Dani stepped to the closest table and lifted a pearl white plate with gold leaf edging to read the name, ‘Mikasa’ on the back side, then examined a silver butter knife. She took a moment to make sure she placed both back into the exact same position before she looked at Jake and beamed, “Well, what do you think?”
“I got to hand it to you, sweetheart, you outdid yourself.” Jake glanced at the surroundings. “How much longer until everybody else gets here?” he asked.
“About forty-five minutes or so,” answered Dani as her attention turned to a middle-aged, brunette woman dressed in a white blouse, a slim blue skirt, and high heels. She carried a folder in her hands as she made her way across the room toward them.
“Good evening,” the woman said as she came up to greet them. She took Jake’s hand. “My name is Virginia. You must be Jake.”
“That’s me.” Jake flashed a smile in her direction.
Virginia turned her attention to Dani and said, “It’s nice to see you again, Mrs. O’Brien. Are you ready for the party? I know we are…or at least we will be shortly.”
She pulled a chair out from the table they were standing next to and added with a bright smile, “Do you mind if we go over a few things before everyone else arrives? I have a couple of questions about a few minor details, but I want to make sure everything turns out perfectly tonight.”
“Sure,” said Dani, sitting in the chair Virginia had pulled out.
Virginia eased another chair away from the table and sat down beside Dani. In seconds, she had her folder laid out on her lap and both women leaped into a conversation concerning everything from garnishes on the plates, changes in seating arrangements, and what time the band would stop playing.
Jake was bored in an instant. The only thing that piqued his interest was the choice of bottled wines on every table but, since he rarely drank ‘grape juice,’ as he called it, he was immediately thinking about what else he could be doing.
He tapped Dani on the shoulder. When she looked up at him, he said, “Honey, I’m going to take a walk outside for a little bit…you know…look around.”
* * *
An hour and a half later, Dani stood at the banquet hall doors, greeting the last guest as he arrived.
“Hey, Brandon, I was so worried. I wasn’t sure you were going to get here,” she said with a wide grin. “How have you been doing?”
Brandon Clark smiled back at Dani. “Hey, you, sorry I’m late. I took a wrong turn somewhere back there.” He laughed and added, “No telling where I’d have wound up if I hadn’t stopped and got some directions.”
“I’m so glad you could make it,” said Dani, giving him a hug.
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” Brandon said, leaning in to return the embrace. He pulled away and eyed her from head to toe. “You look breathtaking!”
“Why, thank you,” Dani said. “You look pretty good yourself.”
“Thank you very much,” he replied with a wink and a slight tip of his black felt Stetson, “but, by you saying something like that, it’s pretty obvious you need glasses.”
“Oh, stop it. You look good and you know it,” said Dani, holding onto both his hands. “I didn’t know if you were going to be able to be here with your schedule and all.”
“Actually, I’ve been planning for this since I got the invitation,” he told her. “I was kinda sorta coming this way anyway. We got a show to do up the road a piece in Tulsa tomorrow night, so I told the boys I was going to make time for this and just meet them there tomorrow.” He looked around the busy room before adding, “Besides, this is for Jason and…”
“Hey, Brandon, glad you could make it!” cried a voice from behind them.
“Caleb Harrison!” Brandon turned to shake Dani’s father’s hand. “Long time, no see. How you been?”
“Still above ground,” laughed Caleb. He turned to Dani and added, “Look at my daughter. Isn’t she beautiful?”
“Yes, sir, she sure is,” answered Brandon with a chuckle. “Maybe not so much with everything else, but my eyes still work just fine. In fact, I was just telling her the same thing.” He looked Dani over once more as he finished, “Except I used the word ‘breathtaking’.”
“There you go, reading that damned dictionary again.” Caleb laughed. He looked at Dani and asked, “Honey, where’s Jake? I haven’t seen him.”
Ever since the first guests started to arrive, Dani had been doing everything she could to hide the fact that she was worried about Jake. He seemed to have disappeared as soon as he walked out the doors earlier. She had tried to sneak out earlier, but that had gone by the wayside as she’d had to deal with some last-minute minor issues. Now that everyone on the guest list was here and still no sign of Jake, Dani was close to panic. She did her best to put on a carefree face as she answered, “Oh, he’s around here somewhere.”
“You want me to go looking for him?” asked her dad.
Dani grabbed the two men by the hand and led them through the ballroom toward their table as she said, “No…no, I want both of you to sit down at our table. I have you two sitting next to each other.” She nodded toward the microphone and added, “But right now I have to get up there and make a little speech to get this thing started.”
She directed them to their seats, which were directly in front of the dais where Jason and Amanda, the guests of honor, were seated with the rest of Dani’s immediate family. Only two vacant seats remained in the entire ballroom―Dani’s, because she was busy making her way to the microphone, and Jake’s.
As Dani walked up to the podium, Caleb leaned over and whispered to Brandon, “Look at her, Brandon. Do you ever wish you hadn’t let her get away?”
“Just about every day.” Brandon sighed.
Dani reached the podium, pulled the microphone down a bit so she could speak directly into it, cleared her throat, and said, “Everyone, can I have your attention, please?”
All the chatter filling the room died down as Dani surveyed the crowd. The thought occurred to her that, if a bomb went off in the middle of all these people, the sport of professional rodeo might never recover. Gazing out over the sea of felt cowboy hats worn by the who’s who of rodeo stars, she started to speak, “I would like to thank everyone for…”
“Hold on just a minute…I’m almost there!” came a loud voice from the stairwell outside.
Dani looked as if she had seen a ghost. She was mortified because she knew it was Jake’s voice, and she knew he was drunk. Really drunk.
Everyone turned to the doors to watch Jake enter and, even in such a large room filled with more than two hundred fifty people, you could have heard a pin drop.
Jake stopped dead in his tracks and looked the scene over because he realized all eyes were on him. He quickly reached up to make sure his hat wasn’t on crooked and took a brief moment to stand straight to make sure no one thought he might be slouching. If the people in the room hadn’t realized Jake was drunk, however, it became apparent to them instantly because he had trouble keeping his balance as he started walking in a zig-zig pattern toward Dani. He yelled, “Hey, everybody, thanks for (belch) coming.”
“Jake, please have a seat at the table,” said Dani, pointing to the empty chair directly in front of her. She took a moment to share the horrified looks on the faces of the rest of her family, then mouthed the words to Jason, “I’m so sorry.”
Jake didn’t listen to her. Instead, he walked unsteadily directly to the podium. He managed to wobble up the three steps to the small stage without falling down, then clumsily shoved Dani out of the way so he could say a few words over the microphone. He reeked of tequila.
Jake squinted as he looked over the crowd and slurred, “I want to thank…everybody…including my wonderful wife Dani here for…putting on this here shindig.” He paused a minute as if he had lost his train of thought, then added with a laugh, “You folks wouldn’t believe how much this thing cost. My God, I wrote some checks that were doozies.”
He pointed at Jason and Amanda as he continued, “And I just want to say…that I know Jason here has a bright future ahead of him and has a chance to do some really great things, if he just puts his heart into it, that is.” He covered his mouth and snickered, then rolled his eyes and finished as if his son wouldn’t be able to hear him, “Hah, like that’s possible!”
Dani grabbed Jake by the arms and tried to pull him away, but he shook her grip off and continued as he grinned at his son, “You know I’m just joshing you…right, Jason? I’m only kidding.” He stopped for a second to rub his right eye before looking across the room as if he was about to impart some great wisdom, “I would like to say one thing, though…and that is…damn, I forgot what I was going to say.”
“Come on, Jake.” Dani tried again to pry him away from the microphone.
“Now I remember!” said Jake loudly as he pulled free a second time. “You folks know there’s a damned good bar downstairs?” He slapped the top of the podium in front of him with his right hand, adding with a sloppy laugh, “Nah, that ain’t it. I was just funnin’. What…I…what I want to say…to these two lovebirds in front of me is…that they better make sure and save their money, ’cause time passes pretty damned fast…and Jason, it’s all going to be over before you know it and…next thing you know, you’ll be the one paying the bills for something like this.”
Dani had had enough. She grabbed Jake by both arms and, with all her might, pushed him away from the podium toward the stairs he had just stumbled up. Caleb and Brandon jumped from their seats and rushed to Dani’s aid as Jake yelled, “I ain’t done yet…I just want to say…one more thing.”
Caleb reached Jake first and said, “Come on, Jake…you need to sit down, son.” He helped Jake stagger down the steps onto the carpet as he added, “You’ve had a few too many.”
Brandon arrived to help Caleb. “Yeah, Jake,” he pleaded, “come on over and sit with us.”
Jake sneered at Brandon and yelled, “Yeah, right, mister super star, you’re just here so you can fuck my wife later, aren’t you?”
“Jesus, Jake, shut the hell up, will you?” begged Caleb. “There’s two hundred fifty people in here watching you make a giant ass out of yourself right now.”
That got Jake’s attention. Realizing he might be drunker than he gave himself credit for, he pulled his arms free, stood up straight, and shook himself as if that might help sober him up. He glared at the people staring at him as he walked slowly to his chair where he slumped into it. He put his elbows on the table, then put his chin in his hands, staring at Dani as if he hated her.
Dani cleared her throat once more before she addressed the crowd. “Well, like I was saying, I want to thank everyone for coming and, to start things off, how about a big round of applause for Jason and Amanda!”
A palpable sense of relief washed over the crowd as everyone stood to cheer. As Dani looked around the crowd, it occurred to her that the people filling the room were clapping for her just as much as they were clapping for Jason and Amanda. She also noticed the only person in the room who wasn’t clapping was Jake. Just as the noise started to die down, she saw Jake pick up one of the bottles of red wine off the table and start guzzling it directly from the bottle.
Caleb reached over to take the bottle away but, even in his drunken state, Jake was too quick and yanked it away. As he did, the bottle slipped out of his hands. Everyone at the table watched in disbelief as the contents poured out onto his white tuxedo shirt. He managed to turn the bottle upright before half the wine escaped, but lost his grip again when he set it back on the table. Three Waterford wine glasses shattered as the bottle hit the table. The wet, dark-red stain on the tablecloth expanded faster than the one running down the front of Jake’s shirt. Jake clumsily stood and snapped his fingers as he yelled, “Waiter! We need another bottle over here at this table right now…and a towel!”
Dani stared in horror as she watched the nightmare unfold in front of her. She was out from behind the podium and down the stairs in an instant. She was begging with her eyes as she asked Caleb and Brandon, “Can you two help me get him out of here?”
“Sure thing,” said Brandon, as he and Caleb rose quickly from their chairs. Each man grabbed an arm and, even though Jake resisted the whole way, eventually had him out of the ballroom, down the stairs, and out the front door. Together they held him up at the cab stand.
Dani pointed at the Lincoln Town Car. “Jake, you need to get in the car and get back to the hotel room…please!” she pleaded.
“I ain’t leavin’ if you ain’t leavin’,” Jake shouted as he shook off Caleb and Brandon, wobbling back and forth on his feet.
“Jake,” begged Dani, “for the love of God, I need to be in there…and you’re too drunk…you have to go.”
“She’s right,” said Caleb, “you need to get back to the hotel and sleep this off.”
Jake crossed his arms, pressed his lips together, and squinted at them before saying defiantly, “Nope…I ain’t goin’.” He looked at Caleb, but pointed to Brandon as he added, “I can’t leave Dani here with this guy.” He overly accentuated the “f” when he finished by saying, “He’s gonna try and fuck her!”
“Holy shit,” said Brandon in amazement as he threw up his hands. He looked at Caleb and added, “I’m going to go back in. Probably be a lot easier for you two if I wasn’t around right now.”
“Good idea,” said Caleb, shaking Brandon’s hand. “Thanks for helping.”
“Sure thing,” answered Brandon. He looked at Dani and added, “Good luck. I’ll see you around.”
Dani mouthed the words, “Thank you,” before turning to Jake and saying, “Jake, get in the car. You have to leave.”
Jake, arms still crossed stubbornly, shook his head.
Caleb motioned Dani to join him out of earshot from Jake and whispered after she got close, “Honey, why don’t you take him back to the hotel, get him in bed, then get back here as soon as you can after he passes out.” He looked around her to watch Jake almost fall over before he finished, “By the look of things, it shouldn’t take long.”
Dani looked at her surroundings and sighed. The last thing she wanted to do was leave the party. She bit her lip and thought about the prospect a moment before saying, “Can’t we just stuff him in the car and tell the driver not to slow down until he gets in front of the hotel?”
Caleb shook his head. “What do you want me to do, sweetheart, put him in a headlock?” He sighed heavily before adding, “No, I’m too old for that kind of stuff anymore. It’s best you get him on out of here and bring yourself back as soon as you get the chance. I’ll cover for you up there but, after Jake’s entrance, I’m sure everybody in that room will understand.”
Dani glanced at the front doors to the country club, then back at Jake before she answered slowly, “All right, but tell Jason and Amanda I’m really sorry.”
“I will,” Caleb promised.
“And tell…” Dani started.
“I said I’ll take care of everything,” interrupted Caleb. He gently pushed her toward Jake and added, “Go on now; the quicker you get out of here, the quicker you’ll be back.”
“All right, Daddy.” Dani put her arms around her father. “I’m so sorry. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She watched Caleb walk back inside, then shifted her attention to her husband. “All right, Jake, you win,” she said, grabbing his arm. “Let’s go.”
Their driver, who had been standing by the rear of the car waiting to see what would happen, stepped up and opened the door as Dani and Jake approached. “Ma’am,” he said politely.
Jake stopped short of the car and mumbled, “I’m…going to…go…go round to the other side.”
Dani paused to make sure Jake wasn’t going to try to go back to the party, then sat down in the back seat as he turned to walk around the front of the car. He stopped by the front tire, stood for a moment and then, at the top of his lungs, yelled, “Son of a bitc
h!” as he slammed his fist on the hood of the car.
“What the hell are you doing?” shrieked the driver as he raced around and looked aghast at the dent Jake’s fist had left in the smooth metal. “Get away from my car, you nutcase!” He shoved Jake back onto the sidewalk. Even though the rental bill was already paid, the driver started shouting again, this time at both Jake and Dani, “Get out! Get out of my car! Both of you! You’re crazy!”
Dani was already on her way to grab Jake when she heard the driver continue. “I’m going to call the police!” he threatened.
She reached Jake and pulled him back toward the country club as she pleaded with the driver, “No, please don’t. I’m so sorry; just add the damages to my bill. Your boss has my credit card number. I’ll make everything right. I promise.”
“Fuck you!” yelled Jake over her shoulder as he pointed at the driver.
Dani finally lost her temper. She put her hands on Jake’s chest and pushed as hard as she could. He floundered backward until he lost his balance and fell flat on his back. His head whipped back onto the concrete driveway, sending his black felt hat flying away like a misguided Frisbee, knocking him out cold.
At first Dani thought she had killed him because his eyes stayed open, but was quickly relieved when she noticed he was still breathing. She looked at the driver and begged, “Please help me…I need to get him back to the hotel…please take us.”
The driver didn’t hesitate. “Hell, no!” he roared. “There’s no way I’m letting either one of you back in my car. I’m leaving.” He strode around the Lincoln Town Car, opened the driver’s side door, and slipped behind the steering wheel. Starting the engine, he pressed hard on the gas, squealing the back tires as he left the cab stand and made his way across the parking lot. He burned more rubber as he exited onto the main street.
Dani, with tears in her eyes, walked a few feet over to the first cab in line and asked the driver, “Will you help me, please? I need to get to the Onyx Hotel. My husband is…”
“Sure thing, lady.” The driver got out of his yellow cab. “I seen the whole thing,” he added as he walked over to Jake, who was still unconscious on the sidewalk. He knelt down, grabbed Jake under the arms, and pulled him into a sitting position. Then he wrapped his arms around Jake’s chest and stood. He dragged Jake backward to his cab and, as Dani opened the rear door, laid him gently on the back seat.
Roped & Tied Page 2
