THE MONTH slipped by quietly and Mirisa kept to herself when she wasn’t doing something with the children. Dominic and Garnett still went into town frequently and James went in occasionally though Meeks always declined and stayed at home with her. This caused a lot of tension in the house after Dominic questioned Meeks motives for staying at home.
“If you’re worried Dominic stop going into town.”
“It would be easier if you realize that she’s not leaving me. Why would she give up what she already has when you have already proven that you have no respect for marriage by sleeping with her?”
“Would you like to discuss how much respect you have for it? Or maybe we should discuss the real reason she left you in Texas and why she’s afraid of you.”
Dominic eyes flashed dangerously. “What happens between us is no one’s business”
“See that’s where you are wrong. Everything that happens to her concerns me.”
“And you assume because you have lured her back into your bed that she will fall for your lies? Tell me Meeks, how do you think she’ll feel after I tell her about your past?”
Meeks smiled which angered Dominic. “Do whatever you think will work but keep in mind that none of us has ever hurt her and that’s a very big hurdle for you to jump?”
“It was an accident.” Dominic stormed out of the house as Garnett put on his gun.
“Meeks, why do you push his buttons?”
“Tell me Garnett, did you draw up the contract she signed?”
James turned away from the door and looked at Meeks. “What are you talking about?”
They both stood there as James absorbed the whole conversation then he took off his gun and went into the nursery to find Mirisa. She was sitting out on the porch rocking her daughter who was sound asleep. James bent over and put his arms under Maggie lifting her up.
“I’ll put her in bed but I don’t want you to move because we’re going to have a talk.”
James came back and turned the other chair around so he was facing her. “Why haven’t you divorced him?”
“I signed a pre-nuptial contract that is very lengthy and if you want to read it I’ll ask Garnett to give it to you but it’s really not important. If I divorce him then I get a small allotment to raise the children. If he can prove I have been unfaithful then I forfeit everything including any rights to ever have anything to do with my sons.”
James was astonished. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“No.”
“Did Garnett write the agreement?” James stood and walked toward the railing leaning out over it. “Of course he did. Did you have an attorney to review it?”
She laughed easily. “No. It was the middle of the war James. Garnett advised against signing it but I was so in love that I didn’t care and I knew I would never violate my vows. Dominic offered me everything in the world and I was so in love.”
“Sweetheart, I know you were and I know this is hard.”
“I guess sometimes you just have to be pushed into a corner to learn how much you can handle.”
“I’m going to talk to Garnett later but I think maybe tonight you need to join me for a game of checkers.” He helped her out of the chair and they found Meeks sitting in the library. James took down the board and then set down two shot glasses.
The day was so beautiful that Mirisa walked to the riverbank with her daughter and sat in the shallow water so she could play with the little fish that were nibbling on her toes. Dominic poured a shot and sat on the porch watching them. The sun was so warm and the water so cool. All you could hear was Maggie’s laughing until Dog’s low menacing growl caused everyone to look across the stream to find a mountain lion crouched down drinking from the opposite bank. James threw Meeks his rifle and cocked his.
“Mirisa don’t move.”
She looked up at them then back at the amazingly striking mountain lion who was watching Maggie intently though other then drinking he wasn’t moving a muscle. Mirisa reached over and brought Maggie closer to her then touched Dog who crouched lower snarling. The lion continued to watch her and she continued to watch it. Mirisa closed her eyes as the lion’s ears perked immediately. Matthew walked out of the nursery and reached out to the cat that diverted his eyes to Matthew.
James moved the opposite direction because Mirisa and Maggie were in the direct line of fire and the distance between her and the lion was too short to risk her moving. The lion finally turned and ran so fast that none of them could get a shot off before he disappeared in the tree line. Mirisa picked up her daughter and walked up to the porch. Meeks immediately took Maggie out of her arms.
“We need to hunt him down or he’ll return.”
“He won’t be back.” She picked up a towel and wrapped it around her daughter.
Dominic holstered his gun and told Garnett to get the horses. She looked at all of them and realized that anything she said would be wasted energy because they really just wanted to kill something, anything just to get the edge off. Men were such predictable enchanting creatures.
They got back to the lodge just as the sun was setting and by the time they put up the horses and took off their guns they realized that they had left Mirisa home alone. The kitchen was clean but there were no lanterns lit in the downstairs though the fire was still burning pretty hot. Dominic checked out on the porch but she wasn’t there. James lit the lanterns and poured a shot as Dominic called out for her but there was no answer. Garnett took the top floor, Meeks checked in the nursery and Dominic checked the rooms.
“Jasmine said she helped put the children down about an hour ago but she hasn’t seen her since.”
“Where in the hell could she be. Meeks do you think you could have built a bigger house?” Dominic walked over to the bar. “Was her horse in the pen?”
“Yes.”
James was standing by the couch and looked at the staircase. “Is there a door in the staircase?”
Meeks turned around and followed his gaze. “That goes to the wine cellar.”
“You have a wine cellar? You never said you put in a wine cellar.”
“It’s fully stocked too.” They all looked from Meeks to the door.
James opened the door and you could see the glow coming up the stairs. When James made it to the bottom he was completely impressed with the quality of woodwork in the room but also that there were thousands of bottles of wine. Mirisa was sitting up against the back wall with a bottle between her legs and her finger in her mouth. It was probably the funniest thing he had ever seen in his life. She was so drunk. He walked across the room and squatted down next to her. The smell of red wine overpowered his senses.
“Mirisa, what is wrong with your finger?”
She took it out of her mouth and it started bleeding so she put it back in. He pulled her hand out of her mouth and looked at it. He reached up for one of the small towels on the table and wrapped her hand. “How did you cut your finger?”
“I was opening bottles and the knife slipped.”
“You were opening bottles? Why were you opening bottles?”
“I was tasting the wine to see what I liked the bestest.”
“Mirisa there are at least six bottles opened and there is wine all over you and the floor.”
“I know that was my favorite so far.” Mirisa looked up at him and they all were struggling to keep a straight face. She looked over at Meeks. “I don’t like that one over there.” She pointed to the bottle lying against the wall. “I wouldn’t buy that one again because it’s too bitter.” Meeks picked up the bottle and laughed.
“No problem, it’s only $5 a bottle.”
“Mirisa, can you get up?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I tried to get that bottle way, way up there…Can you see it?... and I fell and hurt myself so I had to drink the bottles down here until you could rescue me. I really love it when you rescue me but I wish you would give me sex instead.” Dominic could
n’t hold it in any longer and James shot him a look.
“What did you hurt?”
“Me.”
“Mirisa, what part of you is hurt?”
“Why don’t you find out for yourself?” She smiled at him and reached up and put wine on his bottom lip then slowly sucked it off.
James shut his eyes and Meeks sat on the testing table and just smiled. “Mirisa, what part of you hurts?”
“My ankle.” She raised her skirt and her ankle was swollen. James went to touch it and she hit him.
“Dammit, I haven’t even touched you yet. Stop or I’ll have someone hold your hands.”
“I bite!”
Garnett had to leave the room. James told him to get some towels and dry clothes because she was covered in wine. She smiled at James and told him she wanted great sex. He ignored her and reached for her ankle. She yelled at him again.
“Mirisa, I haven’t touched you.”
“I was practicing. Now can I have sex?”
“No. Only good girls get sex and you are not being good.”
“Then can you reach that bottle right up there because I really want to try it?”
Dominic lit a cigar and sat down on the edge of the table. James picked up her ankle and she winced when he touched it. He felt along the bone and she bit her bottom lip and tears welled up in her eyes. But when he turned it she screamed at him and he had to block her swing.
“It’s only twisted but she won’t be able to walk on it for a few days.” James let go of her arm and she sat back against the rack. She picked up the bottle between her legs and started to take a swig when James took it away from her. Garnett came back down and put everything on the table.
“Do you think you can change clothes or do you need help?”
“James, I like it better when you take my clothes off.”
“Mirisa, I’m serious.”
“So am I. You know you have the greatest body for sex and I love the way your hair curls on your neck.” She pulled him closer as he put his hand out to stop from falling in the wine. “I love to touch you especially if you tell me no.”
“Fine.” He reached down and pulled her up and told Dominic and Meeks to move as he sat her on the tasting table. He started to unbutton her blouse but she kept kissing him and running her hands down his stomach as he scolded her. She almost fell off the table before Meeks caught her and held her up as James got her skirt off. The wine had soaked through everything. Garnett handed him the towels as she lay back on the table and reached back for him catching his belt loop while she turned over so she was on her stomach.
“Mirisa, leave Garnett alone. I need to get you washed off since the wine is even in your hair.”
“But I haven’t had sex with Garnett in the wine cellar yet.”
“And you’re not going to have it tonight.”
“Did you ask him?” She turned over on her back and pulled her legs straight up looking at her ankle. “If you ask Garnett, I am sure he will agree to give me sex.”
“James, I think it would be easier to just take her to the river.”
“Can you handle her drunk?”
Garnett removed his boots and shirt before he picked her up as she wrapped around him chewing on his ear. She grabbed Meeks as Garnett passed him.
“Can you bring me that top bottle, please?” Meeks smiled at her and reached up and took the bottle down.
Mirisa had opened seven bottles of wine and it was hard to tell how much she spilled and how much she drank but it took James and Meeks a half hour to clean it up. Garnett set her down in the shallow water washing her off as she splashed him. She pulled him into the water as Garnett kissed her then she rolled him over and ran her hands up his chest stretching until she found his lips again. As she sat up she removed her camisole top and the moonlight washed across her face and down her breasts. Garnett slowly cupped her breasts as she put her hands over his and closed her eyes putting her head back. Dominic couldn’t handle it and walked down to the water picking her up by the waist so Garnett could stand up.
“I forgot how much you love to play when you’re drunk.”
Garnett changed into dry jeans then grabbed five glasses and the corkscrew. James sat down and looked at her ankle. She ran her hand along James’ pants and he gave her a warning look and she bit her lower lip. “If I say please, then Meeks gives me what I want.”
“Meeks likes bad girls.”
Meeks opened the bottle of white wine and poured five glasses. He handed her one and James just shook his head.
“That will be the last time we leave you alone.” James put up the bandages and came back out and sat down. “How did you find the cellar?”
“I don’t know.”
“And do you think this bottle of wine was worth the mess you made down there?”
“I think I like white wine a lot better than red. Why was it up top?”
“The expensive wine is at the top Mirisa.” Meeks tasted the wine that was a very good year. “Do I need to put a lock on the door?”
“Only if you don’t have the money to keep it stocked for me.”
“Did you eat tonight?”
“I don’t know. Did you find the lion?”
“No, we lost his trail. Do you know anything?”
“I know the lion climbed that big tree and hid there until you left. You do know that’s Garnett’s animal totem? They are both deadly, extremely beautiful and react so fast it takes your breath away.”
They all looked at her because they had lost the tracks near a very large tree but if he was in the tree they didn’t see him. She could sometimes be extremely unnerving especially when she said things so matter of fact like they should have known.
She put her glass down on the table and Garnett threw Meeks a blanket to put over her. It was always a matter of seconds between her last sip and she passed out.
Garnett lit his cigar and put his feet up on the table. “You know there’s very little difference between her when she’s drunk and a child but damn does she tempt the devil when she’s in the mood.”
James fixed them something to eat and they sat around and talked late into the night. James finally picked her up and put her to bed. He really didn’t understand what she wanted or even if she knew what she wanted or if it merely took all four of them to keep her happy.
She woke up groggy and fell as she tried to stand. She looked down at her ankle which was throbbing from the tight wrap. She pushed herself back up on the bed when she realized her finger was bandaged. She undid the bandage and looked at the small cut. She put the bandage on the table and pulled up her knee and felt her ankle. She decided to leave it on and hobbled over to the wardrobe and took out something loose to wear. It took her a while to negotiate on one foot but she finally made it to the bar. Garnett sat down next to her.
“How are you feeling?” The foot had turned purple around her ankle bone and across her foot. He gently felt it and the tears just ran down her cheeks. “You seem to be pushing the boundaries lately.”
“I know but I don’t whine as much.”
“No you do seem to be getting a stronger skin.”
“Garnett, I need to talk to you seriously about my marriage.”
“You’re still going to leave him?”
“Yes. Nothing has changed, Dominic hasn’t changed. All of you know that nothing will ever change and I can’t live like that.”
“How do you know he hasn’t changed if you haven’t given him a chance?”
“Garnett, has he been with other women since I have been here?”
“Are you sleeping with anyone?” Mirisa just looked at him. “Mirisa, as your attorney you need to answer my questions.”
She smiled. “Are you?”
Garnett shook his head. “He’s going to want to keep Matthew and eventually Jonathan.”
“I know but I would prefer they stay with me until they are ready to live with him.”
“I agree.”
�
�Is he getting ready to file for a divorce?” She said it with a lot of reservation.
“Yes.”
“Thank you for telling me. Do I need to find an attorney?”
“No. I’ll be representing you.” She looked at him surprised. “It was his decision though I would have made it myself. He went into Denver and will probably stay there a few days. I’ll ride in tomorrow and file your answer. There’s no waiting period out here so you will be divorced in a few days depending on the court docket."
James walked in poured a cup of coffee before he asked the question. "What grounds is he using?"
"Adultery and he's naming Meeks." Garnett watched her face as he said it and the impact was tremendous. James knew that wasn't the end of the sentence. "He's also naming you."
"Well, I wouldn't have expected anything less. We'll both be there for the final hearing but I don't want Mirisa anywhere near the court."
"That can be arranged."
MEEKS STOOD between James and Dominic as Garnett held James back to keep him from hitting Dominic. They were standing outside the courthouse before they had to go in for the hearing.
“I ought to just shoot you and get it over with.” He was so angry that Garnett wasn’t sure whether or not he could control him.
“James, I don’t know why you are so upset since you did sleep with my wife though I have no way of proving it. Meeks on the other hand will never deny being Maggie’s father. All three of you are responsible for me having to do this.” Dominic’s anger was probably comparable to James.
The Visitor - Colorado 1869 - 1871 Page 14