Fatal Deception: Part I (7 page)

“Alondra took a liking to you, and she doesn’t do that with many folks. She wanted to come over and help you unpack. I told her I had to ask you first…”

As he continued his explanation she looked up at him for the first time. Her demeanor had quickly changed. He noticed and didn’t know what to make of it.

“Oh yes!” she replied. “I would like that. Where is she?”

Geri went to the door and Marc noted how excited she’d become at the mention of his daughter.

“Alondra, come in!” she called anxiously from the doorway.

Alondra climbed out of the car and went inside. “Hi, Geri,” she said. “My Aunt Blair thought it would be neighborly to come help you since we hadn’t come by before… and I thought it would be fun. Is it okay?”

“Of course it is,” said Geri.

She looked over Alondra with such adoration. Marc slowly neared, observing Geri doting over his daughter, and thought it was harmless, but seemed a little strange, since they’d only just met. Then his eyes shot up to something in the distance that neither of the ladies noticed. He stared for several moments. What he’d seen had disappeared from sight.

Deidra sped down the road toward the highway having seen enough. She hit the steering wheel repeatedly with her clenched fist. Her face was contorted; her eyes were paling as her anger was becoming uncontrollable. “I thought he was only taking that little brat of his over there to drop her off! So why was she sitting in the car while he was inside alone with that woman? Then she comes out in her bathrobe! What were they doing?” she was yelling at the top of her lungs, tears welling in her eyes.

She couldn’t go back to ranch. She took out her cell phone and called Josh. She said she wasn’t feeling well and to pack it up for the day. She threw her phone onto the seat and blazed down the dusty road to the highway. She would have to regroup and deal with things tomorrow.

Cain and Blair had come downstairs to see what was going on. They knew Deidra had left, and hadn’t come back. They saw Josh coming towards the house while the others were packing the equipment up.

“What’s going on, Cain?” Blair asked, concerned that something had happen to Deidra. Cain moved onto the porch to meet Josh.

“Is anything wrong, Josh? Is Deidra okay?” asked Cain.

“I don’t know, Mr. Caldwell,” said Josh. “Something is weird. She left but didn’t tell us where she was going. The she just called saying she wasn’t feeling well and to pack up for the day. We do have a deadline to meet. And I’m so sorry, Sir, for the inconvenience.”

“Don’t worry about, Josh,” said Cain.

“I hope she’s all right,” said Blair.

Josh just shrugged his shoulders and went to join the others.

Cain just stood in silence.

“We should call Marc and let him know Alondra can come back home,” said Blair. “Well, wait. I remember something. This morning, Alondra started in about how something is ‘wrong with that woman’. She was talking about Deidra again. I just thought she was doing it because she didn’t like her. But it’s an odd coincidence.” Blair began to walk into the house, pausing at the door then turned to see Cain was still standing unmoved.

“Maybe she saw something none of us were paying much attention to,” he said. “Maybe something really is wrong with that woman.” Cain looked out over the ranch as his brother does when deep in thought. He heard the door close behind him as Blair went into the house. He took his cell phone to call Marc.

Chapter 13

Marc hung up his phone with a puzzled look on his face. Geri was in her room dressing. “What’s wrong, Dad?” asked Alondra.

“Your uncle says the shoot is off for today,” said Marc. “He said something about Deidra disappearing for a while then calling to cancel for not feeling well.”

“Is everything all right?” asked Geri, rejoining them.

Marc’s eyes settled on her remembering the incident earlier.

“The shoot is off for the day,” he said. “Deidra got ill.”

“Oh,” is all she could say and sat on the couch.

“Funny though,” he said.

Geri’s eyes went back to him. She heard something in his tone of voice.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Probably nothing; it’s just that I thought I saw a glimmer of a car at the end of the drive a little bit ago. But why would they come and then leave without coming all the way in?” he was not really asking, but thinking aloud.

“Maybe someone got lost and was turning around…” Alondra surmised.

Geri’s eyes studied Marc. She watched him standing silently for a few moments, and then his expression seemed to change as he looked her way.

Marc wasn’t sure it was a good idea for Geri to be alone all the time out there. He felt the two ranches were so far apart that if anything should happen… He didn’t want to entertain the thought. “Maybe so, but, Geri, you be careful,” said Marc. “I’m gonna be worried about you out here all alone.”

Geri readjusted herself on the couch, his eyes had captured hers and she could see that he genuinely cared.

“Marc, I’ve been here an entire week; I’ll be fine,” she said, making a failed attempt to relieve his mind.

“I didn’t know you a week ago. I do now,” said Marc before turning to the door to leave.

Geri left the couch and went to him. “I promise! I’ll be careful—no, I’ll be extra careful,” she said, resting her hand on his arm.

He felt it and something coursed through his body from her touch; something he couldn’t ignore. Once again, that familiarity about her came through. He looked down into her eyes allowing them to take him away… and they certainly did.

Alondra watched them, and quietly left the room giving them privacy.

“I’d better go. I’ll be back to get Alondra later,” said Marc. He released himself from her hold and tried to fight the overwhelming feeling coming over him. It was more than he could bear.

“Let her spend the night,” Geri suggested. “You can get her in the morning.”

He looked past her, and saw that Alondra was nowhere to be found. He suddenly knew why she had gone. “I don’t know…” he began.

“Yes, Dad! Please!” Alondra begged, coming out of hiding.

“I just don’t know,” said Marc. “I’ve got the shoot tomorrow, and I’m not sure how early they’ll show up. They have a lot of lost time to make up for.”

“Dad… take me home and let me get some things. I’ll drive the Yukon back here, and bring myself home in the morning,” said Alondra.

He simply stared at her. He was still baffled at how she took to Geri in such a short amount of time.

“What?” she asked, noticing his stare.

“Nothing,” said Marc. He turned for the door, then, abruptly turned back to her. “Okay—but you behave yourself while you’re here. Do you understand? Don’t give Geri any grief,” He pointed his finger at her.

She smiled happily, and hurried to the car.

Marc turned back to Geri. The mood was right; the atmosphere was heavy. What was between them would not be extinguished. Unaware she was doing it, Geri had moved close to him; and in response, he leaned down to her, their bodies just touching, lips nearly brushing each other’s.

“Dad, come on!” yelled Alondra.

The ambiance broken, Marc moved away and caught his breath. Geri turned from him, shaken.

Alondra was in the vehicle anxious to get her stuff, and come back; mostly, because she would get to be away from home for the night, and that was a rare occurrence.

Marc walked to the car but briefly turned back to Geri before leaving. “Just remember what I said. Be careful,” he reminded.

Geri clutched her heart as he drove away. This couldn’t be happening; she didn’t need this now.

“You and Geri seemed to be hitting it off,” Alondra pointed out.

“I told you before don’t make more of this than it is.” His voice was a little gruff.

Alondra wondered what had happened between the time she left, and he came out of the house. She turned to look back at Geri’s house as they left. Geri stood on the porch staring after them. Marc caught her in the rearview mirror. He’d have to keep his distance from her, he thought. His emotions were unsettled.

Geri watched them disappear then went into the house and picked up the phone and dialed.

“I need you,” she said. “When can you come? No, I’m fine. It’s just that I need someone to remind me why I’m here, keep me focused.” She moved onto the couch, and pulled her legs into her.

“That’s fine. But look, don’t just show up. I need you to be inconspicuous. Give me a call when you get into town. Wonderful. See you soon.” She finished and sat in a daze. “I can’t get distracted,” she said aloud to herself. “Got to stay focused.” But as hard as she tried, she couldn’t get Marc out of her mind. She leaned her head back into the couch and sighed.

Chapter 14

When Marc and Alondra arrived home, she went immediately upstairs to get her things and Marc threw his keys on the table. He was still trying to get himself together after what happened with Geri.

Blair saw them come in and noticed Mark was in a daze. “Did something happen over there?” she asked worriedly. “Alondra ran upstairs, and now you look like you’re someplace else.”

“Oh, no, nothing happened. Alondra is going to spend the night at Geri’s,” he said. “That’s all.”

Blair stepped back, her motherly instincts kicking in. “What? We don’t even know this woman, and you’re allowing her to spend the night?” she felt a pain in her heart. “I know she’s your child and I don’t have any right to interfere, but that’s our baby up there! I couldn’t bear if...”

Marc didn’t allow her to finish. She’d been short as of late, but this time she was nearly in tears. He pulled her into a hug to console her. She was usually the one telling him he was too protective of Alondra. He’d never seen her like this.

“Is everything okay?” asked Cain as he entered the room.

Marc looked over to his brother. Cain could see he needed to talk. Marc looked down at Blair and looked straight into her eyes.

“I want you to listen to me,” he said calmly. “You’re right; she’s our baby, all of ours. Ever since Alondra was born, you’re the only mother she has ever known. And you have always been free to have your say in what’s going on with her. Don’t you ever forget that, all right?”

She nodded, her eyes wet.

Marc continued. “And trust me when I tell you that Geri is a decent lady,” he said. “She really likes Alondra. She’s the one who asked if she could stay. I think she’s been pretty lonely over there.”

Blair’s whole attitude changed as reality struck her. “I hadn’t thought about her being out there alone,” she said. “I’ll go help Alondra pack a bag.” Blair went up the stairs.

Marc sighed very deeply.

Cain noticed. “Want to talk?” he asked.

Marc nodded and went to the bar in the living room and grabbed a beer.

Cain watched him, curious. “So what happened?” he asked as he sat down to listen.

Marc took a huge gulp. “Geri,” he replied. “I don’t know, Little Brother. I keep getting this feeling I know her from somewhere.”

Cain shifted in his seat; he knew the feeling. “Yeah, so what else is going on?” he asked. Cain knew that wasn’t what had him so shaken.

“We almost kissed!” Marc exclaimed. He then took a gulp of beer.

Cain’s eyes grew as large as saucers.

Then Alondra suddenly burst into the room. Blair was behind her. “Dad,” said Alondra, interrupting the two men. “Aunt Blair is going to follow me in the car. She wants to visit with Geri and get to know her better.”

Marc looked surprised, yet, somehow knew he shouldn’t be.

“I know what you’re thinking, Marc,” said Blair. “But something you said got to me. Geri truly is all alone. We’re the only people she knows out here. I just want to visit, let her know she has friends.”

Cain went to her. “That’s a nice gesture. We’re all so lucky to have each other. I wonder if Geri has any family.”

“I don’t know,” said Blair. “When we had dinner together she never mentioned it.”

“No, she didn’t,” said Alondra.

“Well then, that’s where we can start,” said Blair. “Let’s go, Alondra.”

Marc followed the ladies out, and Cain went over to get a beer. He thought about what his brother said about thinking he knew Geri from somewhere. He didn’t want to say anything to Marc, but he saw it too, the first night they met her. It wasn’t that Marc knew Geri from somewhere, rather she reminds him of someone else. He just doesn’t realize it.

Chapter 15

Morning arrived, and Deidra was on her way to the Caldwell ranch. But she wasn’t feeling any better than she had the day before. “Everything was going just fine until that little twit came along,” she blasted.