by P D Miller
Tears flooded her eyes when she saw her house, and Gonzalo barely stopped before she jumped out of the car and ran in to her mother. She cried but it wasn’t just because she was glad to be returned. She also cried because she knew something was wrong. And her mother’s tears? Were they because she’d been missing? Her brothers sure were glad to see her like she’d actually been lost, all except Gonzalo who wandered off to the kitchen.
“Mama what’s wrong?” Missy sat on her bed. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m just glad you’re home safe. I was so worried.”
“But Ben told me you knew where I was.”
“Yes, but it’s not like having you here.” Her mother forced a smile. “Rest now Melissa, I’m sure you must be tired after your ordeal.”
Missy blinked with wonder. She watched her mother fuss around her room a while, then glance up with a sad smile, fuss around some more and finally leave. Missy fell back on her bed totally confused. Something had happened. She tried to sleep but Ben’s words telling her he’d take care of her and protect her kept floating to the surface of her thoughts. It was very late when she finally fell asleep, and then her dreams were troubled with Ben holding his hand over her mouth and calling “Missy, Missy, Missy” over and over. She heard him saying it when he kidnapped her. She’d heard it. She’d heard Susan too. She could hear! She woke up with a start but heard nothing.
Rolling over on her stomach, she thought about Ben and let his love sweep through her. But deep loneliness kept edging inside. Ben must be hurt or something. Still everyone said he was fine. He was supposed to come back and take her home. Maybe he was never coming back. Maybe he already knew the horrible truth. But of course, that was it! He knew the truth if Susan told them to arrest Moreno. He knew she’d been ruined, and he wasn’t coming back. Was her family just trying to protect her still?
The next morning she walked down to the kitchen in a daze. Gonzalo glanced up and smiled at her. Her brothers were talking; she could see their lips move, but she couldn’t hear them. Disappointment waved through her because she really couldn’t hear, only thought she’d been able to like when she heard talking in her dreams. Yes, it was just a dream.
“Well Melissa, ready to go back to work?” Gonzalo smiled.
Missy dropped in chair and stared at the coffee her mother gave her. So it was over? They all knew Ben wouldn’t be back. He was doing all right. He was doing fine, but he wouldn’t be back? Susan dragged the truth from her for nothing? But she’d hinted Ben already knew the truth. So he wanted her to face it, had made love to her and left her with a doctor who made her face the truth. This way he could go on his merry way to another job—another case. Missy slowly let the horrible truth sink in. He merely took care of her through a crisis like he did for Susan. He was like all the others—no worse. At least when Eduardo stared at her, she saw how he knew she’d been ruined. The gleam in Eduardo’s eyes revealed his sadistic needs. She shuddered.
“Melissa are you ready to go back to work?” Gonzalo asked again.
“What else is there to do?” She glanced at her eldest brother. Ben was gone. Charger was gone too. Her pen pal with promises was gone. Her secret dreams were gone. As she walked with Gonzalo to the car, she let reality sink in and pain raced through her. Susan had told her Ben knew about her. And now he was gone. So was her fantasy world. Missy felt even more alone and dead now.
As days passed Missy became totally resigned to living with reality. When she came home from work she’d wander upstairs, think about not having any future except working in the shop’s office and try to accept it. Sometimes she’d have fleeting thoughts of going away to college and maybe meet some other deaf people. Other nights when she was desperately lonely she’d pull out Ben’s letters, re-read them and cry.
Gonzalo worried about her but tried to stay out of her way. So far he hadn’t been able to find out where Ben was or what happened to him. After ten days he finally decided Ben had walked out on her too, and he hated what she was going through. One night he decided he needed to talk to her. She’d become more withdrawn everyday, eating less and losing weight. When he opened her door, he saw her sitting on her bed with tears rolling down her cheeks. She’d torn Ben’s letters to shreds. Turning away, he closed the door.
The next morning when Missy came down she asked her parents if there was enough money for her to go to some college for the deaf in the fall. The question hit like a small bomb, but Gonzalo smiled at her and told her they’d look into some colleges. Somehow he must convince their parents it was time to stop protecting Missy and let her grow up. If they didn’t let her go, they’d lose her another way.
Missy was filing when the phone rang in the office the next afternoon, and she happened to be watching Gonzalo when he picked up the phone.
“I didn’t expect you.” Gonzalo frowned, and Missy saw his expression become pale and worried. “Yeah, I’ll be there and we’ll—” Gonzalo’s eyes met hers. “We’ll take care of it. Gonzalo dropped the receiver and tapped with his pencil on the desk for several seconds before he smiled and got up. “Look, Melissa something’s come up—a new client—” His face brightened, and he smiled. “Have Marco help you lock up and take you home. “Tell Mom I’ll be too late for dinner—” He forced a smile as he put an arm around her shoulders. “Okay?”
“Sure.” At this moment in her life Missy no longer worried about clients, who took her home, or anything. Not caring she resumed her filing and didn’t see Gonzalo go out and tell Marco where he’d be.
The moment Marco got her home, she felt choked with attention. Suddenly everyone wanted her to go to college? Even her father had gone to the library and brought a book listing schools for the deaf, and they looked through it checking distances and tuition costs. Since the drug problem had been eliminated, the Sanchez Trucking Service had been kept busy, and with some of her inheritance still left, she could afford college. She noticed her brothers were rather quiet, all apparently lost in private thoughts. Eduardo sat on the other sofa glaring. He didn’t like the idea of Missy going off and meeting new people. It was late when Missy finally decided to mention Gonzalo was still not back, and it bothered her. She could see it bothered her parents too. Eduardo still sat in the living room as if he lived there.
Missy went up to her bedroom, slipped between the sheets on her bed and fought the usual haunting images which kept her from sleeping. Ben, always Ben. His broken promises. Ben and the loss of him had replaced the painful memories of the past leaving a larger pain and a far greater emptiness. She couldn’t tell anyone how she hurt inside now with Ben gone.
Chapter Nine
Five miles out of town, Gonzalo paced around his car. Ben should be here by now. What the hell was wrong with him anyway? Ben carried on like he’d done something wrong just because he hadn’t explained what happened to Missy. It happened, dammit! Missy couldn’t stop it. Why did it all have to be brought out again? Wasn’t it bad enough everyone where they lived—everyone in town knew? Damn, what did Ben want? Blood? Gonzalo glanced up and saw a van coming toward him, pass and continue down the road. His body went rigid when he heard the honk of the big rig, turned to watch it top the hill, pull over and come to a stop behind his car. Unable to move, he waited while Ben killed the engine and climbed out of the cab.
“Yo—your late.”
“Didn’t plan on getting a ticket for speeding.” Ben walked up to him, his expression unreadable.
“I guess this is it.” Gonzalo shrugged.
“Yeah, out in the field.” Ben motioned. Gonzalo couldn’t decide what was in Ben’s eyes. Hate? Fear? Pain?
“Look Ben—” Gonzalo turned toward the field. “Missy wanted me to tell you but—”
“But you preferred I stomp in, making an ass of myself and hurt her.”
“No, I didn’t want it. I didn’t realize you cared; you were just pen pals—”
“You bastard!”
“Look Ben—” Gonzalo dodged Ben’s first swi
ng at him. “Most men can’t accept it when a girl has been—has been—”
Ben’s fist hit Gonzalo’s right eye. “Say it dammit! Say it before I—”
“All right!” Gonzalo swung with rage and hit Ben squarely in the nose causing it to bleed. “She was raped!” The two scuffled and hit each other several times before Ben could speak. He grimaced and tried to hold back what he felt.
“So what else is new?” Ben’s fist landed on Gonzalo’s jaw.
“You knew all along?” Gonzalo let his guard down and grunted when his ribs felt like they were crushed by Ben’s blow.
“Not then! Hell no, I didn’t know, or I’d have never blundered in and hurt her! But you knew!” Ben and Gonzalo rolled over and threw more punches. “BUT YOU KNEW ALL ABOUT BOTH OF THEM!”
Gonzalo tried to kick Ben in the groin just as he heard Ben’s words. “Both of them?” His shocked expression was short lived when Ben slammed his fist into Gonzalo’s jaw, and he dropped in a heap before Ben.
Grunting Ben pulled away and half sat with a groan. He glared at Gonzalo’s limp body still filled with rage. “Come on, get up you bastard!” He prodded Gonzalo, then he grunted and picked him up, but he was out cold. “Dammit, you should have told me—warned—me—” When Gonzalo didn’t respond, Ben let him drop like an empty sack, got up and staggered to the truck. He climbed up to the cab and pulled out a bottle. Groaning, at the pain in his left shoulder, he took a big swallow of scotch and then sat down on the ground beside the truck. “You should have told me, so I wouldn’t hurt her.” He mumbled to himself, took another swallow and then groaned. “Damn, how I hurt her!” Ben took another swallow trying to bury his pain. He barely saw Gonzalo move out of the corner of his eye, but he no longer cared about him. Missy had been hurt when he stomped in, blowing his horn and waking everyone. If only he’d known!
Gonzalo rolled over and dropped his head to the ground. What the hell was Ben talking about? Slowly, he lifted himself to sitting, saw Ben wasn’t looming over him ready to punch again and pulled himself up. He felt like he’d spent the evening going through a meat grinder. Clutching his side because his ribs hurt like hell, he slowly staggered toward the truck and Ben.
“What’s this about both?”
“The two of them who raped her.” Ben glanced at the ground, then up at Gonzalo. “You didn’t know?”
“All I knew about was the Torres guy—Ben who? What happened? Are you sure?”
“Yeah I’m sure. Mario Moreno is related to Torres through marriage and Tijerina and Torres are cousins. Moreno was running scared.”
“But are you sure? Missy never once said—”
“She was afraid.”
“How did you find out?”
“Blood is thicker than water man, even with Italians. I got to checking and discovered how they were related. Tijerina was being pressured to find a way to get Torres out of Huntsville while at the same time Torres was trying to get Tijerina, to set up Moreno. It seemed strange they were playing against each other when they were related.”
But are you sure, Ben?” Gonzalo still didn’t believe it.
“Yeah, I’m sure.” Ben rubbed his sore shoulder wondering if the stitches had reopened. “This past two weeks since I got out of the hospital, I’ve been collecting evidence to get Moreno sent up, so Missy wouldn’t have to testify. Just went through his hearing, I thought you knew about him.”
“You were in the hospital?”
“Yeah, picked up a stray bullet.” Ben took another swig and felt his shoulder.
“No one told me.” Gonzalo leaned against the truck. “I thought—”
“I’d run out on Missy.” He glanced at the blood seeping through the bandage. “I had to take care of Moreno.”
“Ben, I swear I didn’t know!” Gonzalo shook his head. “I had no idea. None!” He looked up at Ben. “Look, I swear—”
Ben took another swallow, smiled and held out the bottle. “I’m going to marry Missy—” He glared at Gonzalo.
“Yeah, I guess you are.” Gonzalo felt his ribs, took the offered bottle and then a drink. He gasped and sputtered after a swallow. “Man, how do you drink this stuff? I’m glad you got him, but I—” His voice trailed off. They watched a car pass them on the highway. “Ben—”
“Think you can drive us in Gonzalo?”
“And your truck?”
“It’s empty. We could put your car inside—save a trip.”
“Yeah.” Gonzalo’s eyes brightened. “But you beat me—I drive up, they’ll think—”
“Hell, I’m too damn drunk to drive man, and I don’t give a damn what they think. I’m an Italian, remember?” Ben’s words had become slurred. He drank some more. “Look Gonzalo, jus’ get me there.”
“Ben do you know what my brothers are planning to—”
Ben took another big gulp of scotch. “Yeah, I know. Jus’ get me there.”
“Sure thing.” Gonzalo grinned. “Just sit right here, relax and drink. I’ll take care of everything.” Like hell, he was going to take Ben home for his brothers to kill him. He’d get him plastered and take him to a motel or something for the night, call home and fix things first.
Within half an hour Gonzalo had his car in the back of the truck, managed to get a very drunk Ben into the cab and was wheeling his way toward town. Even though one of his eyes was swollen closed, the other nearly closed, dried blood covered his face, all of his ribs were probably broken, and he felt like a steam roller had gone over him, Gonzalo had a wide painful grin on his face. Damn him! Charger wouldn’t give up! A sudden worry hit Gonzalo.
“Charg—Ben—about Missy—”
“I won’ hurt her Gonzalo, is tha’ your worry?”
“Yeah, thanks.” Gonzalo grinned again. Even plastered out of his mind, Ben said he wouldn’t hurt her. He might kill everyone else, but he wouldn’t hurt Missy. It was all he needed to know.
When Gonzalo pulled up to a motel, Ben bristled. “No man, on wit’ it.” He groaned. “Wasted enough time a’ready.”
“Yeah, okay, man.” Gonzalo shook his head and drove on.
Ben recognized the corner just as Gonzalo turned. “Pass the house and drive around man.” He shook his head. “Gotta’ think abou’ this a minute.”
“Sure.” Gonzalo smiled. “Getting cold feet?”
“I’m pretty wasted; aren’t I? Missy won’ wanna’ see me this way.”
“Want to get some coffee?”
“Yeah.” Ben shook his head. “Man, I never drank so much as lately. Ever since I found out—” He blinked at Gonzalo. “It was eatin’ at me.”
“I know the feeling.” Gonzalo pulled up to a truck stop. He killed the engine and moaned as he helped Ben from the truck. Together they staggered inside the truck stop and dropped in a booth.
Gonzalo felt his ribs. “Man, I think every rib is broken.” He grinned at Ben. They both looked sheepishly at the waitress.
“Yeah, I think I’ll wash up.” Ben staggered to the men’s room while they waited for their coffee. He washed up, combed his hair and grimaced when he saw himself in the mirror. Fine way to look when he went calling on the woman he loved. He blinked and shook his head.
“Your turn.” He painfully half smiled at Gonzalo when he got back. For over an hour they sat over several cups of coffee while Ben sobered a little. Gonzalo got Ben to explain a little more about the past three weeks, how he went to Huntsville, saw Torres, obtained sworn affidavits of Moreno’s guilt and pushed a judge to rush a hearing. DEA was backing him and promised the man wouldn’t go free.
“Ben about the money Missy inherited, do we have to pay it back?” Gonzalo was trying to figure a way to keep Ben away from the house.
“Naw. It was private money.” Ben grinned sheepishly.
“Private money?”
“When I was twenty-five my father gave me some money. He was trying to get me to quit working for the DEA. It’s just been sittin’ there.”
“Your money? Man!”
“Man, I don’t know about you!” Gonzalo shook his head. “Look Ben, why don’t we just go to a motel until you sleep off—”
“No, I want to get it settled tonight. Been waiting too long.”
“Yeah, sure.” Gonzalo rose. “Want to drive now?”
“No, I’m still too drunk.” Ben climbed in the cab. “Take her on in man.” Ben sat on the right side with his eyes closed as if he were asleep. Two blocks from the house Gonzalo was surprised when Ben reached up for the horn. He shook his head.
“Might as well let them know we’re coming.” Ben grinned. The sharp honk raced through the air and house lights all around snapped on. Ben honked until Gonzalo stopped the truck in front of the house.
“Ben!” Missy sat bolt upright in bed, quickly grabbed her robe and ran downstairs. She stood on the porch and grinned from ear to ear when the truck pulled up. Her grin turned to worry when Gonzalo got out. She didn’t hear Ben get out on the right side.
Ben smiled at the watching neighbors and waved as he walked around the back of the truck. As he walked up the left side, he glanced at Gonzalo’s brothers all lining up and getting ready for him. He saw Missy standing on the porch with her parents. Ben walked over to the porch. “Mr. Sanchez, I’m asking for Missy’s hand in marriage, sir.”
“And I told you before it’s impossible.”
“Thank you.” Ben turned toward her brothers. “Do we need to have a discussion about my kidnapping your sister?”
Missy could stand no more. “Ben I’m not a virgin!” She screamed.
Ben and her brothers stopped cold in their tracks. Ben turned slowly. “I know, Melissa.”