Forbidden Entry (11 page)

Her face red with embarrassment, Dot lowered her eyes and the look of stunned disbelief on my parent's faces was classic. Me? I felt like the top of my head was going to blow off. I could not think of a polite response and wondered if it was even worth the effort to rebut her lies. I had a sneaking suspicion that she'd seen us coming and planned that we would overhear her disparaging remarks. Oh, how I would love to wring her scrawny neck. But, in an attempt to maintain peace, I decided to ignore her. Summoning what little patience I possessed, I forced a cordial tone. “Hello, Ruth. I'd like you to meet my parents, Bill and Alana O'Dell.”

She sat perfectly still for a few seconds before slowly turning her head in our direction. Her mouth pursed tightly shut, she gave my parents a cursory glance, then fastened her fathomless dark eyes on me and said nothing. My dad finally broke the silence. Clearing his throat uncomfortably, he said, “Mrs. Talverson, we've…ah…been looking forward to meeting you for a long time.”

“Have you now?” She took another long sip of her
drink and sucked deeply on her cigarette before adding gruffly, “I hope you're enjoying…all of this,” she said waving her hand in a wide arc. “My children have gone to a great deal of trouble and expense to impress you people.” Her gaunt face turned crafty. “So tell me, are you impressed?”

You people?
Could the old bat be more insulting? Their faces frozen in shock, my folks leveled a questioning look at me as if to ask, ‘What do you want us to say?' which only increased my sense of regret that I had not told them the truth about her condition.

“Actually, we are very impressed,” my mother answered coldly, her eyes hard with dislike, “and doubly so that your son had the good sense to choose this very talented, exceptionally beautiful redhead to be his bride. Aren't you?”

Way to go, Mom! I tossed her an appreciative glance and absorbed my dad's disconcerted stare. Not one to be outfoxed, Ruth casually stubbed out her cigarette. “Oh, I can hardly wait.” Her cynical half-smile disturbed me, but I reminded myself that her hostility was indicative of her ongoing mental and emotional issues. And alcohol could also be a contributing factor.

Refusing to be drawn into a heated verbal exchange she was so obviously spoiling for, I clapped my hands together in mock glee. “Well, hasn't this been fun?” I almost laughed out loud at Ruth's startled expression. “Mom, Dad, what do you say we go get some of those super-expensive steaks that have been provided to impress you?”

They both stared at me as if I'd lost my mind before realization dawned in my dad's eyes. “Great idea, Pumpkin! I'm hungry enough to eat two or three at least. Let's go, Alana.” He positioned his crutches firmly, nodded curtly to Ruth, and as we walked away, I turned back and fired her a challenging look. “We both know the truth, don't we? You and I will talk later.” The nasty old bitch had better get used to the idea that the new Mrs. Talverson wasn't going to put up with her shit.

Once we were out of earshot, my mother grabbed my arm and gave me a penetrating look. “What a thoroughly obnoxious woman. What's her problem anyway?”

“No wonder you want to live a mile away from her,” my dad chimed in, shaking his head with obvious concern. “In fact, I don't think that's nearly far enough.”

I broke eye contact for a few seconds then looked back at them. “I should have told you sooner, but...here's the deal. Ruth is bipolar and God knows what else. She's on quite a few medications, when she chooses to take them. She can be bearable at times and unpleasant and hard to live with at others, as you saw. Unfortunately, she's part of the family package.”

Worry lines creased my mother's forehead. “Honey, this is going to be really rough on you. Why didn't you tell us?”

I stared up at the stars for several seconds before answering. “Because I know you haven't been happy about my decision to stay here in Arizona and marry Tally and, well, I didn't want to add one more reason for you to be critical of him.”

Looking contrite, she said, “I'm sorry. I should have known better than to rush to judgment. Now that I've met him, he seems…like a truly fine man.” She paused as if searching for the right words. “I honestly didn't think this would be a way of life that you would…I mean I didn't think you'd want to stay here forever and live on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. I thought you'd want to come home again…” her voice trailed off when Tally suddenly pushed through the crowd and strode to my side, holding his cell phone. I noticed the odd expression on his face and he no doubt saw the look of exasperation on mine. Even though I was glad to see him, I couldn't help but be a little ticked off that he'd left me hanging out to dry with his mother.

“Yes, I got your message. Sorry about the delay. I've been tied up with a rather ticklish problem—”

“Yeah,” I interrupted him, “and speaking of ticklish, your mother was in rare form tonight. I would say rude was the operative word.”

He glanced at my parents. “I apologize. I had planned to be here but ah…listen, would you excuse us for a few minutes?” He took my hand. “We'll be right back.”

I stared at him, unable to decipher the strange message in his eyes.

“Sure thing,” my dad said quickly, both of them casting me a curious look. “We were just about to get some dinner.” As they moved towards the grill, Tally steered me into the shadows away from the noisy crowd of people. There was just enough ambient light playing across his rugged features to reveal his serious expression. “Tally, what's going on?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“I'll say. First, you owe me an apology for leaving me in such a bind tonight. Your mother was just awful! It was unbelievably embarrassing! And secondly, why the hell did you invite Lucinda here tonight? You know very well that I cannot stand her!”

“What? Why are we talking about Lucinda?”

“Because, she told me you begged her to come here. Really? You begged her to bring biscuits?”

“Biscuits? I didn't beg her to bring biscuits.” He sounded incredulous.

“Ah ha! I knew she was lying! And I saw her flaunting her giant—”

He broke in harshly, “Kendall, calm down! This is not important—”

I cut in, “It is to me.”

His growl of frustration sounded like one of the dogs. “Damn it! What do I have to do? Arrange a duel for you two or maybe you ladies would rather duke it out?”

“Only one of us is a lady and yes, that sounds agreeable to me. I'd love to punch her lights out.” Only after the words escaped my mouth did I realize how ridiculously childish I sounded.

He grabbed my shoulders, his face only inches from mine. “Listen to me, my incredibly adorable, but exceedingly pig-headed lady. You're going to have to get over Lucinda. In fact, instead of badmouthing her, you ought to be thanking her.”

I was so incensed, I could hardly breathe. “Thank her! For what?”

“We'd have no live music tonight if it wasn't for her.”

“What do you mean?”

“Apparently she's buds with Randall and somehow sweet-talked him into playing here tonight. Now will you please shut up and let me speak?”

His explanation left me feeling foolish and deflated. I was glad the light was low enough that he couldn't see my flushed cheeks. “Sure. What's up?”

He lifted his hat, combed his fingers through his thick hair and replaced it before answering. “I didn't want to say anything in front of your folks because I knew it would get them all riled up, but Jake caught Sean with Danny and Daryl Hinkle, plus a couple of girls I don't know, all smoking pot behind the barn.”

“I had a bad feeling when I saw him with them earlier. Why did you invite those boys anyway?” I called them boys but they were actually only two years younger than me. I'd yet to meet them in person, but learned their history of school bullying and scrapes with the law as juveniles while writing a piece on Daryl's arrest for a DUI last summer. The record also showed they had been arrested two years earlier for disorderly conduct and assault after their alleged involvement in a nightclub brawl in Scottsdale. The charges had subsequently been dropped due to lack of evidence and witnesses refusing to come forward.

“I didn't,” Tally informed me crisply. “Apparently, they piggybacked on our invitation to Elizabeth. She's had a pretty rough year since John died. It would have been cruel not to invite her, don't you think?”

“I suppose so. I just don't like the idea of Sean being influenced by those guys.” Because Elizabeth Hinkle lived on the neighboring ranch from me, I'd always waved at her when we passed each other on the road and had talked briefly with her several times at various town functions. I'd always wondered why she wore such a sad, harried expression and felt sorry for her. After questioning Tally, he'd filled me in on a few salient details about her background. Being the only not-terribly-attractive daughter of rancher Buster McCracken, she'd remained single until the age of 38, when she'd married widower John Hinkle and taken on the thankless task of raising his two out-of-control ten-year-old sons who had been running wild since their mother's death four years earlier. According to Ginger, whom I affectionately referred to as the Castle Valley Gossip Queen, Elizabeth had finally ordered the two aggressive young men off the Hinkle ranch earlier in the year, but had recently allowed them to return and stay in the bunkhouse, even though they continually harassed her for money, claiming their father's ranch rightfully belonged to them.

Tally nodded sagely. “No question they are a couple of certified misfits. But how do you know it was them?” he asked, folding his arms over his chest. “Suppose it was your brother who provided the dope?”

Good point. Fuming, I groused, “Apparently my brother learned nothing from getting busted and spending the night in jail.”

“I wasn't as concerned about them drinking and smoking a joint as I was about the white powder being passed around.”

Intense dread knotted my stomach. That confirmed my fear that he was experimenting with other, possibly more lethal drugs. “Did you say anything to them?”

“I told them I wouldn't tolerate that kind of behavior on my property and to take it someplace else.”

I shook my head sadly. “I ought to slap the crap out of him for being so stupid and irresponsible! Where is that little shit anyway?”

Tally expelled a long breath. “I hate to tell you this, but I don't know.”

CHAPTER

9

My grandmother would have pronounced this a fine kettle of fish. I fought to corral the mixture of emotions roiling in my empty stomach. Think. What to do? I'd had so many ups and downs the past two days I could not wrap my brain around this new problem or what to do about it. “What do you mean, you don't know?”

“I mean, I saw him leave with them and I don't know where they went.”

For a few seconds, I really felt like I was going to lose it. “I don't believe this.” I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Sean's number, only to be disappointed when it went to voicemail. “The brat is not answering.” I fired off a quick text demanding that he get his butt back to the ranch pronto. “Oh, my God,” I moaned, resting my forehead in one hand. “I cannot seem to catch a break.” Sighing heavily, I looked up into Tally's sympathetic eyes. “Having them all here was supposed to be fun and some of it has been, but it's also been kind of stressful. I mean, if you start with my dad's fractured foot, then proceed to learning about Sean's arrest,” I said, counting on my fingers, “factor in Ginger's cousin's death, then consider the rotten scene with your mother and finally add in Walter getting sick and probably being absent from work while I'm gone...” my voice faltered as I tried to conceal the tremor in my voice.

Without saying a word, Tally stepped forward and enfolded me in his arms. I leaned into his muscular frame, slid my arms around his waist and immediately felt more at peace than I had for days. I wished I could stay there forever. Listening to the lilting strains of a slow country ballad in the background, we were soon moving gently to the beat of the music. Locked in a tight embrace, it wasn't long before he tipped my chin up and locked his sensuous lips against mine, igniting all my senses. It was a blissfully romantic moment and I was enjoying myself so much I lost track of time. When we eventually pulled apart, he said softly, “Listen to me, Kendall. There's no use worrying yourself about things you have no control over. Most of this stuff will work itself out. I'm sorry as hell about Ma's behavior and I will make damn sure she apologizes to you and your folks.”

“What if she refuses?”

“Then she won't be coming to our engagement party.”

My breath caught in my throat. “And you'd be okay with that?”

“I'd be okay with that.”

His selfless offer sent a powerful surge of love and admiration coursing through me. “Thank you for that,” I said, caressing his cheek then kissing him again passionately, deeply gratified to have this pragmatic man as the love of my life. When we finally came up for air, I added, “And thank you, thank you, thank you for that super-amazing rescue of my mom. That was some kind of riding, cowboy.”

He chuckled. “Think she likes me a little better now?”

“I'm thinking…mmmmm… yes.”

“Good. So, what about you,” he said, pushing a stray curl away from one eye. “Has your mood improved any?”

I hesitated before saying, “For the most part.”

He fixed me with a perceptive look. “I know. You're worried about your brother. Look, he's a big boy and I'm guessing that group all went someplace to party the way young people do nowadays.”

“That's what worries me. I'm really bothered by his juvenile behavior. He acts like he's fifteen, not twenty-five.”

“Let's face it, if your brother is a stoner, you may just have to accept it.”

“I get that, but considering what he's just put my folks through, wouldn't you think he'd cool it on the drug use at least while he's here with all of us? What am I going to tell them? When they find out he's not here, they'll have an atomic cow.”

“Maybe, but I'll tell you what. First, we're going to get you something to eat,” he said, his tone soothing. “Then we'll deal with it. Okay?”

I agreed and when we returned to the festivities, I was heartened to see my parents seated at a table with Tugg, Mary and two other couples laughing and engaged in lively conversation. They looked so happy and relaxed I decided to postpone telling them anything at least until after I had eaten. Maybe I'd luck out and Sean would return soon, sparing me the task of having to explain his absence.

While Tally and I stood in line waiting for grilled steaks, baked potatoes and corn on the cob, scores of friends and acquaintances congratulated us on our engagement and when we finally got to eat, I must admit my temperament did improve. I was still sampling various desserts when Tally excused himself to go find Ronda. I kept checking my phone to see if Sean had returned my call or text, but he had not. There was, however, a text from Ginger asking me to stop by Marcelene's house later. She'd talked with her aunt and had information regarding Jenessa that might be significant. That got my imagination cooking. I could hardly wait to find out what it was and yet, I knew myself well enough to realize it would be better for me if I didn't know. Whatever it was would no doubt drive me crazy because I couldn't do a damn thing about it.

It was closing in on ten o'clock, getting cold enough to see your breath, and guests were saying their goodnights when I spotted Jim Sykes talking with Tally some distance away. Wait a minute! He'd been with Sean earlier. Maybe he knew something. I sprang off the chair. He and his girlfriend were almost to his truck when I intercepted them. “Hey, Jim, got a second?”

They both turned and he asked, “Sure, what's up?”

“A couple of quick questions.”

“Okay, well, let me turn on the heat for Sheryl, she's freezing.”

“Hi, Sheryl,” I said, waving to his tall, blonde companion. “Did you have fun?”

“I sure did! Thanks for inviting us, Kendall.” She wrapped her scarf around her neck and climbed into the truck. Jim started the engine, then stepped out and shut the door, rubbing his hands together before buttoning his coat. “What's going on?”

“Earlier tonight, I saw you talking with my brother Sean and the Hinkle brothers. Do you know where they went?”

His expression turned crafty. “I gather you already know Tally ran 'em off the ranch.”

“Yes and I'm assuming you know why.”

He hitched his shoulders. “I don't know all the details, but I'm thinking they might've gone to their ranch, or I overheard Danny say something about maybe going over to the Rattlesnake to play pool.”

The Rattlesnake Saloon was well-known as a hangout for the rougher element of Castle Valley. “Thanks, Jim. Oh, and I heard Walter went home sick. Do you know if he talked to Duane or stopped over at the sheriff's office? He was supposed to check out some things for me.”

He shook his head. “Unless he met up with Duane in the can, I don't think he did. He was in there most of the day.”

My spirits sank. “Man, I sure hope it's just food poisoning.”

“Me too,” Jim concurred, jamming his hands in his pockets, “because he looked like he was at death's door when he left. I mean it. His face looked sort of green. If he's got some kind of creeping crud, I definitely don't want it.”

“You'd better not get sick. I'm counting on you guys to hold down the fort until I get back.”

He gave me a thumbs-up. “That's the plan!” He jumped into his truck and as he roared off into the night, the sinking sensation in my gut intensified. There was no way out of it. I could not put off telling my parents any longer, but decided that I didn't have to tell them the circumstances just yet. Tally was right. He was not a kid and I had to believe that at some point someone would drive him back to the motel.

Keeping that optimistic thought in mind, I met up with Tally and we went to find my parents, who were still visiting with Tugg and Mary. They both looked so cute sitting there wearing their new western hats. After we all said our goodnights and waved goodbye, I reminded them of my plan to pick everyone up at seven-thirty for our drive to Prescott for breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants. From there we would travel the scenic, winding road up Mingus Mountain to visit the former ghost town of Jerome, now turned artist colony. Later, we'd join Tally for dinner at the new Crab Shack for dinner.

“Where's Sean?” my mother asked, pulling her coat closer as she shouldered her purse. “I haven't seen him for hours.”

I didn't miss the observant gleam in Tally's eyes when I explained that he'd been invited to join some of the other younger people at another party and that I expected they'd drop him back at the motel later on. My mother gave me a long, searching look before exchanging a suspicious glance with my dad who then transferred it to me.

“You'd think he could be considerate enough to at least let us know he was going someplace, but no, he only ever thinks of himself,” my mother fussed, her mouth fixed in a straight line.

It seemed to be an evening of regrets. I should really tell them the whole truth, even though it would absolutely ruin the evening and perhaps the entire visit. Wasn't I only postponing their eventual pain by giving Sean the benefit of the doubt? What was I going to do if he didn't return tonight?

As we sailed through the pitch-black landscape, illuminated solely by the bright haze of starlight, I tried to quell my apprehension and enjoy the scenery, but failed. Why wasn't Sean answering my phone or text messages? What if he wasn't at the Rattlesnake? He was in new surroundings, mingling with strangers well-known locally for their corrupting influences. What if he did something stupid and got himself into more serious trouble? I was driving myself crazy with ‘what ifs.'

“You're awfully quiet,” my dad remarked softly. “You must be pooped, I know I am.” He absently rubbed his leg above the ankle boot and I could tell by his drawn face that he was in pain again.

“Yeah, it's been a pretty active day. How about you, Mom? Are you feeling okay after your wild ride? I'm really sorry about that.”

“My shoulders and neck are a little sore, but in an odd way, I'm kind of glad it happened.”

I glanced in the rearview mirror, but it was too dark to see her face clearly. “Why?”

“Because, it was…kind of a revelation of how wrong I've been about Tally all this time. I think you've chosen a good man, a brave man, and I couldn't be happier for the two of you.”

After so many months of listening to her constant criticisms and engaging in heated exchanges on the phone, her unexpected answer triggered a rush of euphoria. “Thanks, Mom. I think I'll keep him.”

“I'm with her one hundred percent, Pumpkin,” my dad interjected, reaching over to pat my shoulder. “But, I certainly don't envy you having to put up with his mother. She is something else again and I know you're kind of light in the patience department.”

“It's been a real struggle,” I admitted, turning into the motel parking lot. I walked them to their room and hugged them both while they thanked me profusely for what my dad called ‘a one-of-a-kind day and a first class party.' As we waved goodbye, I noticed the agitated look in my mother's eyes when she glanced next door at the darkened window in Sean's room. Sharing her sentiments, I drove around the front of the building, parked beside Ginger's car and hurried along the rose-flanked walkway that lead to the small cottage tucked behind the motel office. As I walked up the shallow steps onto the well-lit front porch, I decided the manicured honeysuckle vines crawling along the railing added just the right amount of character and assisted in making the place look more like a big dollhouse.

My light knock on the door was answered within seconds. Illuminated in the bright rectangle of golden light, Ginger waved me inside. “Get in here, Sugar! It's colder 'n a frosted frog out there tonight.”

“It's not too bad.” It was hard not to smile when Marcelene's pug, Squirt, rushed to greet me. He emitted friendly snuffling noises and showed his pleasure by whirling around in circles. I knelt down to pet him and was rewarded by squealing grunts. “You are so darn cute!” I said with a laugh, petting his taut, little body.

“Sorry about missin' the cookout,” she lamented with a sigh. “I was yakkin' with Doug a minute ago and he said it was a real big success.”

“It was. I'm sorry you both missed it, but I understand.” Having become accustomed to being out in the cold night air for so many hours, it seemed stuffy inside so I immediately shed my coat.

“Just toss it over the back of the couch and come on into the kitchen,” Ginger said. “Marcelene's got a story you need to hear.”

“Okay.” Super curious to hear what she had to say, I followed Ginger and Squirt towards an arched doorway, noting that the place was just as cozy inside as I'd imagined. The small living room was tastefully furnished in a country decor—lots of bric-a-brac on the tables and shelves, an upright piano, colorful throw pillows brightened beige overstuffed furniture and a highly polished parquet floor with scattered area rugs. When we entered the little kitchen, Marcelene sat slump-shouldered at a round maple table pouring steaming water from a flowered teapot. Behind her, the cheerful blue and white gingham curtains adorning the windows, along with the animated chirp of a cuckoo clock, belied her downcast expression.