Fast Fingers...

[Isolde]

Desiree almost laughed at the question. She could make up a list but the biggest thing she was looking for was support and she told him so.

"Dad, I just feel like I have made a mess of this whole thing and I'm not sure I was right involving you...and now Tom. I just didnt know where else to turn. I've kind of put my career on the line and I am hoping I dont endanger your pension or Tom's career to boot."

"Do you have any recollection of a murder that happened a long time ago. It was someone they suspected of being a jewel thief and he, along with his family was murdered in thier house. The way the photos showed it was a pretty grizzly scene. There was one survivor and the man's name last name was Jameson. Mac is his daughter."

"Well, Marcus and I became involved in the old murder in a round about way. We got too close and Marcus got hurt. They had planned on Mac being killed that night to but circumstances were such that they both survived." She left out the part about Mac being a jewel thief. She didnt want to bring it up if she didnt have to.

"I was going to put them both in a safe house but the killer is connected. Those were cop killers that Marcus was shot with. I couldnt think of a place I felt safer than here. So I brought both of them."

Looking up at him, I hoped that he wasnt mad at me. I had put everyone in alot of danger by bringing my problems here.

 

[Angelus]

Jack looked at his daughter and said, "You have to be kidding me. Of course you should have brought them here as we will keep you safe and there is no way that anyone could ask about us without anyone in town telling us."

He then placed his hands onto Desiree's shoulders, "And you are welcome to stay as long as you like. Well as long as it takes for Marcus to heal."

[Edited by Angelius on 01-22-2001 at 11:56 PM]

 

[Isolde]

Desiree threw her arms around her father's neck and hugged him tight. "Thanks, Dad," She said, relieved and then she stepped back.

"Listen," She had to asked the question,"Do you or any of your friends from the force remember the murder in question? It would have happened about the time you were on the force. There are some details I have to work out and I thought maybe they might remember. Back then all the reports were done on paper and not computer and by the time they got them put into computers alot of the info was gone or distroyed."

"If I can find out who might have been involved in the murders, I might be able to find out who is trying to kill Marcus and Mac. And I just may be able to stop them."

Looking at him Desiree gave a sly smile,"Yeah, I know...I'm on leave. But once a cop always a cop...eh?"

 

[Angelus]

"I know the case that you are talking about but they never found the killer. I will have to ring up a few of my friends that are still in force, they will probably remember who was the main suspect and if they tell me you will be the first to know."

He then took a step back and said, "There is probably someone that you should see, am I right?"

 

[Isolde]

Desiree looked puzzled and then her face cleared. "Oh, Marcus!," She said with a giggle. She had been so intent on the case that she had almost forgotten about him being all alone in the guest house. And if he wasnt so injured that thought would have put wings on her feet.

"Yeah, Mom should have his tray ready to take out to him and I better get to him before she does or he may never survive." Reaching up on tiptoe, (Tom had to get his height from somewhere) she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and said,"Thanks, Dad, you're the greatest." Before running off and into the house.

Reaching the kitchen, she found her mother just finishing up a plate piled high with roast beef, mashed potatoes and cooked vegtables, hot homemade bread and a tall glass of milk from their own cows. Grabbing the tray from her mother, she didnt even think to complain about the amount of food on the tray. She just gave her a peck on the cheek and said,"Thanks, Mom, I'll take it from here."

Sara got a knowing gleam in her eye and said,"You just be back for dinner, ok. Oh, and by the way...take this to him. It will help with the pain." With a knowing wink, Sara handed her daughter two bottles of beer cold from the fridge.

"Mom, he is going to be spoiled and I will never get him back to the city and his job if you keep this up," Desiree said in mock frustration before heading out the door.

Walking the short distance to the guest house, Desiree bumped it open with her hip and walked inside. Marcus better hope that he was decent because she couldnt knock with the load she was carrying.

Finding him laying on the bed and watching TV, she smiled at him and walked over to the bed. "Hey, Handsome," She said as she put the food down by the side of the bed,"Are you ready to eat again? Mom will be think her cooking is no good if you send any back with the plate."

Putting the beer down beside the tray, she sat on the edge of the bed and put her arms under his back. "Lets get you more comfortable so that I can put the tray on your lap."

 

[Angelus]

Marcus looked at Desiree with a smile as she helped him get comfortable then looked at the tray. It was piled high with food and for once he was glad that he was hungry. He looked at the food and then at Desiree, "Tell your mother when you see her that she is a great cook. I may never want to leave here."

Desiree put the tray down on the bed in front of him and he sniffed, smelling the aromas that were coming from the food on the tray. He then saw the beer and looked at Desiree who shrugged her shoulders before sitting down on the bed beside him. She glanced at him and said, "Well are you going to eat or am I going to have to tell my mother that you won't eat. She will come out here and feed you herself."

Marcus looked around in a panic before grabbing the knife and fork and cut a bit of the roast lamb then took a bite of it. After he had finished the bit he looked at Desiree and said, "Where is your food?"

"I'll be eating with my folks tonight," she said, trying not to make it sound so bad.

"Oh, well I have enough to keep me occupied," Marcus said.

Desiree glanced at him, "You are such a bad liar handsome. You can't put one over on me again."

Marcus didn't say anything to that, he just started eating his meal while knowing that he had lost the battle.

 

[Isolde]

Desire sat back on the bed and watched Marcus eat. She was glad that he had a healthy appetite. It showed he was starting to heal.

"Tell you what," She said,"I'll slip away after dinner and we'll watch a movie together or something. Dad put cable on all of the TVs so he never has to miss his sports. But I dont want to leave Mac alone with my family. I dont think I would do that to anyone."

"I have some news though. I talked to Dad and he remembers the case where Mac's father died. He is going to hit up some of his old buddies for info on anyone involved in or suspected in the case. It may give us a clue as to who wants you both dead."

She jumped up as Marcus spilt a bit of gravy on his shirt and quickly wiped it away with a napkin. Sitting back down, she chuckled. "Keep that up and I am going to have to come in here and give you a sponge bath, Handsome."

 

[Angelus]

Marcus smiled at that thought but then his cop instincts came to him and he said, "That is great news about the case. Hopefully he will find out who the killer was and then Mac and myself wouldn't have to look over our shoulders anymore."

"I think that you should watch Mac to but if you are going to watch her you should have this place and I will have your old room, it seems only fair. This place is meant to hold more than one person and you need to watch her and I actually don't mind your folks. The best thing is that I would get pretty lonely in this big place all by myself and if I am in your old room then I won't be so take this place."

He then picked up the glass with the milk in it and took a sip.

 

[willywanker]

Okay, she took riding lessons for 8 years, not an inexpensive proposition. So there was some money in her background. And she had told us she worked as a waitress. Hmmmm, the clothes she was wearing when she arrived, her suitcases, just the air she had about her all spoke of money, and not the money a waitress makes in a cafe. Ok, so there is other money involved. Family money, a trust, investments? Just more pieces that don't seem to fit.

I'm jogged back to the present when she ask again where I'm taking her. In my best western drawl I respond, "Well, little lady, just up ahead is one of the prettiest litttle swimming holes you ever likely to see. Guess I should have thought of that before we left so we could have brought our suits."

Just then, we rounded a turn in the trail and looked down into the sunlit valley, a small waterfall cascading down into a smooth pool below, trees on two sides with a small gazebo built out over the waters edge, with a diving board out into the lake. "Well, there she is, mam, was it worth the ride?"

 

[LittleRedDevil]

Mac gasped at the sight before her. She had only dreamed a place like this exsisted. "It's beautiful." She nugged her horse forward, careful to take it slow down the path. She wanted to swim. She didn't much care that she didn't have a swim suit, and that she was with a man she didn't know.

Dismounting, she stood at the edge of the water. The water looked so refreshing, just the thing to revive her sprit. "Would you mind turning around for just a moment?" Tom looked puzzled, but did as she asked. Mac stripped down to her birthday suit and jumped in with a splash. Tom wourled around, and the look on his face was almost comical. "Come on in, the water is wonderful."

 

[Isolde]

Desiree shook her head. "You may like my family," She said,"But you clearly dont understand them. Right now my brother is out there with Mac trying to get every tidbit of information from her so that he put things together."

"No explanation I have given him has soothed his cops instinct and if I move Mac and myself out here, little alarms are going to sound off in his head and he is going to get even more determined to find out what is going on."

"Also, Mac needs her privacy. I doubt bunking with me is her idea of fun. And, besides, who says you are going to have time to feel lonely? I plan on putting you to work, Mister."

Desiree smiled at Marcus' look of surprise. "I promise-nothing strenuous, just some research which you can do laying in the bed. And not too much. The rest of the time you are going to be enjoying your forced vacation with the girl who happens to adore you-me."

"I promised you that I would be nursing you back to health and I intend to keep that promise. I have learned a trick or two about nursing from my mom."

Marcus had finished his meal by this time so Desiree took the tray and laid it on the floor. "Time to check your bandages and change them, Handsome", she said as she helped to carefully remove his shirt. Over the next fifteen minutes, Desiree did just that and soon he was in fresh bandages though his face was a little pale from the pain he experienced when she did it.

Desiree brushed a hand over Marcus' face as he smiled at her to assure her he was okay. "Now," She said, going around to the back of him,"Mom always said that keeping the blood circulating in a bed patient was the most important thing you could do. So...in that light, meet your personal masseuse."

Grabbing some lotion from the bedside table, she put some on her hands and rubbed them together to warm it up before starting to massage his neck and back, moving her hands in small circles and lingering on the knots of tension she found. "Tell me if it hurts at any time," She said, bending down to his ear to kiss it lightly before standing up again.

[Edited by Isolde on 01-23-2001 at 12:44 PM]

 

[willywanker]

I always had loved this spot, in fact, I had spent my last vacation builing the gazebo. The look on Macs face was one I had seen before, when anyone saw this place for the first time. I tied the horses so they could graze and moved to join her beside the lake. "Turn around" she said, I did tho not knowing why. When I heard the splash, I turned around to find her in the water and her clothes in a pile on the ground. She was treading water and said to come on in. It had been a while since I went skinny dipping and a whole lot longer since it was with a pretty woman, well make that never, the only time before had been with a girl from high school.

"You gonna turn around or you gonna watch?" I asked, as I sat down and started taking my boots off. She just smiled and continued to tread water as my clothes came off. I didn't really mind cause it kept her from noticing just how clear the water was in the lake. But watching her legs kicking softly, seeing her breast just below the surface, her hair laying softly on top of the water were all having an effect on me that I realized was soon going to become quite apparent. When I unbuckled my jeans, I looked into her eyes, smiled as I tried to keep her eyes focused on mine as I slipped my pants and underwear over the bulge in my croutch. Her eyes dropped downward just as I dove in.

Swimming to her underwater, I open my eyes for a better look and liked what I saw. I surfaced near her and began to tread water also. The water was warm, the sun bright, and I was swimming naked with a beautiful woman, so why did I keep thinking about where all the pieces fit, (and I'm not talking about anatomy pieces either.)

"Mac, you are a beautiful woman, and I'm probably nuts, but what's going on? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad your here with Des and Marcus, but there are some pieces missing. I want to help, if I can. Will you trust me?"

 

[LittleRedDevil]

She turned and swam away from him before he saw her smile fade. "This really is a lovely place. I envy you for having it."

She felt a hand grab her ankle. Mac turned back to look at Tom. He had a serious look on his face, one that she knew boded ill for her. "What are you hiding?"

"What makes you think I'm hiding something?"

His eyes narrowed as he stared at her, "I know when things aren't right."

Mac once again turned her back on him. "Look, Mac, either let me help you, or tell me to butt out, but don't play games with me."

"What makes everybody around here think they can help me? I've been helping myself for almost five years and I don't need any help now!" She swam toward where her clothes were laying. She walked out in all her glory, not really caring if he was watching her. "I think this ride was a bad idea. It's about time we got going back to the house. I'm wiped out and need some rest."

 

[willywanker]

I watched her get out, her smooth skin glistening with the beads of water running down. Our conversation had dampened my erection but watching her stride up the bank was bringing it back. Shit, I thought, pushed to hard again. It a bad habit I have and I knew I'd probably hear it from Des too, when Mac told her what had happened.

I swam to the edge and got out, getting dressed, trying to keep my eyes off the lovely woman at my side. "Look, Mac, I don't know if its the cop in me or what but I tend to push to hard to fast sometime. But I meant what I said, if you want to talk later, I'll be around. I can be a good listener, especially if the story helps me understand whats happening around here. Shit, sorry, there I go again."

I decided I had better keep my big mouth shut so I went and got the horses, helped Mac up and she took off, headed for the house at a trot, not waiting for me. I knew I could catch her if I tried, but something told me to hang back, give her space, time to think. She didn't really know me, how could I expect her to open up that fast? When I reached the barn, she was stripping the saddle off the mare. "There's some sacking over there against the wall if you want to rub her down. If you don't, I'll take care of it." I took the gelding down to his stall and took off the saddle, blanket and bridle. I scratched between his ears and said under my breath, "If only women were so easy to please."

 

[Angelus]

Marcus sat there with a large smile on his face as he felt Desiree's hands on his shoulders and neck, getting rid of the tension. It felt so good that he wished he could do it to her but then he remembered the injury he had in his shoulder. Just then her hand went over the injury and he said, "Ouch, that is a part that does hurt."

"Oh god, I am sorry handsome," Desiree said.

She began to massage him once again and as she did Marcus' eyes closed and her listened to her as he was in total bliss.

 

[Isolde]

Desiree urged Marcus to sit forward on the bed and sat behind him to get to his lower back. She would have had him lay on his stomache but she did not want to aggravate his wounds. And that thought was becoming a bit of a challenge as her hands worked themselves lower down his back and she felt herself respond to his closeness.

Chuckling, she stopped for a moment and placed her forehead in the middle of his back to gather her thoughts. This is what happened when you were so busy that you didnt have time for each other. You get ten minutes of peace and quiet and you loose all control.

Her hands went back to work and she felt them slip past the waistband of his pants almost on thier own. She began to plant tiny kisses all along his back as her hands massaged his buttocks. Shaking her head, she removed her hands and sat back among the pillows. She could feel her face flushed and her chest heaving with the effort of pulling back.

"Ummm...Marcus?," She said, her voice thick,"I think we are going to have to give up on the massage or else you are going to be put through some very strenuous exercise in a few minutes."

 

[LittleRedDevil]

"I wouldn't leave you here, not after the lovely ride you gave me," she laughed a little as the mare pushed at her hand. She felt bad about how things were with Tom, he was only trying to help, but she just wasn't ready to tell him. If she did, everything would come out and he would hate her.

She put the mare away and made her way back to the house. It was getting around dinner time, and her little swim had wiped her out. She was starving. Her clothes were still a little wet in place and they clung to her. She blushed slightly as she thought about how bold she had been in front of Tom. She had never done that before. There was just something about him. Mac stopped on the porch and looked out into the distance. She had to keep Tom at a distance, no matter how much she wanted him close.

 

[Angelus]

"I was thinking the exact same thing."

Marcus turned his head and looked back at Desiree with a large smile on his face. He was also trying to hide the fact that Desiree's massage hard given him an erection as there was nothing that he could do about it.

It had been a while since they had been alone for more than five minutes and already he was beginning to feel the stirrings of how he wanted to take off all her clothes and make love to her. He knew that he couldn't as it might kill him and he didn't want to risk that for sex even if it was with the women the woman that he was madly in love with. He leaned forward a little more and then realized that he shouldn't have as pain shot through him.

 

[Isolde]

Desiree jumped up from behind him and helped ease him back into the pillows. "Oh, hell, Marcus. You are trying to overdo it and you arent going to get better this way."

"What you need to do is relax. Which I know I am not helping you with. But promise me that you will at least try to enjoy this leave. And I promise to help you enjoy it-without getting you worked up."

She smiled at him and covered him with the sheet, gently forcing him to stay laying down. Leaning forward, she let her lips brush his and then deepened the kiss, making sure that she did not touch any of his wounds.

Pulling back, she looked down on him, flushed with his kiss and breathing hard. "Tell you what, Handsome," She said,"I'll make you a deal. This relationship of ours kind of caught on like a wildfire and we have already had our share of ups and downs-brought on mainly by my jealousy."

"What if we vow to work on the romantic side of this partnership while you are healing. And I know the perfect way to do it. Dad has a carriage in the stables. What if I hook it up to a gentle horse and pick you up after dinner. We will take a moonlight ride and I can show you the ranch. And we can just be together without any strings. Deal?"

 

[Angelus]

"That is a deal beautiful. I couldn't think of any other person I would rather take a ride in a carriage with. I will be ready when you come around with it and I will promise to try and be charming," Marcus said with a smile.

"Now that is going to be a shock to the system," Desiree said with a laugh.

Marcus looked at her before he kissed her. Just when she began to kiss him deeper she stopped and stood up. He looked at her, a forlorn look on his face but got the reply of, "Not yet handsome, you will have to wait until after I have had something to eat."

"I can't wait now. I will be counting the minutes until you arrive."

Desiree kissed him again then picked up the tray and walked to the door.

 

[Isolde]

Giving him a wink and a smile, Desiree slipped out of the door and closed it quietly behind her. Walking to the house, she felt the first peace she had felt in a long time.

As she neared the house, she caught sight of Mac standing on the porch with a look on her face that said she was not a happy camper. She noticed that the woman's clothes and hair were damp and, when she caught sight of her brother coming out of the stables, she realized that his clothes and hair were the same.

"Oh, Hell!," Desiree thought,"There goes that bit of peace and quiet out the window. I wonder what happened in the short time they were gone." Who was she kidding? She knew her brother. He was curious. He pushed and Mac was the type of woman to push back.

Just as she was wondering who to approach first, she saw her mother come out and talk to Mac. Probably asking her to help set the table for dinner or some other menial task. Mom always thought if you were busy you couldnt dwell on your problems. Desiree only wished that were true.



[Edited by Isolde on 01-24-2001 at 08:23 AM]

 

[willywanker]

Watching Mac walk back to the house, my eyes focused on her ass swaying form side to side, I tried to put together the few pieces I had. As Mac entered the house, I noticed Dad sitting on the front porch. Knowing Dad, I was sure he had gotten a little information out of Des, so I headed that way. I'd share with him what I had and we would see how this all came out.

"How was your ride, son?" Dad asked as I stepped up onto the porch. "Well, it started well, we took the trail to the swimming hole and things were going pretty smooth, til I started asking questions. Then Mac just clammed up, and got really pissed." I decided to leave out the skinny dipping part, didn't have any effect on the facts in the case, I reasoned. "But I did find out that Mac came from a family that had money Dad, her father sent her to riding lessons for 8 years, and did you notice the clothes she had on when she got here? A little high end for a cafe waitress salary, don't you think? How about you? Talk to Desiree? She let you know what's really going on?"

 

[Isolde]

I had come up behind Tom and Dad as they were talking and I overheard the line of questioning as we say in the cop business. My eyes narrowed and I panicked a bit. I couldnt let Tom interfere and put his career on the line. One messed up career in the Ashford family was enough.

Tom must have been distressed with this whole thing because he didnt hear me approach until I said,"Why dont you ask me yourself, Big Brother?" I stood there, knowing that my emotions were showing in my face and I tried to calm down but I really didnt want him involved in this-I had screwed up enough people in this. I saw Dad look up at me and shake his head. He knew both of us were stubborn and that one of our infamous battles of wills was about to take place.

"Do yourself a favor, Tom," I said-trying to make my voice relay to him the importance of the statement,"Leave it alone. Even though its against every instinct you have...leave it alone. I dont need another casualty in this situation."

[Edited by Isolde on 01-24-2001 at 09:55 AM]

 

[LittleRedDevil]

Mac was glad to be doing something, even if it was shucking corn for dinner. It didn't get her mind off of things, but it gave her something to do.

"Thank you for helping me, Mac."

"It's my pleasure. I would feel like a free loading wretch if I didn't help. It's very kind of you to let me stay."

Sara smiled at her, "I'm happy to do it. It's been a long time since this house has been full, ever since Ray moved out on her own," she sighed, "I just love having a full house. Can't wait for my silly children to give me some grandchildren to spoil."

Mac's laughter came out before she could stop it. What was it about this family that made her just want to laugh at anything. "There, you see, doesn't that feel better?" Mac smiled at the comment. She felt like she could tell Desiree's mom anything, maybe she could.

"Mrs. Ashford..."

"Now, none of that! You call me Sara."

"Sara," Mac smiled, "I know your family has a lot of questions about me. I would if I were them, and I'm not a cop. I just don't want them put in danger because of me."

Sara looked at her. It reminded Mac a lot of Tom and Desiree. "What makes you think we are in danger because of you?"

"I...I...want to tell you, but I'm so scared. What if you hate me? What if you tell Jack and Tom and they hate me too?" There were those damn tears again. "I've been alone for so long, always afraid of what would happen to anyone who got to close."

Sara took the seat next to Mac, reaching out to take the younger woman's hand. She didn't say anything, didn't ask any questions, and that was Mac's undoing. The story she told to Sara was long and by the end, Sara was in tears and hugging Mac like she would never let her go.

 

[willywanker]

"Desiree, how long have you known me? Okay, that's a stupid question. But you know if you're involved, if there is family involved, I'm already involved. I don't have a choice. I don't know him well yet, but what I know of Marcus I like and Mac, well, that is some fine looking lady. No, I don't know what is going on but not getting involved is not an option!! So you can just fill me in or you can keep getting pissed at me for sticking my nose into everything. You can get mad at me if you want, Mac already is. But if you got trouble big enough to want me out of, you got trouble big enough you could use all the back up you can get."

I got up and moved to the corner of the porch, looking out over the land and wondering what she could mean when she talked about endangering her career. Her boyfriend/partner was shot, almost killed, what the hell had my kid sister gotten herself into? I glansed over to see Des leaning over and Dad whispering to her. Maybe he would have better luck, she listened to Dad. Their voices were to low to hear and just as I started to ask if anyone would tell me what was going on, Mom called to tell us to come to dinner.

This was one meal I was not looking forward to. Two pissed off women at the table did not bode well for friendly conversation. Oh well, at least it was Momma's cooking. I sure missed that when I'm away.