“Sure Mom, no problem. Where are you now?”
“We’re at a hotel for the night. I just got into dry clothes and we’re going to have some dinner soon.”
“Oh Mom, the idea of you and Arthur having dinner together sounds so exciting,” Annie squealed, as she related the details to Mac who promptly hit the speaker button on Annie’s phone.
“Annie, when you’re finished chatting with your Mom, I’d like to talk to Arthur,” Mac said.
“Mom, Mac wants to…”
“I heard him, honey. Arthur’s right here, I’ll put him on.”
“Wait! Arthur is in your room?”
“Well, yes. All planes are grounded; when we got here there was only one room left. We thought we better take it.”
“You mean you are spending the night together?”
“Now Annie, don’t go jumping to conclusions.” Carolyn laughed.
“You are sharing the same room all night; how is that jumping to anything, unless there are two beds?”
“Unfortunately, there are not; we were lucky to get a room at all. Arthur said he would sleep in the chair.”
“Mom, that’s ridiculous. You are both adults and I’m sure you can share a bed for one night.”
Annie turned her head and winked at Mac who was taking in every word. “I don’t think it’s unfortunate at all,” Annie whispered.
“Annie, give me that phone,” Mac snapped as he managed to get the phone away from her. “Hi Carolyn, glad to hear you and Arthur are safe from the storm. I’ll call my mom and dad and let them know what time to meet you tomorrow. If Arthur is available I’d like to talk to him.”
“He’s right here; just a second,” Carolyn said, handing the phone to Arthur as he stepped out of the bathroom wearing jeans, a plaid shirt, and a cardigan sweater. Carolyn had to stop her mouth from falling open. He always looked dashing in his pilot’s uniform, and she found him exceptionally handsome in his casual clothes, but something was different. His dark hair was still damp and curled over his collar a bit; he had some silver at his temples too she noticed as she handed him the phone.
“Hi Mac, sorry for any inconvenience to your parents. I checked in with ATC on the way out here. Visibility is zero and wind gusts are peaking at 70 miles per hour. With the delays, we would have missed our take-off time anyway. It’s a slow moving storm but they expect to be back on schedule in the morning.”
“I’m just glad you’re safe, Arthur. Enjoy your evening.”
Chapter 4
“I think our dinner has arrived,” he said, smiling at Carolyn as he heard a knock at the door and slipped his wallet out of his back pocket.
Carolyn removed the hotel literature from the table and Arthur set the food down, the aroma of the char-broiled steak filling the room.
“I’m starving,” she said as she removed the lids from two steaks. “Oh my gosh, they sent real dishes and linen napkins.”
“They always do; they get a lot of business from the airline industry and they treat us right.” He smiled as he watched her arrange the food on the table.
Having missed out on lunch, both of them were famished. The meal was delicious and they sat and talked, enjoying each bite. Arthur told Carolyn about his life as Mac’s pilot and all the interesting places he’d been, and then he asked her to tell him more about her life in Kansas.
“You never talk much about your life. I don’t mean to pry so tell me if it’s none of my business, but I’m curious.”
“It’s pretty boring,” she said. “I’m a dress maker, I do alterations, and I work from home. It’s comfortable enough but it gets lonely. I don’t have the circle of friends one acquires when working in a large office, so I keep pretty much to myself.”
“What about before, when you were a young girl?”
“Growing up on a farm in Kansas was a tough life. My father always wanted a son who would help with the cattle, the horses, and the crops; instead he got me, but I was no disappointment to him. Long before I became a teenager, I was determined not to let him down.
“He taught me to ride at a young age and I could herd cattle with the best of the boys around, always said I was a natural on a horse. He counted on my help when he purchased a new herd at the sale barn and they were delivered by truck to our farm on the outskirts of Hays.
“I helped my mother garden and preserve what we grew so our cupboards would be full come winter. My mother taught me to sew and I made most of my own clothes. I took up knitting and crocheting and made sweaters and afghans for the beds.
“Oh, I’m probably boring you to tears,” she said.
“Not at all. You’re a very accomplished woman and you worked hard even as a kid.”
“We all did back then. For farm kids an allowance was unheard of. I kept my hair short; farming was dirty business and dust storms when the fields lie fallow were frequent. When other girls in high school were wearing lipstick and eye make-up, I didn’t wear any. I wasn’t part of the popular crowd; I sort of faded into the woodwork. I wasn’t invited to dances, never went to my senior prom, and couldn’t take part in after school activities. There was always work to be done and I got off the school bus with all the other farmers’ sons. I think that’s why I always made sure Annie had everything I didn’t.”
“I think most parents want better for their kids. That’s the way my dad was with me,” Arthur added. “I take it there wasn’t any time for boyfriends and that’s why you didn’t go to the school dances and your prom.” If Arthur was anything beyond being a pilot, he was an excellent listener. When flights were going smoothly and there was nothing but time, he’d heard more stories from his co-pilots over the years than he could shake a stick at.
“There was one boy I liked and we often talked on the way home. Larry was cute, blonde hair and blue eyes, and was always kind to me. He and his dad often helped me and my father bring in the crops, the wheat and the corn, and in return we helped them. But for as much as Larry kidded around with me, he liked another girl at school. She was beautiful and it was sad that the only time she paid any attention to Larry was when she didn’t have anything better to do, or anyone better to do it with. He talked about her all the time and I could see he was being used. Unfortunately, no one could convince him of that and I heard he carried his torch for her long into adulthood.”
“What about after high school? I don’t imagine there was much money for college.”
“After high school, I managed to take a correspondence class from a secretarial school and graduated with honors. I framed the certificate and hung it on my bedroom wall. How silly is that?” She laughed.
“Carolyn, I don’t think it was silly at all. You should be proud of yourself.”
“You know, I was proud. One day I hoped to find work off the farm, maybe even move to a bigger city, and make good money so I could send some home to my folks. Those plans faded like the sun setting on the prairie in late fall.
“What happened?”
“My mother became ill that winter and passed away not long after Christmas. Pneumonia. She kept insisting it was just a cold and refused to see a doctor. That left me and my father to run the farm and for a couple of seasons we were successful. With the years creeping up on him, it wasn’t long before I lost him too.”
“I’m so sorry. If this is too difficult to talk about, we can stop. I didn’t mean to make you bring up old sad memories.” Arthur reached across the table and took her hand.
“Please don’t be sorry. I think it actually helps to talk about it and losing my parents, as much as it hurt, wasn’t the worst of it. To be completely truthful, Arthur, I think that was the only time in my life I took total leave of my senses.”
She stood up and began to clear their dishes off the table. Arthur helped her and carried the tray, setting it on the cart outside the door.
“I can’t see you doing anything stupid, Carolyn.”
“I was young, Arthur,” she said as she ensconced herself into one of t
he comfortable chairs and he sat in the other facing her. “Having no other family, the farm was left to me. I managed for a year, hired out work but the drifters came and went. The neighbors on the surrounding farms did what they could to help, but it soon became too much for me. I kept the house and sold off large parcels of land to neighboring farm owners, keeping only two acres where part of a small creek ran through the property. That was enough land to keep one cow, one horse, and plant a small garden. What I couldn’t grow I could purchase at the store and the neighbors got together and built a small shelter for the two animals.”
“That doesn’t sound foolish; it sounds responsible,” he commented.
“Wait, it gets better. Are you sure you want to hear it?”
“I’ve made mistakes in my life too and if you’re sure you want to tell me, I’m happy to listen.”
“Good, because this is something I’ve never told anyone, not even Annie. And, Arthur, it’s also something she must never know.”
“You have my word, I promise.”
Taking a deep breath, she sighed. “One day, while talking to an old friend from school, I was persuaded to board up the house and move. My friend had a good job and she was certain she could help me find work. We could share the apartment, rent and other expenses. It almost sounded too good to be true. I was worried, but the loneliness had gotten to me and I decided to take a chance for a better life. If it didn’t work out, I still owned the house and the land. A neighbor offered to keep my horse and the cow for me, just in case. At least I’d always have a place to go back to and I needed that security.”
“Security is a good thing. We all need it,” he said.
“That’s why I didn’t take everything I owned. I packed my best clothes and a few family treasures in an old suitcase, and headed to the bank. Thank God I didn’t take out all my money, just enough to buy suitable clothing for work, a good purse, shoes, and I definitely had to do something about my hair. It was light years from looking well-kept and professional.”
“Carolyn, your hair is beautiful.”
“Ha, well, it wasn’t back then.” She laughed. “I remember before pulling off the dirt road onto the main highway, I looked in the rearview mirror. Everything I knew was disappearing in the distance and everyone I loved was gone. As the dust settled, I turned the dilapidated Chevy truck onto the main road. I took my time driving through town passing Wiesner’s and Dillon’s grocery store. Across from the Court House, I glanced at the old Hays Theater and remembered seeing one movie there with my mother when I was a small child. I wanted to feel excited about this adventure, but it hurt me to say good-bye to what was, what could have been, and what would never be again. All my memories and dreams deferred, you know?”
“It must have been hard to leave the only place you’d ever known,” he said as she got a little misty.
“It was and besides that I had no idea if that old truck would even make the trip.”
“Apparently it did,” he said.
“Yes it did and somehow I kept driving. When I got to Wichita, I had to ask for directions several times before finding Mary’s place. I didn’t know what I expected to find, but when I finally pulled up to the curb in front of Mary’s building, I knew that wasn’t it. Anyway, it was too late. I decided to be grateful and make the best of it just as my mother had always told me to do.
The apartment house was four stories high and looked like it had seen better days. Thankfully Mary’s apartment was on the first floor and she’d been watching for me all day. When I pulled up, Mary ran out and hugged me and that made me feel better.
“She was kind enough to give me the front room. I’m sure it was once her living room and she really tried to make it pretty for me. After I got unpacked, we went down the street for some dinner…a greasy spoon sort of place.”
“How’d that work out for you? I’m sure you’d eaten healthy all your life.”
“Yeah, not so well. I can laugh about it now but at the time it looked like the slop we fed our pigs compacted into the shape of a meatloaf. I didn’t notice it at first because it was covered with something that resembled brown wallpaper paste.”
Arthur laughed too. “Did your stomach ever adjust?”
“Not a chance. I never ate there again and Mary got herself a live-in cook. She was going to introduce me to the neighbors over the weekend, but that Friday night when we got back to her place, Rico who lived across the hall from Mary, was sitting on the front steps.
Rico was a good looking guy who kept his place clean and went to work every day. He ran a small janitorial service and was slowly building his business. Next to him sat a strikingly handsome guy who had just dropped in without an invitation. Bob was on his way to Phoenix. He needed a place to stay for a few days. Right away he seemed to have an interest in me.”
“You’re a beautiful woman and I’m sure you were then too.”
“Trust me; it had nothing to do with my looks. I’m sure Mary had told Rico about me and he must have told Bob who started out with ‘So, Carolyn, tell me all about your farm. Is it a big spread? I imagine a big farm house with a wrap-around porch to sit and enjoy the evenings, wheat fields swaying in the summer breeze.’ I told him he had quite an imagination, but he didn’t stop there. He went on with ‘Well, I’d love to see it. Maybe some weekend you and I can take a drive so I can have a look around. We could make an afternoon of it, stop for some ice cream. Would you like that?’ and even after I told him it was all boarded up he didn’t stop.”
“I think I know his type,” Arthur said shaking his head.
“I’m sure you do. I only wish I had. Bob was a bad boy and every parent’s worst nightmare. He lied about the executive positions he’d held in the past, but the truth was he made most of his money hustling in pool halls until the wee hours of the morning. His smile, inviting blue eyes, and black, collar length hair probably drew women to him like a high powered magnet; unfortunately, being naïve I was one of them.”
“You lived a very sheltered life on the farm. Don’t blame yourself for not knowing,” Arthur tried to comfort her.
“I really don’t, but I should have wised up a lot sooner than I did.”
Chapter 5
“We have to be up early and I’m sure you’re tired as listening to me go on and on.”
“Do you want to continue with the story?”
“I do, but how about I finish it tomorrow when we’re flying to West Palm Beach?”
“Sounds good and we probably should get some sleep; it’s been a long day. I think I’ll arrange for a wake-up call.”
“Good idea; I think I’ll slip into my sweats.”
As Arthur called down to the front desk, Carolyn changed in the bathroom and then curled up on the far side of the bed. There was plenty of room on the other side of the bed if he changed his mind.
Arthur watched in his peripheral vision—he didn’t want to stare—as she crawled into bed. God, she looked adorable in her powder blue sweats, her hair flowing below her shoulders. He changed into a tee shirt and his pajama bottoms and pushed the two lounge chairs together after grabbing the blankets from the closet shelf. From what he could tell, she had trusted one man in her life—trusted him too soon—and he didn’t want to put her in that position again.
Trying to lie down on the chairs, he soon realized his height was a huge problem. Getting up, he rolled the big square ottoman between the chairs and tried again. That was a little better; his shoulders and head rested on one chair, his calves on the other, and his ass occupied the ottoman. It wasn’t optimal, but he’d make it work. In a fruitless attempt to get comfortable, he turned over onto his side and the ottoman rolled, leaving his hip resting on the edge of it. He must have fallen asleep; the next thing he knew his ass hit the floor with a thud and his body formed a perfect “V” between the chairs. Tossing the blankets aside, he rolled the ottoman back into place and tried again, this time determined not to turn over. He stared at the ceiling, his head and s
houlders on one chair, his butt on the ottoman, and his knees were bent so his feet had a firm grip on the cushion of the second chair. The deep sleep he desperately needed finally claimed him, but his body, unaccustomed to sleeping on his back did him in again. When his ass hit the floor the second time, he sat up and looked at the huge bed. Carolyn’s body rested peacefully on what he calculated to be no more than 18” of the bed and there were at least five pillows she wasn’t using. He wanted to crawl in bed next to her so bad he could taste it.
At 4:30 a.m. the phone rang and Carolyn quickly reached over to answer it before it woke Arthur. It was their automated wake-up call. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stretched, completely relaxed from the wonderful night she’d spent with Arthur. He had mentioned they were only two minutes from the airport and the shuttle ran every ten minutes, so she had plenty of time to get ready before she had to wake him. Slipping quietly from the bed, careful not to make any noise, she tip toed into the bathroom. The clothes she’d worn for a couple of hours last night would be fine for the trip today; she’d left them hanging from the hook on the back of the bathroom door. It was early, chilly in their room, and still dark. She could see well enough with the soft glow from the nightlight as she stripped off her sweats and tossed them onto the tile floor. She reached into the shower and flipped on the water.
An arm flailed toward her and a low scream roared from behind the curtain as a man’s foot tried to step from the tub. Carolyn began screaming and didn’t stop. In an attempt to cover her naked body, she grabbed the curtain with such force she pulled it and the rod from the wall. Arthur jumped back into the scalding water and quickly turned it off. Carolyn had been knocked to the floor by the rod and she and her bare breasts were staring up at him. His wet tee shirt and pajama bottoms clung to his body, revealing every inch of firm muscle and more.
Hot Silver Nights: Silver Fox Romance Collection Page 24