Cattle Valley: Fool's Gold Part 7

Do me that one courtesy. I've been straight with you on this trip, and I've paid for everything without saying a word." She leaned in so no one else could hear. "And we both know I don't have a frigging dime. So don't go back there and let your 'friends' clean me out. Show me that much respect, could you, please?"

Chloe s.n.a.t.c.hed the key, an offended look on her face. "I would never do such a thing.

You know me better than that." She placed a light kiss on Addie's lips.

Addie pulled back and smiled sadly. "I'm not sure I know you at all, Chloe. Oh, and leave the key on the table."

With another insulted roll of her eyes, Chloe swept from the bar, Del and Rita on her heels.

Addie thought she might be making a very big mistake by letting them go into her house alone. But going with them, in her condition, seemed like a bigger mistake. Now, she just wanted to forget. "One more, barkeep!" she hollered.

The man behind the bar gazed at her sceptically but provided the drink. Addie chugged it, and the liquid splashed her face, a convenient way to hide the tears that suddenly couldn't be stopped.

45.

The friendly bartender offered to call someone to drive her home, but Addie declined.

She had no money, not that Cattle Valley had cab service, anyway. He'd probably call Ryan Blackfeather, and she'd have to listen to a 'big brother' scolding for four blocks. She could do without that. Scribbling a tip on the bottom of her charge slip, Addie held her breath as the man processed it.

He handed her a receipt. Whew. She shoved the piece of paper into her purse.

"You sure about that ride? Cattle Valley is a quiet town, but as you could tell by some of our patrons tonight, we do get our share of strange ones."

"I'll be fine. Really." Addie smiled at him. She'd always heard bartenders were easy to talk to. Some night, when the hurt wasn't so fresh, she might have to come back and spill her guts to this guy. Clutching her purse, she got unsteadily to her feet. "Good night."

"Night. Take care, now."

Addie staggered into the cool evening air. It smelled fresh and good. She inhaled deeply and started walking. This was a good decision. It was nice to enjoy the quiet solitude of her new town-as long as she could stay on the sidewalk. She wobbled and straightened herself.

Two blocks from home, a small, blue car pulled over to the side of the road next to her.

The window went down, and a voice said, "Would you like a lift?"

Addie stooped over and gazed inside. "Melissa Danes! Well, what do you know! What are you doing out at this time of night?"

"I could ask you the same question. I'm out because Brewster from the bar called and told me you were walking home alone. He didn't feel good about it, but said you wouldn't accept a ride."

"I'm fine." Addie waved her hand. She was secretly thrilled that Mel had shown up, but had to remind herself the woman had been absent all week. She shouldn't read too much into Mel's appearance.

"Get in." Mel nodded to the pa.s.senger side of her car.

A wave of dizziness swept over Addie, and she decided riding sounded like a fine idea.

She made her way around the car and slid inside. "Thanks."

46.

"No problem." Mel leaned over her, reaching for the seatbelt and fastening it across her chest. She paused to look into Addie's eyes for a moment, then straightened up and drove.

"I am a little tired." Addie let her head fall back against the headrest. "Been a long night. Long day. Ah, h.e.l.l, long week!"

"I'm sure it has." Mel pulled into the driveway of the inn and parked. She glanced up at the dark house. "Is, uh, Chloe in there, or would you like me to help you in?"

"Nope, Chloe is not in there." Addie opened her door and fell halfway out before something caught her.

"Wait." Mel dragged her back into the car and released the seat belt. "There you go. I'll walk you in."

"You don't have to." Addie stumbled up the stairs onto the porch. She patted her pockets, wondering where her keys were.

"Keys?" Mel said from behind her, holding out her purse.

"Oh." Addie laughed and grabbed the bag. After finding the keys, she unlocked the door and went inside.

Mel followed, flipping on a light. "Ah, furniture refinishing. Looks like a big job."

"Too big. I can't do it." Addie tossed her purse on the counter and went straight to the kitchen for something to drink. In the fridge, she noticed the six pack of beer they'd purchased was gone, but one bottle remained hidden towards the back. She popped the beer open and stumbled back out to the front room. "Sorry, it's my last one. I can share." She held the bottle out.

Mel waved a hand. "I'm good. You should sit down."

Addie dropped onto the sofa. "I'm good, too. f.u.c.king peachy good." She took a draw on her beer.

Sitting next to her, Mel asked softly, "Where's Chloe?"

Raising her wrist to look at an imaginary watch, Addie murmured, "Probably about Utah, by now. Unless she has to stop and pee every hour like she did with me."

"Utah? What's in Utah?"

Silly thoughts whirled in Addie's vodka-addled brain, and she said the first thing that came to mind. "The Mormon Tabernacle Choir." She laughed at the hilariously funny joke.

47.

Mel sat back with a confused look on her face. "I never got the impression Chloe was Mormon. So is there another reason she's going to Utah?"

Addie took a swig of her beer and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "She's going to San Franshishko. San Franshih-ka-bob." She laughed again, holding her stomach.

"Okay." Mel brushed hair from Addie's forehead. "We can talk about this tomorrow. If you're okay, I'll just go."

"No!" Fear knifed through Addie's heart. She clutched Mel's hand. "Please, don't go. I don't want to be alone."

A strange look crossed Mel's face, as if she were trying to decide. "I guess I could stay. I don't have to work tomorrow."

"Good!" Addie breathed a sigh of relief. She tossed back the last of her beer and set the bottle on the floor. "Because I really want you to stay." She turned back to Mel. Before she had time to think about what she was doing, she tossed a leg over and straddled Mel's lap, facing her.

"Whoa!" Mel pulled back, surprise on her face.

"Don't worry. I'll be gentle." Addie leaned forward and kissed her.

48.

Chapter Six.

Mel's eyes widened when Addie's mouth touched hers. She thought about returning the kiss and bringing to life the fantasy she'd harboured for over a week. But the s.e.xy, dishevelled woman tasted like beer and something stronger, and Mel was not about to take advantage.

"Whoa, slow down, there." She pressed Addie back gently.

Addie raised her hips and ground herself into Mel's lap. "Don't you want me? I want you very much."

"Um, yeah." Mel didn't know how to answer that one. h.e.l.l yes, I want you. But it's not going to happen like this. She gripped Addie's shoulders. "Not tonight, honey. Not in the mood you're in."

"I'm in the perfect mood." Addie smiled at her, a lopsided try at seductive.

"Yes, I see that. Come on, now." Mel moved the delightful body off hers and set her back on the sofa.

"Aw, h.e.l.l!" Addie began to cry. Big drops trailed down her cheeks, smudging her mascara.

Mel gazed at her and realised, judging by the makeup, it wasn't the first time she'd cried that night. She reached out and pushed a lock of hair away from Addie's face. "Don't cry, sweetie. Maybe we just need to talk. Seems like you have a lot on your shoulders right now."

"I can't talk about it." Addie shook her head. "Can't think about it. Too much. Way too much."

"What's too much? Come on, Adeline. Tell me what's going on with you."

Addie opened her eyes and looked at Mel. She sniffled, wiped her face and smiled.

"Okay, Melissa. I'll tell you. Nothing is turning out right. My father wasn't supposed to die, my mother wasn't supposed to disown me..."

"Slow down." Mel could see Addie had a lot to get off her chest. "Start at the beginning, please. When did your dad die?"

49.

Addie's slurred speech seemed to clear up as she reached into the past. "A few months ago. He had lung cancer. Smoked all his life. They tried to operate, but the doctors discovered it was too far advanced. He lived one year from the diagnosis, but he was pretty miserable."

"I'm sorry." Mel saw Addie relax, leaning back on the sofa, and she did the same.

"What about your mom? You said she disowned you?"

"Several years ago. I was fresh out of high school. She'd always suspected I was different, but when I turned eighteen and joined a gay rights activist group, she blew up.

Kicked me out of the house and all that. I was happy to go, but I didn't have any money."

"Were you going to college?"

"Nope. Never quite figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up. Still haven't, I guess. Anyway, my father set me up in an apartment, which annoyed my mother no end. I got a job waiting tables, and he got booted out of the house just like me."

"You're kidding!" Mel had never heard of such a thing. Her parents were fun-loving, easy-going types. Better than that, they were best friends. They'd been married twenty-five years, and their relationship showed no signs of aging.

"Not kidding. Dad was okay. He was a plumber with his own little business. There was never a shortage of work. Truthfully, I don't think he was ever good enough for my mom.

She thought she was hot stuff-some big shot banker's administrative a.s.sistant. That's a fancy-a.s.s word for secretary. I heard people say that might not have been all she was to the guy, but I didn't want to get into that. Colorado Springs is a big place. She lived her life. Dad and I lived ours."

"At least you were close to your dad." Mel tried to see the positive.

"Yeah, he was great. Towards the end, when he knew he couldn't work anymore, he sold his business and got enough money to keep us going. I quit working to take care of him the last three months of his life. Then I spent the next three trying to straighten things out. He had a will, and not that much stuff, so it shouldn't have been that complicated."

"But?" Mel could tell by the sound of her voice there was more.

"But my mother went nuts when she found out I inherited his money. She sued me for his estate."