Westward Holiday (15 page)

              “I don’t know how to feel.  I have mixed emotions,” Rebecca said.

              “As do I,” Ben said.  “It isn’t as if we were very close or anything.  Still, he was our father and I am sad in a way.”

              Rebecca nodded and took a sip of her coffee. 

              Jake said, “Well, Ben, you’re welcome to stay in our guest room if you like.”

              He gave Jake a smile and Jake thought that he was as handsome as Rebecca was beautiful.  “Why thank you, Jake.  You are a true gentleman.  My things are at the depot.  I’ll collect them tomorrow.”

              Jake nodded.  “That sounds great.”

              “How long are you staying?” Rebecca asked.

              Ben gave her a sharp look and said, “I really don’t know.  I know that we’ve had our differences, Rebecca, but don’t you think it’s time we bury the hatchet?  Life is short.”

              Rebecca bristled and said, “Well, you’ll have to forgive me for being suspicious, but your past actions have not instilled much confidence in me where you are concerned.”

              “Then perhaps it’s time that I show you that I have changed, sister dear,” Ben said.  “All I ask is a chance to prove myself.  Is that too much to ask?”

              Rebecca could sense no artifice in her brother and gave him a tiny bit of trust.  “Very well.  Please don’t make me regret giving you the benefit of the doubt.”

              Ben smiled and said, “Thank you, Rebecca.”  He turned to Jake and said, “I’m sorry to have come here under such circumstances and barge in like this.”

              Jake said, “It’s ok.  I understand.  I’ll warn you, though; if you do anything to upset my wife, you’ll deal with me and you won’t like it.”

              “Duly noted, Jake.  There won’t be any trouble.  I give you my solemn promise,” Ben said with a serious expression on his face.

              Jake nodded and said, “Ok.  I’m gonna hold you to that.”

              When they went to bed that night, Rebecca was preoccupied.  She had serious misgivings about Ben’s sudden appearance and just couldn’t get rid of her anxiety over it.  Jake held her and told her everything would be all right.

              The next night Rebecca introduced Ben around to their friends and he was a huge hit.  His gregarious personality and quick smile made him extremely likable.  He was amazed by Sammi and had hit on her at first until she told him in no uncertain terms that she was happily married.  He’d graciously apologized and was no more than friendly towards her after that.

              Rebecca watched her brother with great suspicion, but so far he hadn’t caused any trouble.  The third night Ben was there, he and Rebecca sat talking in the office.

              Ben said, “You know this is a nice place.  You’ve got a good thing going, but it’s nothing like back in Georgia.”

              Rebecca took offense to his remark.  “Jake and his father worked very hard to make the Watering Hole what it is today.  Don’t you dare disparage it.”

              “Now, now, Rebecca.  Don’t get your dander up.  I was just merely commenting on it,” Ben said.

              Rebecca couldn’t stand his condescending attitude.  “For your information, we have plans to grow this saloon into something that everyone will talk about for miles around.  You wait and see.  It can be so much more and we’re going to make it so.  Then you’ll have to shut your mouth about it.”

              Ben arched an eyebrow.  “You don’t say.  What kind of plans?”

              “I’m not at liberty to say at this time.  We are working out the details,” Rebecca said.  “It may seem rough and tumble now, but by the time we’re done with it, it will be the greatest saloon in Montana.”

              Jake hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but he’d been coming to the office to put some cash in the safe and overheard Rebecca’s remarks.  He was cut to the quick when he heard her negative statements about the bar.  Angrily he went back out to the bar and hid the money behind some glasses in the back of a shelf. 

              When Rebecca came out to the bar again, Jake tried to act as if nothing happened, but Rebecca could tell something was off with him.  He smiled and kidded around with the customers but the smiles never reached his eyes.  When she asked Jake what was wrong, he said that everything was fine, but she didn’t believe him.

              After the bar was closed, Jake went to the office to put money in the safe and look at the books a little and Rebecca followed him and closed the door.  She sat in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

              “Jake, will you please tell me what’s wrong?” she asked.  Her concern was reflected in her eyes.

              Jake’s face settled into angry lines.  “I didn’t realize that you had such a low opinion of my business.”

              Rebecca frowned.  “I don’t.”

              “No?  That’s not what you told Ben earlier tonight,” Jake said.

              Rebecca closed her eyes as shame stole over her.

              “If that’s how you really feel, why did you marry me?  Is it that you waited until we were wed to decide that the Watering Hole wasn’t good enough as it is and that I need to make changes to make it bigger and better?” Jake demanded.  Cold anger turned his blue eyes a shade lighter.

              Rebecca rushed to reassure him.  “Heavens no, Jake.  Ben just gets to me, that’s all.  I said some stupid things.  I’m so sorry.”

              “No, I think you meant what you said.  Are you looking to get back into a higher financial bracket again?  Do you miss all of the money?” Jake said.

              Rebecca was very offended.  “How dare you accuse me of such a thing.  I’m perfectly happy with the way things are.”

              “Look me in the eyes and tell me that the Watering Hole isn’t beneath you,” Jake said.

              “Not beneath me, but what’s wrong with improving things?” Rebecca said.

              Jake pounded his desk with a fist.  “I knew it.  As soon as I heard those words come out of your mouth, I knew that you’ve been lying to me all this time about loving the bar and being satisfied here.”

              Rebecca gaped at him.  “I have not been lying!  I am satisfied here.  You are way out of line.”

              “No, you’re the one who’s out of line.  What kinds of plans do you have for the place?” Jake asked.

              Rebecca was angry now and shouted, “I don’t know!  How about some nicer décor?  Or maybe a longer bar with new stools and expanding the back wall to accommodate more people?  How do those plans sound?  It’s called ambition, Jake.  Something you seem to be lacking.”  Rebecca was shocked at the words coming out of her mouth and yet couldn’t seem to help herself.  His accusations hurt and she thought she might as well do that of which he was accusing her.  “Maybe I did mean it when I said it could be better.  You’re satisfied with the way it is and have no vision about what it could be.”

              Jake sat back in his chair as if someone had physically hit him.  Her cruel words felt like sledgehammer blows to his chest.  “Boy, you sure fooled me, Rebecca,” he said quietly.  “I thought you loved me and that you accepted my way of life.  What an idiot I’ve been.  You’ve probably been planning all of this from day one, huh?”

              Rebecca didn’t say anything. 

              He let out an angry laugh.  “I hope you’re proud of yourself, Rebecca.  This has all been a farce.  I can’t believe I was so stupid to think that someone like you could be happy with this kind of life.”  Jake couldn’t stay in the office with her any longer.  He got up and left quickly.  Grabbing his coat, he went out the back door and slammed it shut.

              Rebecca put her head in her hands and sobbed. 

              When Jake came back from walking around town, he entered their bedroom to find Rebecca waiting up for him.

              “Jake, please listen—‘”

              “No!  I’m done listening.  I’ve heard all I need to, Rebecca,” Jake said as he began gathering clothes up for the next day.

              “What are you doing?” Rebecca said.

              “I’m moving to the other bedroom.  I can’t share a room with a woman who doesn’t really love me,” Jake said.

              “Jake, I do love you!” Rebecca said.  There were tears of distress in her voice.

              Jake closed his eyes against the pain her fake admission caused.  “No, you don’t.  You can’t love me if you can’t accept my way of life.  I told you that in the beginning.  I’ll get the rest of my things in the morning.”

              He took his clothes and a few other things and left their room.  As he laid his clothes on a chair in the other spare room, a wave of grief washed over Jake and stole his breath away.  He sat down on the bed as his eyes stung with tears.  Fighting them back, Jake undressed and got under the covers.  Sleep was a long time coming as his traitorous body yearned for his deceitful wife’s touch.

              Rebecca and Jake avoided each other as much as possible.  When they had to speak, it was in clipped words tinged with anger.  Neither one of them would let the other see how much they were hurting.  Jake informed Rebecca that she was still going to play the piano and she agreed provided that he would still pay her. 

              To everyone except Sammi, it seemed like everything was fine between them.  Sammi could read their body language and it told her that something was very amiss with the couple.  Rebecca took to going to their apartment as soon as she was done playing.  When Jake went up to bed, her bedroom door was always shut.

              Rebecca cried herself to sleep every night and Jake didn’t sleep much at all.  Sometimes he went back down to his office and slept with his feet propped up on his desk.  He began to look somewhat haggard and started not feeling well.  Sammi commented on how badly he looked.  Jake told her it was nothing and not to worry about him, but worry she did.

              When he couldn’t shake the sore throat, sneezing, and coughing that had gripped him, Jake walked over to the clinic to see Marcus.  Hannah took one look at Jake and brought him into an examination room right away.  Marcus came in and began his assessment.

              Jake started coughing when he tried to take a deep breath for Marcus to listen to his lungs and had trouble stopping.  “What is it, Marcus?” Jake asked when the coughing subsided.

              “Influenza, Jake.  There’s been a small outbreak in town.  It strikes fast and hard.  You need to go home and rest.  It’s going to get worse before it gets better, I’m afraid.  Drink plenty of fluids to avoid getting dehydrated.  I’m going to give you a packet of medicine to make into a tea that will help your body fight it,” Marcus said.

              “Marcus, I can’t rest.  I’ve got a business to run.  Especially after being closed for our honeymoon and now with the holidays coming up there’s too much money to lose,” Jake said.  When Marcus said he had the same illness that had robbed his mother of her vitality, he became scared.

              “Jake, by tomorrow you’re gonna be lucky if you can get out of bed, much less run the bar.  Let Rebecca and Sammi do it.  You really don’t have a choice,” Marcus said.

              “Oh, yes I do.  I’ll close it until I’m better and absorb the cost.  There’s no way I’m letting her run it,” Jake said.  Unbidden tears came to his eyes.

              “Jake, what’s wrong?” Marcus said.  “You know I won’t say anything.  What’s going on?”

              After a few moments of indecision, Jake poured out his story while Marcus listened with compassion.  When Jake was done, he blew his nose and coughed.

              Marcus said, “Jake, talk to her.  Don’t let this fester or it’ll drive you apart forever and that’s not the kind of marriage anyone wants to have.  I’m sorry you’re hurting right now, but try to work it out.”

              “She’s made her position very clear, Marcus.  I don’t think there’s anything to discuss,” Jake said.

              “There’s always something to discuss, Jake,” Marcus said.

              “Thanks for the tea and all, Marcus,” Jake said and abruptly left the examination room.  He couldn’t talk about it anymore.  Marcus was a good friend, but he just didn’t understand the situation.

              Marcus’ prediction about Jake’s health was spot on.  The next morning, Jake’s head pounded and his stomach cramped and he vomited until his ribs were sore.  It was make worse by the burning in his lungs and nasal congestion that had set in overnight.  He told Rebecca that he wasn’t opening the bar.  He dragged himself downstairs to put a sign on the door stating, “Closed until Further Notice”.  Then he went back upstairs and crawled under the covers shivering as his fever raged.

              He remembered the tea that Marcus had sent home with him, but he didn’t feel like making it.  All that day he alternated between sleeping, vomiting, and shivering.  Marcus came at the end of the day to check on him.  Jake’s condition greatly concerned him. 

              “Are you drinking the tea I gave you?” Marcus asked.

              “No.”

              “Why not?”

              Jake put a hand to his stomach as a cramp hit him.  “I’m just not up to making it.”

              “Then have Rebecca make it,” Marcus said.

              Jake said, “No.  I don’t want her doing anything for me.”

              Marcus was starting to get angry.  “Jake, you’re gonna have to put aside your pride at least until you’re well.  You’re already weak and without the medicine your chances of surviving are slimmer.  This is serious.  You are very sick.  Do you understand?”

              Jake glared at Marcus with fever-glazed eyes and said, “Fine,” through clenched teeth.

              “Good.  I’ll talk to Rebecca,” Marcus said.  “Get some rest.”

              Jake lay back against the pillows.  “Sure.”

              Marcus frowned at him and went to find Rebecca.  She was in the kitchen.

              “Hey, Rebecca,” Marcus said.  He could see the strain of strong emotional upheaval in her face. 

              “Hello, Marcus.  How is he?” Rebecca asked.  Despite their estrangement, Rebecca still loved Jake and was very worried about him.

              “Not good.  Look, I know that you guys are having problems and I’m sorry about that, but the fact is that he needs to be looked after closely right now.  I’ve given him a tea to make and drink several times every day but he’s not up to it.  I’ve brought more of the tea and some chest rub, too.  Can you please give both to him?”

              “Yes, of course,” Rebecca said.

              “I talked to him about it and he agreed to let you help him.  He needs rest and keep him covered up real well.  Use cold compresses to break that fever, too.  Give him as many other fluids as he’ll drink.  Broth would be ideal.  No alcohol.  That won’t help him any,” Marcus said.

              Rebecca said, “I understand.  I’ll take good care of him.  I don’t want to lose him, Marcus.  I don’t know what he told you and you don’t need to say.  I want you to know that I still love him as much as ever.”

              Marcus gave her a small smile.  “I think you should tell him that.”

              “I’ve tried but he won’t listen,” Rebecca said.  “He’s shut himself off from me and he won’t let me in.”

              Marcus sighed as he remembered when he and Claire had gone through a similar situation.  “Don’t give up hope.  Keep trying.  I’ll be back to check on him tomorrow.”

              “Thank you, Marcus,” Rebecca said as she took the medicine Marcus handed her.

              As soon as he left, Rebecca set about making the tea.  When it was done, she took it in to Jake and woke him.  He hauled himself up in bed and gave her a resentful look.

              Rebecca drew on her ability to keep her poise as she said, “I know that you do not want my help, but you need it right now and despite what you may think, I do care.  Now drink this, please.”

              Jake said nothing as he took the tea from her and tried to drink it.  It took him a while because with every sip he took, his stomach protested and he had to concentrate on keeping it down before he took the next sip.  When he was done, Jake was exhausted.  He gave the cup back to Rebecca.  She rubbed the liniment Marcus had given her over Jake’s chest.

              “Thank you,” he said grudgingly as he lay down again.

              “You’re welcome,” Rebecca said.  “I’ll be back to check on you soon.”

              Jake didn’t respond as sleep rose up to claim him again.  Rebecca looked at the man she loved with tears in her eyes.  She knew that influenza was very dangerous and she didn’t think she could stand it if she lost him for good.  Rebecca also hoped that it wouldn’t settle into pneumonia.  If that happened, there could be lasting complications and it would lessen Jake’s chances of surviving even more.

She wanted to take him in her arms and comfort him.  Rebecca missed Jake in every way and wanted to go back in time so she could right things between them.  If she could do that, she would never have said all those horrible things to Jake.  There had to be something she could do to prove to him that she hadn’t meant any of the things she’d said. 

All that night as she took care of Jake, Rebecca thought about it and came up with a plan.  In the morning after she’d given Jake his medicine and he’d fallen asleep again, Rebecca donned her coat and walked to the sheriff’s office.

              Mitch and Jack warmly greeted her.

              “How’s Jake doing?” Mitch asked.  The news of Jake’s illness was common knowledge now.

              “Not very well.  I need help,” Rebecca said.

              Jack asked, “What can we do?”

              “Jake can’t run the bar right now and I can’t do it by myself because I’m taking care of him.  Is there any way that you think we could get some people to help serve drinks?  Sammi can do her bouncer job, of course, but we’re going to need bartenders.  We really can’t afford to be closed right now,” she said.

              Jack said, “I can think of at least four guys who’d be willin’ to help out with that.  Leave it to me.  I’ll also run you over some chicken soup for Jake, ok?”

              Rebecca said, “I can’t thank you enough.”

              “Don’t mention it,” Jack said.

              Gus was the first person Jack asked to help out since he tended bar for Jake a lot.  Seth, Joe, Luke, and Jamie would all pitch in as well.  She couldn’t drink, but she could serve booze and would do a good job of coaxing people to buy more to drink.  They sat down with Rebecca and set up a schedule.  Sammi was glad to be back at work.  Ben had offered to help, but Rebecca had told him everything was covered.  Though Ben had so far been a model guest, she still didn’t trust him.

              When Jake heard music coming from downstairs, he thought he was hearing things.  It continued and he wondered what was going on.  He called out for Rebecca and promptly started coughing from the strain it caused his lungs.

              “What is it?” she asked as she sat down on the bed beside him. 

              Jake swore he saw love in her eyes and then dismissed it.  It must be his fever.  “Is the bar open?”

              Rebecca straightened her back.  “Yes.  We need to be open so we have some guest bartenders.”

              Jake’s face turned red as his temper matched his fever.  “Close it now,” he demanded.

              Rebecca’s gaze met his.  “No.  I know that you think the worst of me, but my motives are pure.  I know we can’t afford to stay closed indefinitely, so we worked out a schedule and we’re open for business.”

              “The money’s real important to you, isn’t it?” Jake said.  His words were heavy with sarcasm.

              Rebecca’s fist came down hard on the bed.  “Yes, but not for the reasons you think!  I can’t tell you how much I regret the things I said to you because they weren’t true!  Whether you believe me or not, I have come to love the bar, too.  I was foolish and let my brother goad me into saying stupid things.  That’s all they were; stupid statements that I shouldn’t have ever uttered.  Never mind.  It doesn’t matter!” 

              Jake saw her eyes brighten with tears before she left and he felt a sharp shaft of regret for an instant and then hardened his heart again.  He told himself that it was just a trick to get back into his good graces again.

              All of the people who took turns tending bar had a blast.  Joe had to buy more shot glasses to replace the ones he broke when he tried to juggle them the way Jake did. 

              “How the hell does he do that?” Joe said.