OOOOO
Chapter Four – Threats
One week later
Ray sighed and threw the newspaper on the table as Donna walked into their house with a bright smile on her face. She momentarily stopped and took in her husband's frustrated expression.
"What are you looking so gloomy for?" she asked, her sparkling mood somewhat grumbled.
He motioned for the paper. "Ewing Oil's got the headline again," he replied annoyed.
Donna put down her empty cup of coffee on the bench and reached for the Dallas Tribune. "Ravensmith oilfield?" Donna guessed.
Ray made a face. "Why can't they let it rest? I mean, it was determined that the stack of newly arrived dynamite became unstable by the heat and that vibrations in the ground, caused by the drilling, set it off. In short it was written off as an accident," he complained.
Donna skimmed the article. "Ewing Oil management blamed for unsafe working procedures," she read and snorted. "I do feel for the poor widows that lost their husbands that day, but surely J.R and Bobby couldn't be held responsible? If anyone is responsible it would have to be the foreman and the blaster," she added.
"Well, that widow, Mrs. Sanders don't buy the investigators story, she is convinced it's a cover up," Ray said.
Donna nodded and started reading the article aloud; "Mrs. Lynn Sanders blames the Ewing brothers for the death of her husband and several other workers. She claims the so called accident was due to happen anytime because of the insufficient precautions taken on the field while handling explosives," she skipped further down. "Apparently her husband was the expert on explosives, he was in an article a few months ago, claiming that Ewing Oil wasn't following the rules and safety precautions and that it would be taken up by the work environment administration," she finished.
"That's ridiculous, Ewing Oil is all for acclaiming money, not even J.R would neglect a thing like that, it's bad publicity," Ray responded.
"Unfortunately, the evidence is lacking for restitution in court and the company is too big to fight for just a few unimportant people such as us widows and relatives to the deceased. My only hope stands to Mr. J.R Ewing or Mr. Bobby Ewing for an apology or some kind of compensation," Donna said as she put down the newspaper.
Ray snorted. "There's never a quiet moment when it comes to that company," he replied dryly.
"Well, look at the bright side, at least it wasn't some shady business deal that blew up in all our faces," she offered lightly.
Ray looked at the picture of Bobby and J.R on the field, his eyes finally setting on J.R, "Maybe that's exactly what it was," he said.
OOOOO
Harrold Mars stepped out of his cab and walked towards a small private jet that was currently taxing along the runway. He stopped, waiting for it to come to a complete halt and smiled as the door opened, revealing a dark haired, quite handsome man, in his early thirties.
"Bobby Ewing!" he shouted happily.
"Harvey!" Bobby said delighted.
The two of them shook hands and then slapped each other on the back.
"Thanks for coming here, Bobby, I sure have missed having you around," he said happily. "I can't believe it's been so long since we finished high school."
Bobby chuckled and turned around to give the thumbs up to the pilot of Ewing Oil's private jet, before heading to the cab that was waiting for them.
"You know, Harvey, I never had you pegged for a place in the oil business," he teased. "If I remember correctly, you hated it."
"Well I seem to remember someone else who wasn't too keen on it either. The only things entertaining you was drinks and women, the latter you had absolutely no problem getting," Bobby's old friend drawled, amusedly.
Bobby sighed and became serious. "Times change, Harvey, I have changed, and I guess we both have," he replied somberly.
"You must have taken quite a blow to the head back on that field; you're much more serious than I ever remembered. It' good to see you again, Bobby, and welcome to Las Vegas, I guess it's not every day you're here," Harvey said, opening the cab door.
"It feels good to attend the Independent Oil Conference, I could use some neutral ground for a while," he admitted.
"Speaking of neutral grounds, what about some poker tonight for old times' sake?" Harvey pushed.
"I'm all for it, if you want to lose all your money," little brother Ewing answered cockily.
"I have news for you, I've had years of practice," came the dry reply.
OOOOO
"Oh, Sue Ellen, I'm beat," Pam complained as she sat down on a bench just outside the last visited clothing store, resting her tired feet. "And, frankly, I don't think I can shop another thing for a month," she confessed. "Look at all these bags."
Sue Ellen couldn't help but chuckle as she sat down next to her sister- in- law. "I haven't had this much fun in weeks, we better do this more often," she said and glanced down at her own large collection of shopping bags.
"So, Pam, how long is Bobby going to be away at the oil conference in Las Vegas?" she wondered.
"For three days, and I miss him already," she replied unhappily.
"But you have Christopher, and you have us," Sue Ellen said cheerfully.
"Yeah, J.R is quite something isn't he?" she replied somewhat bitterly.
Sue Ellen shrugged. "He's a strong man, and always used to get what he wants; I wouldn't pay too much attention to him," she said with a wry smile.
"Why can't he see that Bobby and I are happy together? Why can't he leave our marriage alone?" Pam countered unhappily. She sighed and stole a glance at her shopping friend. "I am sorry, Sue Ellen, I'm spoiling all the fun," she said regrettably.
Sue Ellen nodded but her tight features softened and she gave Pam a faint smile. "Come on, let's go and grab a coffee before heading back to Southfork," she suggested.
"Mrs. Ewing?" A short, dark haired man asked as he walked up to them.
Pam and Sue Ellen turned to look at him expectantly, studying him curiously.
The man was clad in an expensive business suit, his brown eyes were soft and his hair framed his handsome face perfectly.
"Yes," they said in unison.
The man gave them a polite smile, showing them a perfect set of white teeth. "My apologies, ladies, I should have guessed that both beauties carried the powerful name Ewing," he corrected himself and pulled out a black envelope from his pocket.
"I'll take it," Sue Ellen said snatching it from his hand. "Thank you."
He nodded and then quickly disappeared in the crowded street.
"Are you waiting for something special, Sue Ellen?" Pam asked teasingly.
Sue Ellen glanced at her, looking smug. However her smugness was soon replaced by anxiety as she stared at the scratchy letters written in haste on the letter.
"Sue Ellen, what is it?" Pam asked worriedly.
"Let's go home, Pam," she answered shortly.
"Let me see," Pam demanded and grasped the note from Sue Ellen's light grip.
"Come on, Pamela," she urged and started walking towards the car, her face a mixture of fear and determination.
"Watch your back, Mrs. Ewing, one accident seldom comes alone. And, so that there's no misunderstanding, I know where your husband his, pray that he comes home safe," Pam read out loud and felt the hair at the back of her neck rise. Her hand trembled slightly as she placed the letter in one of her bags. "Bobby?" she whispered softly, her blood turning to ice.
Sue Ellen walked briskly toward Pam's Porsche, and seeing that Pam was falling behind she turned back and reached for her arm, dragging her forward.
"Sue Ellen, who did he mean?" Pam asked, dreading the answer, terrified at the thought of Bobby getting hurt again.
"I don't know, Pam, but as much I love my husband I certainly don't trust him," she said angrily. "However, if this is about Ravensmith, both J.R and Bobby are held responsible by those crazy people, it could mean either of them, and us," she added, disturbed by the thought of it.
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To be continued…