by R. Casteel
Cynthia was engulfed in the arms of another young woman, both were crying, he couldn’t be sure if they were tears of joy, regret. That’s when he noticed the looks of the men as their eyes shifted back and forth between Cynthia and him. He wasn’t sure of this outcome, but was thankful the company had good insurance. By the looks on their faces, he just might need to use it.
As Charles stood ready to face whatever the men of her family handed out, there came a gradual change in their expressions. From grim to a grin, then to a smile and finally they approached with hands outstretched. The only thing missing was the sound of a wedding march being played and a shotgun.
“Charles, it is a pleasure seeing you again after all these years,” David said.
You don’t look like you’ve changed a bit. If I had known you rescued her, I wouldn’t have worried.”
Charles shook David’s hand. “It’s been a few years, last time I saw you, you had hair,” he joked.
Charles knew he was in over his head and a beehive of activity surrounded the lifeline. Cynthia looked up and instantly headed in his direction. They were still on the same wavelength. She came to stand beside him while father and brothers grinned back and forth at one another.
“I would like to introduce you to everyone.” David turned to his parents. “Mom, Dad, this is Charles Randall, probably one of the best tight ends ever to come out of Texas A&M.”
Howard reached out and shook his hand. “I can’t begin to tell you how grateful we are that you took Cynthia in. We have been worried sick since she left.”
“Sorry about the car Daddy.”
“It’s just a car,” Howard shrugged. “The important thing is that you’re all right.”
Charles and Cynthia looked at each other and smiled.
“If you want to come in out of the cold you’re welcome to. It’s a little warmer but not much. We lost the generator. The only heat is the fireplace,” Charles said.
“What happened?” David’s face showed his concern.
Charles shook his head. “I don’t know…one moment everything was fine, the next the lights flickered and an explosion rocked the house.”
“How terrible. You must have been frightened.” Carol placed a hand on her daughters arm.
“Frightened? Not a chance.” Charles gave Cynthia a squeeze. “She’s the bravest woman I’ve ever known.”
“I hate to cut short this reunion,” Ron interrupted, “but I want to get Cyn to a hospital and have that arm x-rayed.”
“Charles,” Howard again stretched out his hand and clasped his, “I can’t begin to express our deepest appreciation for what you have done for our daughter. Thank you.”
“Oh, we live in Cross Cut, Texas, near Rising Star. The number is in the book.” With one final kiss and a hurried, “I’ll miss you.” She was going down the drive.
Charles watched until they were out of sight. With a heavy feeling of loss, he went back inside and called a friend at a local garage. “Bill, I’ve got a job for you.”
He looked around the house and realized, for the first time, how incredibly empty it was. Lying on the couch, he saw the book Cynthia had been reading and the reality of it came home. His life was just like the house.
Charles called a local electric contractor about replacing the generator and then the insurance company. He just wished he knew someone to call about this terrible ache he felt inside.
* * * * *
Cynthia should have been happy, she was back with her family, and they were all headed home. Why then did she feel so miserable? She felt like something inside her had been ripped out by the roots and a gaping hole was left in its place. All the excitement and wonder of the last few days caught up with her as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. The last thing she remembered was the sound of a wedding march and laughter. Why would Mom and Dad be listening to a wedding on the radio?
Chapter 6
As Charles sat at the computer working over a design change in one of the new malls that was under construction, he found it difficult to concentrate on the screen. Cynthia had been gone for three weeks and he still saw her everywhere.
He picked up the paper where he had written her phone number. How many times since she had left, had he started to reach for the phone? Still, he hesitated.
The harder he pushed himself during the day, and into the night, the more her memory haunted him. If he looked out over the hot tub, he could visualize her rising out of the steam like a Greek goddess walking out of the sea. The house he had loved and enjoyed for the last five years had now become his prison, making him feel like a caged animal.
Charles didn’t have to close his eyes, didn’t need to be sleeping, she was always there with all the lush ripeness of her body. He could almost feel the smoothness of her skin, her response to his touch. Thoughts of her kept slipping past his defenses, which had been firmly entrenched for years. Finally giving up, he went to the closet and reached for his skis.
High on the mountain, he skied where there were no trails marked by protective boundaries and there was the ever-present danger of landslides. Several times, it had been close, but he kept coming back. Some said he was crazy, others said it was a death wish.
Charles felt it sharpened his senses. The amount of concentration it took to ski where he did, left no room to daydream about the beautiful scenery, work or even the distracting thoughts of Cynthia.
The wind whipped at his clothes as he sliced back and forth through the tall pines. An eagle screamed somewhere up above, soaring on the mountain currents. The fragrance of the pines filled his lungs with each breath as he pushed himself to the very limit of control. He startled a small herd of deer as he flashed though a clearing. He was so close to a doe he could have reached out and touched her.
He had been gone almost two hours; it was time to head back. It always took longer getting back. If he didn’t hurry, the sun would set behind the mountain. He had been in that position once and didn’t want to go through it again.
The last of the daylight was fading from the sky as he slid to a stop in front of the house. Charles was exhausted and hungry. She met him at the door with a towel around her and a lusty look gleaming in her eye.
If this kept up the locals would be charging people just get a glimpse of the crazy man who lived on top of the mountain. They already thought he was a little touched living up here year round.
Charles had just stepped out of the shower when the phone rang. He picked it up, “Hello.”
“Charles, how are you, I’ve been calling for hours and was starting to get worried,” Cynthia said.
“I’m great, just got back from skiing,” he said. “I never realized how lonely it was up here until you were gone.”
“I take it that means you miss me?”
“More than I could ever put into words, but yes I do, tremendously,” he said. “How’s the arm doing, when does the Doc think the cast will come off?”
“I’m great, the arm is doing great, everything is great. That is if you don’t consider the constant itching, the inconvenience of not being able to saddle a horse by myself; or the fact that I had to ruin a couple of my shirts because the cast wouldn’t go through the sleeve,” she said with a broken voice. “Doc thinks that maybe in two or three more weeks the cast will come off.”
Charles heard the catch in her voice. “Cynthia, what’s wrong? You sound like you’re crying.”
“Nothing’s wrong. Yes, damn it! There is, and I am. I’m so confused. I used to know what I wanted. Now I’m not sure. I think of you constantly, of what we shared. I thought I meant something to you. Now…to be honest, I don’t know what I feel. I had been hoping you would call.”
“Cynthia, there’s been times like that for me here too.” Charles said softly. “I wanted to call; several times I’ve picked up the phone to call but . . . .”
“Well, you didn’t. When you figure out what this is all supposed to mean and what our relationship is, how about le
tting me know too.” She said sobbing, the tears choking her words. “I called to wish you a Merry Christmas. Bye.”
She hung up leaving Charles staring at the phone feeling several ways a fool. He lowered the phone back into the cradle contemplating the call.
Randall Construction had been doing very well the last five years. Charles saw no need to change the procedures that had proven themselves to work. Christmas was coming in just a few short days.
Charles looked around the house, felt its bleak emptiness. The way things are going here, when I head south next week, I might as well make the change permanent, at least until things get sorted out.
Charles felt like smiling for the first time since she had left.
There’s more to life than this. He still wasn’t going to allow distractions to interfere with his work, but work was no longer going to be the only goal in life. Getting to know one certain passionate woman better had become an important priority in his life.
He turned to his computer and did a search for flowers. Typing in his request with a national flower company, he sent a dozen long-stem roses on their way.
He picked up the phone and dialed. “Dad, I’ll be in Dallas on Monday. I’m coming home.”
“No, permanent. Least I hope it will be. I need to set the ball rolling for a surprise party next Monday morning at the office.”
“Thanks Dad. See you soon.”
Charles’s smile widened. Dad liked surprises.
He propped his feet up on the loft railing and leaned back in his chair. At peace with himself over the decisions he had made, he closed his eyes.
She was standing by the breakfast bar wearing a robe and a smile. As the scene played out in his mind, the robe parted revealing those perfect breasts, the firm body of someone who was physically active and the “V” shaped mound of soft black curls that hid her soft silky folds. The vision was so vivid he thought she was real.
Just the thought of her and his body responded. As he shifted in his seat to make room for the sudden tightening, he thought Dallas was a long ways off.
On Saturday, Charles shut up the house and headed south. He had two stops in town. First stop was to pick up his package from Bill, the other the Post Office.
“Hi, Sue. I need to stop my mail. Have it forwarded to this address please.”
The Post Master looked at the address. “This temporary or permanent?” she asked.
Charles hesitated only a moment, “Permanent.”
“Good morning Charles. What brings you off your mountain this time of day?” A wizened voice came from behind him.
“Good morning Mrs. Higgins. You’re out early yourself. You survive the storm?” he inquired.
“Pawsh, it takes more than a little snow to keep me down.” She waved a bony hand in the air. “What’s this about you changing address? You finally taken some sense in that head of yours, and moving off the mountain? Seems kind a sudden if you ask me. Wouldn’t have any thing to do with that woman you found would it?”
The fact that she knew everything that happened didn’t surprise Charles a bit. “You know I always go home at Christmas.”
“Horse Pawsh,” she said cackling. “I may be old, but don’t take me for an old fool young man. You haven’t changed your mailing address before and your vehicle is packed full.”
“Mrs. Higgins,” he put his arm around her shoulder, “you’re an observant woman. I am moving back to Dallas. I got to thinking about what you said in November and you were right.”
“He-he-he,” she cackled, “I knew it. That must have been some woman you found.” She slapped playfully at Charles’s arm. “Just you make sure you come back and visit us once in a while.”
* * * * *
Monday morning rolled around and Charles was as excited as a young boy going to his first ball game. If, he timed the entrance right, everything would go as planned. The other drivers, stuck in the same traffic jam on Preston Road, probably thought he was high on something as he sang along with an old country tune by Alabama. In truth he was, it was called life.
Charles looked at his watch. The Monday morning get-together with all the department heads should be in session. By now, there would be concern that the computer video link wasn’t going through. Why his computer was not responding would be raising a few eyebrows. The door opened and he stepped in with a jolly authentic Santa complete with a large bag of presents yelling, “Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!”
The activity in the office came to a screeching halt and mouths dropped open in total and utter disbelief. Several, in the process of drinking their first cup of coffee, stopped—cups in mid-air. One poor guy was pouring a cup and it ran over causing him to drop the entire cup and half the pot on the floor. And Santa was still standing there yelling “Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!”
Charles loved it.
The conference room door opened and Karen came storming out only to stop short, in a state of shock. Charles looked over at Dad who was about to start rolling on the floor from laughing so hard. Charles had never seen Mother at a loss for words but she was as speechless as everyone else. That all lasted for about thirty seconds, then pandemonium broke loose as everyone started talking at once.
Santa started passing out presents to everyone. Each worker in the office had his or her own gift.
Dad had sure outdone himself this time. No one, including Mother had a clue.
Behind Santa came the party trays. After all, it was Christmas, couldn’t let Santa go home hungry. Steven and Karen were both talking at once. Someone put a cup of coffee in Charles’s hand as the party continued. After every thing had settled down the conference room was once again filled, Charles got ready to drop another bombshell.
“Good morning. First, I want to thank each and every person here for a job well done. This last year has seen numerous projects completed, on time, in budget and with minimal man hours lost do to on-site accidents. It’s a record other companies envy but few can copy. Second,” if my showing up was a surprise, the reaction to this is going to drop their jaws on the floor, “I’m moving my office back here as of this morning.”
Total silence, not quite the expected reaction, but close.
“Finally!” Steven grabbed a hand. “It’s about time.”
Charles held up a hand and the room quieted. “Let me assure you, this is the only change in company operations I am making. Except….”
Several groans could be heard around the room.
“On Monday mornings I’ll have to wear more than a shirt to the conference.” Everyone laughed and the ice was broken, Charles was back in Dallas.
“Now for my next bit of news. As of right now I am taking two weeks leave.” Dad and Mom looked at each other and smiled. Steven and Karen looked at each other and grinned.
“Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year,” he said as he walked out the door.
As the door closed behind him, he thought about their reaction to his sudden vacation. I just got back and now they’re ready to get rid of me.
His suitcase was in the car and he was ready.
“Cross Cut, here I come,” Charles said to himself as he pulled out of the parking lot.
Two hours west of Dallas, on Interstate 20, found Charles turning south onto Highway 183.
In the town of Rising Star, he stopped at a service station for directions.
“Sure enough,” the man said. “Know ole man Petterson I do, salt of the earth that man is, whole family is that way. His youngest boy, Ronald is the town Doc, right here in Rising Star. Fantastic Doc he is too. He could be one of those thar high falluten specialists in Dallas. What’s he do? Stayed right here where he growed up. No siree I tell you, ole man Petterson’s boy didn’t forget his friends and family like so many young’ens do. Going off to the big city, gonna get rich. Hogwash, that’s what’s wrong with the country today. To Hell with family! I’m a gonna get rich!”
Charles smiled at the old man behind the counter and said, “Could you te
ll me how to find his ranch.”
“Why didn’t you ask me that to begin with?” The old man said. “All you asked me was, do you know Harold Petterson. Woulda saved me all this talking if you woulda. Boy, you must be from the city. City boys don’t know nutten about asking questions. Always gotta go around the bush. Country boy sees a girl he likes, he kisses her. If he finds his ass on the ground, it means she don’t like him. Simple as that.”
“Ah, the Petterson Ranch,” Charles, reminded him.
“The ranch? What is it you want to know about it? Oh yeah, go-on down the highway here, about five more miles. Thar’ll be a gravel road, hang a right. About eight miles you’ll come to the ranch. Can’t miss it, unless you’re blind…course now, if you were blind you wouldn’t be driving that fancy big city toy out there.
Charles thanked him for the directions, and left. He didn’t know if it had been an act or not but he had to laugh. It took some of the tension off meeting Cynthia. The ole man did have some good advice.
Charles wasn’t only worried about Cynthia’s reaction. It was the rest of the family as well. He heard somewhere it was easier letting the cat out of the bag than putting it back in. He was as nervous as a teenager on a first date.
It was a good thing the rest of his family couldn’t see him now. Here he was, a man known for his business fortitude, shaking in his boots over meeting Cynthia and her family again.
He spotted a little café and pulled into a parking spot. As he looked on either side of him, he realized the old man was right. Sandwiched in-between two Ford four-wheel drive pickups, his vintage candy apple red Corvette did look like some fancy big city toy. The car was getting a lot of attention from inside the café. Charles felt about as out-a-place as a cat at a dog show.
It was lunchtime and the place was packed. There were a couple of stools at the counter and he sat down. The waitress came over and he wondered if this place was packed because of the good food, or if everyone was here just to watch and see if she fell out of her top when she bent over.