Memories on the Ozarks (Close)

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan could relate. He had seen the question in her eyes of where he was going with that last statement of his… He was honestly happy she hadn’t asked, for Dan wasn’t quite sure if he would have been able to answer her either.

It was true, he hadn’t ever felt like this about anyone before, but that didn’t mean that he knew it was love. He was only guessing at this point. Dan nodded and removed his hands from hers. He took their plates and took them to the kitchen.

When he returned, he stood in the doorway. “I’ll be staying in the guest room tonight. I don’t think you should be moving about too much.” He looked as if he had just thought of something and turned real quick and went into the hallway. Dan returned with a heating pad and plugged it in next the bed. “Roll over for a sex,” he said and placed it beneath the small of her back.

 

[TabascoKV]

Becca was unsure how he was going to respond to her. When he left it alone, she felt a weight lift from chest. The pressure left from his hands, and she felt disappointed. She was finding quickly that she was a sucker for the feeling of calloused hands against her skin. Her head nodded in agreement at his suggestion to take it easy.

Laughter erupted at his words, and the tension broke.

“I don’t think sex would be a good idea either, Daniel.” Grinning impishly, she shook her head, her cheeks flushing red.

“Good night, Mr. Collins.”

*

She woke up at four without her alarm going off. Her body had adjusted to the early hours. Getting out of bed, her steps were light and quiet. Checking to make sure that Dan was asleep, she snuck out of the house. It felt strange having to sneak around like a teenager creeping out the window for a date. She moved slower than she would have liked, but she reached the stables. Holding her breath, she pulled down the saddle, groaning from the pain.

“Why do I have a feeling Dan doesn’t have a clue you’re down here?” Jon’s voice startled Becca, and the saddle fell to the floor as her body jumped, causing more pain. Seeing it was him, relief washed over her, followed by a tame glare.

“He’s not going to find out, either.” Giving him a warning look, she darted a cautious look towards the open door to the stable.

“Beth, I don’t think this is smart.”

“Jon, I have to get back on her. What happened wasn’t her fault, and she needs to know that.” It sounded like a strange comment to be stated in regards to a horse, but Becca believed it firmly. Jon considered her for a few minutes, and finally sighed in resignation.

“Fine. At least let me get her saddled up for you. When Dan catches you, I’m telling him you threatened me with my life. Or worse yet, my job.”

*

It hadn’t taken long for Jon to get Brisa saddled up and for them to make their way down to the arena. There was no hesitation this time when she mounted the horse, and she bit down the pain as much as she could. She sat there for a moment trying to get the pain under control before she nudged the horse into motion.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan woke up and put on some coffee, then went and checked on Becca. When he didn’t see her in bed he scratched his head and went and grabbed the morning paper. He sat at the kitchen table and read the paper and drank his coffee.

If she wants to act the fool, so be it. After all, she’s the boss.

After he was finished, Dan strolled outside, casually making his way to the stables where he left his truck the day before. He saw Becca riding the mare again and decided it was fine. He snuck into her office while she was preoccupied.

The note he wrote was written hastily and was barely more than a scribble.

I understand your need to live by your own rules. I won’t make the mistake of sitting with you all afternoon, cooking for you so that you don’t have to put weight on your sprained ankle, or sleeping in your guest room so you don’t have to worry about waking up and needing anything again.

Hope you enjoyed your ride.
Dan


He hopped in his truck and drove down to the livestock pens where the hands should have been finishing up the new roof.

 

[TabascoKV]

Becca rode for awhile, feeling confident that Brisa’s confidence had been restored. When she saw Dan’s truck driving to the back of the property, she winced. The fact that he hadn’t bothered to yell at her probably indicated that he was really angry with her. With help from Jon, she got down from Brisa. She headed to her office while he unsaddled her and spoiled her.

Reading the note he left, she sat down, her eyebrows furrowed. His words were bitter, even on the page, and she bit her lip feeling guilty. She hadn’t meant to offend him. She pulled out her phone and dialed his number.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan took another drink of his coffee as he drove one handed down the narrow two track lane. It was bumpy going but he had driven this route at least a few thousand times, so he new where each bump happened to be at its worst.

The phone on his hip began to buzz, so he carefully sat the coffee cup on his dashboard and slowed a bit. He checked the caller id before answering and saw that it was Becca. Dan growled a bit as he answered.

“Yeah? Dan here.”

 

[TabascoKV]

Becca wasn’t sure if he was going to answer the phone or not, and the way he answered the phone made her regret calling. She stood there stunned for a moment, shaking her head in an effort to jumpstart herself.

“Why are you angry with me?” When she finally did speak, her voice came out with a little of bite in it that she intended. Her eyebrows furrowed as she sat down in her chair.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

"Well, now. I thought you was the smart one. Thought for sure that my letter spelled it out for ya." Dan said as he steered the truck with one hand. "Well, here ya go. How about all that time I wasted yesterday tryin to make sure you was all right, just to have you out there on that horse to undo all the good I did?"

Preoccupied with the phone, Dan missed a severe rutt in the roadway and his coffee spilled onto the truck's floormats. "Fuck," he muttered.

"And you knew that you was doin somethin you felt was wrong, else you wouldn't have felt the need to sneak out."

 

[TabascoKV]

Becca felt her agitation grow, and felt that their relationship was back to normal. It had been such a nice change to get along with him, and now the barrier was back in its place. Sighing, she shook her head, though he couldn’t see it.

“Daniel, it wasn’t a giant middle finger to you. Yes, I knew you wouldn’t approve, but it had to be done.” She was disappointed that he failed to see the importance of getting back on Brisa. Her head was beginning to pound from the stress. “Don’t forget we have court at 2:30 today.”

With that, she hung up the phone. The urge to throw it against the wall was tempting, but she slammed it down on the table instead. Laying her head in her hands, she groaned at the sound of somebody knocking on her door.

“What?” Speaking harshly, she looked up as Matt entered.

“Sorry. Did I catch you at a bad time?” He looked a little concerned as he closed the door behind him.

“No, I’m sorry, Matt. Does Dan always act bipolar?” Leaning back in her chair, her face tightened from the pain in her back and legs.

“Eh, he can just be an intense person. He doesn’t mean anything by it.” Smiling, he walked over and sat down on her desk in front of her. “I heard what happened yesterday. How are you feeling?”

“Like I got run over by a truck, but I’ll live.” Smiling, she met his gaze, unsure how to feel about him after what had happened last time they were together. “What brings you over here?”

“I wanted to make sure you were okay. Although, while I’m over here, would it be possible for me to borrow the tractor on Thursday? Mine’s in the shop.”

The two talked for awhile, avoiding the conversation of their shared kiss. She was thankful that they could still be together without feeling awkward. His friendship meant too much to her to lose.

*

Court started right on time and Becca was prepared. It felt empowering to be back in her comfort zone. Judge Phillips took the bench and called the court room to order. Dan and Becca sat side by side, and Rupert was present, but Becca would be representing them. When it was time for Becca to cross examine Marcus, it took a lot of self control to keep the enjoyment off of her face.

“I got fired just because I was doing my job, and it didn’t agree with Ms. Landers. I have twenty years in the business. The last six years I’ve been on that farm workin’ with those horses. I got let go with nothing. I have a family to provide for.”

“Your honor, I would like to reference tabs one through six in the evidence packet I handed to you. They are incident reports that were kept in Mr. Johnson’s file. All of these incidences involve horse related accidents where he was asked and told not to proceed in a certain direction due to the fragility of the horse’s nature, and he proceeded anyways. Three incidents resulted in injury to the horse’s involved, two to Mr. Johnson, and one to a farmhand who happened to around. Also, tabs seven and eight contain a copy of a letter I sent out in certified mail to Mr. Johnson outlining his reasons for termination, as well as the employee policy that he signed that are in conjunction with his termination. The letter informs him that should he wish to apply for unemployment, we would approve it. Tab eight contains the receipt from the certified letter, proof that Mr. Johnson received the letter. Tab nine contains a copy of a check that was mailed to Mr. Johnson awarding him $2,000 in severance pay, and tab ten is a copy of the bank statement showing where that check was cashed.” As Becca spoke, her voice came out with an authority that made Marcus Johnson appear to shrink with every word. Looking at him, she offered him a smile.

“Mr. Johnson, you are aware that lying under oath is a third degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to five years in jail, correct?”

“Yes, ma’am.” His voice came out tiny, and for a minute, Becca almost felt sorry for him.

It didn’t take long for the judge to rule in favor of the farm. The smile on Becca’s face was priceless, and when she turned around, she was surprised to see Matt sitting out in the courtroom.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan was disappointed with Becca. She was so self-absorbed it was unbelievable. A middle finger to me!? Is that really what she thinks? Just goes to show that all the college education in the world can’t teach common sense. “Yeah, gettin’ back on that mare is important, but it didn’t have to be at the expense of undoing all that I had done.” Dan just managed to get the words out and doubted that she had even heard him before he heard her speak about court and hang up.

Standing on the roof top of the animal pens, Dan growled in frustration and chucked the phone out into the yard. The phone flew end over and smashed into the fence. The other men on the roof stopped working and watched him for a minute, until Dan looked back at them, “What!?” he snapped.

He made his way over to the edge of the roof and slid down the ladder. Dan wasn’t sure where he was headed, but ended up back in the barn, sitting in his office. He was sitting there fuming when Matt walked in. “Hey, Danny.” He noticed the look on Dan’s face and took a seat. “Talk to me. What’s wrong?”

“Nothin’.” Dan’s attitude went further south at the sight of Matt. “What the hell do you want?”

“I uhh… just wanted to let you know that Beth told me I could borrow the tractor for a day or two.” He paused a minute, “Do you want to tell me what your problem is with me? We’ve known each other for way too long…”

“Yeah. I fuckin’ do.” Dan flexed his jaw, glaring at Matt. He had to force himself to stay sitting down. “You told me that you loved your wife so much and then what do I see? You standing in that kitchen kissing Becca. Yeah. That thar’s love.” Disgust filled Dan’s eyes as he watched his friend’s reaction.

Matt looked shocked; he honestly had had no idea that Dan had seen them. “Dude.. that was an accident. I swear to God!”

Dan shook his head and blew air through his lips, making a pfff sound. “Accident my ass. You’re a damn liar.” He was never one to mix words. “If it was such an accident did you tell Sheila?”

Matt just stood there, staring at his feet.

“Yeah. That’s what I fuckin thought. Get the fuck out of my office.”

*

Dan showed up to court on time, even though it went against everything he wanted to do. Sitting next to Becca was worse than shooting himself with a nail gun. He spoke only when the judge ordered him to and he left immediately when the proceedings were over.

 

[TabascoKV]

Becca wanted to celebrate, but the person she wanted to commemorate with darted from the building as if it were on fire. Her smile faltered as she watched him leave, but she plastered a smile on her face. Rupert gave her a hug, and offered her a job. Laughing, she shook her head. Matt walked up and gave her a hug.

“I’m surprised to see you here.” It was comforting to see a friendly face, and his smile still made her feel things she didn’t want to her.

“I had to be here to support you guys. Do you do divorce court?” His smile faltered slightly as a sad expression filtered into his eyes.

“Oh, Matt…” Becca’s whole mood changed, but he reached up and laid a finger on her lips, quieting her down.

“No. No pity party. This is a good time for you, and I refuse to ruin it for you.”

*

Matt had taken her out to dinner in a celebratory event, and Rupert joined them. It was a pleasant time, but Becca felt Dan’s absence. It didn’t feel right without him. When she got home, she drove part of the way to Dan’s house. She stopped, shaking her head, before turning around and heading back to her house. She couldn’t keep trying to chase his stubbornness.

*

The week went by with a tension on the farm that even the farmhands felt. Becca didn’t ride Brisa or Kallisti, allowing her body to recover. She had not intended on riding all week when she had mounted Brisa the morning following her fall.

There was a street festival going on downtown that all the farmhands were going to. Becca needed a night away from the farm, and away from the stress between her and Daniel. She took her time getting ready, and when she looked in the mirror, she felt more feminine than she had since coming to the farm. When she parked and walked to the center of the gathering, she couldn’t help but smile at the small town feel of it all. A band playing country music was up on a stage, and people were dancing. Vendors were set up everywhere, and people were simply having a good time.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

He spent the week working largely on private projects. Jobs that could be done with one set of hands. Dan managed the ranch as he always had; he was just sparse with his interactions. Matt steered clear, as did everyone else and Dan was grateful for it.

By the time the annual Spring Fling Friday came up, Dan had spent an entire week sitting at home alone. He had finally had enough of himself and got gussied up and drove down town. Dan walked the main street, mainly just looking around. He spent some time checking out the skirts, but the only face he wanted to see was Becca’s. Dan found himself wondering if she would be there tonight.

Hearing a rendition of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”, Dan made his way toward a large stage set up at the corner of Main and First, stopping along the way to buy himself a beer.

 

[TabascoKV]

For awhile, Becca walked around, feeling like the oddball in town. Everybody else knew each other’s face, and it was painfully obvious that she was a stranger amongst them. She ignored a few cat calls, beginning to feel uncomfortable.

“May I have this dance?” A familiar voice sounded beside her, and a relieved smile crossed her face. Turning around, she nodded, her eyes beaming.

“Absolutely. I can’t think of a more handsome man I’d prefer to lead me around the dance floor.” She had not done the two-step since she was twelve years old, and she only prayed she could remember it. It all came back to her as Rupert led her, and his sweet demeanor only made her laugh. He was an adorable man, and he was the grandfather figure in her life.

When the song ended, they clapped for the band. There was contentment in the night and in the moment.

*

“Dan, can we talk?” Matt approached Daniel with a slightly timid demeanor.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan’s first beer went down smoothly, way too smoothly, and he was working on his second, bobbing his head to the rhythm of the band. He had been looking, but pretending not to, for Becca when he finally found her. A smile lit his face as he saw the smile that lit hers while Rupert spun her around the makeshift dance floor.

Matt caught him by surprise, but succeeded in wiping the smile from his face in an instant. Dan was about to speak to him when he spied a familiar face over his shoulder.

Dan pretended that Matt didn’t even exist and his smile returned as he lifted a hand in greeting…

“Hi there, Sheila!” He spoke a little too loudly as he approached her. It hadn’t appeared that the two had come together. This worked out for the idea that had popped into Dan’s head. “Care to dance, darlin’?” he asked as she took his arm.

The next song the band played was “Baby, I’m Amazed by You.” Dan held his left arm crooked at the elbow as he pulled her in close; his other arm wrapped neatly around the small of her back. The two rocked gently in time with the beat of the song.

 

[TabascoKV]

Rupert and Becca made their way over to the bar, locating a foul looking Matt. Walking up to him, she looked at him with concern. Resting her hand on his arm, she looked at him curiously.

“Matt, what’s wrong?” She followed his gaze and saw Dan dancing with some woman she’d never seen before. “Who’s that?” Her stomach clenched as she watched them. The jealousy that hit her made her ill to her stomach. He was a grown man.

“My wife.” He spoke through clenched teeth, but managed to tear his eyes away from them. When he made eye contact with her, she could see the pain in his eyes, and it killed her. Becca was appalled that Daniel would take a hit at Matt like that.

“Do you want me to go cut in?” She prayed he’d say yes just so she could get him away from another woman without it being her idea.

“No. She can do what she wants.” His voice lowered, and he almost seemed on the verge of tears. Matt had never appeared emotionally moved by anything as long as she’d known him, and to see him so visibly upset.

“Well then, at least dance with me so I don’t look like a foreign alien.” Making an attempt to cheer him up, she looked at him questioningly. Finally, he reached out and took her hand, leading her out to the dance floor. She tried very hard not to notice Daniel moving so closely to Sheila, and she could only imagine how it was making Matt feel.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

“I haven’t seen you in forever, hon.” Dan said, trying to keep his voice cheery. “Matt told me that you two had…” He wasn’t quite sure how to finish that statement, and immediately regretted having started it.

Sheila flashed him a forced smile. “No, no. Don’t worry about it Dan. I filed for the divorce and served Matt with the papers today.”

“So, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s the basis for you two… umm… separating? Please tell me it wasn’t because he found out that you and I had that… thing before you two met.”

“Oh, no. Danny, please.” She said as Dan dipped her briefly. “I told him about that a long time ago, he was fine with it, really. You mean he never talked to you about it?”

Dan shook his head.

“No, we’ve been having financial difficulties for some time now. And, to be honest, Dan, I’ve been having issues lately. He, uhh, has been drinking. A lot.”

They spun around again and Dan spied Matt and Becca dancing together. Anger rose its ugly head once again. “Really?” He couldn’t picture Matt succumbing to the drink, but he supposed it could happen with all the difficulties he had been facing lately.

Her eyes filled up with tears and she nodded. On the next turn her eyes grew large, “Oh. My. God. Is that her?” she asked, her voice cracking a bit.

“Her? Her who?” Dan asked.

“The woman he said he kissed. He was visiting Kaelyn two days ago and he admitted it to me. He told me how much he loved me and apologized. I told him that for now, when the paperwork got done I was still going to serve him, but that we’d try to work things out if he was willing to quit drinking. Excuse me, Danny, but I can’t stay here.”

 

[TabascoKV]

“So tell me about her?” Prodding him gently as they danced, she spoke softly. It came out more a question than a command. At first she thought he wasn’t going to answer, but he finally spoke.

“Things started going south about a year ago. I came home for lunch one day and found her in bed with one of my farmhands. She swore to me it would never happen again. Unfortunately, she lied. I loved her, so I pretended to ignore it. She didn’t grow up on a farm, and I don’t think she truly understood what it was like to live that life.” Shrugging, he refused to meet her gaze as he spoke, and she could see the shame registering on his face. “We haven’t had sex in a year.”

Becca was almost sorry that she had asked him to reminisce about such a painful past. Sighing, she looked at him with remorse in her eyes. She hated seeing people in pain.

“I’m sorry Matt. You don’t deserve that.”

“Beth, I’m sorry. I can’t stay here and watch her with him. They were together before she and I got together.” His shoulders slumped as he backed off from her.

“Do you need a ride home?”

“No.” His response wasn’t completely convincing.

“Matt, let me take you home. You don’t need to drive like this.” Walking beside him, they left the crowd and headed for the parking lot.

“Fine.” He finally answered her, and she led him to her truck.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan walked with Sheila to the edge of the crowd. He turned, looking for Becca and saw her leave with Matt. He knew that he couldn’t be with Sheila or anyone else right now.

“Look, Sheila…” he began.

She looked up at him with those great big chocolate brown eyes, “Yes, Danny?” She sounded hopeful, too hopeful.

“Look. I can’t do this. You need to go home or, rather, I do. Good night.” Dan gave her a peck on the cheek and he left.

He felt crushed.

 

[TabascoKV]

The drive to Matt’s was quiet, and Becca desperately searched her mind for something to say. There was nothing to be said in a situation like this.

“Matt, if you want, I’ll handle your divorce for you.” It seemed like a shrewd thing to say at the moment, but she was truly at a loss. It was the part of her that always had to take care of people. He looked at her for such an intense moment that she was almost scared she had done some terrible thing by even bringing it up.

“I appreciate it, Beth. It won’t be necessary.” The defeat in his voice was so unlike him. He was Matthew Pearson. He had always been so strong and confident.

When she pulled up and parked in front of his house, she turned the truck off and sat there.

“Do you want me to come in?”

“No. Go on home.” Shrugging, he got out of the truck and walked around to her side of the truck. “I don’t trust myself with you, Beth. Right now, I just want to take you to bed. Go home and forget about it.” Leaning in, he kissed her on the cheek. As he walked away, she heard him mutter, “Forget about me.”

She got halfway to her house when a feeling of panic suddenly hit her. Pulling a u-turn that nearly ended down a ravine, she gunned it back to Matt’s. She didn’t hesitate when she got there, and jumped out of the truck. Running up the steps, she knocked several times. When there was no answer, she ignored all politeness and went in.

“Matt?” Yelling his name several times, she made her way through the house. Walking into his bedroom, she jumped at the sight of Matt on the bed with a bottle of vodka and a hand gun. “Matt, what are you doing?” Her voice came out shaky as she slowly walked towards the ed.

“Go home, Beth.” He was clearly drunk.

“Matt, put the gun down.” She spoke softly, trying her best to hide the fear that was consuming her being.

“I did the best I could, Beth. I loved her. I loved our daughter. I loved this farm. I failed everybody and everything.” He took another drink from the bottle, taking the safety off the gun.

“Matt, I know things are rough right now, but they aren’t worth dying over.”

“You don’t understand, Rebecca.” Becca jumped when Matt made a move to stand up, and his voice came out a yell. She was driven back to another time and place, and felt tears jump to her eyes. Her lungs constricted, making it nearly impossible to breathe. “No matter what I do, it’s never enough.” He approached her, wrapping his hand around her so tightly it hurt. Matt began walking, dragging Becca to the door. “Now get the hell out of here and don’t look back.”

Despite the fear of staying, she couldn’t leave him alone. She stopped when they reached the door, turning and resting her back against it so he couldn’t usher her out.

“I’m not leaving you, Matt.” Her voice trembled when she spoke, but she stood there resolute. Matt stared at her a long while before dropping the gun. She half expected it to go off, and braced for it, but felt reassured when silence followed the clank.

*

Becca didn’t get home until after dawn. She hadn’t felt comfortable leaving Matt until he had sobered up and fallen asleep. Before she left, she’d emptied every bottle of liquor and took the gun with her when she went.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

He parked his truck outside his home and went inside. Dan grabbed his bottle of Jack Daniels and started doing shots. He told himself that he’d drink until he no longer felt whatever it was that made it hurt so much to think of Becca.

Shot after shot went down. It wasn’t until 3 am that he was drunk enough to just give it all up. He sat alone in his cabin, the near empty half gallon of jack nestled in his lap when the knock came on the door. Dan stumbled to it and was surprised to see Matt there holding a shotgun aimed at his belly.

“Danny. I sobered up Danny. I was gonna do it to myself, but then I sobered up.” His voice was shaky and Dan could tell he had been crying.

“Now, Matt. Yeah, I danced with her, but I wouldn’t do it. I couldn’t do it. Not to you… and not to Becca.” Dan was surprised to find himself sobering up. The adrenalin was pumping and killing the drunk on he had. “I sent her home, Matt.”

“Why should I believe you, Danny? You had been with her before…” Dan could tell he was having a hard time even getting the words out. His hands began to shake as he held the shotgun.

“Matt… I’ve never lied to you. Had you asked me about Sheila an’ me, I’d have told you.”

“It ain’t something that I should have to ask about, Danny.” Tears started to flow down Matt’s cheeks.

“Oh, c’mon, Matt… what was I s’posed to do? Walk up to ya and just go, ‘Hey, bro, yanno I banged yer ol’ lady back in the day’?”

Matt’s hands shook again and Dan saw his life flash a bit before his eyes; at that moment, all he could really think about was Becca, and her emotional state when she found out he was dead. Suddenly, Matt dropped the barrel of the gun toward the ground and he started laughing.

Dan walked up to him and hugged him. Soon, they were both laughing. They sat in the kitchen until the sun started coming up over the tops of the mountains to the east. In the end, Dan told Matt about his discussion with Sheila and told him that he still had a chance, if he wanted it.

Matt told Dan about his night with Becca and he apologized. They were brothers once again.

*

Matt slept the next day on Dan’s couch while Dan chose to head up to Becca’s. He pounded on her kitchen door.

 

[TabascoKV]

When she had gotten home, Becca had made it into the hallways before she collapsed on the floor in sobs. The fear and anxiety she had felt with Matt had brought back the hypertension she used to live in on a daily basis. She could still feel his fingers wrapped so tightly around her arm, and the familiar smell of vodka on his breath had made her ill to her stomach. As her eyes clenched closed, a pair of dark, cold eyes flashed before her.

She hadn’t realized how long she had sat there, but the pounding on her door jerked her from her personal pity wave. The thought of ignoring it crossed her mind, but if it was Matt, she wanted to be there for him. Wiping her face, which did little to hide the fact that she had spent the last hour in tears, she stood up on shaky legs.

Opening the door, she was surprised to see Daniel standing at her door. Her anger from last night stirred back up, and her eyes narrowed.

“What do you want?” Becca’s voice came out sounding stuffy, and didn’t carry the same bite as her expression.

 

[pa1ndru1d]

On his way up to the main house, he went over the things he would say to her when he got there…
Becca, I’ve been a damned fool…
I know I haven’t been the easiest person to deal with but…
Don’t slam the door in my face!...
Becca, I’m in love with you…


Dan’s heart went out to her when he saw her disheveled state. Dan murmured “I’m so sorry, Becca” before he lost all the thoughts he had prepared prior to his arrival and he stepped in, placed both his hands on the sides of her face and kissed her.

 

[TabascoKV]

Becca was not in the mood to deal with whatever personality Daniel was feeling today. She was about to dismiss him when he apologized, and her baffled expression was erased when he stepped in and kissed her. Her thoughts were erased as his warmth enveloped, vanquishing the stress and worry from her. That little voice in her head that had been keeping her from giving in to her desires was lost. A tiny moan escaped her lips, as she melted into him.

Her tiny voice finally did speak up, and she pulled back, her eyes filling with tears.

“Danny…” She wanted him so badly, but there was too much to risk. “It’s not…safe.”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan allowed her to pull back. He was shocked that he had kissed her, even more shocked that she had returned the kiss…

The tone in her voice said that she wanted him to stay even if the words she spoke said otherwise. “Becca you will never be safer than when you are with me. I understand that you’ve been hurt before, so have I.” Dan gently moved her back and swung the door shut behind him with a kick of his foot.

“But I’m not that guy that hurt you. Unless you are tellin’ me that each time you are kissed you come a bit closer to becomin’ Mrs. Hyde…” He said with a smile on his face, “I ain’t goin nowhere.”

 

[TabascoKV]

Becca allowed herself to be maneuvered backwards, a petrified expression on her face. She couldn’t find it within herself to return his smile, and she realized that her entire body was visibly shaking as she looked up at him.

“Dan…you don’t understand.” The vibrato in her voice was so harsh it made her voice sound foreign even to her own ears. Panic was rising like bile in her throat as she stood there. “I didn’t just get emotionally hurt.” Oh god. She couldn’t believe the words that were coming from her lips. Turning her back to him, she walked over and put her hands on the kitchen counter to keep herself from falling.

“I couldn’t come see my uncle because my ex-fiancé would not allow it. The scar on my arm was from him.” If she was breathing, she couldn’t tell. Closing her eyes, tears rained down her cheeks. “I have had three concussions, eight broken bones, twelve fractures, and nine scars because of him. The last time he beat me it was because I beat him in court. When he left for work, I ran.” Her eyes opened, but all she could see were tears. Turning around, she expected to see disgust on his face, and so she dropped her eyes to the ground. If he had it, she didn’t want to see it.

“I haven’t stopped running. I didn’t come here because I knew this would be the first place he would come looking for me. I couldn’t do that to my uncle.” Speaking it aloud for the first time sent memories through her head, and the tears that fell from her eyes were uncontrollable. “I can’t promise that I won’t have to leave. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

 

[pa1ndru1d]

Dan’s heart broke when he heard her voice crack. Seeing her tears tore him up.

He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Why would anyone ever want to hurt her??? How could they? Dan had been with many women that had been in abusive relationships, they seemed drawn to him for some reason. He walked over to her very slowly and calmly moved a hand up to her chin. He lifted her face so that he could see into her beautiful hazel eyes.

“If I could, I’d speak soothing words in Spanish to you. If I could, I’d take away all the pain you have ever known, I’d swallow it whole and make it as if it never happened.” The sincerity came through. “Since I can’t, I swear to you – even if you choose to not be with me – I will not allow it to happen. No matter where I am, I’ll come.” Dan moved in slowly and kissed her forehead. He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“I want you to remember something, Becca. This person, he tried to break you. But you aren’t broken.”