Tropical Balm

by Franny Armstrong

  “Cam, you scared the daylights out of me. What are you doing here?” In the few days since they’d come back, Cam had been more affectionate than ever.

  “Oh, I thought I’d show you something you might like. Come outside with me.”

  “Not here, silly. The children will see us.”

  Her snicker at his comical expression went unheard by the students.

  He winked at her, the put his finger to his lips before taking her hand, to lead her out into the bright sun.

  A large truck had pulled up in front of the school, loaded with building supplies. Gazing up at Cam with questioning eyes, she waited for him to explain.

  He walked with her over to the lunch table, and unrolled a scroll of paper to show her something.

  “They look like blue prints. What are they for?” she asked.

  “They are for your new school, love. My men and I are going to build it for you, and the children.”

  “What?” she cried, her eyes wide with wonder.

  “Oh, now I’m in trouble. She’s gone hearing impaired,” he muttered, grunting when she punched his chest.

  “What is this all about?”

  “Well, love, your little schoolhouse-of-sticks is shrinking at an alarming rate. A good gust of wind might just blow it over on top of your beautiful head. Brock and I have been making plans, and he’s going to take a month off and come down here to help me build you a school.”

  Cam was ready for her when she shrieked, and threw her arms around his neck. His lips met hers, taking fair advantage of her offering.

  “You are the most wonderful man I have ever met!” The minute the words were out of her mouth a wave of guilt washed over her, thinking of Alex. He too had been a wonderful man.

  Understanding what her expression meant, he kissed the top of her nose. “Alex and I can share the top shelf love. It’s okay with me.”

  Shaking her head she whispered, “You are my guardian angel. I love you Cam.”

  “Good, then marry me.”

  Teals eyes widened, she stopped breathing then she pushed away from him, panic in her every move. She began searching for a place to run to, a place to hide.

  “Teal. What’s wrong? Talk to me.” Grabbing her wrist gently, he held her close to him so she wouldn’t run. “Tell me what is the matter.”

  “I…I…can’t…breathe...” She was hyperventilating. Cam sat her on the bench, and pushed her head down between her knees.

  “Good Lord, I’m not trying to kill you, love.” His concern barely masked by his attempt at humor.

  It took quite a few minutes for her to calm down before she could talk to him. Her face was white as a sheet, but she was breathing properly.

  “Now, can you tell me what is wrong?” he asked gently, his thumb brushed across her trembling lower lip.

  Shaking her head, her eyes wide, she seemed unable to speak.

  Cam pulled her close in his arms. Whatever was bothering her, he was not going to let it go. They would work out whatever the difficulty was.

  “Cam?” she murmured into his shoulder.

  “Yes, love.”

  Keeping her head tucked in beneath his chin, she opened her heart to him.

  “I…I’m afraid. I won’t say yes, but I won’t say no. I need to think about it. Please, don’t be angry with me?” She shuddered, afraid of hurting him.

  “That’s all right, love. I can wait.” Kissing her head, he patted her back, and let her go. “We need to unload the truck now. You go ahead back to class, and I’ll talk to you later.”

  Staring up at him with wide eyes, Teal suddenly jumped up, giving him a bear hug. “Thank you. For not being angry, I mean.”

  “Now how could I be mad, love? You didn’t say yes, but you didn’t say no either. I love you Teal, never forget that.” His lips came down to meet hers in an achingly sweet kiss before he let her go. He watched her walk back into the schoolhouse before he turned and set out to work.

  CHAPTER 10

  A New Life…

  Cam was distant after his proposal, keeping to himself, and avoiding conversations about their relationship. The strange thing was that he would gaze off into space, as though planning something. When she asked him what he was thinking about, he would grin and shrug, saying ‘just thinking’ and change the subject. He had something on his mind, but he wasn’t sharing it with Teal.

  True to his word, Cam had set up an Internet connection at his home in town, and they would log on once every few days to check in with their family. Teal realized that although she had lost loved ones, she had gained a new large family in Jamaica, and Canada.

  The baby would arrive any day now, and Teal couldn’t wait to hold it in her arms. She missed that feeling; holding a newborn, kissing it, loving it. The pain was a little easier to manage now, when she thought of Alex and Zack. She remembered only the good times, and ignored any bad times, though there were few. The ice around her heart was nearly gone now. Teal had begun living again.

  ***

  In the middle of the night Delon was banging on the door, yelling about the baby. Teal quickly threw on her clothes without waiting for Cam, and raced to the door.

  “Ms. Teal. The baby is coming. Poppy needs your help.”

  Delon’s eyes were so wide, that Teal thought they were going to pop out of his head. He was absolutely terrified.

  “Maybe you should stay here with Cam for a while, Delon. I’ll head up to the cottage.” Without waiting for a reply, Teal left at a run.

  Delon simply stood there as if he didn’t know where to go, or what to do. Cam took pity on him and brought him inside, sitting him in a kitchen chair.

  Taking out a bottle of rum, he poured them both a strong drink, and sat down to talk. There would be many hours ahead before the child arrived.

  “It’s scary, I’ll give you that my friend, but babies have a habit of arriving on their own time. Drink up. It’s going to take a while.” Grinning, Cam nodded at Delon to pick up his drink. The poor boy was shaking.

  ***

  “I can’t do this. Please stop it. It hurts too much.” Zola screamed, her hands clutching at the blanket.

  Poppy was at the foot of the bed, waiting for the crown to show. Teal sat behind Zola, supporting her while she pushed. It was nearly noon, and Zola had worked all night long to bring the child into the world. It would be anytime now.

  “I see the head, Zola. Just a few more good pushes, and you’ll be holding your little darling in your arms. Come on now, push!” Poppy prepared to support the head.

  “Poppy’s right, honey. That beautiful child will be in your arms in a few minutes. Let’s work together on it. Remember to breathe the way that I showed you. In…in…out, in…in…out. Come on sweetheart, you can do it.”

  Teal had her head close to Zola’s, and both of them were sweating. It was a hot day out, the air still and heavy.

  Bearing down with all her might, Zola suddenly screamed, her back arching, and then the child slid into Poppy’s arms with a lusty cry.

  “That’s it darling. Zola, you have a son,” Poppy said, tears of joy streaming down her face.

  Teal moved from behind Zola, helping her to lie down. “Just the afterbirth Zola, and then you are done.” Picking up a damp cloth, she began wiping the girl’s brow, face, and neck.

  “When can I hold him Poppy?” Zola asked, panting in exhaustion.

  “I’ll have him cleaned up in just a minute.” Poppy set out to clean the child up, making sure his breathing passage was clear. Wrapping his healthy, chubby body in a thin blanket, she set the boy in his mother’s arms.

  Zola cried softly as she stared at him. “He’s beautiful. I can’t believe he came out of me. He’s so big!”

  The older women smiled. Once the afterbirth came out, and Zola was cleaned up, Teal went outside to call the men in to see him.

  Delon ignored the baby, until he was reassured that Zola was all right, then he gently picked up the boy, cradling him in his ar
ms like a pro. His eyes glowed with joy as he stared at the girl.

  Cam put his fingertip in the baby’s tiny fist, and murmured, “Such a tiny tike. Welcome to the world my boy.”

  ***

  “I want that shipment delivered yesterday! No more delays,” Tyrell Johnson barked into the phone before slamming it down. Rage filled him. He’d been having problems lately with shipments disappearing. Someone was messing with his business, and he was going to find out who!

  Impeccably dressed, Tyrell brushed off an invisible piece of lint. Desperately, he tried to control his temper. He was ready to start throwing things, but all that ever accomplished was making a mess. Nothing could calm his anger. Not until he found out who was sabotaging him.

  The shipments had been delivered without issue until the day he’d stopped at the school to talk with the beautiful Canadian. He wondered if she had something to do with it. She had a fire in her that drew him like a magnet. He wondered how long he should wait to make her come to him. The waiting only built up his excitement.

  Teal Greenwood had begun wearing clothes that fit her. Beautiful tropical dresses that were easy to undo. He pictured her standing before him, a teasing smile on her face, as she slowly stripped off her dress. She would be wearing nothing beneath it. He might even offer her some wine, before he took her.

  That Scotsman could be a problem. Simeon had seen them having sex in her outdoor bathtub. In his experience, Scotsmen, and Canadians, tended to be protective of their women. Many of them only had one woman, the backwards fools.

  It was nearly time for his flower of the day, and he was hard as a rock, thinking about Teal. Her eyes were so vivid, so tropical green that a man could practically swim in them.

  A knock at the door disturbed his thoughts.

  “Come in,” he called.

  Keon, his number one man, walked in, dragging a young girl behind him. Lemar was right behind him with another one. The girls were terrified, tears pouring down their faces.

  Tyrell’s staff hardened even more.

  “Ah, come right in. Put them in the bedroom, while we talk.” Turning to the girls, he said, “Take your clothes of and get into bed, and I’ll give you a very nice present each.”

  The girls stopped crying, and stared at him.

  “W…What kind of p…presents?” one of them asked.

  “I’ll show you in a few minutes. Strip down and get into the bed. Now!” he snapped, not wanting to waste time.

  Once the bedroom door was shut, Tyrell turned to the men. Any word on today’s shipment?” he asked.

  Keon looked at his feet, afraid to answer, but knowing he must. “It disappeared, just like the rest. The two men guarding it were knocked out, and didn’t see a thing.

  “Arrrrggg! This is getting ridiculous!” Tyrell snarled. “Find out who is doing this. I want them brought to me alive. No one messes with me, and gets away with it.” Staring into space for a moment, he sighed. “Send six men to guard the next shipment. I need it here fast. This is costing me a fortune!” Waving his hand in dismissal, he waited until the door was closed before heading to the bedroom. He had some energy to wear out.

  CHAPTER 11

  Watching LIke A Hawk

  It was dark, the night black and still, the stars were out in full force, but there was no moon to see by. The forest creatures sang a loud melody to welcome the night, hiding any movement in the bush.

  Delon waited while Cam moved through the trees to his location.

  “About time you got here. That bastard has two young girls in there, and hasn’t let them go yet,” Delon whispered.

  “We got another shipment today. He’s going to start beefing up his security. Maybe he’ll quit abusing the young women if we keep him busy searching for us.

  “What did you do with this shipment?” Delon asked, grinning. Cam was creative in disposing of his acquisitions.

  “Well, the police department might just stumble onto it soon, since it is sitting on their back doorstep with a note that said, ‘Compliments Of Don Tryee’.”

  Holding back a chuckle, Delon grinned. “Nice one. I guess I’d better get back to Zola. The baby keeps her up all night, so I take over, and only wake her when he’s hungry.”

  “So, are you going to marry the girl or what?” Cam asked, with a grin.

  Embarrassed, Delon stuttered, “Ah…I…uh…she…ah—.”

  “Just ask her my friend. I can tell that she loves you.”

  “B…but, she’s so young…and me…I’m—.”

  “Only a man, not her father. Ask her. You two were meant for each other.”

  “What…what if she says no?” Delon asked.

  “Then you ask her again, and again, and again, until she says yes. Life is too short to worry about ‘what ifs’.”

  “Well, I’d ah…better go then.” Delon rushed through the forest as if a wildcat was chasing him.

  With a quiet chuckle, Cam settled back to watch the compound. Tyrell had another shipment coming, and Cam wanted to find out when and where.

  An hour later, Cam put his head low to the ground. Jamal was sneaking quietly up the slope, toward Cam.

  A few minutes went by before Jamal settled in beside him.

  “Hi. I have the shipment information.” Jamal looked nervous, his eyes darting around, as though he were being watched.

  “Spill man. What’s going on?” Cam asked. He knew when a leak was getting scared, and ready to run.

  “Don Tyrell is getting suspicious. He has six men on the shipment this time, and he’s watching all of us. I have to get back quick.”

  Cam stared down at the compound, lit up with lights. He saw a handful of guards searching the area. They were looking for Jamal.

  “I think you’d better take that plane ticket I gave you, and get out of the country. Go to Canada, and call the number I gave you. The man will help you start a new life.”

  “What if they catch me?” he asked, shaking head to toe.

  “They won’t if you run right now. Go Jamal. Thanks for the information.” Cam watched the man run down the slope. He would stop and get a ride from Delon to the airport as they’d pre-arranged.

  “Looks like things are getting thicker with Tyrell. I’d better come up with a new plan to waylay his shipments.”

  The two young girls were still inside, but Cam couldn’t help them. As long as they did what Tyrell wanted, they would be safe from harm.

  The men below were spreading out, searching the area around the compound. It was time to leave. Cam began backing up slowly, making his way down the path he’d created with Delon.

  He was almost at the car when a man jumped him, taking him to the ground. Pain seared his shoulder, but he fought to get on top. The man tried to yell for help, but Cam clocked him one on the jaw, knocking him out.

  The only problem was that the man had seen him, and could identify him to Tyrell. He had to put him where he wouldn’t be able to talk. His shoulder screamed in agony as he picked up the man, putting him in the trunk of the car.

  Pain washed over him in waves as he drove to Teal’s house, his arm cradled against his chest. He hoped that Delon was back. Nausea clawed at his stomach. He had to get home and take a painkiller, fast. He felt like he was going to black out.

  Pulling into Teal’s driveway, he breathed a sigh of relief. Delon came running when he saw Cam’s car earlier than expected.

  Unsteady on his feet, Cam said, “Gotta get the man in the trunk out of site. He saw me. We fought. Help me to the house.”

  Delon took Cam’s unhurt arm, putting it over his shoulder and half-carried him to the house. Teal was asleep, so Cam let himself in, saying goodnight to Delon with a nod.

  It might take half of the night, but Delon would ‘dispose’ of the man in the trunk. Cam only had to worry about Teal’s reaction when she finds out how he hurt his shoulder.

  Pulling out a bottle of rum, Cam took a long drink. His nerves were a bit shaky.

  “Cam? Wha
t’s going on? Why are you awake?” Teal asked from the bedroom door. He studied her for a moment. She wore her teal-satin robe, her strawberry-blonde hair all disheveled, and her lips swollen from sleep. She was magnificent, in his eyes.

  “Shoulder is hurting. Couldn’t sleep,” he murmured, his shoulder screaming in pain.

  “Well put that bottle away. I’ll get your pills, and massage your shoulder. Get into bed.” Teal ordered him around, as though she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  “Yes ma’am. I’ll get right on it,” he teased.

  “Why are you dressed?” she asked.

  “I didn’t want to wake you. I stayed outside for a while, on the bench.” Lying to her was not a choice, it was a necessity. He would protect her at all costs.

  Unable to take his t-shirt off, he stripped everything else, and lay face down on the bed. Teal had to cut the shirt off him.

  “At this rate, we are going to have to buy you shirts in bulk,” she teased. Handing him his pills and a bottle of water, she set about preparing the massage oil.

  Cam began to relax as the pills took hold.

  ***

  Placing a large amount of oil on her palm, she began massaging the knots in his shoulder.