The last few days had flown by in a painful, miserable blur. Each one harder than the last, each marked by tears and with fellow mourners. So many “I’m so sorrys” and “if you need anythings”.

At first, Katy had been panicked at the mere thought of returning back to her parents’ home, but she quickly realized that the whole town would converge there, so she had to lock her devastation and grief away and allow the townspeople to say their good-byes and console her, as was tradition in a small community like theirs. Sean had told her that either way, he was behind her, but she had to deal with it.

She was sitting there, all alone, on her bed. Her hair a mess and her makeup long ago washed away by the tears. The pain was so severe that it hurt to breathe. The realization finally sinking in that she had no one. Both of her parents gone; her mom’s side of the family completely wiped out now, as she had been the only child to an older couple; and her dad had no family to speak of except a brother, whom Katy had never met. She had been shocked that even though they—he, his wife, and child—all lived in another state, they didn’t even bother to show up to the funeral, even though her family lawyer had contacted them. Her dad’s family had disowned him because of her mom being an orphan with no family and working to put herself through college had put them off. Her dad already had a good job and an inheritance of his own, so after her mom had finished school in Oklahoma, they were married and moved to Texas for his job and a fresh start.

She heard car doors slamming and figured it was time to fix herself up a bit and head down, since everyone was meeting there for a memorial dinner in honor of her parents. After yanking the brush through her hair and washing her face, she hurried down the stairs to see Sean already opening the door to people with food-laden trays.

Katherine sat down in her father’s favorite chair in the family room, waiting for the crowd to gather and come to her to pay their respects and share their memories. While sitting there, she reflected on the last few days.

Walking into the house had frozen her to her core so Sean had reached down and grasped her hand, giving it a squeeze and saying, “Peach, we can get rooms at the hotel, you don’t have to face this today.”

Hearing him give her an out had made her even more resolute to stay and face her fears so in resignation and possible retaliation for not letting him ride to the rescue on this one he set timers on his phone so that he was reminded when she was due for her medication, rather she needed it or not. It was frustrating and it was all Sean.

He hadn’t mentioned his wife or when he would be getting back to his life, and she was loath to bring it up, because she knew this wouldn’t last. In her heart she knew he was fulfilling his final obligation to her, and then he would finally, once and for all, be gone from her life.

She was startled out of her reverie by a heavy hand falling almost painfully onto her shoulder and a sickeningly familiar voice saying, "Babe. We need to have a chat.”  

She nearly groaned out loud; she should have known he would show up. It would be too much to ask that he stay away. "Please don’t do this, Chad."

"Now, Katy darlin', how can you talk that way after everything we meant to each other?"

"Chad, we aren't anything and never really were." Before she got the whole sentence out, he grabbed her arm and yanked her out of the chair, forcing her to follow him to the door. His force was such that her teeth painfully snapped together as he forcefully moved her around like a ragdoll.

"What do you think you're doing?" she ground out through clenched teeth.

"Oh, shut up. I just want to talk to ya."

"I can scream."

"Yeah, but our prodigal cowboy would come running and there would be the inevitable fight, and you don't want that in front of all the good towns folks, do you? What a shame it would be to put on such a show in front of all these folks here to honor your parents’ memories."

She gave in, partially because it would be bad to cause a scene and partially because the quickest way to get rid of him was to hear him out and be done, so she walked through the back door on her own. When they were alone in the backyard, she asked, "What do you want?"

"Are the rumors true? Did you really inherit millions?"

"What?" Whatever his purpose was for this confrontation, she hadn’t even considered him knowing about her surprise inheritance. She hadn’t even known of its existence until she had sat down with her parents’ attorney.

He obnoxiously enunciated each word, "Are. You. Rich?"

She seriously had to bite her tongue to stop from calling him a lot of really ugly things, knowing from past experience that he had a lethal temper after learning the hard way all those years ago when Sean had first walked away from her.

***

SHE HAD WALKED OUT the door with the telephone ringing at her back and gotten into her car and driven up and down the back roads, windows down and music up, trying to clear her head.

After an hour and a quarter tank of gas, she had decided that her best course of action would be to call Chad. If she were being unbiased, she would have to admit that he was cute and popular; although not someone she would normally hang out with, it wouldn't do at all for it to get back to Sean that she hadn't even had a brief conversation with the guy, so she made the call when she returned home, and they agreed to dinner that night.

Chad had shown up fifteen minutes early at her parent’s door with a bouquet of yellow daffodils and had kept his palm to the small of her back as he escorted her to his car until he shut it behind her. When they walked into the diner in town he had made reservations, even though there was really no such thing as reservations at the diner, and she had felt her stomach flutter at the gesture. The hostess even played along with the silliness. Sean would never have done something so redundant but she found that it actually made her smile that Chad had gone to the trouble. He had managed to keep there from being any awkward moments by telling her funny stories of things that had happened to some of their mutual friends and acquaintances. There was so much she had missed out on while dedicating herself to Sean but Chad was nice about not rubbing it in and instead he seemed excited to fill in the missed memories.

When they arrived back at her house she was shocked that she had actually had a really great time with him and found herself hoping that he would ask her out for a second date so she could see if they continued to have a good time together. He walked around the car to open her door and helped her out. She tensed up afraid that he would try to kiss her at the door or that he would want to come in and she really needed to sort herself out. This whole night had been really confusing for her. Sean had always warned her to stay away from Chad and yet they had had a really great time together on their first date.

They walked up the steps of her front porch and he turned her towards him, causing her heart to race in panic. She suddenly realized that she was nowhere near ready to kiss someone else. Chad seemed to pick up on that and instead pulled her into his arms and gave her a friendly hug before letting her go and stepping back to say, “Are you free Tuesday? We can catch a movie that evening, if you’d like?”

Smiling, Katy accepted and turned to open the door. She stepped through waving at him as he stepped off the porch and headed back to his car.

After four or five dates, he had not tried to push her limits, merely walking her to the door at night and chastely kissing her cheek. At that point, she seriously doubted any of the bad stuff Sean had ever said, figuring the rumors and his dire warnings had only been brought on by jealousy or some he-man complex.

Then came the final date, the one that had changed her mind about it all. They drove to Dallas that night. Chad had said he was craving something a little different and just wanted them to get out of town for a change and do something different. He had just turned twenty-one, so in celebration ordered a beer. Katy, being underage, had a soda.

It was after their meal was delivered; he was already on his fifth beer and was getting louder and louder, so as quickly as possible, she scarfed down her food, desperate to escape the scene he was creating. By his seventh beer, she was at wit’s end and he was belligerent.

"Chad I’m finished. Could we please go?"

He looked at her, blinking his dark, beady eyes in an attempt to bring her into focus.

"Yeah, let’s go," he slurred as he drunkenly rose from his seat.

Slapping some money on the table, he roughly grabbed her arm and dragged her out the door and to his car.

"Get in."

Seriously doubting the wisdom of her choice, she climbed into the passenger side door.

"Chad, can I please drive?"

"My car? Hell no! I drive my car. Ain’t letting some bitch behind the wheel!"

"Chad, you're drunk."

"I ain't drunk, so you shut yer mouth!" he slurred.

It was a tense moment when he lifted his hand threateningly, as if to slap her. In his drunkenness, he seemed to forget his intent, because after a few moments, he reached for the steering wheel and turned the key in the ignition before throwing the car in reverse.

As they drove down the crowded interstate, there were a few gut-wrenching moments that had her tightly gripping the door handle, closing her eyes even tighter and cringing in terror.

When he whipped the car onto the exit, she looked up hopefully, thinking he had decided to accept her offer to drive but too afraid to ask because she was certain she had seen violence on his face only minutes before.

They passed the usual smattering of truck stops and drive thrus all with empty parking spaces, but he stopped at none. Gathering her courage, she asked, "Chad, what are we doing?"

He looked her way, then turned his gaze back to the road.

"We'll be stoppin’ in jus’ a bit."

They drove a little further before they came to a crowded shopping center. Pulling to the far rear, away from the people milling about, he pressed the E brake and cut the engine.

Slowly, deliberately, he pushed the release on his seat belt and leaned toward her, then reached over and released hers as well. At the click and whooshing sound of the seat belt whipping back into place, she nervously leaned away from him.

"What the hell are you shying away from me for? I haven't even touched you. It has been a month, and you always hold me at arm’s length. Well, tonight we're going to have some fun and you won’t have to pretend to be such a prude anymore. We all know you were giving it to that loser Everett, so you may as well share with me now."

"Chad," she whispered, too terrified to speak out loud, "please, you're scaring me. Don't hurt me."

"Hurt you? No way. You just wait; you'll be begging me for more."

Forcefully, he yanked her toward him, causing a sharp pain to shoot up her arm. As he ground his lips against hers, she froze in shock. His teeth dug into the tender flesh of her tightly sealed lips, trying to force them apart. His breath smelled unpleasantly of the scent of beer.

When he finally realized that she was not responding, he pulled back and slapped her hard across the cheek. The force of the impact snapped her neck to one side, and she knew she would later have a bruise to show for it.

The pain jerked her out of it as she started hitting and scratching him with everything she had. When he released her for just a second, she opened the door and lunged from the car, running with everything she was worth to get to the safety of the crowd of shoppers.

From behind her, she heard him screech the car around and accelerate toward her, and for a brief, terrifying moment, she was sure he would run her down, but at the last second, he veered away and sped off down the street and into the darkness. When she reached the safety of the onlookers, she turned around, but there was not as much as a glow of taillights. That was the last time she was alone with him. She entered the first store she came to and borrowed their phone. Dialing her home number, she asked her dad to come get her.

***

ALTHOUGH SHE NEVER explained what had happened that night, her parents understood that it had been something bad and never again encouraged her to see him. She knew that Chad and her father had had words. He had come to see her once only to apologize but had stayed away after that. Evidently, he was back now.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of movement and knew they weren't alone anymore, but Chad—so wrapped up in finding out about her inheritance—hadn't noticed a thing. He was shaking her now. "Answer me, damn you, did you inherit all that money like they said or not?"

She took a deep breath, almost too afraid of his reaction to speak, but said, "You know, Chad, that’s not any of your business."

"You BITCH," he breathed, "you're filthy rich. You knew all along, didn't you? That is why you led me on then dumped me when things were starting to get serious between us.”

"Actually," she replied, "not that it matters, but you tried to force yourself on me, remember? That is why I quit seeing you, and I am just as surprised as you are that I have any inheritance at all. Now, take your hands off me and leave. Now! Before I decide to tell someone that you are threatening me."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Didn't she just tell you to take your hands off her?" she heard Sean growl.

"Look... Oh, it's you. Well, well, well. Our local legend returned home, huh? Just mind your own business, Everett. This is between her and me," he finished, pointing at Katherine with his pointer finger and himself with his thumb.

"Ouch, Chad! That is enough. Please leave. This is a memorial dinner for my parents; can’t you at least save it long enough for that? Sean, will you escort me inside?"

Chad's hand dropped, and Sean nodded his head with a slight grin as he continued to stare the other man down. "Ladies first."

After dinner and several hours of reminiscing about her parents, the last of the stragglers had finally walked out the door and Sean and Katherine were finished cleaning up. Finally, the last of the food was put away and they walked out to the backyard to sit on the swings in their long-ago abandoned swing set, the beer in their hands showing the glaring difference between then and now.

"Katherine, what was that with Chad? I thought... Well, I didn't know you were serious about anyone while I was away."

"I wasn't serious about him; we went out on a few dates. The last one ended badly, so it didn't happen again," she replied, taking a long swallow of her beer.

"Yeah, I heard about that part, too. If I did not completely understand how bad you're hurting right now, I would have gladly beaten the bricks out of him."

"Hey, Cowboy, don't worry about it. All over and done with, water under the bridge."

"He—"

"No, I don't want to discuss it anymore. It’s over, and not only were you gone, it is none of your business, so thanks for the save earlier, but please, just drop it already." She didn't mean to be so snappy, but it was still a tender subject, and really, when was he going to leave anyway?

"OK, new subject. Any plans yet?"

"Not really, no. I hadn't planned past today and the funeral. I don't think I want to sell the house, though. I really can’t see living anywhere else now. My whole life is tied up here in this land, with these animals. I am just going to have to rebuild the pieces. Now that the crisis is over and I’ll make it, you can return to your life. What are your plans for the future now that you won’t have to babysit me anymore?"

"I don't know. Rodeo life has become a little tedious; I am getting older and maybe it's time to settle down. Besides, wouldn't quitting at the top be the best move?"

Katherine refused to allow his statement to bring any hope to her battered heart. She could hardly handle any more pain, and he was talking about Courtney. She saw him glance at her almost expectantly, then his face seemed to shut down.

“I guess that makes sense. I’m getting cold, I think I am going to head on in and get some rest. It’s been a long day and a rough week.” Katherine got up to make her way inside and Sean dropped his head into his palms and sighed deeply before he stood up and followed her indoors, he looked around for her but she had already disappeared to her bedroom for the evening.

––––––––

AS SHE CAME OUT OF her room the next morning, she heard the sounds of bacon sizzling in the skillet, smelled the sweet scent of maple, and thought for a brief moment that it had all been a terrible dream. She walked down the stairs and could almost hear her parents’ loving banter from the kitchen. In her mind, she could see her dad poke her mom in the ribs, her ticklish spot; her mom would then make a weak threat while shaking her spatula at him. She smiled thinking of the many, many embarrassing moments from her childhood. She was still wearing the smile as she crossed through the living room, but reality sank back in when she nearly tripped over his boots in the corner. The days of waking up to her mom frying bacon and eggs were gone and never coming back. As she trudged into the kitchen, there he was leaning against the counter, spatula in hand and a towering pile of toast on the plate in front of him.

"Good morning, beautiful. Hope you're hungry. I'm frying up a feast."

She didn't even stop to wonder where he found the apron that said "Kiss the Cook!" It was all just a little too much, so she grabbed a cup of coffee and excused herself to take a quick shower, while he finished cooking.

She let the scalding-hot water pound onto her head, flowing through her hair over her neck and down her shoulders to her back, allowing it to release some of the pent-up tension and stress. She refused to allow herself to think about anything that had occurred in the last week, afraid that if she did, the pain would come back and cripple her. So she started scrubbing and thinking about multiplication problems, reciting each one until she had completely cleared her brain of anything dangerous. After getting dressed, she put on the barest amount of makeup and headed down to breakfast. Sitting at the table was a plate of food, a mug of coffee, and a glass of orange juice. A quick glance across the table showed her a big, handsome cowboy with the exact same set up in front of him. She felt her heart flutter and decided to sit down before she did something stupid like laugh hysterically or throw up. She quickly started to shove burning eggs into her mouth and abruptly swallowed.

After they finished breakfast in a relative, somewhat comfortable silence, she cleaned up the kitchen, turning she spoke up asking him, “So, what’s on your agenda for today?

Sitting at the breakfast table, holding his large coffee mug in one hand, he ran a hand through his hair and smiled ruefully. "Well, I need to take a shower and get some contractors out to look at the house to see how much the repairs are going to be. Since I’ve been gone, the old place has fallen into disrepair and needs some work to make it livable. Part of the roof has come down along with a million other little problems. Then I guess I will be heading into town to get a room. I can't mooch off you forever. What about you?"

Dreading the thought of being alone, she quickly asked him to stay with her, never considering the repercussions or consequences. So great was her fear of being alone, she took nothing into account when she asked, "Sean? Why don't you just stay here until your house is habitable, if you plan to be here for a little while, I mean? I know your parents’ house is yours legally, and that’s cool and all, really, it is. It’s just that I really could use the company, and you'll be right here to supervise the work and—"

He cut her off as he quickly pushed back from the table, rose from his chair, and came to stand next to her at the sink. "Katherine Grace, I am not going to take off and leave you alone; I only thought you might be craving some privacy. You just had your whole world implode, and I don’t want to impose or for you to feel like you have to offer to let me stay here. If you aren't ready to be alone, that’s OK. I'll always be here when you need me, Peach."

Gut shot. They both knew that wasn’t the case, and she really had no idea why he felt the need to utter such a blatant lie, but she let it go and instead decided not to think about it any further.

As he wrapped his arms around her tightly, she allowed herself to fall just a tiny bit more in love with the man who had always owned her heart; she couldn’t help herself, even knowing that he belonged to another woman. She would have to deal with the fallout later.

After their conversation, Sean went to take a shower and headed next door to meet with the contractors. He grabbed his keys to his truck on his way out the door and explained as he went that, “In a town with only a little over 600 people we really shouldn’t give them anything to gossip about. I’ll just leave my truck over there and walk across the pasture back over here after we get done over there.” She decided to do some light house work and wash a quick load of laundry, trying to keep busy. She opened the window to let the honeysuckle summer breeze flow through the house, airing it out. She heard a sharp rap at the door, and after tossing a shirt into the washer, she closed the lid so the cycle could start and headed to the door, as the persistent knocker was getting to the point of rudeness.

She opened the door mid-question. "What's wro—?” when she looked up to see Chad.

She closed the door a little, trying to physically block his entrance, hoping Sean would notice he was there and send someone over. She took a fortifying breath and asked, "Chad, what do you want?"

"I've been trying to come by and talk to you all week, but every time I pass by, the bull rider’s truck is parked out front. Been giving it out pretty freely since he came back, haven't you? Don't you try to lie either; I come by day and night, and you are never alone. Are you trying to prove something by shacking up with another man when I have decided we should be together, after all?"

She stared at him incredulously.

"Are you serious?" she asked. She heard the back door creak open and shut, and knew he was there with her, which encouraged her to be a little harsher than usual. "I was never going to be with you, Chad, and I certainly never will. I told you that the other day. Moreover, what I do and whom I do it with is certainly none of your business. Now, please leave before I call the police."

He grabbed her arm, yanking her outside the door and onto the porch, allowing the door to open up. "That's where you're wrong, Katherine,” he sneered. “It is very much my business, and you will be with me. There is no one here who would object for you now, except your cowboy, and he'll head out soon enough. He'll be itching for another bull ride and all the fame and glory that come with it, and that hot little piece he has. And when he leaves,"—he couldn't see the cowboy from his perspective because when he’d yanked her out the door, he’d turned them around, putting his back to the door; but she could, and Sean looked livid. Chad continued speaking, not noticing her brief distraction—"you will pay for every little comment you make. Where is he at now, your bull rider? Too busy to rescue you? Why—"

He did not get a chance to finish because just then Sean stepped forward and said, "You looking for me?" Chad dropped her arm in shock and turned around just in time for his jaw to connect with a fist. He stepped back, hand covering his mouth, shouting obscenities at them, before he spun on his heel to stalk off, but before he made it to the end of the drive, Sean called after him, "Oh Chad? From now on, she’s gonna be spending all her time with me so before you come banging down her door again think really hard, because it won't be just your jaw next time!"

She looked up at him, and all she could think to say was, "Thank you."

His short, clipped reply was, "Anytime." Then he turned and walked back through the door.