BEN

After they buried Pullo’s wife, after we all sat and ate a great meal, I finally managed to get away. Went straight to Tracy’s room and knocked. She kissed me and pulled me inside; it was kinda sweet, her being like that. There were a lot of nice things about being with her; we kinda understand each other, with the sex and all. After it was over, I was just resting, closing my eyes. Figured maybe I’d sleep a bit … and I felt her move. She buried her face under the blankets and her mouth started working at my soft cock. Usually I like that. That night, I wasn’t liking it as much.

“Hey,” I slid a hand under and pulled at her arm. “Come up.”

She grinned, her hair all mussed and dove to kiss my lips, but I turned away. Don’t know why, just did. Not that I don’t like her kissing me. Not like I got any idea why I wasn’t interested at that moment either.

She sat up, crossed legged like and Indian and sighed. “Ben, I’m sorry I was so … aggressive. Insensitive of me, the funeral and all. You only needed some warmth and here I am, looking for fire.”

I watched her. Tracy’s a pretty little thing, especially like she was right then, all mussed, her hair wild. Why was I stopping her? “Darlin’, I got no problems with you being … aggressive.” I tried to smile but it just didn’t work.

“Tell me about her, the woman who died.”

I looked into her sincere eyes and shrugged. “Didn’t know her. The wife of a … distant relative. Just that she was young. Maybe your age. Got a little girl too.”

“That little girl I saw in the parlor this morning?”

I nodded.

“That’s so sad.”

“Tracy,” I started, not real sure why I was even gonna ask. “What do you do in Connecticut?”

She smiled. “Well,” she shuffled on the bed. “I live in a little town outside of Hartford. But what do I do? Nothing great. I’m a hairdresser at a silly beauty parlor … not even a really good hairdresser, but it doesn’t matter. Most bosses don’t really want to see their employees be all that good anyway. It feeds their egos to see me as mediocre, so I play … mediocre.”

“Huh. Seems to me, if I was your boss I’d wanna see you get better and better, maybe better than me eventually.” I was lyin’. I was just like the bosses she talked about, didn’t need anyone in my crew showing me up. But they had to be real good … and real fucking loyal, too.

“Are you a hairdresser or the owner of a beauty parlor, Ben?” The twinkle in her eye told me she was kidding.

“No.”

“You just have no clue, then.”

“Why’d you come here all the way from Connecticut this weekend?” This, I wanted to know. I watched her blush, shrug.

“You. Ben, there’s something about you I wanted to see again. Something … inside of you.”

“There’s nothin’ inside me.”

“Oh yes there is. I can feel it, almost see it behind your beautiful eyes. It’s big and it’s amazing. It just, I don’t know, pulls me.”

I turned away, didn’t want her seeing anything inside of me. “You got a man back in Connecticut?”

“I did for a while. That ended last weekend when he didn’t come here with me.”

I ran a finger along hers. “Does he know?”

“Yeah, he knows.”

“Maybe that wasn’t so smart, Tracy. You live there, he’s there.”

“But you are here. Is it okay that I want to see you again and again?”

Fuck. What was the answer to that? We were quiet for a while, but I let her fingers get all tangled with mine. “Tracy Pinkerton,” I said softly, letting it roll on my tongue. “Tracy Pinkerton.” I looked into her eyes. “You got any relationship with those Pinkertons way back when the Southern Pacific Railroad was being built?”

“Doubt it,” she laughed and I watched her breasts move with the action. “Probably no relation at all.”

“Good. Now, about that being … aggressive,” I flipped the blankets away from my legs and she understood real good.

RILEY

When I woke this morning I was pooped. We hadn’t slept well. John and I just held each other all night and listened to Pullo comfort little Valerie out in the living room. It was heartbreaking … and the lack of sleep had taken its toll on us all.

Valerie was sleeping late in her trundle bed next to little T’s crib in the nursery. Pullo was bleary eyed and trying to seem together. I stood behind him and leaned down, wrapped my arms around his chest and settled my chin on top of his head. “It’s all gonna be okay. You’ll see.”

His hands captured mine and gave a squeeze. “I certainly hope so.”

“Let go of my wife,” John teasingly growled as he moseyed in and reached into the cabinet for cereal.

“A Roman soldier of the Thirteenth never frees a captive, John.” Damn, Pullo actually grinned and I gave each man a playful slap across the head.

“What’s the plan today?” I handed the milk to John and took a few of his Cheerios to place on the baby’s highchair tray. One would think I’d given little Terry a million dollars. His feet kicked and he squealed with excitement. Then came the careful, meticulous activity of capturing each little bit of cereal and maneuvering it into his wide opened mouth.

“Today I will go over to Lesley’s house. Much will go into storage … I … I can’t see that it will be good for Valerie if we return there. I also have plans to meet with Kevin about the renovation on the farmhouse at the vineyard. John, do you think the child and I can remain here until the construction is finished?”

“In my apartment? Fuck no, not if I gotta see you capturing my wife every morning,” John grinned, winked at me then sighed. “We’ll arrange for one of the suites. You and Valerie can be comfortable and have enough space that way.”

“When do you plan to send Valerie back to school?” I asked and noticing the confusion on his face, I shrugged casually. “Of course you’re right; she needs a few days, maybe even a week. I just asked because I’ll call to arrange for the school bus to pick her up here. Just let me know when to tell them to start coming.”

“When do you think?” Pullo blinked.

“Ask Valerie,” John grunted through a full mouth. “That kid’s smart enough to know when she’s ready.”

Pullo put his bowl in the sink. “I’m late to meet with Kevin. Do you mind if I leave Valerie here?”

“Don’t wake her. Let her sleep, she’ll be fine. We have a whole Inn full of people to keep an eye on her. Do what you gotta do, buddy.” John said and rubbed his eyes as Pullo left the apartment.

Good God, he looked exhausted. Even his chest looked a little deflated. The last few weeks had been absolute hell for John. The storm, Natalie’s delivery drama and now the funeral. “Hey John,” I leaned back, watching his spoon swirl in his cereal. “What are you gonna be doing today?”

“What am I gonna do? What’ve I gotta do? Or … what do I wanna do?”

I grinned, took his hand in mine. “What do you want to do today, John?”

“God sakes, I wanna sleep. I wanna put on my fucking sweats and just be here with the baby and you,” his eyes twinkled.

“And Valerie, remember.”

“Yeah, right. Shit, soon there’s gonna be no chance at all for you and me to be making love on this table again, huh?”

The baby squealed, his mouth a big ‘O’ and I laughed.

“I rest my case.”

“So … do it, John. Take a day off. You deserve it.”

“Only if you do it too.”

I put out my hand and we shook. “Deal. Now, I have a question for you.”

He blinked, groaned and pushed his bowl away. “Shoot.”

“Why can’t I reach Terry or Zack?”

“Fuck,” he dropped his cereal into the sink and turned, leaned back against the counter and aimed his beautiful baby blues my way. “You read me like a fucking book, ya know that?”

“Yes, I do. Where are they?”

“Zack was here the other day. Didn’t stay, but gave me the lowdown.” He sat again and watched me. I could just feel it wasn’t going to be good news. “He was heading to meet Terry.”

“Where’s Terry?”

“China,” he waited until I stopped blinking and dropped my hand from my heart. “Dino’s gotten himself into trouble, baby. Bad. He’s been taken.”

“Jesus!”

“No demands from the kidnappers last I heard. Something went wrong. They didn’t release the other hostage either.”

“Does anyone else know?” I idly dropped a handful of Cheerios onto the tray, but the baby was watching John.

He shook his head. “Thought maybe I’d wait ‘til everyone gets settled again. Fuck, Riles. The young ones are freaking about death, everyone’s just trying to digest all this. Maybe tomorrow I let them all know. Maximus knows.”

“Is he going to China too?”

“Nope. Not this time. He said Sophia’s not feeling too well and Terry told him to stay close to home.”

“Something’s wrong with Sophia?” Christ, how much more could happen?

John grinned. Patted my hand then ruffled little T’s thick dark waves. “Sounded like nothing but the flu to me. Let’s worry about stuff we can help with, okay?”

“But how can we help Terry and Zack and Dino?” I was freaking, I admit that. But John smiled, calm and sweet.

“You know how to help them, Riles.”

“I do?”

“Yeah. Pray. Pretty powerful stuff. Now,” he stood and grunted to the phone. “If I’m taking the day off, I need to check on everyone, make sure they got their ducks in line, then I’m getting comfortable on that couch … under that blue blanket … the remote in my hand.” And he gave a mighty yawn. John was not going to see much television before his lights went out, I’d bet my bottom dollar on it.

EMILY

I’m not very good with funerals. I’d never had the opportunity to meet Lesley Pullo, but I still felt part of the profound sorrow that everyone else was experiencing. Both of my parents were thankfully still alive and healthy, and I could only imagine the sense of loss that her young daughter must be feeling. I tried to shake it off when I went into work the following morning, deciding to wear a silk blouse of bright tangerine with my brown skirt and boots, hoping that the bright color would help lighten my mood.

I had seen Kim’s truck in the parking lot when I arrived at work, but I opened our office to find it empty. My instincts told me that he was probably in the lobby grilling poor Marla over her knowledge of the new accounting system, but wasn’t worried; Marla grasped the program far quicker than many of the other Inn employees, even remarking how much simpler it was going to make it for her to do her job. I hated to admit it, but Kim certainly knew what he was doing when he set up the contract with the software representatives, even acing a much lower price than was originally quoted.

I started up a pot of coffee before sitting down at my desk and wading through last night’s voicemail and e-mail messages. I was concentrating on trying to understand the garbled sounding message left by one of our foreign agents when I had the sensation of being watched. Looking towards the door, my eyes met those of the little girl whose mother had just died. 

Kim had told me that she was eleven-years-old, but she looked to be a good deal younger, something to which I could wholeheartedly relate. Being just barely five feet tall, I’m always battling folks to take me seriously. I dislike going to bars because I always get carded. It’s embarrassing.
 
“You must be Valerie.” I smiled. “Would you like to come in?”

She nodded and came over to stand in front of my desk, her hazel eyes taking in everything. “You’re pretty. What’s your name?”

“Thank you. My name’s Emily Carreras.”

We gave each other a good once over. She wasn’t really what one could describe as a pretty girl, but I could tell that she’d grow into her looks as she matured.  

“Hey, you wanna help me?” I motioned for her to pull up one of the chairs and reached over for the stack of receivables and the date stamp. “Think you can put this stamp on each one of these in the upper right corner for me?”

She nodded, taking the stack of paper from my hand. “Is this what you do when you’re not following Mr. Barrett around?”

I couldn’t help my laughter. “I guess that is what I do, isn’t it?”

Valerie carefully set the stamp down on the first sheet of paper, looking over at me to make sure that she had done it correctly. I nodded my approval and she began to work her way through the rest. I busied myself with reviewing next week’s calendar to set up Kim’s appointments with several new vendors. We worked alongside each other in companionable silence for several minutes until a man’s voice disturbed our concentration.

“Good morning?”

I looked up to find Kim standing in the doorway. I glanced over at Valerie and smiled. “Good morning, Mr. Barrett.”

A scowl of irritation as he made his way over to his desk, which vanished immediately when he caught Valerie watching him.

She seemed to read the unspoken question that was on his mind. “I’m helping Emily do her job.”

I silently dared him to make some smart aleck remark, but was amazed when he did just the opposite. “That’s awfully nice of you, Valerie. Emily works really hard and I’m sure she appreciates the assistance.” He popped opened up his briefcase and then went over to pour a cup of coffee.

Valerie watched Kim for a few more moments, then handed me the date stamp. “I’d better go. Can I stop by and visit you again?”

Kim made a sound as if clearing his throat, but I ignored him. “Sure honey. You can be our official stamp girl. That’s an important responsibility.”

She actually almost smiled. “Okay, I’d like that.” She glanced over at Kim once again as she headed for the door. “Goodbye, Mr. Barrett.”

Again the clearing of his throat. “Goodbye, Valerie. Have a nice day.”

He waited a few moments until he was sure that she was down the hall and out of earshot before he started in. “I wasn’t aware we were operating a daycare center.”

I didn’t miss a beat. “Oh, are you thinking of implementing one for the Inn’s staff? You’d make a lot of friends if you did.”

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

No way was I letting him get the better of me at that moment and I quickly changed the subject. “Is the coffee okay?”

“The coffee’s fine. Why?”

Wonderful. He was taking the bait. “It’s an extremely expensive blend. It’s called Kopi Luwak, and it’s from Indonesia.”

“What is it that makes it so bloody special? Is it hand picked by specially trained monkeys or something?”

“Close. See, there’s these little animals who live in the forests over there called Palm Civets. They’re kind of like Raccoons, but smaller and they love to eat coffee cherries. Only they can’t digest the coffee bean seed that’s inside the cherries, and the enzymes from their stomachs give the beans their unique flavor. The discarded seeds are then harvested from the jungle floor and it’s regarded as the rarest form of coffee in the world.”

I could practically see the gears of his brain spinning as he took it all in. Five, four, three, two, one…

“Monkey poop. I’m drinking monkey poop?”
 
Houston, we have lift off.

PULLO

The house felt as dead as its former lady, empty, the way Lesley’s eyes were after she chose to leave us. It seemed nothing had ever breathed or moved, laughed or cried within those walls … but I know better. I have seen the photos of Lesley with her daughter as a small infant. A birthday party with guests and silly hats. Quiet moments when Lesley slept on that very sofa with Valerie’s head on her knee. There was once life there. But … it was time to move on to a new life.

My meeting with Kevin did not go as well as I had hoped. There was much to do with the old farmhouse; many things he had stated were not up to code … whatever that means. There were things I wanted in that house too. Places created for Valerie, a small bit of privacy for her as well as myself. Her room was to be larger, to include space for her studies and a space for her to play or think or … whatever a growing young lady might need. For the love of Hades! I am certainly in the dark where this is all concerned. But I plan to do my best.

Looking around I already knew what I intended to take and what would not be put into storage until the farmhouse was finished. Everything in the kitchen was needed. All of Valerie’s bedroom furniture and things must come. The living room furniture. Lesley’s dining room, left to her by her grandmother, is to be given to Valerie when she is married.

Married? How will I ever be able to hand that child into a man’s care? But that was a long way off, was it not?

I called a local charity to come for Lesley’s clothing and the remainder of the furniture. Brushed my hands off and looked back once before closing the door behind me. I had few memories there, only those of Lesley’s smile and her death. But my little daughter will surely miss the place. I decided to bring her there once before everything was removed, permit her a farewell.

I sat in my car for nearly a half hour, unsure if my plans were correct, but finally deciding that every man will make a few mistakes. These were not fatal … if they were in fact mistakes. I’d been away from the Inn and Valerie for almost a whole day, I must return. It was time to … move on.

MAXIMUS

My return flight to Sonoma was filled with concerns … among them, concerns for my wife’s health. Sophia is from sturdy stock, but she was pale and weak when I left, insisting that Pullo required my presence far more than she. But does she not know that I too have a need? A need to be assured of her safety and health?

It had been a long and difficult journey for us since the discovery that she is barren. The exploration of adoption agencies and processes, rather intense. The screening for an expectant mother and that young woman’s scrutiny of us. I know of a time when it was far simpler, required few legal actions and no money to speak of. As it was, the young woman we chose will require much.

The girl was just that, nothing but a slip of a girl. She lives outside Dallas, Texas and is eager to find the perfect parents for her unwanted child. Perhaps I will hear that we are acceptable upon my arrival home? But perhaps not and I worry for my woman’s disappointment.

Either way, should Sophia appear as ill as she was when I left, I have full intentions of taking her back to the doctors. I could not bear facing what Pullo has faced. Could not bear the loss of another loved wife. It may be over protectiveness on my part, but I care little. There are enough difficult events in our lives without the added concerns that may easily be repaired under a good physician’s hands.

With this thought I am forced to face the difficulties in China. I’ve been very clear to both Zack and Terry that I stand ready to assist. May the gods watch over and protect Dino, watch over and protect them all.

NATALIE

Stephen’s extended holiday vacation had come to an end. He had surgery scheduled early the following morning at the Naval Hospital and needed to be back in Maryland as soon as possible. He and Jack had spent the night talking and playing together, enjoying the little time they had left. I know Stephen’s company the past few weeks has meant a lot to Jack and he’ll be sad to say goodbye. But, I have to admit, I’ll miss him too. Stephen’s not an easy person to get to know; very reserved and private. But once he trusts you, he’ll let his guard down and show his true self; intelligent, caring and surprisingly, incredibly funny. The man has a wickedly dry sense of humor! He’s become a good friend and has promised to come visit us when our house in Maine is finished.

We walked him down to the front doors of the Inn, Jack helping with the bags as I held the babies. The waiting cabbie grabbed the luggage and huffed out the door while we said our goodbyes; a man-hug with slaps on the back for Jack and a gentle kiss in my cheek and one for each of the girls … then he was gone. We were now truly alone with our daughters.

To me, it felt like our new life together was finally beginning. Oh, I know that technically it began when we married. Supposedly. But, it didn’t feel that way. We were just a couple then. Two adults footloose and fancy free. Now … we’re a family and have responsibilities to two lives other than our own. It felt exhilarating, scary and weird.

Jack watched the door for a moment after it closed. He didn’t say anything, but had a slight smile as he reached for Catherine. She fretted a bit at being shifted, and he gently patted her back to soothe her. We stopped by Marla’s desk to show off the twins when I saw her. A little girl was sitting on a sofa in the parlor playing with a Barbie. “That’s Valerie,” Marla whispered at my raised eyebrows. “Pullo’s daughter.”

“The one who recently lost her mother?” Jack asked.

“Yes, the poor little thing. She’s been wandering around this morning. Doesn’t know what to do with herself, I suppose.”

Valerie looked over at us and I smiled. “Come on, Jack,” I tugged his hand. “We should say hello.”

She watched us as we neared her. “Hey Valerie,” I asked, “can we sit with you for a bit?”

She nodded. “Yeah. You have two babies?”

“Twins. This is Chelsea,” I showed her Chelsea’s sleeping face. “And Jack is holding Catherine. I’m Nat.”

She studied each infant carefully. “They’re little. I thought babies were bigger.”

“They’ll get bigger. One thing babies do is grow.” She giggled. “Would you like to hold Chelsea?”

She nodded and put down her Barbie. I gently placed Chelsea in her arms. “You have to be a bit careful with her, though. She broke her arm being born and it’s mending.”

Valerie gasped, “Really? Oh!” Chelsea began to squirm and wiggle. “She’s moving!” Suddenly, Chelsea let out a screech and Valerie began to panic. “Is she okay? I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

“You didn’t hurt her, sweetie. She’s just waking up.” I took the baby back from Valerie and put her to my shoulder, patting her back in a feeble attempt to quiet her. Chelsea howled and Valerie looked more frightened by the second. Jack seemed desperate and attempted to soothe both Valerie and the baby when Antony appeared in the doorway.

“Antony, my good man,” he cried. “Here to lend a hand, no doubt.” Jack quickly handed Catherine to Valerie and gathered up Chelsea. He handed her to a protesting Antony before the man could make a quick getaway and just like at the clinic, Chelsea  immediately began cooing and gurgling. It was astonishing!

JEFF

The holidays are over and school’s back in session; my students are keeping me on my proverbial toes and amazingly enough it’s the third night in a row where I don’t have a ton of papers to grade or a lab to set up for the following day. The girls are well into their Science Fair projects and I wasn’t planning to spring a test on them until early next week.

Despite my best efforts, I was looking at another evening home alone with Chinese take out and CNN. Kelly and I had plans to spend the evening together and this was the second time this week that she’s had to cancel out at the last minute. She’s been so busy with the shop and promised me that she’d be available, but it never fails – something always seems to happen; the incessant ringing of the phone (why not let the voicemail just pick it up?) or a last minute delivery. Last night the potter’s wheel was malfunctioning and then she ran out of firing cones for the kiln. Tonight it was a forgotten meeting with the Stowe Chamber of Commerce. Perhaps it’s a form of karmic payback for all the years where I was the one being called away, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

A quick run through the classroom lab to make sure that all the burners were properly shut off and the supply cabinets secured, I tossed some papers into my briefcase and was just about to head out when Christy Grayson popped her head in through the classroom door. 

She greeted me with a wink and her trademark cheeky smile. “Hey Doc, feel like heading out for a drink after work? I know this little place in town that serves a mean Irish Coffee.”

“You’re far too young to be drinking Irish coffee.” What was it about this woman that always made me feel a little bit giddy?

“Oh, I never touch the stuff. The coffee was for you. I was thinking more along the lines of a Martini for myself.” She stood inside the doorway, a hand braced along either side of the frame, rocking back and forth just enough to make the floor creak in a rather suggestive sounding manner.

“As inviting and as delightful as your company would be, I’m afraid I’ve already made other plans.” Okay, I wasn’t completely lying. I just didn’t add that the other plans had since been canceled. Christy had enough energy for three people and I really didn’t think I’d be able to keep up with her.  

The creaking sound stopped. “Bummer. I was hoping for a little intellectual conversation to cap off my evening, but I guess I’ll just have to settle for an extra Martini.”

“Would you consider a rain check?” I hated to disappoint her. Was she actually pouting?

“Okay, rain check it is.” The pout turned into her trademark dazzling smile. A flip of her hair and the scent of perfume trailing after her as she turned to go. “Have a good evening; I’ll be thinking about you when I order my second Martini …”

I highly doubted it, but felt flattered by her teasing. 

KELLY

I know I don’t deserve to be so lucky. My business is flourishing and I’m involved with the kindest man on the face of the earth who is patience and understanding personified. All women should be so fortunate.

But I feel so guilty. Jeff and I had made plans to spend this evening together, and once again our arrangements fell through. And it’s all my fault; I’ve had a bear of a week with one sort of crisis or another happening at the shop, and tonight I’d planned on fixing Jeff’s favorite dinner. I even had this really cute little negligee that I had ordered from Victoria’s Secret that I wanted to spring on him afterwards (it’s been almost a month since we’ve slept together), and then I got the call from Mrs. Craig, the secretary for the Stowe Chamber of Commerce reminding me of tonight’s meeting. Damn!

I called Jeff right away to give him the bad news. How many men are capable of handling something like this on such short notice, considering that it happened again for the second evening in a row?

“Honey, I understand. You’ve worked so hard to get your shop going and I’m proud of you. Think we could earmark some time together this weekend?”

 Damn. I had to go into Burlington on Saturday and Sunday was the shop’s Winter Madness sale. “Babe, I’m booked solid.”

“Well, that’s no good.”

“Jeff, I hate not being able to see you.”

“Don’t go beating yourself up. Give me a call when you come home tonight? I like to fall asleep to the sound of your voice.”

“Oh Jeff, you know I will.”

My heart melted. I don’t deserve this man. I really don’t.

KIM

Bloody hell, so far in the past few days I’ve been handcuffed to a bed, pulled over for a speeding ticket, attended the funeral of a woman who died far sooner than she should have, and thanks to my lovely assistant, explored an organic by-product produced through the excretions of an Indonesian Raccoon’s arse. My cup runneth over.

When I arrived home that evening, I went straight to my room, bypassing Andy and Monna’s invitation to join them in the kitchen. I was certain that fur or something worse was about to take sprout on my tongue despite how many times I gargled with Listerine. But by seven PM my mood lifted when PrimaVera showed up right on time for our scheduled chat.

PrimaVera: Hey NYSE! How has your week been?

NYSE411: Ha! Do you really want to know?

PrimeVera: Of course, silly – why else would I ask? Was it bad?

NYSE411: The worst. I have it on good authority that my secretary is trying to kill me.

PrimaVera: No way. The mousey little Spice Girl wanna be? You told me she had the fashion sense of Minnie Mouse and the IQ of a circus flea, LOL. Do you really think she’s intelligent enough to mastermind such a dastardly deed?

NYSE411: Oh trust me, she’s more than capable. That’s probably how she’s made it this far- she offs her competition.

PrimaVera: OK, what did she actually do?

(No way was I going to admit the truth to anyone, especially her. It was too humiliating. )

NYSE411:  Please, don’t make me go back to the bad place! I’ll be good, I promise!

PrimaVera: OK, OK…I’ll just take your word for it. She sounds like an evil, conniving little wombat. Why don’t you just fire her and hire yourself a new secretary? You ARE the boss, right? I’m sure there are plenty of people who’d jump at the chance to work under you.

NYSE411: I can’t fire her. She’s practically related to MY boss and she has everyone fooled into believing that she’s this sweet and innocent little angel. They’d NEVER believe me.

PrimaVera: Wow, sounds like the little cow has you over a barrel, my friend. Are you SURE that you didn’t do anything to piss her off?

NYSE411: NO! I’m totally innocent. I’m such an easy guy to get along with but I’m trapped with this homicidal maniac…

PrimVera: NYSE, you need to get tough. You’re so sweet and gentle that she obviously thinks she can get away with making your life miserable. It’s thoroughly unprofessional.

NYSE411: to say the least.

PrimaVera: All right, all joking aside, are you really okay? I’ll be worrying about you all night otherwise.

NYSE411: I’m ok. Really. I’m just going to have to watch my back from now on.

PrimaVera: Is it really that bad? I hate to think of you having to work in that environment. What kind of woman would go out of her way to hurt or annoy you?

NYSE411: I don’t know! I’m a nice guy.

PrimaVera:   She obviously has some serious psychological issues.

NYSE411: you have NO idea…

PrimaVera: Oh shoot – NYSE, my mom’s calling me from California and I have to take it. Are you sure you’re okay? I’ll come back on when I’m finished if you need to talk to me some more about this…

NYSE411: No, please go ahead and talk to your mom. I think I have a handle on things and again, I’m just going to have to watch my back. Hire a body guard, maybe take up Tae Kwon Do, get a pit bull…the usual stuff one does under such circumstances…

PrimaVera: Okay, now I feel really horrible about saying good night. I’ll tell my mom that I’ll call her back…

NYSE411: Prima, I insist, I’ll be fine. Talk to your mom and tell her I say “hello”…have you told her about us yet?

PrimaVera: In your dreams, big guy, LOL…don’t change the subject. Listen, let’s discuss this tomorrow night. I’ll take the phone off the hook and I promise I’ll be all yours for the evening. Deal?

NYSE411: Deal. Thanks for letting me vent.

PrimaVera: Any time, you know that! Good night for now!

PrimaVera: signed off 7:15PM.

BEN

Tracy left Sunday evening, explaining that it was only a few hours drive and she’d be home by midnight. A few hours drive. It still surprises me, how fast you can get from one place to another these days, and not even on a train. I miss the slow movement, a warm saddle, the whinny of a horse. But more than that, by Monday morning … I missed Tracy Pinkerton. I gotta admit, I felt kinda lonely. Strange thing about being with her; I never talked so much with a woman in my life. Too bad I can’t really tell her nothin’. But it’s kinda nice, her telling me everything I ask.

I managed to get John to drive me in to town, told him I’d take the resort shuttle back; the blue one with the Inn’s name on it. How could I forget, he repeated it a hundred times? You’d think he’d like it if I got my ass lost somewhere. Or maybe he was just concerned. Everyone at the Inn’s acting concerned lately. Wish they’d just focus on poor Pullo.

I passed that shop Jeff’s woman owns, had to grin. Women owning businesses. I understand that Riley runs the Inn, her with a baby and husband and everything. That darlin’ Emily is a worker, will probably own a business too someday. This is a strange century. Not exactly Sodom and Gomorrah, but not so damn far from it. Hell, walking down Main Street I saw men holding hands, a woman in a police uniform and kids not much older than little Valerie all painted and tattooed, rings in their noses like the pirates I once saw hiding in San Francisco alleys. I saw wrinkled old folks arguing and swearing up a storm and a young couple fondling right on the park bench … right in all that cold, his fingers right in her crotch. Women wearing pants, smoking cigarettes. Not a fluff of lace or satin anywhere. And not a porch with a red light either. Finding a whore was as easy as buying a cup of coffee in this world. No one was even careful about it. Whore? Maybe you can’t call them whores, since none of them expect to be paid. But I don’t think I been looking for a whore.

I been looking for something else and as I turned the bend from the courthouse I think maybe I found it. I stood until the chill got too cold, pulled up my collar and finally went into the coffee shop. One glare got those tattooed kids away from the table I wanted and I settled in for a long watch. See, outside the window, right across the street … was the bank. And I realized what I was really looking for there in town that afternoon. Not a whore … something to take. ‘Cause it’s a man’s nature to take what he wants. Sure I got money, what I don’t got right now is the thrill of getting it.

It’ll take a while to get the right plan, but I got time. One thing I do got … is time.