Beneath the Palisade (36 page)

Harper’s mind raced. Given the little he had to work with, it finally dawned on him what might be going on here. “Does this have anything to do with the visit your daughter paid us last night?” He could tell by the way Bergstrom puffed up his chest that he’d hit on it. Tiffany, his daughter, had probably run home and reported, in detail, who knew what? How long had she been watching their slow dance?

“Look, whatever you perverts do behind closed doors is out of my control. But out in the open, where a seven-year-old girl can see, it’s sick. Now the wife and I have to go home and try to somehow get her to forget what she saw. It’s filthy and disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

Ian’s jaw was halfway to the floor. “You have got to be kidding me. You’re the one who’s sick. And you think we’re going to give you your money back because you’re a bigot? Not on your life!”

“What did you call me, you faggot?” Bergstrom made a move for Ian over the counter.

Harper knew what he had to do. “Alex, run his card and credit him for last night’s lodging.”

“Not on your life, Alex. This piece of swamp scum isn’t getting a nickel of it back.” Ian stepped up to the counter, ready for whatever this guy had in mind.

“Ian, please leave. Now!” Harper understood the effect what he’d just said would have on Ian. It would be far less damaging than a physical altercation, or worse, a lawsuit.

“Harper, what the fuck? Grow a few, will ya?” Ian wasn’t backing down.

“Ian, I’m going to ask you one more time. Please leave. I’m the office manager. I’ll deal with this. We can talk later!”
Please leave, Ian.

“Fine! Throw your fucking money out the window. I don’t care.” Ian stomped toward the door, his face flushed with anger. Turning to face Bergstrom, he hissed, “You’re goddamn lucky I didn’t hop over that counter and beat the shit out of you, you ignorant pig.” Banging his fist against the wall, Ian exploded out of the office.

“George, is everything all right?”

Mrs. Bergstrom, with Tiffany at her side, peered into the office through the screen.

“Everything’s fine, honey. I’ll be out in a minute.” Bergstrom waved them away from the door.

“Alex, how are you coming with his refund?” Harper walked behind the desk to observe the process.

“Just waiting for it to finalize. Another minute or so.” Seconds seemed like minutes as they waited for the machine to print out a receipt.

“Mr. Bergstrom,”—Harper walked back out into the office—“I know you’re upset. On some level, I guess I can understand it. But I have to ask you, what exactly was it your daughter spotted Ian and I doing?”

Bergstrom shifted his stance and stared at the floor.

“The reason I’m asking is that for the life of me, I can’t remember Ian or myself doing anything inappropriate, and trust me, I’m well aware of the items you most likely have on your list.”

“You were kissing. You were dancing… and groping each other.”

“Your daughter knows about groping? Amazing.”

“Just give me the goddamn receipt.” Noticeably uncomfortable, Bergstrom slapped his hand down on the counter.

“How’s the refund coming, Alex?”

“Sorry, the computer is really slow this morning. Shouldn’t be much longer.”

“The world’s a pretty diverse place.” Harper leaned back on the counter. “You can run from us today, but if you don’t at least make the effort to hit some middle ground, and by that I mean at least accept the fact there are good, upstanding gay people everywhere that deserve your respect, you’re going to spend a huge portion of your life miserable and, in the process, make the rest of your family unhappy. I feel sorry for you, Bergstrom. Even more so for your daughter. It’s going to be tough for her when she gets out from under your wing.”

“Hi, Daddy!”

“Tiffany, go back and join your mother.” Bergstrom made a move for the door.

“Here you are, Mr. Bergstrom. The bottom copy shows the refund.” Alex slid the receipt and a pen across the counter. “All we need is your signature.”

“Daddy, can we walk down to the lake?” Harper waved and smiled. Tiffany giggled and waved back.

“Tiffany, I told you to stay by me. Shame on you.” Mom grabbed her by the hand, and she was gone from the screen door.

“I’m sorry you had to cut your stay with us short. Have a safe trip to wherever you’re headed.” Harper smiled, gesturing to the door.

Bergstrom slid the receipt into his pocket and walked out without saying a word.

“You okay?” Harper walked behind the desk and rubbed Alex’s shoulder.

“Yeah. Wow, what a dick.”

“I’d be lying if I told you this isn’t ever going to happen again. But I’m pretty sure it’s not going to happen very often. There’s only so much scum on this earth, know what I’m talking about?” Harper chuckled, relieved to hear the Bergstroms’ car pull away. “Hey, can you take on another small project for me?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Call the sign company we used in Duluth and have them make something permanent for the path leading up to our house. It should say… it should say ‘Private Residence. No Beach Cabin Guests beyond this point. Thank you!’”

“Sure, I’ll call them this morning.”

“Thanks.”

“Ian, is he going to be all right?” Alex looked worried. “He would have kicked that guy’s ass, no doubt.”

“I’m not sure. This is our first disagreement. Whoa, that date, is that really today’s date?” They both looked over to the Rolodex calendar on the far side of the counter.

“Yeah, I changed it first thing this morning.” Alex adjusted it to where he thought it should be facing.

“Well, it’s either a good sign or a bad one. Today’s our anniversary. I’d better head out and try to patch things up with my partner. If you hear lots of slapping and me crying, I’m getting my payback. Not to worry. See you later. If Ian comes around, let him know I’m looking for him, okay?”

“Will do.”

He’d try back at the house first. Harper started up the path.
You embarrassed him. You trumped him. Ian’s reaction was an honest one. Maybe he was right. Maybe I do have to grow a couple. Damn, why the hell did something like this have to happen?

“Ian, are you in here?” He waited for a response, although he wasn’t really expecting to get one. As Harper searched through the empty house, his heart sank.
Where did he go?
Both cars were still here at least.

“Ian!” he hollered toward the lake. “I’m sorry. Binky is sorry.” Nothing. He’d try the road leading up to the highway.
God, he didn’t ambush the Bergstroms on their way out, did he?
It was a good twenty-minute hike from the lake up to the turnoff. When the sound of cars passing by told him he was nearing the busy highway, he quickened his pace. Maybe Ian was headed down the side of the road to the palisade overlook. If he hustled, he’d be able to see him up in the distance. There wasn’t that much time separating them. Reaching the highway, he was disappointed to find the shoulder empty on both sides.

“Wait!”
The snowmobile path. I bet he’s walking it, trying to decide on the best way to thoroughly ream me out.

About two hundred feet from the highway back down their road, he and Ian had discovered a snowmobile trail. They’d walked it one morning. It was a beautiful, rugged trail that eventually led them down to the edge of the palisade. Very near to where Cabin 10 sat. Taking a deep breath, he entered the trail, soon discovering that if he didn’t walk very fast, he’d risk being eaten alive by mosquitoes.
Bastards!
The recent rains had left the trail much soggier than when they’d first explored it. His shoes and socks were soaked. “Ian, are you back here?”
Of course he’s not back here. He’s not as stupid as you are.

It was too late to turn back; he’d come too far. He tried running, but the muddy trail soon put a stop to that when he slipped and fell. His ass was now covered with slimy forest yuck.
Great! I deserve this.
Careful not to fall again, he kept the pace as brisk as he could without losing control, slapping away the ferocious little devils whenever he felt a bite.

Forced to wade through a small stream, the result of all the rain coming down from the hills to the lake, he was relieved to finally hear waves. He was close. Up one more gentle incline and around a gully of ferns, he finally reached his first patch of loose rock, the beginning of the palisade.

Hunched over, he fought to catch his breath. The mosquitoes were relentless, following him out into the open. Walking down to the lake, the wind eventually eliminated most of the tiny beasts. Stepping out of his shoes and peeling off his wet socks, he splashed the chilly water onto his skin, temporary relief from all the bites he had sustained. Still no Ian.

With his shoes in one hand and his soggy socks in the other, he walked past Cabin 10. Peering through the screen, he spotted the cabin key on the table. Careful not to track anything onto the carpet, he walked in and grabbed it and, in the process, discovered a piece of paper wedged between the chair and wall beneath the window. He was surprised to find a crayon drawing of two men dancing. Tiffany had captured the moment beautifully in that honest, innocent way only a child was capable of. He smiled, folded it carefully, and stuck it in his pocket. He toured the rest of the cabin to see if any further evidence of the Bergstroms’ stay had been left behind. Not finding anything, he closed the door. Alex would be down later to service the cabin. When he reached the motel office, a large truck was parked in the little adjacent lot. He heard Ian’s voice and then his unmistakable laugh.
Huh?

Peering into the office, he discovered an even bigger surprise. Big Earl. The homophobic lug from the Lip Smacker the other morning stood at the counter flanked by two women, one somewhere in the vicinity of Earl’s age and one much further on in years.

“Harper, there you are.” Ian was all smiles. “Remember Earl?”

“I sure do. How could I forget Earl?” Dropping his shoes and socks on the grass, he opened the screen and stepped barefoot into the office.

“This is Earl’s wife, Penny, and his mother… I’m sorry, what was your name again?” Ian leaned forward across the counter.

If you say Tiffany, I’m going to shit my pants.

“I’m Dorothy. Dorothy Snughauser from up near International Falls.”

“Well, I’m pleased to meet you all.” Harper stood off to the side so as to stay out of everyone’s way.

“Earl has some construction going on over at his place, and he thought it might be better if Dorothy spent her nights here with us. Isn’t that great?”

“You guys have the nicest place now until you get to Duluth.” Compared to the last time he’d had an exchange with Earl, the big guy sounded almost happy.

“Well, thanks for thinking of us, Earl.” He hated to admit it, but Earl’s arrival couldn’t have come at a better time. His “win them over with kindness” campaign had taken quite a beating this morning. “Alex, make sure to give Earl our friendly neighbor rate.”

“Will do.”

Remembering his wet, muddy ass, Harper backed up toward the screen door. “Don’t worry, Earl, we’ll take very good care of her for you. Dorothy, you make sure to let us know if you need anything. It’s a pleasure having you here as our guest. Ian, I’ll be back at the house.”

Trying not to look too awkward, Harper backed out the door, picked up his shoes, and headed down the trail toward home.

“Harper, wait up.” Ian came out of the office. “Wow, your butt’s all muddy. What happened?”

He stopped for Ian to catch up. “I’m sorry for trumping you back there, but you were headed down the wrong path.”

“This isn’t somebody else’s restaurant. This is our investment. Notice how I used the word ‘our’? Why should I let some asshole short us what he owes because he’s got some morally fucked idea we’re filth? He needed his ass kicked good and hard.” Ian crossed his arms, jutting his head out to make his point.

“Oh, I agree with you, he’s scum.” Harper looked down the path, taking a minute to collect his thoughts. “Ian, you have every right to disagree with me. We feel differently about this, and that’s fine. Besides thinking ahead to a potential lawsuit if you decked him, I was thinking about our time. If it costs me a few bucks to get that asshole out of our faces, I’m all for it. It’s money well spent.”

“Dammit.” Ian stomped off toward the house.

“Ian, don’t walk away. Let’s try and get past this. I was trying to avoid a physical confrontation. I was taught to avoid those at all costs.”

Ian turned, pointing his finger. “Now I’m mad because you’re right. Fuck, you have no idea how much that pisses me off.”

Harper laughed. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you this morning.”

“Nope, now that I’ve thought about it, I’m glad you did what you did. I’m not used to having my safe, friend-insulated world threatened. Living in the city, I’d forgotten what kind of ugly is still out there. Your way was the right way. Why are you still standing there?” Ian stuck his hands deep into his pockets.

“Hell, I don’t know.” Harper chuckled and caught up. “Let’s stomp this one into the ground and never look back. Hey, pretty cool, huh? Earl coming around?”

“You could have knocked me over with a feather when he drove up. At first I thought, oh man, he’s here to get even. But then I saw who he brought along for backup, and I thought….” Ian was laughing his head off. “I thought… goddamn, Earl, you’re stupid, but you’re not
that
stupid, are you?”

Harper threw his head back and roared, “You never know, do you? Come on, hon. I don’t know about you, but I sure could use a warm shower. Oh, I almost forgot.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out Tiffany’s drawing. “Maybe there is hope for her after all?”

“Oh my God, that’s amazing. Where did you find it?” Ian took the drawing from him.

“It was on the floor, between a chair and the wall. Mom and Dad must have missed it. Hell, this could have been the cause of it all, come to think of it.”

“I’m thinking we frame this. Sound good?” Ian held it out in his arms once more so they both could get a better look.

“Perfect. It’s priceless.”

Ian linked arms as they walked to the house. “Hey,” Ian asked as he followed him up the steps, “seriously, how’d your ass get all muddy?”