by Candy Quinn
“I was comin’ to check on you!” Marcus protested as he pushed himself up. “There was no tellin’ what this hoodlum would be up to in the middle of the night!” He said, brushin’ himself off and glarin’ at Asher, as if he were in the wrong.
But for his part, Asher stood quietly by, holdin’ the crowbar out of reach.
“He was sleeping. That’s what he was doin’ in the middle of the night! And you woke ma up and everythin’, I had to put her back to bed and you know how disoriented she gets! Asher ain’t gonna do a thing here, he’s just a guy needin’ a job and a place to lay his head like any man.”
I was breathin’ hard, my heart racing. I could barely hold myself back.
“That’s what you think, Shelby!” he said in accusation as he began to walk off, wiping his bloodied face with the back of his hand. “You best be watchin’ out, you don’t know what he’ll do!”
“He’ll do his job!” I screamed at the back of his head, my hands tremblin’ from anger and frustration. I’d never seen Marcus so worked up about something before, and it scared me a little. What lengths would he go through to keep Asher off the farm?
And rememberin’ what Asher’d said about the cops and not wanting them involved... What if Marcus did call Hank?
Asher and me watched Marcus stalk off in the dark, off towards where his truck must’ve been parked along the road away from the farmhouse. Until finally he was far enough away we could talk with some privacy, and he turned to look at me.
“I didn’t break his jaw or nothin’, didn’t hit him near hard enough for that. He’ll be fine,” he remarked, looking down to the crowbar in his hand, twisting it around before giving it a toss onto the dirt by the shed.
“I’m so sorry about that, Asher,” I said with a resigned sigh, as I went over to pick up the discarded flashlight. “He never shoulda done that, I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”
“He’s got a thing for you,” he said so casually, brushin’ off his low-hung jeans as he looked around the place, doin’ some final check of the area. “I know he’s your cousin, but he does. Whether he knows it or not,” Asher stated, matter-of-factly like.
I stared at Asher, aghast, though it wasn’t like I could even see him so good in the dim light of the moon and the stars and the flashlight.
What?
Part of me didn’t believe him and was going to protest but then there was that deep, hidden part of me that I’d always ignored. The way we got into tickle fights for too long and how every summer we always went swimming and he’d cling onto me. It was all games, but then with Asher’s words, it wasn’t.
“No he don’t,” I protested.
He didn’t disagree any further, maybe ‘cause he knew it was an uncomfortable subject, but all’s he said was, “Alright” and escorted me back into the house.
“I dunno if he had time to do anythin’ while he was out there, but I’ll check come mornin’,” he said to me, so in control of the situation.
“It’s fine,” I sighed. “Just get some sleep, I know you ain’t got a peaceful night in who knows how long, and I know I’m gonna be beat tomorrow. Probably won’t even be able to sleep with my heart poundin’ like this.”
He nodded, but before we parted ways and he headed into his room he stopped.
“Oh, and Shelby?” He looked at me expectantly, pausin’ for just a moment. “If he goes causin’ problems with the cops, I’m gonna have to head on. I don’t wanna cause a fuss anywhere.”
“I’ll talk to him,” I said with a bit more of a pout than I intended. I was exhausted and not able to hide my emotions so well as I wanted to.
But beneath it all, I was burnin’ with curiosity about why he was so afraid to get them involved...
“Thanks,” was all he said simply, before he disappeared into his room and the night resumed its lonesome course.
* * *
The day began bright and early, more so for Asher than me. ‘Cause by the time I woke up and knocked on his door, it fell open to show an empty room. One peek out the window showed him already bustin’ his butt outside, haulin’ junk about and preparin’ for the day.
He was true to his word, had to give the man that.
I headed on down to the kitchen and decided to get to work on some breakfast. If he was gonna be workin’ hard right from sunrise, I figured it was only right I’d get a good meal in him to aid the process along.
It was another bright an’ sunny day, and though he was still wearin’ his shirt now, I knew that wouldn’t last long like this. Not with how hard he was workin’ and how intense that sun was.
And I was really trying to enjoy the view of his hard, sexy body, but my mind was distracted. I was worried about Marcus, about what he might say or do. Especially if Asher was right about him. Just because Marcus knew nothin’ could happen between us didn’t mean he wouldn’t try to keep me from fallin’ for someone else.
Especially someone he definitely didn’t approve of. He was as hard skulled and stubborn as a mule, but I couldn’t let him take that slice of excitement and happiness from me.
“Come an’ get it,” I called out the door to Asher, a big grin on my face as I summoned the man in for the hearty meal I’d made. And he took the summons serious, wipin’ away the sweat from his brow with a cloth and immediately stoppin’ what he was doin’ to march on in to me.
“Hope I didn’t wake you this morning,” he said with a smile, lookin’ so darned good in that tight top and jeans as he sat himself down to the table in a hurry.
“Not even a little,” I said, putting the ham and bacon and eggs in front of him, orange juice and water to either side. I was spoiling him, even had the good jam out for his toast, trying to make amends for Marcus’ boneheaded behaviour.
“I hope you got to sleep easy after...” I trailed off.
“Don’t worry about it, hun,” he said with a dismissive wave as he was already in the process of bringing some bacon to his mouth. He was ravenous, and it brought a familiar feeling back to the house, one that’d been missing ever since pa died. “I just hope I didn’t hit the guy too hard, he wasn’t a big guy after all.”
“Yea, his stupid jacket made him look like a brute,” I said as I sat across from him, leaning in on my elbows. I’d dressed a bit nicer, my newest pair of shorts and a tank top that showed off the cusps of my breasts but not in a slutty way. My blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail and though I didn’t have much by way of lipstick, I’d slapped on what little I had.
Asher gave a chuckle to my statement, and I realized the humour in thinking of Marcus as a brute myself, so we laughed together as we ate the meal.
“You’re a mighty fine cook, Shelby,” he remarked to me appreciatively, and as he peered over the table I could see a special somethin’ glitter in his deep, dark eyes. It weren’t just politeness that motivated him and made him wanna stay.
At least, I dared to hope. I didn’t get a lot of excitement ‘round here, nor a lot of men I was interested in. I wanted to believe I was more than just a good cook and a pretty face.
“Thanks, Asher,” I said and I went to tuck some hair behind my ear out of instinct, forgetting I had it pinned back.
“Never got to eat like this back in the city,” he said, devouring the eggs and toast, leavin’ not a morsel behind on his plate. He had a real man’s hunger, that was for sure.
“Not even when you lived at home?” I asked, and he gave a chuckle.
“Nah. We ate like paupers growin’ up. Oatmeal and toast. Noodles with or without sauce. That kinda thing. Even if you were to prepare it well and not burn it up, it was never anything you’d care to savour. Not like this.”
“I don’t know how you ate like that and ended up with all those muscles,” I said without thinking, and scrambled to come up with something to hide my admiring tone. “I mean, you’d figure you’d look more like Marcus, eatin’ like that, is all I’m sayin’.”
Asher smiled and shook his head, repressin’ a
laugh, I could tell.
“Well maybe once upon a time, I did look like scrawny ol’ Marcus,” he said, lookin’ at me still with those beautiful, dark eyes. “But that was long ago. And I built myself up into someone stronger. Tougher. Life’s a little different in the city, you don’t have the kind of peace and security you do out here in the country.”
“Is that why you’re so worried about the Sheriff?” The words popped out of my mouth unbidden.
Silence hung in the air for just a moment, but he shook his head as he looked down at his food, cutting his last fried egg in half with his fork before eating it.
“No,” was all he said to me, simple and direct.
I pushed around some of my bacon, regretting asking. He clearly wasn’t going to talk about it.
“I’m gonna head into town later, then go to Marcus’, see if I can’t clear this up none,” I said, trying to get rid of the strange feeling in the air.
But the moment I stood up, I froze. And the look of alarm on my face made it impossible to hide my concern from Asher. It was only a moment and he was standin’ up, lookin’ out the window with me to the sight of the sheriff's truck comin’ up the lane.
“Dammit,” Asher cursed beneath his breath, wiping his hands off on a napkin I’d put there for him.
“What do I do?” I asked immediately, shaking my head. Asher wouldn’t know. I’d known Hank since I was a kid, surely I could figure something out.
I moved away from the table, toward the front door, still barefooted and feeling a bit groggy.
Asher stayed back as I headed out to greet the sheriff, his pickup coming to a halt and the man casually getting out. He wasn’t even in his forties, but with his uniform and his black hair prematurely greying, Hank looked like an authority figure despite his youthful, athletic figure.
“Howdy Hank,” I managed to say.
“Mornin’ Shelby, sorry to drop on by like this unannounced. But I was in the neighbourhood,” undoubtedly he was, of course. Since Marcus’ farm wasn’t far up the road.
“Gorgeous day,” I said, and I felt a pit in my stomach, twisting and growing hard. I didn’t know what I was doin’, I wanted to protect Asher, but didn’t want to get Marcus in trouble neither. It was a tough spot, and I didn’t have any experience bein’ on the other side of the law. I’d always been the good girl, the boring one.
Everything about my life had been dull and routine until the moment I caught sight of Asher.
Hank tugged at his heavy belt, adjustin’ himself as he peered about the farm.
“Indeed it is,” he said, smilin’ as he looked on back to me. “I heard tell you had an incident here at your farm last night, Shelby. Anythin’ for me to be concerned about?” he asked so casually.
“Just a misunderstandin’, Hank, nothin’ serious. I’m gonna go over and talk to Marcus later today.”
Hank flipped up his sunglasses and looked me over.
“I was just over there, talkin’ with ‘im. He was right worked up. That jaw of his is right messed up too,” he said, fishin’ for more.
“He was sneakin’ around in the middle of the night with a crowbar, and parked off down the road so there was no way of knowin’ it was him, not a bit. He woke up ma and she was wanderin’, and you know how that goes with her mind bein’ what it is, Hank. It’s just family stuff, nothin’ you need to trouble yourself with, I swear.”
“I figured as much Shelby,” he said, holdin’ out a hand in that calmin’ gesture. “But Marcus was worked right up, and he was sayin’ there’s this shady fella hangin’ around your place what did it to him. Said he was just over here to protect you after some suspicious activity. So in a case of assault, I gotta investigate it some, ya see?”
“Yea, I know, Hank, but ain’t nothin’ suspicious at all. I just hired on some extra help is all, I can’t do it all myself and take care of ma. So I came to an arrangement with a man in town, and he’s stayin’ here and workin’. Marcus knew I’d hire him so I don’t know why he’d be all worked up ‘cept he mentioned about the barn burning down ‘cross the way, but it isn’t like that at all.”
My accent was getting thick, I knew. It always did, talkin’ to my own folk but I was tryin’ to act more sophisticated around Asher.
“I hear ya, Shelby, and I trust ya ain’t bein’ threatened or nothin’ like Marcus said, or else you’d tell me. Whatever a fella like that could blackmail ya about, I know ya could tell me and we’d take care of it. You’re practically a daughter to me as is. If yer ma’s mind had give way any sooner, I’d have had to step in as yer godfather, after all.”
Hank was a crafty fella, able to craft his words so carefully. Came with the job, I s’pose.
“Ain’t even looked at me the wrong way, I promise it. Just did his work, ate dinner, and went up to bed, that’s all he’d done. Quietest night as any ‘til Marcus came by and ma got to wanderin’ around.”
“I understand,” he said, smilin’ at me pleasantly. “Ya think I could meet this here fella? I know how Marcus can be, and that’s why I never came tearin’ in here, sirens a blazin’. But I do gotta meet the fella, keep it all official and the like,” he said so calmly.
I had been hoping it wouldn’t have come to that and I sighed. I wasn’t no good at lying, so I nodded my head, knowin’ full well the dishes were still on the table and there wasn’t no lyin’ about him not bein’ up.
“Sure, Hank. He’s real swell, a hard worker if I ever met one.”
I led Hank on back to the house, and at first I got a lil’ worried. Asher weren’t there, and I thought he might’ve gone to hide, which would’ve only made Hank suspicious. But out he came, with a long sleeved shirt on, givin’ a nod to Hank all proper like.
“Morning Sheriff,” he said in his deep, gruff voice.
“Howdy, fella. What was the name there again?” he asked.
“It’s Asher,” he responded promptly, but Hank’s look made it clear a first name just weren’t goin’ to cut it. “Asher Quay.”
“He just started yesterday and already he’s finished off the garden, and gotten started on clearin’ out some rubbish from out back. I wouldn’t be able to do it without him, not by a long shot,” I piped up cheerfully.
Hank smiled at that and nodded.
“Big strong lookin’ fella. Certainly seems like Asher here’s the type to get the job done,” he pivoted upon his booted heels and turned his gaze back to Asher. “Should probably dress lighter’n that though, if yer gonna be workin’ on a day like today, fella. Thick, long shirt like that’ll suffocate ya.”
Nothin’ got past Hank, it seemed.
“Gotta be careful of gettin’ burned, though. If you’re not used to bein’ out in the sun all day you’ll be lookin’ like a lobster in no time,” I joked, but it felt forced.
Hank gave me a polite smile and nodded his head.
“Take care of yaself, Shelby. And know though I ain’t yer pa, you can come to me like I was,” he said, reachin’ out to rest a hand on my shoulder for just a moment. “Have a good one, you two.”
With that he began to walk off, back to his pickup, leavin’ Asher and me in the kitchen together alone once more.
I felt like his hand lifted from my shoulders and left a boulder in its place. I was weighted down from the anxiety, and I looked up at Asher.
I was afraid he was gonna go. That what I was offerin’ wasn’t gonna be worth it to him at all, and I’ll be honest, I’d never been so scared. It was silly, of course. I was a girl who’d lost her pa, and whose ma could barely remember her, so of course I’d been scared and upset before.
But not like that. Maybe it was just because in Asher I saw the first bit of brightness in so long. It weren’t all just physical, though I’d be a damn dirty liar to say that didn’t play a part. But I was intrigued by him, and I didn’t wanna have things messed up so soon.
Asher watched Hank drive off, then took a deep breath that pumped up his big chest.
“I shouldn’t
stick around, I’m already causin’ trouble,” he said at last, and I’d already estimated that was comin’. He grabbed his bag from around the corner of the door and headed off toward the shed where he’d kept his bike. “I’ll work for my meal this mornin’ still, but then I should be goin’.”
“Asher, no,” I said with way more of a whine than I’d intended as I followed after him, still bare footed.
“I’m gonna go sort this all out with Marcus, get him off your back and it’ll be fine. I really could use the company, y’know?”
“And I really like your company. And your cookin’,” he said as we walked on through the sunny mornin’ into the shed. “But I really don’t wanna get wrapped up in the law, and your Sheriff don’t seem like the type to let things go. He’s probably already lookin’ up my name as we speak,” he said, dropping his back by the door and going to his motorcycle.
“So what’s the big deal with that?” I said, hoping once again to find out his secrets, why he was so concerned about people finding out who he was. Not that I’d be any different, not wantin’ a run in with the sheriff in a new town, but he was makin’ a thing of it.
“I’m nobody you wanna be mixed up in anyhow,” he said, and grasped his bike by the handlebars before he froze. A moment later he dropped to his knees and looked over the bike, lettin’ out a curse as he inspected the metalwork.
“Fuck!” he swore again, risin’ up and lookin’ away with his fists balled up in anger.
I had a sinkin’ feelin’ that we hadn’t caught Marcus on the way in, but the way out...
“W-what is it?”
He gave a kick to his bike and pointed down at the machine.
“That fucker,” he said, grittin’ his teeth in anger. “Well I ain’t goin’ nowhere anytime soon. Not unless you got a motorcycle shop I don’t know about somewhere nearby, and they accept payments in ‘thank yous’.”
Anger rose up within me.
I couldn’t believe Marcus would ever do something so horrible, so heinous, and my skin was just as red as a fire engine, I knew.