Page 7 of Mouse Trapped

Not a husband, thank fuck.I notice immediately as a head pokes around the door. Features similar to Mariana’s. She surely can’t be old enough to have a son that age.A younger brother, perhaps?

“Who are you?” the kid, taller than Mariana I notice as he comes to stand beside her, demands. “What do you want? We’ve got no money…”

While I’m admiring the way he’s standing up for her, she admonishes him. “Drew. This man helped me today.”

“Helped you?” I was right, his voice squeaks on the second word. “Helped you with what?” His dark eyes, so much like hers, view me with suspicion.

Wondering whether she’s going to tell him, one side of my mouth turns up. Her lips twitch too. “Drew, this is Tse,” she introduces me. “Tse, meet my pest of a brother, Drew. Tse rescued me from a bear.”

The kid’s eyes go wide in his face. Then he chuckles. “A bear? This I’ve got to hear.”

She looks at me, I look at her. I’ve delivered my message, there’s no reason for me to stay. There’s just something that makes me linger.

A pregnant pause, a sigh, then, “Look, you might as well come in. He’ll give me no peace until he hears the full story.”

A chance to get to know her. I won’t turn that down. I step inside the trailer.Fuck. I didn’t realise people outside the Rez lived like this.It’s clean, but the furniture is worn and well used. There’s nothing here worth stealing, only an ancient television and I doubt you could give that away. But I swallow my amazement, and take the seat that’s offered to me on the only piece of furniture made for that purpose, a two-seater couch. I hadn’t realised how small this place was from the outside.

Drew, the Hispanic with the very Anglo name, stands with his arms folded. “So, the bear?” he prompts.

Her mouth quirks. “You know I did what I’ve wanted to do for ages? I went to the canyon today.” As she starts filling him in, she picks up the kettle and waves it toward me. Yeah, I could do with a coffee. I nod. She continues to speak, as she goes to the sink. In only a few short sentences she’s brought her brother up to date. He’s howling with laughter as she turns on the tap. Nothing comes out. Replacing the kettle on the stove, she leans forward over the counter, sighing.

“No water?” I ask unnecessarily.

“Third time this week.” Drew seems totally unfazed. A common occurrence it would seem.

Without looking at me, Mariana speaks. “I’ve only soft drinks, I’m afraid. No beer.”

“I don’t drink. A soda would be fine.”

Now she turns, with one eyebrow raised, and her face breaks into that beautiful smile again. “Seems I should stop making assumptions about bikers.”

I chuckle. Her statement doesn’t require a response.

“Noticed the leather,” Drew begins, sending a censorious look at his sister.

Mariana looks flustered. “Don’t you have homework to do? We’ll talk later, Drew.”

“I’ve got plenty of time for that.”

“Drew.” Mariana’s voice deepens.

“Ma,” he throws back.

I sit watching how the scene’s playing out.Data.No parents around—this place is too small to hold more than the two of them. Only one bedroom if I’m not mistaken. He calls her Ma, which could be a shortening of her name, or to reflect she’s got the parenting role, or both.How did that happen?

Not much money here.She must support the two of them. But how?

Placing her hands on her hips, Mariana swings around. “If you want that scholarship you’ve got to work for it. Go do your homework now.”

“Don’t like leaving you with him.”

“For goodness sake, Drew. You’re only in the bedroom.” She stares him down. With a shrug toward her, a warning glance my way, he takes himself off. Bet that kid will be listening to everything she says. My cock’s given up for the night. Won’t be coming out to play in this cramped place with no privacy.

Mariana gets two sodas out of the fridge and brings them across the few short steps to the couch. From her awkwardness as she views the empty seat beside me, I doubt she often has visitors. Just her and her brother. And now I’ve entered her domain. Shifting up so I’m pressed against the arm, I give her room.

She sits, but doesn’t lean back, making sure no part of her touches me. Propriety. I can respect that. Looking around as though seeing the surroundings through my eyes, she gives a self-deprecating smile. “It’s a hellhole, I know. But it’s all I can afford.”

I suspect, barely that. I raise and lower my shoulders. “Seen worse.”