Red Hot

by Cheryl Alldis

  Mary looked at Ellie with sincerity. Ellie just sat staring at her. Mary sighed and continued.

  ‘I want a genuine man, a man who’s sincere, a man who will love me for me and not my bank account. A man who wants to make me happy and I make him happy. I found all this when I started to see your brother. Ellie, you put Karl up against Harvey. It’s not hard to pick the real man. Just be careful, I mean it, for your own sake. He’s good at hurting and using women.’

  Mary got up walked through the kitchen, leaving a stunned Ellie. She slumped back in her chair, not knowing what to make of Mary’s statement.

  ***

  Karl gazed in the mirror, his fingers running over the bandage on his face.

  ‘If only I could rip this bloody thing off. It’s so annoying and itchy!’ he grumbled.

  ‘That means it’s healing,’ the voice from the doorway answered him.

  Karl swung around, coming face-to-face with Mary.

  ‘Mary! …What’re you doin’ here?’

  ‘Visiting you, Karl… I had to see you,’ she said softly.

  ‘Yeah, well, you shouldn’t have. I thought I said…’

  Mary interrupted him. ‘I know what you said, and Karl… I don’t care. We have something far too special and I won’t see that ruined because of your damn vanity, or stupidity, call it what you like!’

  Karl stared at her, shocked.

  ‘What stupidity?’ he asked gruffly.

  ‘Yours, Karl. I’d love you if you had your ears burned off, you fool! It makes no difference to me,’ she pleaded.

  Karl sat on his bed and looked at her. He noticed her bruised face.

  ‘Come here, my lovely… Come here. I’ve missed you so much,’ he said huskily.

  Mary went into his arms and they remained holding each other for a long time.

  ‘Mary, what happened to your cheek? It’s bruised.’

  She put her hand to her cheek and thought quickly. She didn’t want Karl to know the truth, not yet.

  ‘Oh, that. I bumped it yesterday. I’m a clumsy duffer when I get working around the place.’

  Karl kissed her face and drew her to him again, thinking how good she felt and how foolish he had been for refusing to see her. Mary raised her hand to his bandaged face.

  ‘I love you. Remember that always, Karl. I love you!’

  They kissed tenderly. ‘I love you too, Mary, remember that!’ Karl whispered.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  ‘You all look beautiful.’ Digger smiled as Kathy, Tammi, Beth, Ellie and Win all filed down the stairs. A few minutes later, Emmie appeared.

  They all watched her as she slowly made her way down the stairs, elegant as ever. Digger smiled up at her. ‘Well, don’t you look gorgeous, my lady,’ he declared with a sweeping bow.

  Emmie had made a remarkable recovery from her heart attack and the family encouraged her not to miss the annual Christmas dance. She was reluctant to leave Karl, but he had told her he wasn’t having her molly coddle him when she could be out enjoying the Christmas festivities.

  He also had another reason for wanting the house to himself. Mary was calling by later in the evening. He had tried to persuade her to go to the dance with everyone else, but she insisted on being with him. He had to admit he was looking very forward to holding her in his arms again.

  ‘Will Eddie be there, Kath?’ Tammi asked.

  ‘Don’t know, Tam. If he is, it’s alright, we’re still friends.’

  ‘Mmm, can’t really believe he’s taken this all so well. Now! Are we taking the mini?’ Tammi smiled and raised one eyebrow.

  ‘Ha… You’re so funny, Tam. You love getting out in my little mini, don’t you?’

  ‘Sure do, it’s great to have wheels,’ Tammi said, giving Kathy a sidelong glance.

  ‘Whose wheels,’ Kathy joked, grinning at her sister.

  ‘Come on you two gas bags,’ Dig called.

  Ellie tapped Win on her shoulder and whispered, ‘Look at Beth – she looks absolutely stunning. Francis can’t take his eyes off her.’

  ‘I know, I noticed Ellie. As Mum said, we’ll have to get Christmas over and then deal with this. You know, I still can’t get over it. I’m finding it hard to keep my eyes off her myself. I’m trying so hard to be normal, it’s almost unbearable.’

  ‘Win, we have to tread carefully. Too much has happened lately. To say anything now would ruin Christmas. It’s hard, I know, and imagine how Francis is going to feel.’

  ‘Hey… You two wind bags, come on!’ Kathy laughed. Her mother and Aunt’s strange demeanour didn’t go unnoticed by her though.

  ‘Tam, have you noticed Mum and aunt Ellie acting strangely? I’ve noticed that Mum has been really quiet the last few days. I caught her daydreaming the other day and when I walked up closer to her, she quickly brushed tears from her cheeks,’ Kathy confided.

  ‘Might just be the time of year. It is getting close to Granddad’s anniversary as well, and we’ve certainly had a lot to be upset about lately!’ Tammi whispered.

  ‘Yeah, you could be right,’ Kathy answered.

  ***

  Johnny Hansen was singing a slow number when they arrived. Ellie and Francis were pleased he had agreed to sing at this year’s dance. Francis had discussed earlier in the year with Ellie the possibility of being guests instead of the entertainment for the dance this Christmas. Ellie had agreed willingly. This year they could dance and enjoy themselves.

  People were admiring the lovely decorations. The hall really had the Christmas atmosphere thanks to Win and Dawn.

  The night launched into full swing as Johnny sang and played songs from the thirties to the sixties. Everyone was enjoying the wide range of music. The rock and roll numbers had them twisting and jiving to the beat, and they swayed and waltzed to the love songs he crooned into the microphone.

  But although they were all out to have fun, at the forefront of their minds was the fear of the firebug. The detectives did suggest they try and enjoy themselves for this one night. They had put extra police on patrol in the valley so the men could all go to the dance. Although this was appreciated by the locals, they couldn’t help but keep an ear cocked for the sound of sirens.

  Kathy had just come from dancing when she spotted Dot across the hall leaning provocatively toward Eric, her breasts almost popping out of her low-cut top. Eric was beetroot red.

  Dot spied Kathy watching and whispered something to Eric. Touching his bottom, she left him and sauntered towards Kathy.

  ‘Hi there, Kath. Eric’s one sexy bloke. Pity he’s so shy. I’ll have to make it my mission to bring him out of himself.’

  ‘Do you honestly think Eric would be bothered with the likes of you?’ Kathy still bristled in Dot’s company, mainly because of the incident at the club when she disappeared with Eddie.

  ‘Kathy, love, you really do amuse me. Your cousin Eric most certainly would be, he had a nice sized bulge in his pants just now. I’m sure he’d love me to show him where he could put it. No trouble at all!’ Dot crowed.

  Kathy felt the anger seeping through her. She would like nothing better than to slap this tramp’s smirking face.

  ‘By the way, Kath, did you say your goodbyes to Eddie when he left for Wagga? I did… Enjoy your night!’

  Dot sauntered off towards another conquest standing at the bar eyeing her.

  Kathy was surprised to hear Eddie had gone to Wagga again so soon. It went through her mind that maybe there was more than his mates there attracting him.

  It was after his last trip up there that he had come back and started to slip into his old ways.

  The change in him confused and upset her. He had been so nice and decent at first, but everyone said it was too good to be true. She could not figure him out and doubted she ever would.

  Johnny was singing the popular Rolling Stones song Under the Boardwalk. Francis and Beth were strutting their stuff on the dance floor. Kathy had a great time mingling and so did Tammi. Many female eyes were wan
dering to the stage to admire the handsome Johnny Hansen as he gyrated with the microphone while belting out the song.

  Win had just sat down after dancing with Dig when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up into the eyes of Mick.

  ‘You sure present a pretty sight, Mrs Miles,’ he grated.

  ‘Thank you, Mick… It is Mick, isn’t it?’ she stammered.

  ‘That’s right… Would you care to dance? I haven’t had the pleasure all evening. You dance so well, I was watching you with your husband just now.’

  ‘She would love to,’ Digger boomed, sitting down beside Win, obviously a little worse for wear.

  Win tried to give him the will you shut up look, but he started rambling on to Mick.

  ‘She sure is a good little dancer, Mick. I’ll let you borrow her just this once. I need a rest. I think I might have had a few too many.’

  Win didn’t suggest to him to watch his drinking; she thought he deserved a good night out after all the upsets lately. Now she was having second thoughts. She wished he was sober because he wouldn’t have encouraged her to dance with Mick.

  ‘Come on, Win. Your husband has given you the ok,’ Mick urged, using her Christian name.

  ‘Go on, love. Poor bloke hasn’t danced all night!’ Dig piped up again and burped loudly.

  Win shot him a furious look. Hesitantly, she stood up and Mick lead her to the dance floor.

  Taking her in his arms, he said softly, ‘You don’t have to be so shy, Win. I won’t bite!’

  She shivered as he looked into her eyes. She could make out a slight smile forming under his beard. ‘Get this over with fast…’ she thought. ‘I don’t like you and I don’t like you saying my name’.

  Mick pulled her closer. She had to endure this one dance, and one dance it would be. The music seemed to go on forever. She could feel his hot breath in her hair. Every now and then, he would move away from her just enough to look into her eyes.

  ‘Those bloody eyes,’ she thought. ‘Why do they make my blood run cold?’

  ‘Aunt Win, may I?’ She turned to see Eric. She smiled and nodded, relief flooding over her.

  ‘I’m sorry, Mick. I haven’t danced with my nephew all night. Thank you for the dance.’ She quickly went into Eric’s arms, leaving Mick staring after her. His smile quickly faded.

  ***

  Kia-Ora had a lone light burning out the front as Karl and Mary made love in his room. They were in complete darkness. Karl was extremely happy to have her there with him. He had heard that she had been drinking again while he was in hospital. This had worried him greatly. She had been good for so long, he hated the thought that she turned to the bottle at the first sign of crisis.

  Mary’s body glistened in the darkness as he trailed kisses between her breasts and down past her navel. She groaned with pleasure as he reached her wetness. She let him love her in his special way. She loved him back in her special way.

  ***

  ‘Ellie, what is it with you tonight?’ Harvey questioned.

  Ellie couldn’t get Mary’s conversation out of her mind. Harvey noticed how preoccupied she had been all evening. ‘Nothing, Harv. I suppose it’s just the aftermath of all that has happened lately.’

  She also hated the thought of Harvey hitting Mary. She sat thinking to herself no woman deserved that, even if she had been drunk!

  ‘Harvey should not have raised a hand to her no matter what. Not ever.’ Ellie couldn’t prevent the thought from sticking in her mind.

  Ellie watched Harvey during the night. He was charming as he mingled and chatted to everyone. Ellie started to wonder about this dark side he might possess and she didn’t feel comfortable with this realization

  ***

  Beth was sipping on a cherry brandy and lemonade. Win, Ellie and Emmie sat nearby, watching her as she smiled and chatted. She fitted in so easily with everyone.

  Johnny’s voice came over the microphone calling for some silence. ‘Now ladies and gentlemen, we have a surprise for you. A lovely young lady who hasn’t been in town all that long will sing a favourite tune for someone very special to her. Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Beth Lowe! Put your hands together for this talented and very beautiful young lady!’

  Everyone applauded as Beth stood up and joined Johnny on stage. She went to the microphone and introduced her song.

  ‘I would like to sing this song for someone who has become very special to me. Grandma Emmie… for you.’

  Beth began a rendition of Old Black Joe. Emmie’s eyes filled with tears… happy tears, and sad. She wanted so much to let the young woman know her secret. Win and Ellie both had tears in their eyes, a mountain of emotions escalating in their minds. Thoughts of Dave also entered their memories. He had loved this song. What would he, their father, Emmie’s husband, Beth’s grandfather, have done about this latest revelation?

  Beth finished singing and received a thunderous applause.

  ‘She sings beautifully, but then, that isn’t so surprising is it, coming from a family as talented as ours!’ Emmie stated quietly to her daughters.

  Beth, at the request of the audience and Johnny, stayed on stage for several more numbers. The three women watched her intently.

  ‘She’s great, isn’t she?’ Francis commented as he sat down beside Ellie.

  ‘Yes, love… She’s great. What a voice!’

  ‘I know when I first heard her sing at the club I was amazed. Hey Mum, what a team we’d make!’ Francis enthused.

  Ellie could only smile at her son, knowing in her heart he was in for an almighty shock very soon and no one could spare him!

  ***

  Eileen bounced out of the ladies’ toilets. She was having a wonderful time showing Darcy off. At last year’s dance, she had sat as she herself described ‘like a stunned mullet’ all night. This year, she had handsome Darcy to dance with. When Beth had sung Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, he had held her so close she had felt him harden against her. She knew Dawn was watching, and rather than upset the ‘old girl’, she had gently moved him away. Now as she approached the table, Darcy was nowhere in sight. Eileen searched the room until her gaze fell on Dot. Darcy was leaning up against the bar, a drink in each hand. Dot had her body pressed up against him.

  Eileen could see the look of embarrassment on Darcy’s face. She marched up behind Dot and grabbed her mane of dark hair so hard, it pulled Dot’s head back with a jerk.

  ‘Ow! You bitch!’ Dot shrieked as she caught a glimpse of Eileen’s furious face.

  ‘You bloody moll!’ Eileen spat at Dot as she held on to her black trusses.

  ‘Let go, you prick-teasing cow!’ Dot yelled.

  People stopped to stare as they passed by, others on the dance floor couldn’t hear the ruckus, and luckily Dawn was spared the embarrassment as Jeff had her up dancing for the second time this evening, a record for him.

  Eileen raised her fist and landed a punch square on Dot’s jaw. No one intervened. Many thought Dot deserved all she got.

  ‘Be told, Dot! You deserved that. Now piss off!’ Eileen grabbed Darcy’s arm and dragged him away.

  He was still holding the two drinks, a smirk on his face as he said, ‘How’s your hand? That was a doozy of a punch. Who taught you that…?’

  ‘Shut up, it’s killing me!’ Eileen said as she took her drink, gulping it and rubbing her now red hand.

  Dot left the hall accompanied by a local young farmer. He held a handkerchief to her face as they walked out.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Beth’s singing was appreciated by the only other person who knew the secret, apart from the three women.

  He watched and listened intently, the memories flooded back. His heart swelled with love, a tortured love. His mind became confused, anger built up inside him. He knew he had to get away. He left, vowing to get back what was his.

  Inside the hall, Johnny and his band were in full swing. The dance floor was crowded.

  ‘The night’s nearly over and not a hitc
h!’ Sam commented to Nat.

  ‘Yeah, most of the blokes look like they’ve had a good time. Lucky there hasn’t been a fire – most of them are too pissed to fight it!’ Both men laughed but deep down they knew they would be ready for the worst should it occur.

  Sam went to refill their glasses, leaving Nat grinning. Tonight the strain had almost disappeared from the faces of the local men, even if it was only for a few hours. The night out had done them all a world of good.

  Johnny announced the last dance and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

  ***

  Ellie and Harvey sat outside as the last of the party dwellers walked to their cars. The night had certainly been a success. The valley people had once again been able to find the Christmas spirit regardless of their worries. They were a determined bunch and it was a display of how the community stuck together and rallied in times of trouble and despair.

  ‘Ellie, you haven’t been yourself at all. Come on now… what is it?’ Harvey whispered huskily.

  Ellie looked into Harvey’s ruggedly handsome face. She searched his eyes… for what, she didn’t really know. ‘Harvey, I had a visit from Mary. Harvey .. Her face… You did that to her?’

  Harvey’s face reddened with embarrassment or anger, it was hard to tell. He turned away from her before answering. ‘She was drunk, damn it! You know what she’s like drunk! She goaded me. I didn’t mean to hit her so hard!’ Harvey turned back to Ellie. He was looking into her eyes, pleading.

  ‘Harv, you have to make a decision about all this, otherwise I really don’t think I can go through with it anymore,’ Ellie whispered.

  Harvey was taken aback. He had never heard Ellie doubt the relationship they shared. He silently cursed Mary.

  ‘Harv, speak to me. What on earth happened the night you hit her?’

  Harvey explained that he had asked for money. He implied he wanted some extra from their account, and how she had been drinking and taunted him. He conveniently left out that he had plied her with wine over dinner.