A Walk In The Wilderness (10 page)

     “It’s just that I’m afraid, now.   Of him. 
Them
.” she shivered.  She was horrified to find tears springing up in her eyes, and covered her face with her hands. 

      “Hey.”  he soothed.  He pulled her into his arms, and cuddled her gently.  His hand smoothed over the crown of her head, the way he would have comforted a child. 

     “It’s going to be all right.  Just relax, and let me take care of this.  Trust me a bit.  Will you, Cait?  That viper threatened you, and I don’t wonder that you’re scared witless!  But they can’t hurt you.  They’d have to come through me, first.”

      She laughed, and shook her head in wonder.  “Are you a man, or a guardian angel?” she teased.

     “Maybe a bit of both, for the time being.  Now, get yourself dressed and we’ll get some breakfast in you.  Then we’ll put our heads together, and strategize about what to do next.  I’ll wait outside.”

     As David opened the door to his room, a slight figure darted in, slipping past him.  Connie came running at Caitlin with malice in her eyes.  “You slut!”  she shouted.  “You’ve ruined Skyler for me, and I am going to make you pay!” she seethed, throwing herself at Cait.

       David pulled her chain up short, by grabbing her arms and restraining her.  A nasty-looking hand gun dropped out of Connie’s hand onto the carpet.  David squeezed until she stopped cussing and struggling.

      “Let-me-go!” she hissed.  “You conniving bastard!”

    “Not a chance.”  David denied smoothly.  “Cait, honey.  Call the desk and have them get the police here.”

      Within moments, Uncle William and the police joined them.  It wasn’t long until Connie had been arrested, and hauled away.  Caitlin had to answer a few questions, but David was there with her, and her uncle seemed very supportive. Finally, they all left, Uncle William showing the policemen out. 

      When everyone was gone but David, Caitlin covered her eyes with trembling hands, and willed herself not to crumble.  It wasn’t working.

     Warm, strong arms closed around her, and a gentle hand pulled her head down against a warm, solid chest.  “It’s all right now.”  he soothed.

       “David, if you hadn’t been here, I’d be dead.” she whispered brokenly.

       He just held her.  Uncle William came back into the room, but David didn’t let go. 

      “It’s over.”  he assured her quietly. 

     But that wasn’t quite so.  Skyler burst into the room, and stopped cold when he saw Cait in David’s embrace.

        “Where is Connie?”  he demanded wildly.

      “The police arrested her.”  Uncle William informed him with delight.  “She tried to shoot my niece, and I’m going to throw the book at her.  And if you don’t get out of my building and stay out, the same thing is going to happen to you.”

      Rather, Skyler marched over to stare defiantly up at David.  “Get your hands off Cait.”  he demanded.

      “Don’t, Skyler.”  David warned tiredly. 

   “Caitlin, come along with me. Connie’s in jail, so she can’t interfere.  We’ll be married.”  Skyler ordered haughtily.

     Caitlin closed her eyes and buried her face in David’s arm.  “Are you mad?”  she gasped.  “Never, Skyler!   Go away, and leave me alone.”

     “Look here, Caitlin.  I’ve gone through a great deal to have you.  I thwarted Connie for you!”

     “You threw me aside like a rag doll, and told her I was your cousin!”  she laughed incredulously. 

      “That was only to protect you.  You see how she can be!”  he protested wildly.

      Caitlin shook her head.  “Skyler, I only came last night to be sure I was doing the right thing in refusing you.  I’m sorry, but I couldn’t be more sure.  I knew it as soon as I looked into your eyes last night, when you came out onto the stage.  It really doesn’t even have anything to do with Connie, or all that’s happened now.  I simply can’t love you, and I never will.  Now David has come along, and I know exactly what I
do
want. Please, leave me alone.  Leave
us
alone.” she said vehemently.  Despite their agreement on the plan of action, she felt a reaction from David to her statement -- a slight stiffening.

     Skyler glared from her, to David.  “Listen, Cait.  Don’t decide now.  You’re confused.  David moved in, and turned your head at a time when you were vulnerable.  It’s
me
that loves you.  You can love me.  I
know
you do love me!”

    “No, Skyler.  That’s not so.  This whole relationship between us has been something that you built up in your mind.  Please, leave David alone.  He’s just trying to protect me.”

      “He just wanted to get you in bed.  He’s not going to stick with you, Cait.”  he accused. He looked wild in the eyes, and desperate.  “He's using you to get at me, can't you see that?  He doesn't
love
you!” he scoffed. 

     “Skyler, go away.  Leave me alone.  Go take care of your relationship with Connie.” she begged.

     “I don’t have anything with Connie!  All I’ve got is a psychopath after me all the time, and a child support obligation!”

      “I am sorry.”  Caitlin said again.  She was not moved with pity.  He'd just admitted that Jamie was his; he wouldn't be paying support, otherwise.

     “Sir, will you vacate the premises, or shall I call the police back again?”  Uncle William asked pointedly.    

     “I’ll go.”  Skyler decided coldly.  “But you certainly haven’t seen the last of me!” he spat at David.  Then he turned, and stalked out.

      All three of them heaved a sigh of relief when he was gone.  “Whew. Caitlin, my stars!”  Uncle William whistled.

   “I know. Really, uncle, he seemed perfectly respectable, and a complete gentleman when I first met him.  I am so sorry for all this.  I do feel responsible.”

     “Naw.”  her uncle denied.  “I get loonies in here all the time.  You know that.  Don’t think anything of it.  Still, I’m awfully glad that Mr. Majors here was kind enough to intervene on your behalf.  Lord only knows what would have happened to you, if he had not been about.  Tell me, Mr. Majors.  What can I do to repay the incredible debt that we owe you?”

      David shook his head, a smile on his face.  “Nothing.  My reward was to see Caitlin remain safe.  Please don’t make a fuss about it.”

     “Surely there must be some way that we can express our gratitude.”  Uncle William insisted.

    “Not that I can think of.  Unless it would be breakfast; I’m ready for something to eat.”  he laughed. 

      Uncle William brightened considerably at the suggestion.

     “You two go ahead and have a great time.  I think I’ll try to get some sleep.” Caitlin suggested immediately.

      David looked at her with concern in his eyes.  “Are you all right?”

     Caitlin was already finding it difficult to hide from the intense beam of those deep, blue eyes of David’s. “Yes, just exhausted.  I didn’t get a great deal of sleep.  I was awake past two, and then someone called at three-thirty.  I just got a few hours, after that.”

     “You’re welcome to stay here and sleep, if you’d like.”  David offered worriedly.

    “Thank you, David.  But Skyler would be just as likely to find me here, as he would in my own room.”

      He sighed and nodded.  “I suppose so.” he admitted.

      “I’ll see you both later.  David, thank you so much for all you’ve done.  You’ve been very kind to me.”  Caitlin said shyly.

      He smiled in reply; and the two men watched her walk away, with obvious worry.  “Do you think she’s going to be all right?”  William asked.

    “I don’t know.  I’m very concerned about her, actually.”  David answered quietly.  “She seems to be shutting down a bit.  Or does she usually not eat?”

      William shrugged.  “I’ve never known her to avoid meals.  We’ll just have to see what happens as things calm down.  She’s a strong girl, really.  Went through losing her parents with hardly a word, or a tear.  I’d hear her crying in her room sometimes at night, but never when she thought anyone would see or know.  Got a lot of backbone for a young lady.”

      David smiled.  “I can see that.  I just wonder how much she can take, though.”

      They went to the restaurant and enjoyed a fine breakfast together.  By the time it was over, they’d become friends.

      Caitlin spent the rest of the day in her room, studying.  She found that she still had trouble concentrating.  She ended up taking a nap for a good part of the afternoon, but she didn’t rest particularly well, either.  When she awoke, she found a good movie on television, and just stayed curled up in bed.  She wasn’t even slightly interested in food. 

     She had to work the graveyard shift that night again, as a fill-in.  She was actually quite glad to be working.  She knew that she’d be awake all night, anyway.  Still, she went in feeling a bit nervous.  What if Skyler called – or came in?  What if Connie got out of jail? 

      David Majors was going to be out as late as Skyler, and when he did come in, he’d be dog tired.  Besides, he wasn’t going to be around to protect her, forever. 

       As she sat down at the front desk for the night, fears began to invade her soul, and take hold.  She felt so defenseless -- completely helpless.  She was not a fighter!  She was just an introverted, only child.  She didn’t have anyone but her uncle William; and even that security was coming to an end, very soon.

     It started her to thinking.  What was she going to do?  How was she going to support herself?  Could she find an adequate position?  How would she fund her relocation?  Should she try to enroll in further schooling, instead?  If she did that, how would she afford it?

     She sighed.  There were too many questions and uncertainties, just now.  She knew that Skyler’s tantrums had set off this spat of nervousness, but just the same, it was difficult to cope.             

     Uncle William came out to check on her at twelve-thirty, and looked at her closely.  “Child, are you all right?”

      “Fine.  Just a bit tired.”  she assured him.

      “Have you had something to eat?  I haven’t seen you all day.”

    She smiled and shook her head negatively.  “No. I really haven’t wanted anything, yet.  I took a good, long nap, and watched some movies.  What I needed was simply to have some quiet time.”

     “You look a bit peaked.  Give me a ring if you don’t feel well enough to finish the shift.”

     She smiled, and assured him that she would.  She had no customers that evening.  She just listened to music, and watched television.

      David came in at about one-thirty, and smiled when he saw her sitting at the desk.  “I didn’t know you were on duty tonight.  How are you?”

      She smiled back at him.  “Fine.  Someone called in sick, or I wouldn’t be working.  How was your evening?”

       David sighed and raised an eyebrow.  “A little bit touchy, but it was all right.”

       “What happened?” she asked tightly.

      “Skyler’s just throwing his usual tantrums.”  he explained.  “He’s threatening to dump his tour unless Connie is released from jail.  He doesn’t seem to care, much less even understand that he’s asking for something that’s beyond his manager’s control.”

      Caitlin paled.  “So, it’s
not
over between them.  If it were, he’d be glad that she’s in jail.”  she said slowly.  All of a sudden, she felt dizzy and clammy.  Her vision began to swim.  “He lied to me!”

      David looked at her worriedly.  “Of course he lied.” he agreed.  Then he saw her face.  “Caitlin, are you all right?” he asked softly.

      She didn’t answer.  She grabbed the edge of the desk.  She was so dizzy that she almost fell over.

       David came right over the counter in a heartbeat’s time.  He took her upper arms and steadied her.  “Sit down.”  he commanded.  When she had obeyed, he took her pulse and found it to be racing.  “Caitlin?” he asked worriedly.

     She looked up at him, and tried to focus.  She couldn’t seem to make it happen.  She just shook her head.  She was too dizzy and ill to respond.

      David picked up the phone, and dialed Uncle William.  Once he’d explained the situation, he hung up and picked Caitlin up in his arms.  When Caitlin tried to weakly object, he hushed her and told her to behave.  Uncle William met them at Caitlin’s front door, and unlocked it for David. 

    Once he had her in bed, David took her shoes off and looked at her appraisingly.  “Where do you keep your nightgown?” he asked.  When she answered, he got it for her and put in on the bed beside her.

       “Shall I call a doctor?”  Uncle William asked, as he hovered worriedly.

      “If you can get one to come, I think it would be a good idea.”  David agreed.  “I think she’s just reacting severely to the stress she’s been under, but there’s no way to know for sure.”  He took her pulse again and found it to be much slower, though a bit erratic. “I would feel better if she were looked over.”

     “No.  No, really.  I’m fine.” she objected.  She looked and sounded terribly distraught.  “I just … can't quite believe that he would say these things so glibly, and be completely lying...who would lie about such important things?”

       David lowered his eyes. 

    Uncle William sighed.  “Caitlin, for heaven’s sake.  He's nothing but a worthless snake.  Let me get you something to eat.” 

       “No.  No, I can’t – not just now.”  she objected.  “David, they aren’t going to let her out of jail, are they?”     

      He shook his head.  “I don’t know, Cait.  At some point, of course, they will.  You’ll have to decide if you want to press charges, and all.”

      She shook her head.  “I don’t want to go through a big mess.  I just want both of them to leave me alone.”

      He nodded.  “I know.  Listen, it’s going to be all right.  You’re making yourself sick with worry, Cait.  You’ve got to stop it, now.  Things will look brighter, soon.  You’ve just gone through too much, in a short time.  As time goes by, this will dim, and life will go on.  You can go to sleep now, knowing that everything will be fine.”
      She nodded, and smiled shakily.