Burke walked into the dark house. No light welcomed him and he experienced a great sense of loneliness. He jumped, startled to find Alice sitting at the kitchen table in the dark. He tried to walk past her, but she grabbed his arm.
“I’m sorry that your wife got upset, darling,” she purred. “How was I supposed to know that her back was all scarred? I mean compared to me she must feel like a circus freak.”
Burke’s eyes narrowed and he shook her hand off him. He wondered what her game was and how she knew about the scars. “Let it be, Alice,” he warned.
“But, Burke it’s not my fault you married a dirty housekeeper. If only you had waited you could have had your trophy wife back,” she stated, looking innocent.
Burke laughed harshly. “You’re no prize, believe me. That woman lying in my bed right now is ten times the woman that you are, so back off,” he strongly cautioned.
“You can’t mean that,” Alice said as she pouted.
“I said let it be. Good night.”
Chapter Seven
Annie groaned as she woke up and realized that the bright Texas sun had been up for a good long time. She’d been sleeping in later this past week, trying to avoid Burke and Alice. For some reason Alice decided that she needed to be up early to keep Burke entertained, while Annie served them breakfast. After the second day, Annie slept in, not wanting to be their cook and server. She sighed, stretching her arms overhead, trying to get the kinks out of her back. She hadn’t had a peaceful night of sleep in a week.
Every time Burke touched her, she stiffened and pulled away. Today she was determined to try harder. Alice would be leaving in less than a week and Annie couldn’t wait. She didn’t know what Alice’s plans were, but she didn’t care, she considered it not her problem. Burke had promised that Alice would be gone in two weeks and she wholly believed him.
Annie cheered up and dressed in her cutoff jeans and pink T-shirt. She couldn’t go on this way with Burke. She walked downstairs determined to find him and put things to rights. Looking out the window, she sipped her coffee wondering if Burke was still around or off cowboying. She smiled to herself. She needed some of that cowboy’s love and she needed it now.
It put a bad taste in her mouth when she saw Alice at the kitchen table Annie tried to ignore her. But it looked like Alice had other plans. Her smile looked excessively bright this morning and Annie had a sinking feeling.
“There’s a note for you,” Alice said, handing it over.
Grabbing the paper out of Alice’s hand, Annie walked to the window, turning her back on Alice as she read it. She didn’t want Alice to have the pleasure if the news was bad. It was from Burke. It said that he’d be out of town overnight on ranch business. It distressed her that he hadn’t told her personally, but on the other hand, he hadn’t taken Alice with him.
“Well, we’re on our own,” Annie said with false pleasantry. “Guess you’ll have to make you own meals today.”
The look on Alice’s face made it all worthwhile. Annie hummed as she walked out the door, planning to take a long walk. It felt so good to be one with nature. It was something that she hadn’t even known about living in the city. Pausing under a cottonwood tree, she watched squirrels busy at work. They chattered at each other as the birds looked on and chirped. At one point, she saw two dragonflies in flight, playing a mysterious game.
She didn’t want to go back to the house. She didn’t trust Alice. It was so obvious that she was trying to break up their marriage. Why couldn’t Burke see her for what she was, a spoiled, dangerous woman?
The day grew warmer and she could feel moisture in the air. Rain, she thought as she saw the dark clouds starting to roll through. Luckily, she wasn’t far from the house. Hearing the rumble of thunder, she ran to the house only to find the door locked.
Shocked, she tried them again running from the back to the front of the house as the rain pelted down in sheets. They never locked the doors to the house. “Damn you Alice open up!”
Annie saw a shadow at the front window and she just knew it had to be Alice. She pounded on the door, but Alice still wouldn’t open the door.
The air started growing colder and the rain continued to pour out of the sky. Thunder vibrated the ground as lightening ignited the sky. Even though she stood on the covered porch, she got soaked.
Deciding that she would be safer in the barn, she ran out into the punishing rain. The wind had really kicked up and once she got into the barn, she had a hard time closing the door.
Leaning against the closed door, Annie was breathless. Water dripped from her soaking body and she shivered. She hated that woman! What right did she have to lock the doors? What a spiteful witch!
Finally catching her breath, Annie walked further into the barn and located a blanket. Without hesitation, she shucked her clothes and wrapped herself in the scratchy blanket.
The walls of the barn were creaking as the wind continued to blow and the rain poured. Burke had told her that the storms out here could be deadly, but she really had to see it to believe it. The animals were getting restless. They seemed to be as anxious as she was.
She walked to the back of the barn to the tack room. Gratefully, she found some clothes there. They were excessively big, but she didn’t care. Rolling up the pant legs of the jeans she found, she glanced around for a piece of rope to tie the big pants around her waist. Laughing she tied it around her. She knew she must look ridiculous, but she didn’t care. She was warm and dry.
The overhead lights began to flicker and it scared her. She didn’t like the dark. Looking around she searched for a lantern. There were always lanterns in the movies and in all the books, but there were none now.
Worried, she looked at the lights as they flickered again. She started ransacking the barn for a flashlight, but she couldn’t find one. How could there be no flashlight out here? How asinine. There must be a flashlight! Frantically she searched and searched to no avail.
Feeling a panic attack come on, she tried to calm herself. The lights were still on she reasoned and she was safe and dry. Finally, she calmed herself. She started talking to the horses to relieve her tension.
Looking at her watch, she realized that she had been in the barn for hours and the storm showed no sign of letting up. Another vibrating boom followed by the crack of lightening sent her scurrying to an empty stall. The lights flickered again and went out.
The darkness made her tremble in fear. She feared the dark. Her stepfather would often lock her in a dark closet for hours at a time, after he beat her. This was a nightmare.
Curling up into a tight ball, Annie started crying, then sobbing. She couldn’t seem to help herself. There was no way she could reason her way out of her fear this time. Not even the animals gave her comfort.
Running to the barn door, she decided that being out in the rain was better than being in the dark barn. She pulled on the door trying to open it. She tried repeatedly crying out with each try. She was locked in. She found it hard to breathe. Sliding down against the barn door, Annie put her face into her knees and held on.
What if the lightning lit the barn on fire? She wouldn’t be able to get out! The animals would all die too. Try as she might she couldn’t evict her dark thoughts.
The wind finally died down as the storm moved on. It gave her a small measure of relief that it was over, but the lights were still off. Gathering her courage, she stood and tried the door
again. This time it opened. She ran across the yard to the house and tried the front door. It was
unlocked
too.
Tearing it open
,
Annie quickly entered the house. The electricity was off
, but
she could see a crackling fire in the family room. She moved closer and found Alice and Burke sitting on the couch enjoying the fire.
Burke looked surprised to see her.
“
I thought you were spending the night at Sherry
’
s house.
”
“
The doors were locked I couldn
’
t get in.
”
“
The doors at Sherry
’
s?
”
Annie ignored them and went to the fire to warm up. It boggled her mind that he was here in the house while
she had
been locked in the barn.
“
You didn
’
t check on the animals?
”
Shaking his head, Burke stood up. He walked closer to her and cupped her face in his warm hands.
“
What happened?
”
The concern she saw in his face was too much for her to handle. She felt her legs give way under her. Thankfully, Burke was there to catch her. He sat in the chair closest to the fire and held her on his lap.
“
Give me the blanket,
Alice,
”
he demanded.
“
I
’
m using it.
”
“
Damn it, Alice give me the blanket!
”
“
You don
’
t have to get snippy with me.
”
She threw the blanket at him.
“
It
’
s
okay, Annie,
”
he murmured, wrapping the blanket around her.
“
Can you tell me what happened?
”
Shaking her head, she clung to him. He was her lifeline and she couldn
’
t talk. She couldn
’
t even cry anymore, she just clung to her husband.
Finally, she relaxed in his brawny arms
,
feeling safe.
“
The doors to the house were locked, so I went to the barn to get out of the storm. The lights went out so I tried to leave the barn
,
but
that door was locked from the outside.
”
“
I
’
ve got you. It
’
s okay.
”
Annie sat up and looked at him.
“
No it
’
s not
okay
! Why were the doors locked?
”
“
I was here the whole time and I didn
’
t lock any doors. Besides you told me that you were spending the night at Sherry
’
s,
”
Alice said, sounding very believable.
“
I
’
ll let you two sort it out, I
’
m going to bed.
”
She took one of the flashlights and went to her room.
“
We don
’
t lock the doors here, honey.
”
“
Just forget it! You never believe me anyway,
”
she shouted, jumping up off his lap.
“
Does this look like my usual attire? I was soaked and cold. I found these clothes in the barn. The same barn that someone locked me in!
”
“
I don
’
t think…
”
“
That
’
s right don
’
t think. I
’
m going to bed!
”
“
Annie.
”
It had been the most miserable night and now this. It was too much. Grabbing a flashlight, she raced to their room.
She stiffened when Burke
later
g
o
t into bed with her. Her took her into his loving arms and held her.
“
I believe you, Annie, I do. I
’
ll look into it tomorrow, honey.
”
Annie sighed in relief and finally fell asleep.
The next morning
,
the loneliness was too much for her to stand any longer
, so she went to the barn to watch her husband work.
S
he was relieved to catch a glimpse of h
im.
Standing in the door
way
Annie watched his arm muscles bulge as he hefted a bale of hay. Her heart beat faster and her breathing became shallow. She was nervous approaching him after giving him the cold shoulder for about a week, but she loved him too much to let their discord go on any longer.
*
*
*
*
He sensed her gaze, turned and looked at her. His eyes held hers. He was relieved to see her smiling at him. It
’
d been a hard week, trying to get close to her only to have her rebuff him. He smiled watching her
blush. She suddenly looked like
shy
and
innocent as she slowly approached him. He had to resist the urge to meet her halfway. It had to be her decision, her desire that made her come to him. Her rejection the past week had hurt him. He understood it
, but
it still hurt. He held his arms wide open and Annie ran into them, hugging him for all she was worth.
Burke grabbed her waist and lifted her up for a kiss. He was surprised and pleased by her passion. She couldn
’
t seem to get enough of him as he felt her deepen each kiss. He felt her body trembling against his and he groaned. How he wanted this woman. His desire for her was unlike any other. He could barely contain his passion as he swung her up into his arms ready to climb up into the hayloft. He heard
a noise
behind him. Reluctantly he turned around to see who would dare to interrupt and wasn
’
t surprised to find Alice standing there
practically
half-naked.