Silence

Beau

Constance is an undiscovered actress and an all-around gem. Mom loves her. She hasn’t suspected once that she was hired as a nurse and not a housekeeper. Probably because she keeps the house cleaner than it’s ever been and she lets mom help.

Even dad likes her, he won’t admit it out loud but I can tell in the way he gives her free reign in the house and speaks to her with respect.

Now me on the other hand, that’s a different story. Dad is still pissed that I told the Deardon’s about the land and he’s more pissed that they are living in Carmen’s house. I thought he was gonna have a stroke and die when he passed Jake and Sarah Deardon on the road to the airstrip.

We were going to fly up to Westfair Ranch and visit John Westfair, an old family friend and fellow rancher, who broke his hip falling off his horse when the twister hit. Somethin spooked the horse and he went down, not a good scenario for any rancher but especially dangerous when that rancher is eighty years old.

Breakin’ a hip can be a death sentence if it’s not handled right and dad wanted to make sure it was being handled right.

But we never made it off the ground. He started cursing and yelling and throwing his arms around like a mental patient that just escaped an institution. I thought this family feud thing would be easier to bury but after seeing dad melt down like that I know it’s going to be an up hill battle all the way, pun intended.

Dad’s meltdown was downright disturbing, but nothing is as disturbing to me as Charlotte’s silence. It’s been four days of complete radio silence. No text’s, not even to tell me she made it home safe after I specifically asked her to do that. No phone calls, even though I’ve left her a million messages. I even tried social media and email but nada. I was so worried at one point I called the college to find out where she lived and asked someone to go check on her. I had to lie and say I was her dad and she hadn’t been in communication with her mom and I for days, but it was worth it to know she was okay and she was.

That’s when I realized how little I know about this woman, who has me all tied up in knots. I don’t even have her address. Or at least I didn’t but I do now and I’m going there to find out what the hell is going on.

Something’s spooked my princess and I have to find out what it is. A spooked horse’s instinct is to flee or shy away when it’s scared, and that’s what she’s doing.

The first rule of calming a spooked horse is to approach with care. Second is to reassure the horse and third calm her.

I’m prepared to do all three until we understand each other and the lines of communication are wide open and flowing freely. I will not leave until we’re good.

It’s Saturday afternoon and my flight leaves at five. I’ll arrive in Iowa at eleven p.m. and drive another hour to Ames, where I will spend the night in a hotel. I don’t want to show up in the middle of the night. That is the opposite of approaching with care.

But first thing Sunday morning I’ll be at her door to iron this mess out. I knew I was going to miss her when she left, hell she didn’t even make it out of the airport before I proved that. But not being able to touch her for days, not hearing her sweet voice or even reading her sassy texts has been pure hell.

I’ve got it bad for Charlotte Deardon and I can’t let whatever misunderstanding this is, destroy the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

My bag is packed and waiting by the front door, dad thinks I’m going to a conference about new cattle feed options in Texas and I just sent Charlotte a text telling her that I’ll be there tomorrow. She won’t answer it, she hasn’t answered any of my text for days but I don’t want her to say I showed up without telling her I was coming.

I lay my phone down on the kitchen island and resume putting the clean dishes away so I can get going. I’ve been staying in my house since Charlotte left because my bed smells like her and I like it and because Constance is working out so well.

There’s a rap at the door and I stop with a bowl half way to the cupboard in front of me. I’m not expecting anyone and no one ever just stops by. I set the bowl on the counter and go to the front door. When I swing it open I find Carmen standing there with one hip out and her thumbs hooked in the front pockets of her jeans.

I scowl, “Carmen, what are you doing here?”

“Came to see if you were okay after the storm.” She drags her eyes down my body pausing in various places of interest and back to my face. “You’re lookin better than okay.”

I shake my head, “I thought I told you never to come back here when I found you and my dad fucking.”

She lifts her hand and waves it dismissively, “Oh that’s ancient history lover, you know we didn’t have anything exclusive. You were just sore because it was your daddy, anybody else and you would have told us to have fun.” She’s right, that is what pissed me off and I am still angry about it, not as much since I met Charlotte, but still mad.

My arm is stretched out blocking her from entering, but I don’t plan on her ducking down and going under but that’s what she does. Before I know it she’s sitting on the island in my kitchen swinging her booted feet back and forth holding onto the edge of the counter.

“Carmen, I’m busy. I don’t have time for this right now.”

She rolls her eyes and presses her ample breasts together between her upper arms. She’s wearing a white wife beater with tighter than tight jeans that hug her curves and snake skin cowboy boots. I know for a fact that some oil tycoon from Texas that she was fucking bought her those boots. That’s where Carmen gets most of the expensive things she owns, by fucking rich men. I didn’t used to judge her for that, I didn’t care what or who she did, still don’t. But now when I look at her all I see is an opportunist, an emotionless vessel moving through her life with no anchor or purpose.

Charlotte made me understand that. Without even trying she has become my anchor, my purpose in life.

“Oh come on.” She pushes out her thick bottom lip and drags out the word, on, like a whiny teenager. “It’s been a long time, I miss you.”

“I told you I’m busy. I also told you not to come back to Whiskey Hill, ever.”

“I was worried.” A mischievous smile turns the corners of her mouth up and I roll my eyes. “Yeah, real worried, so worried you took a week to check up on me. You got a rodeo nearby or something?”

“Well, yeah. But I came as soon as I could, I didn’t have a ride until now.”

“Hate to tell ya but it was a wasted trip. I’m on my way out and dad’s at home with my mom, his wife.”

She sucks in a deep breath and blows it out hard, clearly irritated when my phone rings. I’m still holding the door open and the phone is right next to Carmen’s leg.

She looks down at the glowing screen and then up at me. I swear to god she sees the panic in my eyes and purposely snatches it up before I can close the distance between the door and the island.

“Hello, Carmen speaking, Beau can’t come to the phone right now, maybe I can help you. Hello? Helllloo…” I grab the phone from her hand and see one missed call from Charlotte in a little blue bubble. Fuck!

Charlotte was already dealing with something that I haven’t figured out. Now she thinks I’m spending time with Carmen.

“Fuck, Carmen, what the hell is wrong with you? I was waiting for that call, it was important.”

“More important than me?”

“Yes, Carmen, believe it or not there are a lot of things more important than you.”

“Like Charlotte?”

“Yes, Charlotte!” I roar and slam the door so hard the pictures on the walls rattle. She jumps and stares at me with wide surprised eyes. I’ve never raised my voice with her other than yelling out her name during sex.

There aren’t many things in my life that upset me to the point of yelling, but Carmen fucking up my relationship with Charlotte is one of them.

“Wow, the infamous playboy Beau Hill has fallen in love. I never thought I’d see the day.”

“Well you have, and I do love her, so you can take your meddling ass off my counter and go find someone else to pester.”

I love her. I didn’t know that until I just said it. I’ve never been in love so I didn’t recognize it.

Her mouth pops open to say something but she changes her mind and closes it. Good. I don’t want to hear another word.

She hops down off the counter never taking her eyes off of me. I open the door and watch her leave for the last time. As soon as she’s cleared the threshold I slam the door again and go for my phone.

I hit redial knowing she won’t answer but I have to try. She doesn’t answer so I text.

Me -- That wasn’t what you think, she showed up out of the blue and answered my phone. I’m still coming.

Charlotte – Don’t.

She’s communicating, finally, thank god.

Me – I’m coming.

Charlotte – I won’t be here.

Me – I’ll wait.

Charlotte – Don’t come.

I’m getting pissed with this conversation, if you can even call it that. I want an explanation and she’s going to give me one.

Me – You won’t talk to me on the phone and I want to know why. I’m coming. I’ll wait for as long as it takes.

I wait for fifteen minutes for her to reply, nothing, silence. Fucking Carmen. Grabbing my suitcase I abandon my dishes and storm out the door to go to the airport. The sooner I leave, the sooner I get this shit sorted out with Charlotte, and the sooner I get my hands back on her sexy ass. And I want my hands on her sexy ass.