by Maree, Kay
“You know you’re just like your grandmother when you get all bossy like that,” Grandpa whispered.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not,” he smiled at me with watery eyes. “Fine. You can make repairs. But nothing more.”
“Thanks, Grandpa.” I kissed him on the cheek before heading to the office to grab my notebook.
“It’s a nice thing you’re doing for him.” I looked up from my desk to see Walker leaning against the doorframe. “I’ve been trying for years to get him to let me help, but the stubborn old goat always refused.”
He looked so damn sexy. All I wanted was to feel his strong arms around me as he kissed the breath from my lungs. I’d been having more and more thoughts like this whenever he was around. His little show before didn’t help.
“He’s my Grandpa, I love him,” I shrugged. “You help the ones you love, even if they don’t like it.”
“The difference being you didn’t back down. Plenty of people have when he starts to argue. I just wanted you to know you’re doing a good thing. And I’m here if you need help.”
“Thanks Walker.”
I don’t know why, but his comments made me feel better than any praise I’d gotten from my parents.
“Billy said that you had the late shift and that he was going to come back and pick you up. I told him not to bother. He looks tired. Besides, I’m on shift tonight, so I’ll pick you up. Let the old man rest.”
I wanted to argue, I really did. I wanted to tell him he didn’t need to pick me up, that I could sleep here in the office. But I didn’t. Walker offered to pick me up, not for me, but for my Grandpa. He cares about him enough to notice that he was looking tired and needed a decent sleep. I don’t know why, but it warmed my heart and made me want to kiss him.
“Well, I have to go to work. Enjoy the rest of your day, Darlin’. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Thanks, Walker. See you then.”
Danica
Notebook and measuring tape in hand, I went up to the guest rooms to take stock of what needed repairing. I went over every inch of each room, keeping myself busy and distracted so I would stop checking the clock. Stop counting down the hours until I could see Walker again.
I was in the last room measuring up for a new shower screen when I heard voices out on the balcony.
“When is she leaving?” A man asked.
“I don’t know. Not soon enough,” a woman huffed.
The man I didn’t recognise. The woman was unmistakably Cecilia.
“I don’t get what your issue is with her.”
I didn’t want to eavesdrop; I gathered my things, preparing to leave.
“Danica is sneaky and manipulative. She already has Walker wrapped around her little finger.”
That had me stopping in my tracks. I dropped my things on the bed, moving closer to the balcony door, staying hidden in the shadow of the curtains.
“Billy thinks the sunshine’s out of her ass.”
“She’s his granddaughter,” the man justified.
“Walker keeps making goo-goo eyes at her and hanging on every nauseating word she says. It’s pathetic really.”
Sure, Walker and I have been getting more and more flirty with each other, but he doesn’t hang on my every word. I’m sure he flirts with plenty of women. He’s certainly not wrapped around my finger.
“What’s the matter, CeeCee? Jealous.”
“Of her? Please. I can have Walker anytime I like. Besides, she’s nothing special.”
“Please, she is gorgeous, and those lips, oh.” His lewd tone made my skin crawl.
“Come on, Baby she doesn’t have a rack like this,” she cooed. “Her lips are nothing like mine. Are you going to do what I ask?”
What the hell is she up to?
“Put those lips to good use and we have a deal.”
Walker
It was just before closing when I stopped in at the Rusty Wagon. I’d found myself doing this more and more.
The frequency of my visits to the Rusty Wagon increased once Danica moved in with her Grandpa. More often than not I found my way to the Wagon around closing when the bar was quiet, and Danica had more time to hangout.
The Wagon was all but empty when I approached the bar. The kitchen staff were flipping the chairs up on the tables and mopping the floor.
Since she arrived my eyes automatically seek Danica out. She moves with effortless efficiency. Every movement made with purpose and grace. It’s like her body moves to an internal song. I would love to watch her dance.
She was wearing a white V-neck tee with a large Rusty Wagon logo on the back. A smaller version was on the front, over her left breast. Dark-ass-hugging jeans and black kicks rounded out her outfit. Her long mahogany hair was pulled up into a high ponytail. I had the sudden urge to grab her from behind, wrap her hair around my fist and kiss her until she melted into me.
Everything happening around her faded away as I watched her work. She laughed, and my body reacted.
Then I heard a male voice, and everything came back into focus.
As Danica stacked the dishwasher, she was talking to the town asshole, Charles Andrew.
Charles Andrew is a smarmy bastard. Arrogant and unscrupulous. To say I hate him would be an understatement. He thinks money can solve everything, and the law doesn’t apply to him. Anytime I arrest one of his men, the door of the cell barely clicks closed and they're out again.
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this fucker hanging around Danica, and I don’t like it.
“Danica, you really should invest in a new keg delivery system.” Charles insisted. His tone patronising - the way he spoke to anyone he thought was not as smart as he.
“Charles, it’s fine. There is nothing wrong with the system we have.”
“Nothing wrong,” he scoffed. “The thing you have in the basement is practically an antique.”
“It’s old Charles, not broken.”
“I could help, if money is the issue.” Charles placed a hand on Danica’s shoulder. “I’m sure we could work something out.”
The way Charles spoke to her had my hackles standing on end. He’s an asshole; a sleaze, and I didn’t like the way he was looking at Danica.
“It’s a kind offer, Charles,” Danica replied, stepping away to gather more glasses. His hand sliding from her shoulder.
“It’s more than a kind offer. I’m only thinking of your safety. I would be terribly devastated if anything happened to you. A rare jewel - such as yourself - needs to be cared for.”
Oh god. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. Did he really think that line was charming?
“Evening, Miss Danica.” Interrupting Charles before he could try any more of his cheesy lines. I took a seat at the bar, dropping my cowboy hat on the stool beside me.
“Hiya Sheriff,” she greeted with a genuine smile. She looked me over, her pretty green eyes softening. “Hard day?” I nodded. “You look like you could use a drink.”
“That I could.” With another warm smile, she placed a beer in front of me. “Thanks, Darlin’.” I picked up the bottle, taking a long drink, letting the tasty suds cool my throat.
“Sheriff, aren’t you on duty?” Charles snarked, pissed he no longer had Danica to himself. “Do you really think drinking on the job is appropriate?” Charles looked down his nose at me. He was always looking down his nose at me.
“I’m off the clock, Charles. Sunny is on duty for the night,” I explained, taking another sip.
“Don’t you think you should at least take your badge off?” He scoffed.
“I never take the badge off Charles.”
Charles has been trying to get me fired since I was appointed as Sheriff to Venom Ridge. I don’t know why he has such a hard on for me. Why he wanted to destroy me, but I was determined to find out. In the meantime, I enjoyed being a thorn in his side.
“I hardly think
one beer, after a hard day’s work, is going to cause a scandal,” Danica said, trying to diffuse the tension. She grinned at me, her eyes sparkling. “Besides, one beer won’t knock a man like Walker on his ass.”
“Danica, really. Don’t be so crass,” Charles scalded. “It’s beneath people like us.”
Danica and I have been hanging out. We have become friends. Sure, we were friends who flirt and tease each other. Friends who wouldn’t mind seeing each other naked, but friends, nonetheless. As her friend, I didn’t like the way he spoke to her. He was always telling her what to do, what to say. I hated it and I could tell so did she.
“What type of people are those, Charles?”
I was tired and the way Charles was treating Danica pissed me off, so I didn’t watch my tongue as I should.
“Miss Danica can say whatever the fuck she likes.” I growled, slamming the beer bottle on the bar, shooting daggers at Charles. “Besides, only a pussy-ass-bitch who can’t hold his liquor would get drunk off one beer.”
“So true.” Danica picked up my beer. She winked, saluting me with the bottle.
“Danie Honey, we’re finished here.” Terry, the cook, informed. “The washer in the kitchen is on and I’ve locked up, out the back.”
“Thanks Terry, you can head off home. Thanks again for sticking around to help clean up, I really appreciate it.”
“Any time, Honey. Are you going to be ok closing up on your own?”
“Danica, you shouldn’t be here by yourself. It’s dangerous.” Charles intervened. “Danica, why don’t you let me hire someone to do it for you? Please. Don’t worry your pretty head about it, I’ll make all the arrangements.”
Charles thought he was being charming, but again the condescending prick couldn’t see past his own ego. Danica’s hackles stood on end. A clear sign she hated being pandered to and treated like a silly little girl.
“Thank you, Charles. But no. I don’t need you to hire anyone for me. Your worry isn’t warranted.”
“Danica, sweetheart, I meant no offence. You’re more than capable of handling things, I know this.” His tone was that of an adult placating a child. “I’m concerned, that is all. It’s my job to worry about you.”
Charles reached out, running his hand over Danica’s cheek. She may have hidden it well, but I could see the shiver of repulsion from his touch. It took everything in me to not smack his hand away from her.
“Yes, well, it’s unnecessary.” Again, Danica stepped away from his touch. “I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?” Terry asked. Like myself, he doesn’t trust Charles and can see through the bullshit he’s shovelling.
“Well, would you look at all these fine men standing around,” Clare, Terry’s wife, and fellow cook called waddling out from the kitchen. “Charles, sweetie, will you be a gentleman and escort me to my car? My husband may be a deft hand in the kitchen, but his all wobbly on the steps.” Clare chuckled, linking arms with Charles, giving him no choice but to walk her to the car. “Terry, Honey let’s go, you know how the dogs get if we’re late getting home.”
“Coming Dear,” Terry replied, shaking my hand. “Night Sheriff.”
“Night guys.” Danica farewelled, waving goodbye.
Danica included Charles in her farewell. It was clear she wanted to get rid of him as much as I did. The air was getting thick with the stench of douche.
“Yes, well, my pleasure. Good evening Danica,” Charles said, pissed at being dismissed, ignoring me as per usual.
“Danie, lock the door after us ok?” Terry instructed as Clare chewed Charles’ ear off, heading for the door. “Oh shoot, Honey, how are you getting home?”
“Don’t worry, Terry. I’ll make sure she gets home safely,” I assured him.
“Thanks, Sheriff. Have a good night, you two.”
Danica
When I first came to Venom Ridge; my parents would call daily asking when I was coming home. They soon began asking if I was coming home.
Then the calls came weekly, then monthly.
I couldn’t tell them I didn’t want to go home, that I hated the city and I had finally found my peace. I couldn’t hurt them like that so, I lied. I would tell them Grandpa needed help, that he’s getting on in years and he would be lost without me. Hearing what I knew they wanted to hear, they praised me for being a thoughtful and caring granddaughter.
Then they stopped calling.
Occasionally I would get an email. It was very formal and businesslike. Undoubtedly transcribed by my father’s secretary.
At the year mark of me living with Grandpa Billy, he asked me if I wanted to stick around.
“Danica, come sit with me.” Grandpa patted Grandma Lilly’s rocking chair beside him. Grandpa rarely called me Danica. When he did, it worried me.
“Is everything ok?”
“Do you have anything waiting for you in the city? Besides, your parents, that is.”
“No. Not really. I mean, I miss the coffee and this little hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant that makes the best Pad Thai outside of Thailand. I miss the theatres and the live music, but it’s nothing I can’t live without. Why do you ask?”
“Don’t you miss your friends? You don’t have a fella or lassie you’re sweet on?”
“Yes, I miss my friends, but I talk to them all the time. If I were desperate to see them, I could go back, but they know where I am, they could come here. But, to answer your other question no, there’s no one special waiting on me. Fella or otherwise.”
“What about here? Anyone special here?”
“No.” My voice went high, betraying my lie. There have been a few stolen moments with Walker. I wanted more but finding time to be alone with him was hard. Between the Rusty Wagon and Grandpa, I had my hands full. With Walker being the Sheriff, and constantly on call, stolen moments were all we could afford. I cleared my throat, bringing myself back to the conversation at hand. “No, not really.”
“I see that Charles Andrew hanging around,” Grandpa stated.
“Charles is a nice guy. He helped me when the ordering software was playing up. He likes to give business advise. He comes in for lunch, occasionally stays for a drink, but so do a lot of people. He’s a good customer.”
“He bought you a fancy laptop,” Grandpa sniffed. There was something in his tone, anger, annoyance, disappointment. “Gadgets like that aren’t cheap.”
“No, they’re not, but Grandpa, I explained all of that. I was walking back to the truck, not paying attention to what I was doing, turned the corner and we crashed into each other. Everything in my arms hit the ground, including my laptop. The screen shattered. Charles turned up the next day with a new laptop to replace the damaged one. I tried to refuse. I can replace my own damn laptop, but he insisted I accept it. He felt bad for crashing into me. He was being nice. Grandpa, that’s all.”
“There’s something about that man,” Grandpa growled. “I don’t know what it is, but there’s something I don’t like. He just rubs me the wrong way. You be careful there.”
“Grandpa. Charles has been nothing but nice to me. He’s done nothing to make me suspicious of his intentions.”
Charles Andrews is the richest man in town. He owns an extensive property at the highest point of the ridge. His estate looks down over Venom Ridge. He’s the reason the rail came to town, it runs right alongside his property, allowing for easy access for exporting his prize-winning cattle. I know his reputation. There are plenty of people in Venom Ridge who don’t like Charles. People who say he did them dirty. Conversely, there are plenty of people who think he is the second coming. That he is the greatest thing to happen to the Venom Ridge.
I; myself, am reserving judgement.
“You and Walker seem to have gotten close.” The side-eye grandpa was giving me showed he was fishing for information.
Walker and I are just friends.
Well, we were just friends, but now I don’t know what
we are.
We’ve kissed and spent an amazing night together, but that doesn’t constitute a relationship. We kissed, and they were the greatest kisses of my life. We made love. Walker made me feel like no man ever has. The time we have spent together, I relive at night when I’m alone in bed.
Every time he’s dropped me off, we’ve kissed.
Boy, have we kissed.
They have been hot and heavy with lots of hands, lots of touching. The only thing that has stopped me from inviting him in, throwing him on the ground, and having my way with him is my Grandpa asleep inside.
That, and the fact Walker is a good guy, the perfect gentleman who insists on taking things slow. It's honourable, but frustrating as hell.
We could go back to his place, but Venom Ridge has eyes and ears everywhere. I didn’t want it to get around the town that Walker & I had slept together if a one-nightstand was all it was going to be. So, we kept things all very PG-13.
Thinking about Walker; being in his arms had my blood heating, I could feel the blush creeping across my cheeks.
“Walker and I are friends, Grandpa,” I hedged.
“I’ve seen the way he looks at you. The way you look at him.”
“We look at each other as friends.”
“A little more than just friends from where I’m sitting.”
“Grandpa,” I warned. I really didn’t want to discuss my love life with my grandfather.
“He’s a good man and he would be lucky to have you.”
“Grandpa…”
“Oh, hush. Don’t look at me like that. Danica, my girl. I’m no fool. I know what I see. No man will ever be good enough for you, but Walker comes close. I just want to see you happy.”
“I love you Grandpa and I love that you’re looking out for me. As soon as I have anything to report on the Love life front, you’ll be the first to know.” I picked up his hand, giving his weathered, scarred knuckles a kiss.
“Sweet Pea, I’m getting on years,” Grandpa stated, patting my hand. “The Rusty Wagon needs younger feet and a younger back to run her. If you’re planning on sticking around, I want to give her to you.”