Page 8

8

Bethany stepped off the lodge porch into the early morning sunlight. Another hot, clear day in the Virginia summer and all the cabins are rented. Smiling to herself, she heaved a sigh of relief. Leaving the advertising company had not been an easy decision, after all, the money had been excellent, and the benefits were really good for a recent graduate. And there was a certain excitement living in the large city, where there was always something going on. She had been determined to enjoy life after college—concerts, plays, art shows, and even clubbing with a few friends had filled her time off. Until Gram became sick, and then she withdrew to the country every weekend to help out.

Filling her lungs with the clear air, she then sipped the hot coffee that filled her travel mug. Beginning her early morning walk around, she liked to inspect the cabins and road before deciding what needed to be worked on for the day .

“Can I come too?” Gram said, walking out of the lodge.

Bethany smiled as she turned, seeing Gram in a pair of grey striped pants, a pink flowered top, and purple moccasins on her feet. “You got dressed by yourself this morning,” she remarked with a giggle.

“Well of course I did! I’m not a child,” Gram huffed as she made her way to Bethany, who gave her an affectionate hug.

“I know, Gram. And I’d love your company as I do my walk-around this morning.”

Linking her arm through her grandmother’s, they started up the road toward the first cabin. The guests had not risen yet and so the morning was quiet, other than for the sound of the birds gathering around the bird feeders she had set out.

As the two continued to walk, Bethany’s mind was on the list of things that needed to be accomplished. The flower box on cabin three was sagging on one side and had to be refastened later before it fell. She had encouraged Gram to spend more money several years ago and have gutter guards installed so the leaves would not clog the gutters. The guards had been a good decision, but cabin four had a small branch down on its roof which could impact the gutters. Checking that out needed to go on the day’s list as well.

“I’ve been here my whole adult life,” Gram said, her voice breaking the morning silence. “Did you know that I was only eighteen years old when Martin and I married?”

Bethany jerked her gaze over to Gram, seeing her clear-eyed and cognizant. Determined to make the most of the memory, knowing at any moment Gram could slip back into time, she said, “Tell me about him.”

The smile on her grandmother’s face was priceless. They had walked several steps in silence again before she began to speak.

“Martin was so handsome, and I fell in love with him when I was only fourteen years old. He was two years older, and I thought he was so grown up. My daddy wouldn’t let us date until I was fifteen, and for a year, we were inseparable.

By this time, they had rounded the lake and were coming to the last two cabins. Bethany kept her attention on her grandmother, knowing that she could easily come back later to check on them. Gram was more important by far.

“He went off to the Army when I was only sixteen years old, but I wrote to him every week. He was gone for almost two years, and the night he got back, he came to my door.” Gram giggled at the memory. “I nearly ran my daddy down trying to get to the door first.” Bethany grinned, imagining the young Ann rushing to get to her love.

“He stepped in, shook my father’s hand and before I could even kiss him, he turned to my father and asked for my hand in marriage. Daddy was stunned, but I knew he was impressed with Martin as a man.” Gram sighed, saying, “We were married the day after I turned eighteen. Never apart for one night. Not one in all those years. Poor years. Hard years. Until we made this place work. But never a night apart. ”

The lodge in sight, the two women headed up the path by the lake. Bethany could hear the stirrings of the guests. Two cabins were full of fishermen spending the weekend and they were preparing to leave for the river nearby. The Taylors had left, only to be replaced by other families spending a week or weekend here in the cabins. A couple on their honeymoon had come in the night before and were in the farthest cabin. That was rare since most young couples prefer honeymoons in exotic locations, but occasionally they did come. For the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the peace of a little cabin in the woods.

If I ever get married, I’d like that too, Bethany thought. With that, her mind rolled to the handsome neighbor that she had tried not to think about. But his dark, brooding face crowded her dreams at night and images of his powerful body on top of hers caused her to wake in a lust-filled sweat.

She glanced down at Gram’s ankle, the tracking bracelet gleaming in the sunlight. Gram had been concerned at first, not understanding why she had to wear jewelry on her ankle, but she soon became adjusted to it. To give such a gift, and then turn around and leave so abruptly. And to be silent for weeks. If ever there was a brush off, I guess that was it. She wished it did not sting…but it did.

Heaving a sigh as they climbed back up the lodge steps, she forced him out of her mind. Lots to do today and might as well get going. “Come on, Gram,” she called. “I’ll fix you breakfast. ”

Her grandmother looked up at her and smiled. “Sure Helen, and then we’ll find Charlie.”

Bethany just returned her smile, shaking her head. Well, it was nice while it lasted.

That evening, Bethany left the stew in the crockpot while she ran outside to investigate the noises she was hearing. At first, she just thought it was one of the larger groups talking loudly but the increasingly raised voices were now shouting in anger. As she stepped out on the porch, she saw one pickup truck parked in front of the lodge, the occupants out in the gravel drive arguing with the men in the two other pick-up trucks behind them.

A quick glance down at the angry voices, some slurred with alcohol, caused her to stiffen in anger. Her eyes jerked to the side where two families were hustling their children from the lake back to their cabins. Damnit! Gram had followed her to the door and Bethany turned and yelled over her shoulder, “Gram, get back inside. Now.” Please God, let her do what I ask!

“Gentlemen!” Turning back to the scene below, her voice broke through their ruckus. “I ask that you respect the other guests and keep your voices down.”

One man staggered around looking up at her incredulously. “You wanna know what that son-of-a-bitch did? Cut my line. Had a goddamn winner and he cut my fuckin’ line. He cost me the trophy and $250 in winnings! ”

She remembered seeing one of the nearby lakes hosting a fishing contest this weekend and now knew why she had several cabins filled with fishermen.

“Whatever the reason is for your argument, you’ll have to keep your voices down and settle it quietly.” Spearing them with a glare, she continued, “And settling it non-violently. I suggest you all sleep it off.”

“Fuck you,” the man slurred turning back toward the man approaching him.

“I didn’t cut your line, you asshole. It just snapped ‘cause you’re a fucking idiot who can’t pull back when you should!” another man interjected, stepping forward.

Before he could continue to protest his innocence, his accuser swung a punch landing it on his jaw, sending him staggering backward onto the gravel.

Uncertain what to do, Bethany instinctively stepped down two steps, screaming, “STOP!” but it was apparent that her voice was ineffective with the ensuing melee. Turning, she spied a broom on the front porch and leaned over, grabbing it— to what avail she had no idea.

The man on the ground jumped up and rushed the angry competitor, taking him down in a tackle, both landing hard on the gravel. Bethany watched in amazement as the one who had been drinking managed to straddle the other and began hitting him with his fists, cursing wildly.

“Do something!” she screamed at the other men standing around.

“Hell, they can fight it out themselves,” one burly man answered back. “They ain’t hurtin’ nobody but themselves.”

“They’re hurting my business!” she yelled as she bolted down the steps to the two men now rolling on the ground.

“Oh hell, George, get in there and break it up,” one of the men whined to the burly one.

Bethany swung the broom over her head and brought it down with a whack on the back of the cursing man, seeing blood running from his nose.

“What the hell?” he roared, swinging back with his arm and connecting with Bethany’s shoulder. With his attention focused on her, the other man got another punch in, connecting with his jaw.

She staggered, raising the broom once more, when the burly man stepped in and grabbed her broom handle.

“Now missy, don’t be getting’ in the way of them two working out their disagreement.”

Before she could react further, the sound of gravel crunching had her jerking her gaze to the road. Two large SUVs sped down the lane and skidded to a stop, sending the rocks flying. To her amazement, four men jumped out, immediately descending on the men fighting. Instantly, she recognized the leader. Jack? And some of his men?

Startled, she staggered back again, the broom still raised, as she witnessed them quell the fight with little difficulty. The large Hispanic man, Cam? I think, had one man pinned against the truck, his hand on the man’s throat. The fisherman was attempting to struggle, but Cam seemed to be holding him in place without any effort.

The other two of Jack’s men, whose names she could not remember, also had two of the fishermen on the ground, their knees planted in their backs as they grinned at each other.

Her body shook with adrenaline coursing through her veins and found it was hard to catch her breath.

Jack jerked the instigator to his feet and propelled him to the bottom of the steps. “You got something to say to the lady, asshole?”

The man’s eyes, wide with fear, looked all around as his drunken mind slowly caught up to what had happened. “Huh?” he said. A shake brought the man’s attention back to Jack’s.

“You start a fight on someone else’s property, in full view of families with small children that are trying to vacation. When asked nicely to stop, you get belligerent. And not only belligerent, but you also insult a lady. I don’t give a shit how drunk you are, you’re going to apologize right fuckin’ now.” Jack’s voice was low, but the growl was unmistakable.

The man lifted his eyes toward her and mumbled, “Sorry ma’am.”

Bethany opened her mouth to tell them all to pack up and get out, unsure that the words would come out, but Jack handled it for her.

“You’re all leaving and be assured your credit cards will be charged for the full amount of the weekend.”

Several of the men not involved in the fight protested. “We didn’t do anything,” they whined. One look from Jack and they shut their mouths, their expressions changing from whining to fear.

“There're four of you pussies standing around letting these other assholes argue, cause a public disturbance, insult a woman, and get into a fight. That makes you equally culpable. So, take your goddamn friends, pack your shit, and get out. You got thirty minutes to do it.”

Chastised, they grabbed their friends and pushed them into the two trucks before driving toward the cabins. Jack jerked his head toward the fishermen, and the other three Saints nodded toward Bethany before getting in one of their SUVs and following the pick-up trucks.

Jack turned his gaze back to the woman standing like a statue on the second step, the broom still clasped in her hands. Her khaki shorts were mid-thigh, but in his opinion, they were way too short. His eyes moved to her light blue tank top, showcasing her heaving chest as he continued his gaze upwards to her face. Stalking up the stairs he stopped two below her and was still at eye level. His gaze then dropped to her white knuckles clutching her weapon.

“You want to tell me what the fuck you were doing with that broom?” he asked, his hand reaching out, pulling it away from her and tossing it behind her to the porch.

Her embarrassment was masked by her confusion. “How? How did you know to come?”

Not answering her question, he repeated, “You think that broom was going to do shit? You got a problem, you get inside the house, lock the goddamn door, and call the fuckin’ police!”

Her expression changed to irritation. “I wasn’t going to get hurt. I just thought that I’d beat them apart. You know, like dogs fighting.”

At that explanation, he found himself speechless…and furious, but before he could retort, she poked his chest with a finger and repeated, “How did you know something was happening here?”

Their attention was diverted by the sound of two pick-up trucks driving out of Mountville followed by the SUV that had stopped next to the first one that Jack drove in.

Cam lowered the driver’s window, smiling as he asked if they were all right.

She forced a smile on her face and said, “Yes, thank you for your assistance…again.” She saw the three men inside wave and then drive away after giving Jack a head jerk.

He turned back to look at her, this time taking a step upward so that now he was looking down at her. She refused to remove her finger from his chest, then found her hand clasped in his.

Holding her gaze while rubbing her fingers, he repeated much gentler, “You have a problem, you get inside the house, lock the door, and call the police.”

Before she could argue back, the door opened, and Gram walked out onto the porch. “It’s quieter now out here. Oh, hello Charlie. You here courtin’ again?”

“No,” Bethany answered while Jack said, “Yes.”

She whirled around, her eyes wide and hissed, “ Don’t confuse her.” She tried to jerk her hand out of his but found his grip was as strong as it was gentle.

“Not planning on confusing her,” he replied, the crinkles next to his eyes deepening as the corners of his mouth turned up.

“Well, the stew’s ready, so ya’ll come on in,” Gram called, as she turned and went back inside.

“You’re not staying,” Bethany seethed.

“Of course, I am. Wouldn’t want to upset Ann and besides, I’d love more of your company,” he said smoothly, a grin appearing taking his handsome looks straight to drop-dead-I-want-to-climb-on-top-of-you gorgeous.

“We’re still going to talk about this,” Bethany hissed again.

He nodded, smiling and said, “Count on it.” Stepping around Bethany, his hand still holding hers, he tugged her along after him. Once inside, he saw little had changed in the few weeks since he had first set foot in the lodge. He followed Ann to the stairs on the left side of the main room, his fingers now linked with Bethany’s.

At the top of the stairs, they rounded a corner, and he could see the apartment that Bethany’s grandparents had lived in their entire married lives. A small, but comfortable den was on the right, the walls of exposed logs with a fireplace at the end. A hall split the area, leading to the bedrooms. The open floor plan included a dining table at the other end, leading into the kitchen. The scent of homemade soup and bread filled the room.

Bethany managed to disentangle herself, stalking into the kitchen. Lifting the lid on the crock-pot, she stirred the stew before checking to make sure the bread had not burned. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts as she heard Gram chatting with Jack as they placed the dishes on the table.

She stood at the sink, looking out of the window overlooking the back of the property…the side where Jack lived. The sinking sun cast a myriad of colors over the evening sky, but for once she was not enjoying the view.

She could not remove the events of the previous half hour out of her mind—the guests arguing, the fight, the rescue. Grasping the counter tightly to keep her legs from buckling, she suddenly felt a presence behind her.

Jack’s arms reached around the counter, planting his hands on her trembling ones. He stepped forward until his front was touching her back. He rested his chin on her head, wrapping her in his warmth.

She wanted to lean her head back into him but was afraid to move. Weeks ago, she told him all about herself when they sat on the porch. And he gave her nothing. But now?

He felt her reticence and knew he needed to bridge the gap he had caused. Keeping one arm on hers, he lifted his other and wrapped it around her middle pulling her into his hard body. Leaning his head to the side, he whispered, “Come on, doll. Give it to me.”

With his soft encouragement, she dropped her head back into his chest, taking a shuttering breath. “I…I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“It’s adrenaline. It hit you when you rushed out, but now your body has to deal with the overload. You’ll be fine. It’ll pass, I promise.” Wrapping his other arm over her chest, he enveloped her as the trembling subsided.

He felt her shudder, then a few minutes later felt her body begin to relax as he willed her to take from his strength.

She closed her eyes, her mind utterly aware of every nuance. The power in his arms as they embraced her. The hard muscles of his pecs and abs as they were pressed against her back. The softness of his beard, as it tickled her ear when he leaned in and whispered. He could stand behind her and she fit snuggly underneath his chin as though meant just for his body. It had only been a minute, but her body craved his presence.

“You shouldn’t be kissing in the kitchen,” Gram admonished, walking into the room. Bethany jumped and Jack released her slowly, his chuckle rumbling over her.

The dinner was simple but filling and Jack ate heartily while enjoying keeping up with Ann’s conversations. Bethany had warned him that she was spending more and more time in the past, thinking that she was a young woman.

“Gram, I’m going to clean up and then I’ll help you get ready for bed,” Bethany volunteered.

“I’ve got this,” Jack said, motioning for her to go on with Ann.

Offering him a small smile, she followed her grandmother down the hall. Jack quickly washed the dishes and wiped the counters. He moved into the den and wandered to the fireplace where the mantle was loaded with family pictures.

He could not help but grin at the sight of Bethany as a baby, a gap-tooth grinning child, a pretty teenager, and a gorgeous young woman in her cap and gown, standing with her parents and grandparents.

“She’s in bed,” Bethany whispered as she appeared in the room.

Jack turned and stared at the woman standing in front of him. Her long blonde hair, now out of its braid, lay waving down her back and spilling over her shoulders. The faded jeans, that became that way due to hard labor and not from some fancy clothing store that sold them already faded, cupped her ass perfectly. The baggy, baby-blue t-shirt that had also seen better days showcased her breasts. Her makeup-free face, porcelain complexion, and blue eyes completed the picture he had been unable to forget for weeks. For a second he faltered, Do I take this chance? Then he saw the fire in her eyes and knew exactly what he wanted.

Unable to hold back the grin, he stalked toward her grabbing her hand as he walked by, turning her so that she had to follow him. Across the room. Down the stairs. To the porch.