By Atonia and Jo
Jo writing Maximus, Caroline, Bud, Marie, Sid, Hope, Cort, Lachlan, Ben
Atonia writing Terry, Dee, Alex, Linda, Jack, Tarwyn, John, Bethany, Dino
PART 7:
Ben spent his first afternoon alone in the city walking the streets, observing the people, the vehicles, the general flow of life. He went in and out of stores, not buying, just seeing what was there, taking mental notes, noticing everything. He was wearing his new black jeans and a sky blue shirt, a black neckerchief knotted about his neck. He had on his old black boots and no hat. He’d tried on the larger-brimmed dove grey one, but hung it back on the rack. No one seemed to pay him any special mind except for several women who turned their heads to follow his passage. He, of course, was very aware of them. That sort of thing he’d tend to later, after he’d gotten himself familiarized with this place and time. One thing truly bothered him. He felt naked without his guns but it seemed the typical modern male did not go about with holsters strapped over his hips.
Dee and Tarwyn went over to John’s apartment to get it ready for Max. They cleaned and washed linens and scrubbed down the kitchen.
Dee had all the kitchen cabinets open. “We’re going to have to go shopping.”
Tarwyn finished fluffing up the sofa pillows. “I wonder what he’s going to think about this place. I’m not sure John did anything but hang his clothes in the closets.”
“I don’t know. It may not be quite up to his standards but it’s a nice apartment. Furniture is good. He’d better be glad he’s got a place to go.”
Tarwyn stopped and looked at a large painting on the wall. It was of the Texas hill country. “Nothing here to remind him of London or Provence.”
“He might be better off without reminders. Terry said he wants to go to London.”
“Why can’t he go?” Tarwyn turned around.
“Well, he doesn’t have any money for starters. He’d be lost there without his friends and his job. Besides, it will be good for him to be with the others for awhile. You about ready to hit the shops?”
“I’m ready.” Tarwyn picked up her handbag. “Max is going to be in for a little culture shock. Not only is this Texas but he’s not going to be living the high life. I wonder if he can cook?”
“We’ll keep that in mind and find some things he can microwave.”
Jack folded the newspaper and picked up the pen he’d been using to circle properties. Now that Tarwyn had a buyer for her apartment she’d asked him to start looking. He chewed the end of the pen. It still bothered him that he had no means of making a living. He felt useless…a fish out of water. Yes, indeed, he truly was. Was he too old at 38 to learn a trade? He pictured himself in a room full of boys learning the workings of machinery and shook his head. What did he know besides the sea? He knew a little about gardening and horses. Perhaps he’d become a farmer…he sighed and picked up the paper again.
Maximus was pacing back and forth across the living room. Cort had left, had just driven away, not even knowing where he was going. He was well aware how hard it had been for Cort since Rachel had died and Hope had suddenly grown up but where would he go, what would he do with himself.
“You’re worried about Cort,” Caroline said, coming up behind him and sliding her arms around his waist from the back, effectively ending his pacing.
“I am. His voice sounded quite odd to me on the phone and then he simply hung up.”
“Have you tried calling him back?”
“More than once but he is not answering and that, too, increases my concern.”
“He’s looking for something, Darling, something he needs but doesn’t know what it is.”
He turned in her arms. “It is my belief he is looking for himself.”
“I think that’s probably very close to the truth,” she nodded, “and he must feel he needs to do it on his own.”
Maximus sighed, then kissed her temple. “I found myself with you.”
“I think Cort’s still too wounded to love again.”
“He makes me realize, my Caroline, how blessed I am that I have you.”
“Don’t forget the dog.”
He chuckled. “Always you make me laugh when you remind me of Marcus’ role in my recovery.”
“I mean to do that. I love your laugh.”
He leaned to kiss her mouth rather deeply. “I love when you do that, too. Probably even more than when you laugh.”
Scooping her in his arms, he headed for their bedroom. “This I love most of all,” she whispered into the curve of his neck.
John stood in front of the mirror in the bedroom with his new gun and holster strapped around him. It lay just along his left elbow. He drew the gun and twirled it around and tried it again.
“Damn.” He grabbed his right shoulder. He’d been practicing his draw with the new weapon. He still had a license to carry left over from NanoCorp.
“I’m off.” Bethany came in to tell him good bye. “Oh, my, what are you doing?”
“There’s a new sheriff in town, hadn’t you heard?”
“You better be careful with that thing. Is it loaded?”
“No, I haven’t loaded it yet.”
“Don’t forget you’ve got therapy this morning.”
John frowned. Dr. Canfield had recommended he start therapy on his arm and shoulder. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll go.”
Beth put her arms around his neck. “I’m not sure I like you with a gun strapped to your side.”
“I’m not a gun person but it goes with the job. You off to work?” He gave her a warm kiss.
“Um hm, oh, do that again!” She collected another kiss.
He tugged at the low neckline of her top. “That’s awfully low cut for work.”
“Don’t worry. I’m covered up with a lab coat all day. Sneak peeks are only for you.”
He grinned and gave her bottom a smack. “See ya tonight.” He waited until he heard the door close and went back to the mirror. He took his stance and whipped out the gun. “Gotcha…Ben Wade.”
“Maximus, have you seen Cort this afternoon?”
“No, Bud, he is gone.”
“Gone? What do you mean…gone?”
“Left…driven away…gone.”
Bud made a low sound down in his throat. “I was afraid he’d go and do something like that.”
“Why do you say that, Bud?”
“He was upset when he came by John’s and my new office today. Wanted us to play nice with Ben Wade and neither John or I were in the mood. He just upped and left in the middle of a sentence.”
“He called Hank to take care of his horses. When I tried to get hold of him immediately after, he was already in his car. He said he did not know where he was going and then he hung up and has not answered his phone since.”
“That’s why I’m calling you, Maximus. I haven’t been able to get through to him.”
“I believe right now he does not wish to be gotten through to, but do not think it is just anything you or John might have said. This has been a long time coming.”
“I know it has,” Bud agreed, “but I don’t like it.”
“I do not care for it, either, but, then, it is not for us to like or dislike what decision he has made for himself.” He paused a moment. “Have you news on when Terry is returning? I would like to meet Max Skinner.”
“Very soon. He’s been trying to get a flight out of Miami to Houston. Either John or I will let you know when we learn something. I’m curious about Skinner myself.”
Another hotel room. Terry leaned back in the uncomfortable chair and returned a call to Dino.
“Hello, Mate, are you trying to find me? I’m not there. We’re in Miami.”
“So I noticed, hot shot. Look here, amigo, you’ve made us some prime change. Not only were your expenses low but you got your man out without paying a dime.”
“I meant to talk to you about the accommodations.” Terry grinned and loosened his tie and tossed it on the bed. “So I’m rich?”
“Goodly rich. I’ve been on the phone with the insurance company. They are happy with us right now. Dollars will be wired to your account and very soon. I know we didn’t have time to talk much but you did a fantastic job.”
“Well, fair dinkum. I’m probably going to need some extra dollars since my family seems to be expanding.”
“Deidre’s pregnant?”
“Oh, no, no, I’m talking about Skinner and Aubrey. Neither one of them has a penny to their name. Tarwyn’s been kind of subsidizing Jack and it’s not her place to do that. Skinner is my problem.”
Two doors down the hallway Terry’s problem was drumming his fingers on the empty desk of his room. Max was bored with TV and he hadn’t a computer. He couldn’t even go down to the bar and buy a drink without Terry’s presence. It wasn’t Terry’s fault and certainly no fault of his own but he needed somebody to take the brunt of it. Bloody Sid.
Terry knocked on his door and opened it. “Let’s drink.”
“That’s a rather blunt way to ask me out.” Max grabbed his jacket.
“The florist was closed,” Terry deadpanned.
After he got off the phone with Maximus, Bud drove over to the blue house. “Hope,” he asked without preamble, “what do you know about your father?”
“You mean now?”
“I mean right at this moment, yes.”
She closed her eyes, tuning into him. “He is driving. The afternoon sun is coming in the windshield. He is heading west and the green is fading into tan and brown.”
Looking at Bud, she asked, “Why is he doing that? I thought he was going home.”
“I think he’s looking for home, Hope. That’s why he’s doing it.”
“But…he is alone.”
“Seems he wants it that way for a while. I just wanted to know he’s all right. He’s not answering his phone.”
She closed her eyes again. “He is feeling very quiet, very serious, not very happy. He does not know where he is going.”
Biting her lip, she asked Bud, “Should I go get him?”
“No, Hope, that would be the wrong thing to do. This is his choice because he feels he needs it. Best we let him be, do what he’s got to do. He’ll come back when he’s ready.”
Alex shaded his eyes and watched Linda riding back up to the paddock. She’d asked him to join her but he wasn’t ready to get back on a horse yet. Not after Yuma and all that hard riding he did in the movie.
“You should have gone with me. It was a great ride.”
“I’ll take your word for it. I’m just now able to get my legs back together.”
She walked her horse over to the stable and let the young man take it from her. Walking up by Alex she swatted him. “I’m surprised you can get your legs together anyhow.”
“Is that a compliment or a complaint?” He pulled her against him.
“I’m not complaining. I have no complaints about you.” She kissed him slowly.
“None here either. I have to tell ya, though, sometimes I feel a little funny out here. I mean it was different when I was injured and couldn’t do for myself. You buy my clothes and feed me and I don’t contribute anything.”
“You’re not going to hand me that l940’s man’s the breadwinner bullshit, are you? Don’t think about it. The money’s there and more than I’ll ever spend on my own. I want to share with you, Alex. Don’t you see…you’re all I’ve got. You’re mine, totally mine and I’m yours.”
He backed her against the fence and kissed her for a long time. “You’re pretty special, you know that? I love you, Linda.”
In the evening Ben warmed up a can of baked beans, which he ate with some bread and cheese then went out again, heading for a bar he’d seen not too far away. He stood inside the door a while, watching the movement of people, making decisions about them, then he walked up to the bar and ordered a whiskey. Turning around, he leaned against the bar, watching several women who sat together at a large, round table in the corner. They were obviously watching the men and a little smile played around the corners of his mouth. He chose which of them appealed to him the most. She was already staring at him and he let the tip of his tongue come out and wipe across a drop of whiskey on his lower lip. Even from where he was standing, he could see her shiver. The corner of his mouth twitched again.
Slowly he moved toward the table, keeping his eyes locked on hers. She had long, almost black hair but her skin was pale and her eyes were light blue and large under winged black brows. She was his before he closed the distance between them.
Didn’t matter what century it was. Some things never changed. Within five minutes she was walking with him toward the safe house. He didn’t know her name, didn’t need to know her name.
ON TO PART 8
CORT'S STORYLINE DIRECTLY CONTINUED AS SHOW ME THE WAY TO GO HOME
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