A Walk In The Wilderness (12 page)

     “Yes, I know.  It’s called incentive, Caitlin.  I want you to take the job.  She needs you, and I can’t relax unless I trust the person I send to her.  I can’t think of anyone else that I’d feel comfortable putting in my home, and she needs someone very much.  And, she will feel needed again.  You'll give her fresh hope, Caitlin, for a meaningful life.”

      “This is incredible.”  she objected lightly.

     “Not at all.”  he denied.  “You haven’t tried to hire a companion.  I had one girl answer the ad who had blue hair, a nose ring and some rather astonishing tattoos.  Another had pet snakes and Tarantulas.  There was another who was worse yet.  Foul looking, and rotten to the bone; you could see it in her eyes.  I wouldn't have left her alone for a moment with anyone or anything I value.  Then, there was the one who fairly propositioned me at the interview; and another one didn’t take baths.  And so you see, Caitlin, it’s really well worth the money.  I want her to be happy.”

     Caitlin tried not to smile.  “Well, David.  I really don’t know how it might go.  Shall we do a trial?  Say, six months?  I’ll commit for the whole six no matter what, but if you find it’s not working for you, you can let me know at any time.”  she suggested.

     “That would be very satisfactory.”  he agreed, feeling relieved.  “But, the escape clause goes both ways; I insist.  How long until you’d be free to go?”

      “Well, finals are in about three weeks.”  she said slowly.  “But I think that I’d be allowed to challenge the tests now, if I have a job pending.  I’ll find out tomorrow.  If so, I could probably wrap it up in a week.”

      “The sooner the better, for your sake.” he grumbled.  “I would like to see you disappear before Skyler and Connie have any opportunity to bother you again.”

      She blanched, and he gave her a comforting smile. 

      “Listen, you.  I think we can keep Connie in jail for that long, and Skyler is not willing to take me on, when he's sane.  We established that long ago.  I trained as a boxer and studied Karate.  He knows I can clean the floor with him.  He just lost his head the other night.  He knows if I'd hit him back, he'd have taken a pounding he'd never forget.  So relax, will you?  And eat.” he ordered sweetly.

      “One more question.  Won’t your mother wonder … about you and me, I mean?  I mean, won’t she think …?”

      David smiled, and looked directly into her eyes.  She was blushing profusely.  “Probably.  She’ll wonder, no doubt.  That may be the one cross you’ll have to bear, until she sees us together for some time.  But, she’s smart as a whip.  She’ll see things straight, in short order.  I wouldn’t worry much about that.”  he advised.  “Her questions will be polite, and the very idea may be just what she needs to perk her up.”

      Caitlin nodded, and tried to eat more soup.

      “Didn’t you say that you used to ride a bit?” he asked thoughtfully,

      “Yes, I did.”

     “Well, perhaps that will make it more pleasant for you, then.  I keep a small stable at the house, and there’s plenty of room to roam about.”

     That announcement made Caitlin’s heart flutter with excitement.  To have such a lovely thing restored to her?  It was a prospect she could not stop thinking about.

      Still, she didn’t sleep well that night.  Hours passed as she lay there thinking about the wisdom of accepting David’s offer so readily.  She hardly knew him;  yet, he’d been so very good to her.  And, he was always a perfect gentleman.  He seemed to have no designs on her, whatsoever. 

      And it appeared that he truly would like to have a companion for his mother, so it wasn’t completely a sympathy offer.   He was rarely there himself, at any rate.

      Still, she would have been embarrassed and chagrined to read the letter that David wrote to his mother that night.  He composed it with much forethought and deliberation, knowing that this would set the tone for his mother’s initial attitude toward Cait. 

     He smiled as he thought of her possible reactions.  She was going to be quite stimulated by the situation, he was sure.  Yet, he had to use the utmost care in his presentation.

    
“Dear Mother:

   
Things are well with me, but I miss you.  I always do when I’m away, as you well know.  It’s been a pleasant tour, but for missing you.” 

     I have some news for you, and a great favor to ask.  I need your help for a time.  There is a delightful girl that I am going to send to you.  She’s a lovely young lady from Scotland.  She and her uncle have been great friends to me. 

   “She’s had a terrible shock, and she needs a quiet place to rest and recuperate.  She was bitterly disappointed by a man that I know, her life threatened by a jealous girlfriend.  After looking down the barrel of a gun, mother, she can’t even seem to swallow food.”

   
“I believe it’s a panic reaction that will resolve after a few months’ safety.  She needs to feel secure, yet not be too alone.  Please forgive me for not calling to ask this personally.  I am going to just send her, because I can’t afford for you to say no.”

   
“I owe she and her uncle a great debt, and I know that you will love her when you get to know her.  She is shy and quiet, and she will be no trouble.  Please welcome her, for she will be a delight to you.  I’ll wire you with her arrival information, and we’ll talk soon.”

    
“Thank you, Mother.  Love, David.”

     He didn’t see Caitlin again until after his Monday night performance.  She was sitting at the front motel desk, still looking pale. 

       “Hey.”  he greeted her affably.  “What did you find out about finals?”

       “I can challenge them all.  Two are already done, so I’ll be ready to leave by the end of the week.”  she assured him.

        “And how about the appetite?”  he demanded.

        She grinned at him.  “You are an unbearable bully.”  she accused.

        “That didn’t answer my question.”

        “I had some tea.” she answered defensively.

      “Tea?” he echoed in disbelief. 

      Caitlin could see quite a storm brewing in his eyes at the news.  She should have lied.  “Well, I’ll work up to it.”  she assured him.

      “You’re quite right about that.”  he promised.  He was clearly vexed with her.

     A man came through the front door, and they turned to find Skyler Vaughn stalking toward them with snapping eyes.  He stopped some feet away, and glared from one to the other.

      “Trying hard to keep my woman.  Aren’t you, Majors?”  he sneered.

     “Actually, that’s not been a problem.”  David answered him with a relaxed smile.  “Caitlin and I have been very much enjoying one another's company.”

     “She was
mine
until you and Connie came along.  Or -- did she tell you the whole truth of it?”

       “Skyler, that is not so.  We all know that I was never
‘yours’
.  Even my Uncle William knew on your last tour that I wasn’t comfortable with you, after our
two
  dates!   That's why he came around and chased you off that morning, when I introduced you to him. You need to stop these outrageous lies.”

     Skyler turned vengeful eyes on her.  “She’s going to come after you, you know.”  he told her with glee.  “She’s going to find you alone, and put a knife in your soft, white belly." he threatened smoothly.  “And watch your guts spill out on the floor.”

      “Get out.”  David hissed, taking a threatening step toward him.  He blocked Caitlin’s view of the man with his shoulders.

      Skyler glared around David and pointed a finger at Cait.  “You should have been nicer to me.  I’d have protected you from her.  Nice knowing ya.”  he sneered.  Then, he turned and left. 

       Caitlin spun on her heel, and fled.

      David waited until he heard Skyler's car leaving.  Then he found the door that led to the office, and went through.  Caitlin wasn’t anywhere to be found.  He saw a restroom door, and tapped on it lightly. 

      “Cait?” he said gently.  “He’s gone.  You can come out now.”

      “How can you know, if you’re back here?”  she asked shakily.

     “I’ll check again.”  he promised.  He did so, and returned to assure her that the lobby was empty.  She unlocked the door and came out, pale and trembling.  There were tears on her face.

     David pressed his lips together, and pulled her into his arms.  He held her head tightly against his shoulder.  “It’s going to be all right, Cait.  I promise.”  he told her quietly.  “I’ll protect you until I get you on that plane.  He won’t know where you’ve gone.”

      “Don’t you think he’ll guess?” she whispered fearfully.

      “He might.  It won’t matter if he does. He won’t be able to get near you.  Don’t tell anyone about our arrangement, just the same.  The school won’t tell him anything either, if you instruct them to keep it private.”

      “Are you sure he can’t get to me at your home?  What good will two women alone be?”

     He smiled.  “It’s perfectly safe there.  The house sits in the front third of a three hundred acre estate.  It is fenced and guarded by surveillance.  There is also a man and his wife who live close by.  He is our driver and handyman; his wife cleans the house and looks after the horses.  And there’s the cook, Bonnie.  So you two won’t be completely alone.  It will be fine.”

      “I’m so afraid, David.  I’m ashamed to say it, but I can’t help myself.”

      He squeezed her, and chuckled.  “Don’t be.  But do try to stop worrying.  I can handle this situation, Cait.  I have a vested interest in your safety now, and I intend to make certain that nothing comes near you.  It will be a bit tricky for the rest of the week, but I have some thoughts about that, too.  Then you’ll be off to England.”

      “What are you going to do about this week?” she asked fearfully. 

     “You’ll use the limo to get to and from school.  You won't have to worry about Connie, because she’s staying where she is, until you’re safely away.  At school, you’ll have to use some wisdom; but when you’re here, I’ll be around to watch over you when your Uncle William isn’t.”

    She tried to smile, and was horrified to find tears slipping out of her eyes instead.  David’s shoulder was already wet; and it was becoming far too easy for Caitlin to take comfort in his strong arms.  She was getting very accustomed to running to him.  She pushed against his shoulder, and he immediately released her. 

      “I’ll be fine.  Thank you.” she said stiffly.

      David raised his eyebrows, but backed off.  “All right.  I’ll crash on the couch in the lobby, and see you in the morning.”

   “No, David.  He won’t come back.  Your sleep mustn’t be continually compromised.  He
wants
you to be inconvenienced.  I can call the police and have them here in minutes, if need be.”

     “That could be far too much time in the wrong company.”  he warned softly.  “Cait, I would really like to keep you out of harm’s way.” he pleaded.

       “I suppose you feel it’s your right, as my new employer.”  she teased shakily.

      “And as a friend.”  he added with a chuckle.  “You’re a sitting duck behind this counter.  Let’s talk to William and see if he can’t do without you for the rest of the week.”

      Caitlin considered.  “Well, Liz has been after more hours, and so has Mia.  Perhaps it would work, but …”

      “What?”  he prodded.

      “I need the hours, really.”  she admitted with a blush.

    “Don’t give that a thought.”  he dismissed.  “I’ll take care of everything you need, from now on.  And don’t look at me like that.  I know that you’re suspicious of heavy-handed men, but I don’t like to be looked at that way.  Remember that you’re doing me a great favor, and relax.  We’ll just have to work together on this.” 

     Caitlin shut her mouth, and nodded mutely.  “All right, David.  You seem to have a way with Uncle Will.  I’ll let you ... take care of it.”  she mumbled haltingly.

       He inclined his head, and smiled.  “Thank you.  Now I’m going to my room for a few minutes.  Please call, if you see one unwelcome face.”

       Caitlin nodded, and tried to smile.  David grinned at her, and left.

     David called William when he got to his room.  “William.  I do hate to keep calling you in the middle of the night, but I don’t choose the timing.  Can we talk?  Skyler Vaughn’s paid Caitlin another visit.”

     William joined David in his room, without delay.  He was greatly upset.  After David explained to him what had happened, he sighed.  “What can I do to stop this, David?”  he railed.  “I know she’s leaving at the end of the week, but what about
this
one?”

      David shook his head.  “I have some ideas.”  he said carefully.

      “Let’s hear them.”  William snapped.

     “Stop her working, immediately.  She’s a sitting duck out there alone at night.  It’s not safe for her, anymore.  She said that she thought perhaps you had employees looking for more hours, and that you could cover her spot.”

      “All right.  I’m sure we can do that, David.  But that’s not what concerns me most.  I have tried to keep quiet, but I’ve got to hear it from you.  Why is she going to your home in England?  Is this a bona fide job, or are you up to something?” he blustered suspiciously.

     David grinned.  “It’s not the job of her dreams, but the salary was quite persuasive.  I like Caitlin, William.  She will delight my mother, and I can trust her.  If she doesn’t pull my mother out of her depression, I’ll eat my hat.  She’ll be safe there, and I will be away for almost the whole six months.  You have nothing to worry about.”

      William looked at him with bold eyes, considering.  “Are you sure that’s all there is to it?”