sense of duty, I would have to admit that I failed as a parent.” Travis blew out a weary breath and propped one booted foot up on the rock wall. “You weren’t the only one surprised and you aren’t the only one hurting. I wish I could tell you how to get my little girl back, but I don’t have those answers.” Travis looked sad and it was a new expression that Randy hadn’t ever seen in all the years they had worked so closely and been family. There wasn’t anger. There wasn’t disappointment. There was only sadness in those blue eyes. It eased the burden Randy carried only slightly.

  “I saw our future so clearly and not a minute of it is going to come true. I just feel like such an idiot and I’m tired of feeling this way.” Randy let some of the anger spill over into the last of his comment. He was tired. He didn’t want to feel like the last few years had been a waste of time, but he wondered if they weren’t. It was certainly a catch twenty-two.

  “I’m sorry, son.” Travis clapped Randy on the shoulder and squeezed. Words were difficult to even find and they didn’t seem to be enough. Randy could only nod. Travis turned and took a couple of steps before halting.

  “Finish building this house and when it is complete, if you still want to sell it, I’ll buy it.” Travis turned his head just enough to offer a nod to Randy and he walked back towards the front of the unfinished house.

  Tipping his head to the sky, Randy drew in a deep breath and held it for a moment before exhaling. Looking down at the watch on his wrist, he let out another sigh. It was just before eight o’clock and the crews would be here soon. He had an early appointment with his lawyer and he figured it was time to go. The less time he spent here seeing their dreams built from the ground up, the better. It was only a reminder of things that would never happen and hopes that were dashed.

  Randy slid into the grey interior of his Dodge truck and turned the key that still sat in the ignition. Pulling the seat belt over his shoulder and locking it in place, he found himself looking into the empty passenger seat. She had sat there only two days ago. Two days ago he had woke up with a giddy hope and gone to bed with a broken heart. He almost wished it had stopped beating altogether.

  He put the truck in gear and threw some dirt as he made it back onto the main road to Hot Springs. Deciding to turn the radio on so that he would get out of his own head, Randy found himself bobbing his head to Nickelback’s “Trying Not to Love You”. He was mostly a Country music fan, but occasionally he needed something with more edge.

  ‘Cause trying not to love you,

  only goes so far

  Trying not to need you,

  is tearing me apart

  Randy gripped the steering wheel as if it were the only thing holding him to the ground. His foot was heavy on the gas pedal as images of Nora at the cabin sped through his mind. The way it felt to hold her in his arms as she slept on the couch. She hadn’t wanted to let go and neither had he. Nora had shared with him the deeper, darker emotions that she didn’t show to anyone. He had thought it was progress to move forward. What a fool he was!

  So I sit here divided,

  just talking to myself

  Was it something that I did?

  Was it somebody else?

  “Hell yeah it was somebody else!” Randy nearly shouted as the radio was turned up and his window was down. None of the noise seemed to even phase him and he felt less inclined to struggle to keep his emotions in check. His hands would have been shaking had he loosened his grip on the wheel, but he didn’t. The lines on the road just flew by faster and faster. His stomach clenched and his eyes burned. Something had happened to his ability to swallow and he felt like he was going to suffocate if he didn’t get out of the truck.

  A turn off was up ahead and he threw on his blinker. Slowing down only fractionally, Randy pulled off. The truck tires squealed in protest and the vehicle slid towards the steep pit. Randy hit the brakes and jerked the wheel to keep from going down the embankment. The rash decision only served to throw him towards the other side. His heart was about to ricochet out of his chest. His teeth were clenched in panic and surprise. The self-destructive trance he had been in seemed to evaporate.

  The truck came to rest at an odd angle, but easy enough to drive out and back onto the road. Randy leaned forward to rest his forehead on the wheel as his arms still gripped it. He struggled to breathe evenly and his heart continued to race.

  God help me, because I don’t know what to do. His plea couldn’t be voiced, but he pleaded for understanding and guidance. If he could find any measure of peace in one decision or the other, he would most certainly know what the right path would be. His head whirled with agony at leaving a family that had welcomed him whole-heartedly and a little boy that Randy loved greatly. There just weren’t words for Nora. Could love and hate reside in the same place? He wasn’t sure, but if it could then it would be the truth.

  Randy was startled out of his emotional fog when his phone rang in his pocket. He waited a moment thinking that whoever it was would hang up. It didn’t seem to be the case so he fished it out of his pocket.

  Plank and Boxer Attorneys. Randy groaned as he let out a deep breath and answered the phone.

  “Hello?” Randy rolled his eyes at a crack in his voice and leaned back against the seat. He looked out over the short grasses of the prairie.

  “Good morning, Randy, I apologize for calling you.” Randy’s lawyer, Evan Dales.

  “That’s all right, Evan. I was just on my way to our appointment.” Randy adjusted his seat belt.

  “I know we were supposed to meet today, but something came up and I have to leave town for a few days. So I was wondering if you had made up your mind as to what you wanted to do.” Evan Dales was relatively new to Hot Springs as an attorney but he still practiced in North Dakota as well. The man came highly recommended from Randy’s father.

  Randy took a deep breath and nodded.

  “Go ahead and draw up the papers.” It hurt to say those words. There was so much he knew that he was going to regret.

  “If you’re sure, then I’ll have them drafted while I’m gone.” Evan sounded reticent, but Randy was paying the man to watch out for his interests.

  “I am.” Randy added that punctuation just in case the man tried to talk him out of his decision.

  “Good. I’ll give you a call when I get back into town and I’ll have the papers drawn up for you sign.” Randy’s attorney hung up shortly after. It wasn’t like there was much more to discuss at this juncture. Everything had been talked out at least for now.

  Chapter 23

  Two weeks later

  Nora had spent the better part of two weeks tipping one way or another on t
he edge of a sharp knife. Ironically no matter how she tilted, she never fell. It was like there was this invisible anchor securing her to that edge whether she liked it or not. She opened her bag of popcorn as she sat down on her couch to watch Kate Hudson in How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days.

  You did it in two. That lovely inner voice was getting better at its jibes. They were sharper and more catty. Nora couldn’t believe how bitter she had become over something that gave her the reason to ransack her life. She was pretty sure she could have done it all by herself, but now it was the perfect mess. Randy had up and disappeared to God knows where. Her family was hesitant to discuss anything of great importance. Garrett was even quieter than usual. Drew constantly asked for Randy and one evening she had even caught him using her cell phone to call him.

  Now after all of that unrest, Colt completed the paternity test and his lawyer had requested a court date. Things were starting to snowball and Nora wondered if Hell had really frozen over this time. Their court date was two weeks away, but Nora’s lawyer had already received the results of the paternity test. It was one thing knowing that Colt was Drew’s father, but it was quite another to see it listed on a laboratory sheet.

  Mr. Colt Cavanaugh is Drew Johnson’s biological father.

  Nora fished in her bag and pulled out some too buttery, too salty popcorn. She tried to relax and watch the movie. It was one of her favorites. She loved Kate Hudson’s spunk, wit, and independence. It didn’t hurt that she was a stunning woman. Half a bag of popcorn later, Nora was still as restless as she had ever been. The house was so quiet.

  Too quiet. Drew had gone with her father to move cattle. With just the two of them in the house, it wasn’t quite home. Randy had always been at home even if they didn’t share the same bed. She never had to wonder if they were safe and looked after. As much as the old Nora would have hated to admit it, there was something to say about not being alone. Physically being by herself was not an issue really. Yes she missed the sweetness, the heat, and the aftershocks. Emotionally though she was tired of being without the support of someone else. Just knowing there would always be someone there to love her was priceless.

  Too bad you closed yourself off and are responsible for being alone. She only wished she could turn off the voice that was so often right.

  Knock. Knock. Quick successive raps on the door brought Nora out of her indulgent thoughts. Rolling her eyes and putting her popcorn down on the coffee table, Nora headed for the front door. She opened it wide only to be brushed aside by Rayne.

  “Gosh, don’t you answer your phone anymore? I’ve been trying to call you for the last hour.” Rayne stopped halfway into the living room and whirled around as Nora closed the door. Rayne’s lovely gold eyes swept her from head to toe and she grimaced. “Go get dressed! I can’t take you out tonight looking like that.”

  Nora narrowed her eyes and looked at her brother’s girlfriend with suspicion.

  “Where exactly are we going? I was having a perfectly good night with my popcorn and movie.” Nora knew she wouldn’t fight Rayne very hard. It wasn’t like she enjoyed living in her mind all the time.

  “Oh right, well, let’s take this party on the road. I haven’t seen you all dolled up in some time and I need a girl’s night out. Andy being pregnant, well, that leaves you.”

  “Well that’s just great. I win by default.” Nora grumbled as she turned and headed towards her bedroom. She was normally the one that was being bossy!

  “The only other one I trust to have my back. Garrett is driving me nuts and I needed to get out of that house.” Rayne followed Nora into the bedroom and wandered over to her jewelry box.

  “What’s my brother’s problem now?” Nora asked from inside her closet. She could hear Rayne rummaging through the bracelets.

  “I can’t tell you for sure. He’s been really secretive and when I ask him what he is doing, he acts like I just read him the riot act. He gets up early in the morning and leaves before I am totally awake. I see him briefly during the day and then for an hour when he gets home at night.” Rayne sounded really distressed and it caused Nora to peek her head out the door. Secrets just weren’t Garrett’s forte. He was rather direct about what he wanted and what he was doing. Nora hated to say it, but Garrett was a suspicious cowboy.

  “That does sound strange, but maybe it is a surprise.” Nora shrugged and then smiled at Rayne. Tawny eyes didn’t seem convinced by the way they narrowed.

  “I don’t remember you having so much jewelry, Nora. I just love these with the copper and silver rings.” Rayne had placed a few of the bracelets on the coverlet. Nora could only smile as she ducked back into her closet after a quick glance at what Rayne was talking about.

  “I made them.” Nora slid a couple of tops on the utility bar as she browsed. She also noticed that the room had gone completely silent. Pulling out her selection, Nora could only grin at Rayne’s face. Complete shock turned to envy as she picked up a bracelet of white stones and blue beads.

  “You never told me that you could make things like this.” Rayne tilted her head as she slid the bracelet onto her wrist. Nora could only shrug as she threw the shirts onto the bed. Rayne lifted the hangers to see what had been chosen.

  “It’s only something I do for fun. I’ve always liked fashion and I can never find exactly what I want at a store. It’s easier to make it.” Nora walked into the bathroom and plugged in her flat iron. Her long dark hair was still a bit curly from her shower earlier. Her hair really had a mind of its own.

  “Have you ever thought of making them and selling them? All of these pieces are amazing and in fact, I’m stealing a couple.” Rayne giggled as she sorted through the earrings and pendants.

  “Take what you want.” Nora started shuffling through drawers to find all of her makeup. It had been a few days since she had felt like putting any on.

  Who is there to impress? It wasn’t exactly as if she missed the extra time it took, but once in a while the girls at work would stare at her. She wondered if she was really that scary looking or if the rumors around the hospital were finally that shocking.

  “You might wish you hadn’t said that later.” Rayne chuckled as she came to the doorway and leaned against the jamb holding out a fun black top with shots of silver streaking through it.

  “You would be surprised to see all of the beads and stones I have. I can always make more.” Nora smiled as she watched Rayne twist the bracelet around on her arm. It made her happy to watch others enjoying her talent. Nora had definitely thought about selling her creations, but there were so many reasons why she hadn’t tried. Money was one of them. She worked a full schedule at the veteran’s hospital and they still never had much money left over after the bills. The deepest reason was that she didn’t think she was good enough. There wasn’t anything special about her that would put her ahead of all the other artists.

  “So where are we going? I assume you have a plan since you came over here looking to take a prisoner.” Nora kept a straight face until Rayne widened her eyes in surprise. Only then did Nora grin at catching her friend off guard.

  “I thought we would go hang out at The Well. Throw a few shots and then call Andy to come get us or bail us out of jail.” Rayne shrugged, but Nora knew that Rayne was more of a good girl than she let on.

  “Good plan, but maybe instead of calling the pregnant lady, we should call Garrett or Matt.” Nora began the arduous task of straightening her long hair. Rayne sat on the toilet looking through the tote full of nail polish. Once upon a time Nora had been really into the girlie things. It had been fun to change things up and she felt a power in the femininity. For a good portion of two years, Nora had pretty much fallen away from it.

  Nora was proud of herself as she came in under an hour to get ready for their night out. She pulled on her black western boots and pushed her pant leg down over them. Standing up to check it all out in the mirror, Nora caught a glimpse of the girl she had been.

  Happy, sexy, and read
y to throw down a challenge.

  Yes, that was how she had been and how she wanted to be again. She was really tired of being unhappy and harboring all of these secrets. It was exhausting.

  The Well was exactly the same for a Saturday night. The music was loud, the smoke was thick, and the drinks were flowing. Nora and Rayne made sure there was always a glass if not a shot in their hands. They sat at the bar tonight instead of at one of the tables. Rayne kept throwing tequila shots down like they were water and Nora slowed down on her intake. Garrett was really bothering Rayne and it didn’t sit well with Nora either.

  “Maybe you should slow down.” Nora waved off the bartender when Rayne indicated she wanted another.

  “I’m fine, Nora.” Rayne swiveled on her chair. “You used to be up for a party.” Rayne’s voice was loud and a couple of the patrons at the bar glanced their way. Nora huffed and gave an irritated glare for the bystanders to mind their own business.

  “I think maybe we should call it a night. I’m tired anyway.” Nora pulled her ID and credit card from her pocket. Flagging down the bartender, Nora gave him the card to pay the tab. Rayne all but glared at Nora.

  “I’m not ready to leave. You can go home.” Rayne finished off the last drops of her shot. She plopped it down on the wood top. “You used to be fun.”

  Of course it would be the moment that the jukebox was changing songs and the bar was all but completely quiet. Thirty curious people all looked their way. Nora closed her eyes and counted to ten. She had heard that it worked to keep someone’s temper in check. It didn’t.

  “Rayne, I wasn’t asking.” Nora signed for the credit slip and put the cards back in her pocket. She moved to get up off the stool and noted the slight sway to her own body. Gravity was always so much fun when you’ve been drinking. She was nowhere near as intoxicated as Rayne.