by Alexis Gold
John raised his eyebrows. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
“And what if they trace the car back to him?”
“He’s a drunk. He’s abusive and out of control. It’s better him than us.”
“That’s harsh, but true,” Jacob commented.
John twisted the tip of his beard between pointer finger and thumb. He was thinking about the crime itself. If they wore masks, they’d have the advantage of inciting fear, but disguises would be more inconspicuous.
Then he had an idea. “What if Jacob and Delaney switched roles.”
“I already told you, John. I don’t want Delaney anywhere near the crime.”
“Hear me out,” the old man said, wagging his finger at Wade. He coughed, and continued as soon as he caught his breath. “If Delaney goes into the bank with you, dressed up as an older, wealthier customer who wants to open a new bank account, and you go in and point an empty gun at her head, then there is no threat of hurting anyone. No guns are loaded, no possible shootings. It’s as if you’re threatening a stranger, but you’re not. It’s a show.”
“We scam the scammer,” Jacob added.
Wade turned and looked out the window. The rolling green hills were so beautiful. He remembered playing out there when he was younger, how he learned to ride Whinny right outside the house. He wasn’t sure about this new plan. The idea of involving Delaney made him incredibly uncomfortable. Jacob twiddled his thumbs, waiting to hear what Wade would say.
He didn’t want to admit that he liked this plan better; it made more sense, and there was a lesser chance of anyone getting hurt. And then suddenly, in the silence, Delaney agreed.
In her soft, sweet voice, she said, “I’ll do it.”
Wade felt as if his heart dove right out of his chest, and he snapped his head around to face her. “Delaney, I don’t want—”
“Wade, I know, but John is right. It’s a better plan.” She reached out for his hand and squeezed it. How is she so calm? Wade thought to himself. “We don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
“No, we don’t.”
“So then, I’ll be with the horses?” Jacob asked.
“That’s right,” John confirmed. “We’ll have to decide on a place we can drive to that is within riding distance of the ranch, but not too obvious.”
“I know where.” Jacob proposed an abandoned farmhouse that Wade was familiar with. It was quite a distance, but they’d be able to ride home from it in a couple of hours.
“It’s a plan then,” Wade declared.
The room then fell silent as everyone felt the weight of their plotting, of the potential consequences that might befall them. Jacob considered his family; they would have nothing without their ranch. He had a two-year-old son, a four-year-old daughter, and a pregnant wife. His children had never known another home, and his wife was a cowgirl through and through.
His parents had lived on the ranch for nearly as long as John had, and his brother had quit his job in marketing just to come back home and live well. There was nothing out there for Jacob that he didn’t already have. Losing his ranch meant losing his way of life, as it did for Wade.
John gazed upon the younger folk with compassion and sympathy. This was not an easy task they had ahead of them. Finally, he suggested they all go to bed and get some sleep.
“See you all at noon, then,” Jacob said, as he closed the front door behind him.
Delaney watched him go, and then said, “Goodnight, John.”
“Goodnight,” John said, as he organized his blankets on the couch.
Wade took Delaney by the hand and walked her to his old room. It was so surreal that she was here.
“Would you like to come in for a little while?”
Wade stood in the doorway, his hand on the doorknob.
“You sure?”
“Yeah, come sit with me for a while.”
“All right then.”
His room was small, but spacious enough for a bed and a desk. He grabbed the chair from the desk and was about to sit down when Delaney said, “Why don’t you sit on the bed with me?” She started unweaving her braid as he sat down next to her. Her fingers moved quickly and her hair fell loose around her shoulders in silky tendrils. “Do you feel ready for tomorrow?”
Wade sighed and rubbed his palms on his jeans. There wasn’t any feeling ready for something like this.
“Not at all, but it’s either do something and risk everything or do nothing and definitely lose everything. I’d rather take my chances.”
“You’re right, it’s not much of a choice.”
“No, it’s not,” Wade agreed. Delaney’s knee touched his thigh. He could feel the warmth radiating through the fabric of their clothes. The desire to turn toward her and pull her close to him was strong, but he felt too nervous—he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, especially in her new space.
He wanted her to feel empowered in her new room, her new home. It surprised him when Delaney reached out to grab his hand. Wade took her hand in his, and looked into her eyes.
“How did all of this happen?” he asked sincerely. “It’s all too much.”
“It’s a lot,” Delaney agreed, “but it’s not too much. You are so strong, Wade. You’ve already been through so much. This is just another obstacle to navigate through. And I’ll be here right by your side.”
“Thanks, Delaney, but I meant you, too. How did you happen? How did us happen? We’ve only known each other a few days.”
“True, but it feels like it’s been much longer. Doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, it does. It’s just so strange. I’ve been alone for so long, it’s hard to accept that you’re here. That you’re in this with me.”
Delaney scooted closer to Wade and gazed at him with big, honest eyes. She leaned in to whisper in his ear. “I don’t know how it happened, but I’m here with you, and it feels really perfect.”
Wade smiled, and felt a stinging behind his eyes. He tried to look away, but Delaney grabbed his chin, forcing him to look at her. For a moment it looked as though she were about to say something, but instead she bent forward and kissed him tenderly. Wade caressed her from her collarbones all the way up behind her ears, and then grabbed her around the back of the neck. She melted as if every muscle in her body relaxed a little bit.
“Wade…” she sighed as she parted her lips in anticipation of being kissed again. Wade relished her willingness, her openness, the desire they both shared. She lifted her arms above her head as he pulled her shirt off. It fell on the floor, forgotten. She gripped the front of Wade’s shirt tightly and bit his bottom lip.
Energy grew between them as their kissing became more and more impassioned. Delaney went to unbuckle his belt, but Wade grabbed her hand and brought it above her head. He nuzzled his face in her neck and said, “I just want to lie here with you.”
Wade wanted her so badly, but he was also filled with anxiety about tomorrow. He wanted their first time to be beautiful and serene, not stressed and hurried, on the eve of their crime. Without saying anything, he knew Delaney would understand. And when she whispered, “Okay,” in his ear, kissing his forehead, he knew she did. They lay together—legs intertwined and heads together—for a long time, simply breathing each other in, until they fell seamlessly into sleep.
*
Morning came too quickly. When Wade heard the roosters, it felt like he had just closed his eyes. The sun was shining and it looked like yesterday’s rain was gone, at least for now. As he sat up and rubbed his eyes, Delaney curled around him and brought a hand up to rub his back.
“Good morning,” she said.
“Good morning.”
Wade looked down at her. “You are so beautiful,” he mused, and kissed her on the cheek.
“Are you ready for today?” she inquired, her big eyes searching his face for clues as to how he was feeling. He gave nothing away as he ran his fingers through his shaggy red hair and exhaled fully.
“I’m as r
eady as I can be. What about you?”
“The same. I’ll admit, I’m a little nervous.”
“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”
“I know, I know. Thank you for saying that, but I want to.”
Wade almost wanted her to say that she didn’t want to anymore, that way he wouldn’t have to worry, wouldn’t have to feel guilty if anything did happen. He wasn’t used to being in situations where the outcome was up in the air. There were only two ways the day could go: good or bad. He didn’t like his odds.
He knew he wouldn’t be able to convince Delaney to stay at home, but he also knew she was too proud to say she didn’t want to participate.
“We can always switch the roles back so you stay with the horses, that way you won’t be in any danger.”
“I won’t be in danger anyway—the gun won’t be loaded.”
“Yeah, but there will be the danger of getting caught.”
Delaney grew quiet. She sat up straight and looked down at her hands. She took a deep breath and said, “True. But if I’m being honest, I have to admit I have absolutely nothing to lose. I’ve been miserable since my mom died. I can’t live with my uncle anymore. You are the first good thing that has happened to me in months. I want to help you. I need to do this.”
Wade listened to her, then said, “I understand.” He kissed her, and even though he did not want to, he added, “We’re doing this then.”
He stood up and held out a hand; she grabbed it and he led her out of the room.
John was already awake and cooking breakfast in the kitchen.
“Well, hello sleepy heads! You two ready to rob a bank today?” John chuckled as he flipped a pancake.
Delaney and Wade glanced at each other and broke out laughing. Wade realized how ridiculous their plan was, and he could not stop laughing. He put his head in his hands and felt a weight fall off his shoulders. There was no way they would pull this off, but he knew in his heart that he had to try. If he didn’t try, he would regret it for the rest of his life. He had to fight for the ranch. The ranch—and John—had changed his life. He’d give that same life to protect them.
John’s laugh subsided into a coughing fit, and Wade remembered how sick he was. After the bank, he promised himself, whether John agreed with it or not, he would call the doctor. It was time to take matters into his own hands.
There was a knock at the door, and Delaney went to open it. She returned with Jacob following her. In Wade’s opinion, the two of them looked very nervous, but then again, so was he. The only one who didn’t look nervous was John, who sat at the kitchen table eating his pancakes as if nothing at all was the matter, as if the four of them weren’t about to go off and break the law.
After they all finished eating, Wade said, “So, everyone knows what they need to do? Do we need to go over anything?”
John, Delaney and Jacob stared at him in silence.
“Okay, then. First matter of business is getting the car. Delaney and I will go do that now. We’ll be back by noon, and then we’ll head to the bank. Everyone on board?”
“We’re with you,” John proclaimed. He made eye contact with Wade, and smiled warmly.
He felt a deep love for the boy—as if he were his own son. He was proud to see Wade taking control like this, proud to see him caring so much about the ranch. John knew he was sick. He’d been to the doctor, though he hadn’t told Wade. He had a rare lung condition, but it wasn’t fatal. He was just getting old. When he saw Wade and Delaney together, it made him think of his wife, Betty.
He missed her so much, and was glad that Wade had someone to love as Betty and he had loved each other. That’s all he wanted now—for Wade to be happy and have a meaningful life. And of course for the ranch to remain as it was. He felt blessed and relieved that today they would go off and fight to make that happen.
*
“You sure your uncle will be out of the house?” Wade asked, once they were on the highway.
“No, I’m not sure, but it’s now or never.”
“Alright, then. What can I do to help you?”
“I just need you to park down the block and wait for me. I’m going to slip in and out as quickly and as quietly as I can.”
“Please be careful, Delaney. I don’t like the idea of you going into that house by yourself.”
“I’ll be careful,” she promised.
Wade grabbed her hand on the way out the door, and pulled her back into the car for a kiss. She stayed an extra moment, basking in the calm before the storm, and then she bounced down and slammed the door behind her. Wade watched her go. He turned the car off, thought better of it, and turned the car back on, wanting to be ready if something bad happened, although he prayed it wouldn’t.
Delaney walked down her old street, desperately hoping her uncle would not be there, that he would be at the bar or somewhere else, just not at home. She walked up the driveway, her fingers brushing against the 1967 Mustang and coming away with dust.
The front door was closed, which was a good sign. It was early, but perhaps he would be out at the bar. She walked up to the front of the house but decided not to take her chances, and hurried around to the back. She peered in the sliding glass door, and she almost yelped in surprise when she saw her uncle sitting at the table. She thought he had seen her, but then she realized he was sleeping. His cheek was flat against the table, one arm bent around his head, the other in his lap.
She weighed her options; she could go in the front door, which would creak loudly as she opened it, or she could go in this door, which would take her much closer to her slumbering uncle. She decided to risk it. She grabbed the handle with resolve and pushed gently, but decisively. It slid backward silently. When the door was about a foot open, she stopped, leaving just enough room for her to slip inside. Her uncle snored irregularly, but he seemed very much asleep.
Tiptoeing, she made it around the table. A few more steps and she’d be at the counter, where the keys waited. Her shirt caught on a dining room chair. The feet of the chair scratched and shrieked against the floor as it got yanked back.
Delaney dropped to her knees just as her uncle snorted and raised his head. He sat up quickly and looked around, surprised to be where he was. She scooted under the table, out of view. Her uncle pushed his chair back and stood up. She watched his feet stagger as he gained his balance.
“I didn’t leave that open,” he grumbled to himself, and closed the sliding glass door.
Delaney held her breath as she pulled her knees into her chest and curled her toes under, trying to make herself as small as possible. Her uncle stepped around the table, and made his way to the cupboard where he kept the whiskey. If he looked down, he’d be able to see her; if she moved at all, he’d notice.
The cupboard door banged open, and the cap from the bottle fell to the floor. For a moment she thought he would bend down and pick it up, putting him face to face with her, but then he took a big swill, slammed the bottle down on the counter, and staggered out of the kitchen.
Delaney let out the big breath she’d been holding. Quickly she crawled out from under the table, grabbed the keys off the counter, and without looking back, slipped out the sliding glass door, leaving it open behind her.
She fiddled with the keys, trying to find the right one. Her heart beat in her chest louder than a car alarm. Finally, she found it, jumped into her uncle’s Mustang, turned on the engine and sped off. Wade was right behind her. He trailed her all the way back to the ranch. He couldn’t believe she had pulled it off. She impressed him more and more each day, he realized, and felt like the luckiest man in the world.
When they finally got back to the ranch, he hopped out of the pickup and ran over to her.
“You did it!” he praised her, smothering her with kisses.
“Barely!” Delaney admitted.
“We are really doing this, aren’t we?”
“Now all we have to do is rob a bank,” Delaney said, smiling,
though her heart was still pounding, the fear of getting caught leaving a bad taste in her mouth. It had been way too close.
*
John was waiting for them in the living room with an outfit laid out for Delaney.
“So, here’s what I was thinking. We don’t want to run the risk of Wade being identified; he has to wear a mask. People from town know him too well. Delaney on the other hand, will wear a disguise. She hasn’t been in town for very long, and if we dress her up well enough, she could pass for much older.” He looked from Wade to Delaney.
“You both with me so far?”
They nodded in unison.
“Good. Now, I’ve pulled out some of Betty’s old clothes. They might be a little bit big on you, Delaney, but hopefully, it won’t be too bad. And I have a blonde wig—don’t ask where I got it because I honestly don’t remember.” He smiled mischievously and handed Delaney a pile of clothing. “Why don’t you go try them on?”