“Are we dead yet?” I yelled from the sleeper.
“We’re okay, Callie, just stay in there for a while,” Shay called back.
Shay must have brought him all the way down, many miles, and finally we slowed to a stop.
“Callie,” Shay yelled from the cab. “You need to get out, our brakes are on fire. But we’ll be okay, princess.”
You have never seen anyone scamper out of a truck bed faster than I did; then I threw up several times. The other trucker was sobbing and Shay had his arm on his shoulder. He needed to be holding me! Not giving the other guy support, I thought.
I guess several cars had to pull off to avoid a head-on with us. I thanked God for making it a place where the cars could just go around us. Truly, God was watching over us. Someone called a couple of wreckers and they came out and got both trucks. The company the other driver worked for was so grateful to Shay for saving their driver and their truck, that they put us up for three nights in a motel while our brakes were being fixed, and picked up the check. Eventually, they sent Shay a bonus safety check for a thousand dollars.
The other trucker stayed at the same motel while he waited for his truck repairs, and he came to our room several times to thank Shay. Well, Shay was right, the man did have four small children. Shay was just his hero. I wonder what he’d have thought of me if he knew I was against helping him for my own personal safety. But that Shay, he was something else. All man. Always putting himself in danger for another. I can’t even describe how proud I was of him, how much I loved that man.
***
It was a good thing we had the three nights in the motel, because after the runaway truck incident, I got sick. I think the stress made me ill. Shay called a doctor, and he came by our room after his office hours. The doctor said I was okay, but a few days in bed would do me good. Well, three days in bed with Mr. Shay was just what the doctor ordered. Shay was so manly, yet he could be so damn tender. He made me stay in bed and fed me.
“I still can’t believe you did that, Shay,” I told him one time in bed while he was feeding me soup. “And you kept so calm. Weren’t you frightened?”
“Callie,” he said. “I don’t know how to explain this to you, but let me try. Yes, I was frightened, but if I’m going to go down, I want to do it with a cool head. Does that make any sense? If it’s going to happen, embrace your destiny. I’d rather go out calm than all hysterical. You just freak out, princess. And what good does that do?” he asked in a sweet tone.
***
Well, I’d had just about enough trucker woman excitement for one lifetime. It was a good feeling to be home and safe. I just hugged my babies until they said, “Mommy, you’re hugging to tight.”
When I told my parents about what happened, my dad said, “Well, if anyone could pull that off, it would be Shay.”
I still marvel at all the things that man could do. Heck, I called him a man but the truth was, we were both still kids. We were just twenty-five years old.
Marie
In Shay’s spare time, which wasn’t much, he decided to build a stock car to race. He’d found an old Chevelle sports car, and he was souping up the engine, doing the bodywork himself so he could prime it. Silly guy, he bought his race helmet before he even started working on the car. He’d come in, eat supper, and go out for a few hours to work on the car.
One day I went out to the shop with a glass of tea with orange juice in it and those same two girls from Hudson were there, watching Shay work, talking with their little girly giggles. I guess old habits die hard.
Shay was at the workbench putting something together. I stomped into the shop, he turned to look at me and I just sloshed the tea right in his face.
“Damn you, Shay,” I said, whirling around and heading out the door. “You’re sleeping on the sofa tonight!”
It was but one second and he had my arm. He grabbed me and held me gently, like he was holding an angel. Then he gave me a long, sensual kiss. "I'll see you in bed tonight, princess," he said in a don't play-games-with-me-Callie voice, and went back into the shop.
I just stood there, completely turned on by that man. I couldn’t wait until he got into bed that night. Now I wasn’t stupid. I knew Shay had discovered a way to settle me down quickly. He knew he could gentle me in his arms. Wonder when he discovered that little trick. I left not even giving the girls a second thought—all I could think about was what I was going to do to make my Shay Man extra-happy that night.
***
One afternoon I saw Shay putting his chaps on in the mudder and fadder room.
“What are you doing, Shay, why the chaps?” I asked.
“We got five new horses, Callie, they haven’t been broken yet so this afternoon I’m going to start breaking them.”
“Isn’t that dangerous Shay?”
“Can be, but it’s got to be done. You just stay inside, and don’t be worrying about me, princess.”
I didn’t wait very long before I grabbed my jean jacket and headed for the corral. There were lots of guys around the fence watching. I couldn’t take my eyes off Shay. What a rider. He could have ridden in rodeos. I’ve never seen such maneuvering. Shay stayed with the wild young horse, kicking and bucking, until he rode him out, never once getting bucked off. My Shay Man was some cowboy, and what a sexy cowboy he was. It was a side of him I hadn’t seen, a side that turned me on beyond words.
When he walked into our bedroom that night, I greeted him in nothing but chaps.
“Saw your moves today, cowboy,” I said, sidling up to him. “Wondered if you’d ride this little filly next.”
***
Shay had about eight or nine best friends from high school, Kevin being his closest. Every year they went on a four-day hunting trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming. I knew it was more of a guys’ get-away-and-let-your-hair-down trip, but I didn’t ask any questions.
One night we all met at the club and all the guys were drinking pretty heavily. I was proud that Shay was only having beer; he was keeping his promise to me. Somehow he just didn’t get drunk on beer. I think there were five or six couples. Max and his wife, Lindy (who I didn’t know very well), were really getting plowed.
At one point Max looked at me and, out of the blue, said, “Hell, Shd, Arial,sansay’s pussy-whipped.”
“No, he isn’t,” I retorted. “Why would you say that?”
“Well,” he said, right there in front of everyone, including his wife, “when we were in Cheyenne on our hunting trip, we each had our own motel room and everyone had his own hooker. Every guy’s dream sex. But you should have heard this guy,” he said, pointing at Shay.
Shay just shook his head slowly.
“We all met the next morning for breakfast,” continued Max, oblivious to the rising tension at the table, “and everyone’s telling everyone about their night of fantasy. So what does this guy say?” Max pointed again at Shay. “He says, ‘When I’m with another woman, all I do is fantasize about my wife. She’s my fantasy.’”
Everyone was silent. A lot of guys had just been outed. What a mixed-up compliment. Was I supposed to be upset because Shay had been with a hooker, or happy because I was his fantasy? Several wives got up and left in anger. I just sat there, real quiet. Shay put his arm around me and kissed my cheek, saying softly, “I’m sorry you heard that, princess. Glad I don’t drink hard liquor anymore.”
I decided to just let this one slide.
***
Kelly was getting old enough to enjoy a few holidays. So that Father’s Day we bought a gift for Daddy’s special day. We made him a cake together and an aluminum foil crown. Kelly couldn’t wait ’til lunch
“Mommy, when is the king coming in?” Kelly asked. Now that just cracked me up.
When he got in, I told Shay he was now officially known as The King in the kids’ minds, adding that he was a true king in my eyes as well. After lunch, he opened his gifts and played with the kids until they were exhausted. Around 2 p.m., they went down for their naps.
; “So I’m the king,” Shay said. “Well, woman, King Shay would like to see you in his court for a few hours.”
He picked me up and carried me up to our room. To this day, I can still feel that chill-running, tender-nibbling, soft-caressing, sensual foreplay that man gave me. He just wore me out.
Afterwards, lying there with my head on Shay’s chest, I said, “I’m going to go soak in the tub, want to come?”
“No, babe, I’m going to grab a fast shower and go work on my stock car,” he said.
A few minutes later, I was soaking and Shay was showering, when I yelled, “Shay, Shay!”
“What, babe?”
“You need to get out of that shower and call Maggie or Yonnie. I’m in hard labor!” I cried. “I have to get to the hospital fast, or you’re going to have to deliver this baby.”
In a flash Shay was out of that shower, dried and dressed. He lifted me out, dried me off and called Maggie at the Big House. Then he grabbed my red silk pajamas and dressed me.
Maggie was coming in the door as we were going out.
“Good luck, kids!” she called, as we rushed past her.
Shay drove pretty fast, but the pain was starting to become constant.
“Hurry, Shay, hurry!” I cried.
Shay pulled up right under the emergency awning and rushed in to get the nurses. He picked me up and laid me on the gurney the nurses brought out. When I got to the delivery room, I was glad to see Doc Sam—thank goodness Shay had Maggie call ahead. I just stayed on the gurney for delivery, because we already had a head. A couple of pushes and she was out.
“Kathrine, you have a daughter. A tiny one, but she looks good,” said Doc Sam.
They rushed her right to the baby room. I didn’t even get a peek. By the time Shay parked the car and got to the fourth floor, he had missed the birth again. He was told as he arrived on the fourth floor that he had a perfect little daughter. When I saw Shay, he looked like he was in a daze.
“Well, Shay Man,” I said, “how does that compare to bringing a runaway truck off a mountain road?”
He just shook his head, and went looking for our little baby girl. Doc Sam came to my room and told us she was fine, but she weighed just over three pounds.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Well,” said Doc Sam, “it means she’ll be staying with us a few weeks, but that’s good Kathrine. It will give you time to get back on your feet, be rested for when she comes home.”
Doc Sam sat down, looking tired. “ We have been so busy today, Kathrine,” he said. “We’ve had eleven Father’s Day babies, and the day’s not over yet.”
***
We named her Marie Margaret for my Mom and Shay’s. Another baby I couldn’t nurse. I just had no luck with that. Little Marie had to stay in the incubator for a while; we could only see her through the window.
I was dismissed after three days, and I weighed less than when I got pregnant. I think the three days of not being able to hold Marie was too much for me. I drove to Hudson to feed her twice a day. Shay tried to go with me for the evening feeding. She was so sweet, so tiny. Her skin had a slight blue tone and she had a little bit of reddish brown hair, about enough for that cute baby curl. I went home with empty arms, but at least she was okay.
We told Kelly and Wessy all about their new baby sister. I told them they were a big sister and a big brother now. They tried to say Marie but it came out as Rie-Rie, so there it was, our little Marie got her first nickname. She became our little Rie-Rie.
***
Twenty-one days after the birth, Doc Sam called and told us we could bring Rie-Rie home. We were so thrilled. Shay took the afternoon off and we went to get our little baby. We took all of her little tiny clothes, which, at four pounds and three ounces, she still drowned in. She was on a special formula to help her gain a little more weight. They said to watch her, and if we felt she had any difficulty breathing, to bring her in immediately. Shay was walking down the hall with Doc Sam; I remember my doctor had a folder in his hands. Oh well, it didn’t matter—Rie-Rie was coming home.
I put her bassinet in the seating area of the master suite so I could check her every hour. I spent most of the evening holding her, feeding her and just thanking God for our little miracle. When Shay and I went to bed, he reached over and pulled me into his arms. I just lay there, happy. What could be more perfect in my life? I had Shay, three babies and a beautiful home. I felt so complete and loved. I no longer felt like that little girl from the wrong side of the tracks.
“Callie,” Shay said in a hesitant voice, “when Rie-Rie was born, I asked the doctor to do blood tests. When we were at the hospital, Doc Sam asked me to walk with him, and he told me the tests were back. Callie, I’m not Marie’s father.”
I had never heard such sadness in Shay’s voice. In a matter of seconds my whole world dropped out from under me.
“No, Shay, no!” I sat up in bed. “She just has to be ours, yours and mine!”
“Well, the folder is down in the car. I didn’t know how I was going to tell you, princess.” Shay held me as I sobbed uncontrollably.
“Well, Shay, how do you feel about all this, do you still love her?" I asked in a shaky voice after a while.
“Of course I love her, Callie. But I will be honest with you, as I always am. It really knocked the joy out of my heart. Still, she is so innocent, she had nothing to do with what Frank did.”
Frank. There was a name I thought I’d never have to hear again. Now, every time I looked at little Rie-Rie, I was afraid I’d be reminded of that horrible day.
Just then she started to fuss and I was out of that bed in a flash, scooping her up in my arms. I did not have Frank on my mind, just Rie-Rie and my love for her. I think it was just the initial shock that made me doubt my love for her, but I still questioned Shay’s. I knew he had to tell Sterling and Maggie, but I also knew this family, and it would go no further. This would be a family secret.
I told my parents and, though they were sad for me, they told me that it couldn’t be much different than a man who was supposedly schooled and from a good family siring a child he never wanted to see. They reminded me how much everyone loved Kelly when she was born, and how much Shay loved Kelly. They were sure he would love Marie as much as he loved the other two children.
Shay went out a few nights by himself, as I wasn’t leaving this tiny baby. One night he came home at 4:30 a.m. reeking of perfume. I felt like I had no right to question him. He was good to me, even though I had a child that wasn’t his. I almost felt like I needed to be punished, and my punishment was knowing he had been with another woman. He had every right, I thought, to want to be with someone else. I certainly expected no special treatment from him after everything that had happened. I was riddled with guilt, and I convinced myself that I deserved whatever happened.
Sleeping Angel
That Christmas I was just getting over the flu, and Wessy had begun to run a fever, so I told Mom that Shay and Kelly would be there for Christmas at her house, but I’d stay home with Wessy and Rie-Rie.
I dressed Kelly like a little doll and she and Shay went out to do Christmas with the families. Every place Kelly and Shay went, someone sent home lots of food for us: turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, vegetables, salads, and pies with whipped cream. We had more leftovers in our refrigerator than if I’d cooked a big meal at home! Plus every place sent home Wessy, Marie’s and my gifts. Shay, thinking ahead, had them all send a couple of Kelly’s gifts home so she would have presents to open with us.
Early Christmas morning Santa came. Shay would give his deep, “Ho, ho, ho,” while the kids were upstairs. “Quick, quick everybody!” he’d yell. “I just saw Santa go out the door!”
The kids would come running down the stairs like racehorses, and all the fun would begin. They wanted to see the gifts he’d left, but believe me, they really didn’t want to see Santa; he sort of scared them, especially Wessy.
Shay got me beautiful things
as always. At one point he said, “I have one more thing for you, Callie. I made it; it’s in the trunk of my car.”
“Well, go get it,” I said. “Hurry!”
He went to the shop to get it out of the car. When he came back in, he was holding something behind his back.
“Well,” I said with and excited grin, “give it to me, please.”
I extended my hands and Shay handed me a piece of wood. It was an old shingle with: Callie, I love you. You are my life. Love, Shay carved carefully across it. He was grinning from ear to ear.
“I whittled it,” he said proudly. “I found it at the grain elevator where I had to wait for two hours one afternoon. I just looked out the window and saw this piece of wood, and I thought of you, so I whittled it just for you, princess.”
Samson and Sunset Page 21
