resignation, she started collecting garbage, carefully walking around the few stray bodies she found inside. She started to methodically collect the trash around the lawn chairs when Ian’s eyes opened. He groaned as he swung his legs off the reclined portion and sat up. Resting his head on his hand, he planted his elbow on his knees.
He didn’t say anything, so she shrugged and continued to clean up. Always, there was something to clean. She needed to get things in order there before she ran down to the Rydells’. She didn’t have a shift at the café today. She glanced up from her task when she felt something almost like a physical touch on her skin. But no. It was only Ian watching her. She scowled as they met in an eye lock. Why didn't he ever say anything? Good morning. Hello. Hi. Any one of those would do.
“Not like you to get caught up with them,” she said, nodding towards Shane and Jordan who were still zonked out and snoring. Shane was curled up on his side, his hands under his head and looked rather adorable in his alcohol-induced sleep. Usually, he was kind of surly and tough-looking. He was so big, he could effortlessly intimidate her into total silence. But now? He looked like an overgrown boy snuggling in bed.
Ian slowly rose to his feet and ran a hand over his face where he had little stubble. He shook his head. “No. And I remember why now. Stupid thing to do. Stupid way to wake up and feel.”
She watched as he started toward his ATV that he parked on the side of their lot. That was it? All their conversation?
Letting go of the garbage bag, she followed him. “Did you confront Drew? Like warn him to stay away from me?”
He grabbed his helmet and stuck it on his head before pausing to glance at her. “No. I told him to do what you wanted, and nothing more.”
“Or what?”
“Or I’d hurt him,” Ian said. His voice implied, duh, she should have known that’s exactly what he meant . But how could she ever dream Ian would react like that?
“Why? Why would you say such a thing?” Her voice rose higher as she spoke.
He shook his head, and the helmet prevented her from seeing his expression. “I already told you why.”
She stepped back when he simply started the blaring motor and pulled away without another word or look. Kicking at the dust he stirred up, it all clouded around her and made her start coughing. He already told her why? What was wrong with him? Why was he so weird? So cryptic? So strange? And what had he told her? That he’d kill Drew if he messed with her? That made no sense. He couldn’t mean that. Why? Why would he even care whatever Drew did with her? Sure, yeah, if she were raped or something, of course, her brothers and dad would care. In fact, she easily pictured them getting into their very generous supply of guns and killing anyone who dared to violate her. In their back woods way, they would always be there for her. They loved her.
But this, whatever Ian was doing, was somehow different than that. It felt more intimate. It was more… direct. Like he was watching out for her, or something. Maybe it was just all these years of her family being so dependent on his.
Later, she stepped into the Rydells’ log house. The downstairs was a huge, open air design with a fireplace in the center. The river rock fireplace and mantel were built by the boys’ father, using the rocks from the Rydell River, just a half mile away. It bordered one side of their ranch. It was a fantastic house, which amply compensated her need to work as a housekeeper for a living. She quickly began her chores. Today, she was sweeping, mopping and vacuuming every square inch of the house. The kitchen needed a good scrubbing too.
“Hey, Lynnie.”
“Hi, Charlie, how was your day?” she asked while scrubbing at the sink. Charlie dumped his backpack on one of the dining room chairs.
“Good. Where’s Erin? She’s taking me to see a bull.”
That was good. Charlie got angry at first
He didn’t say anything, so she shrugged and continued to clean up. Always, there was something to clean. She needed to get things in order there before she ran down to the Rydells’. She didn’t have a shift at the café today. She glanced up from her task when she felt something almost like a physical touch on her skin. But no. It was only Ian watching her. She scowled as they met in an eye lock. Why didn't he ever say anything? Good morning. Hello. Hi. Any one of those would do.
“Not like you to get caught up with them,” she said, nodding towards Shane and Jordan who were still zonked out and snoring. Shane was curled up on his side, his hands under his head and looked rather adorable in his alcohol-induced sleep. Usually, he was kind of surly and tough-looking. He was so big, he could effortlessly intimidate her into total silence. But now? He looked like an overgrown boy snuggling in bed.
Ian slowly rose to his feet and ran a hand over his face where he had little stubble. He shook his head. “No. And I remember why now. Stupid thing to do. Stupid way to wake up and feel.”
She watched as he started toward his ATV that he parked on the side of their lot. That was it? All their conversation?
Letting go of the garbage bag, she followed him. “Did you confront Drew? Like warn him to stay away from me?”
He grabbed his helmet and stuck it on his head before pausing to glance at her. “No. I told him to do what you wanted, and nothing more.”
“Or what?”
“Or I’d hurt him,” Ian said. His voice implied, duh, she should have known that’s exactly what he meant . But how could she ever dream Ian would react like that?
“Why? Why would you say such a thing?” Her voice rose higher as she spoke.
He shook his head, and the helmet prevented her from seeing his expression. “I already told you why.”
She stepped back when he simply started the blaring motor and pulled away without another word or look. Kicking at the dust he stirred up, it all clouded around her and made her start coughing. He already told her why? What was wrong with him? Why was he so weird? So cryptic? So strange? And what had he told her? That he’d kill Drew if he messed with her? That made no sense. He couldn’t mean that. Why? Why would he even care whatever Drew did with her? Sure, yeah, if she were raped or something, of course, her brothers and dad would care. In fact, she easily pictured them getting into their very generous supply of guns and killing anyone who dared to violate her. In their back woods way, they would always be there for her. They loved her.
But this, whatever Ian was doing, was somehow different than that. It felt more intimate. It was more… direct. Like he was watching out for her, or something. Maybe it was just all these years of her family being so dependent on his.
Later, she stepped into the Rydells’ log house. The downstairs was a huge, open air design with a fireplace in the center. The river rock fireplace and mantel were built by the boys’ father, using the rocks from the Rydell River, just a half mile away. It bordered one side of their ranch. It was a fantastic house, which amply compensated her need to work as a housekeeper for a living. She quickly began her chores. Today, she was sweeping, mopping and vacuuming every square inch of the house. The kitchen needed a good scrubbing too.
“Hey, Lynnie.”
“Hi, Charlie, how was your day?” she asked while scrubbing at the sink. Charlie dumped his backpack on one of the dining room chairs.
“Good. Where’s Erin? She’s taking me to see a bull.”
That was good. Charlie got angry at first
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