Big Yellow Taxi

Chapter 36

When Rowan left home with her dad, she didn't pack her own bag. She assumed her mother packed it. But now she wasn't so sure. There was an odd selection of clothes inside, like someone had just scooped several of her dresser drawers into the bag without looking. She dumped the contents out onto her bed, giggling a little. Her father must have packed for her. She found a pair of old worn jean shorts. They were a little short for her. She usually wore them if she was working in the garden and it was hot out. But they were clean so she shrugged and pulled them on. The green tie on top she wore the first night of the festival was tangled up in a pile of scarves. Rowan pulled it on and tied it. She wasn't sure if her attire was appropriate for lunch at the casino. But the clothes she had on before were covered in dust and dirt from helping her father clean the shed. At least these clothes were clean.

"Ready to go?," he father asked. Rowan was relieved that the man didn't seem to have any reaction to her attire. They chatted amicably in the truck. As he drove, her father pointed out things to her that had changed since her last visit. Most of them seemed positive. The casino brought jobs. Lots of people repaired their homes and improved their yards. But as they passed by one house in particular, Rowan noticed a large hand painted sign in their front yard. It said METH or YOUR LIFE, YOU DECIDE. Seeing it gave Rowan a chill. Maybe not all the changes were good.

Rowan came to the casino once before. When Derek took her to dinner. But he parked in the employee lot and walked her in through that door and up to the restaurant. Her father took her in through the regular entrance. They walked directly into the main casino floor. Rowan stuck close to the man as she looked around. There were bright lights and noises everywhere. It was almost overwhelming. People were sitting on stools in front of slot machines, staring mindlessly at the twirling lights as if they were hypnotized. When they passed that area, Rowan was a little more intrigued by what she saw next.

People were sitting at large green felt tables, playing cards. Rowan wasn't familiar with the game they were playing, but she did like playing cards. Her father noticed her interest and walked her over towards the gaming tables. He let her watch as he quietly explained the game to her.

"Could give you a twenty if you want to try your luck," he teased. Rowan shook her head. She liked cards. But didn't care for the intense way the men at the table were acting over them.

"We can play at home for free," Rowan countered. He chuckled as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close and pressing a kiss onto the top of her head. A man at the bar caught Rowan's attention. He was waving at her father. Grey Wolf told Rowan to stay put and hurried over to greet the man. She watched them for a moment before turning her attention back to the card game. While she had no desire to sit at the table, Rowan found herself enjoying just watching the game. The people at the table had such intense reactions to the cards that were flipped over in front of them. Except for a skinny old man in a bucket hat at the far end of the table. He was staring off into space like he didn't even know where he was. As Rowan watched him, his body went limp and he slid off his barstool and slumped to the floor.

"Are you alright," Rowan asked as she grabbed the man and helped him to his feet. She was concerned that the man might be having some sort of medical problem. But one she had him upright she recoiled at the smell of his breath. His only problem was clearly how much alcohol he had consumed. The man smelled like the bottom of a jar of moonshine. He had varying control over his limbs. He was able to assist her when Rowan pulled him to his feet. But then his legs started to buckle like a broken marionette.

"You look just like my granddaughter," the man said, "Susie! Is that you?" Rowan giggled as she guided the man down onto the stool he fell out of moments before. She wished she knew Susie. Or her number. Because someone ought to come collect this poor old grandpa before he drank himself straight into the grave. The man didn't seem to share her opinion because he turned and grasped his empty glass from the table, tipping it up and trying to get the last few drops of liquor out of it and into his mouth.

"I need another drink," he said. Rowan laughed again. He needed another drink like he needed a hole in his head.

"How about a glass of water?," Rowan suggested. The man's face lit up into a giant grin.

"SUSIE!," he exclaimed, "I knew it was you!"

Rowan cringed back as the drunker man lurched from his chair and wrapped his arms around her. She knew he didn't mean her any harm but he really stunk bad. Rowan tried to encourage the gin soaked man back onto his chair but he was clinging to her like a baby koala, sure that she was his long lost granddaughter. Rowan glanced towards the bar, trying to catch her father's attention. She was hoping he would come help her with the man. He was clearly from the reservation. Maybe her father knew him and would be willing to give him a ride home so he could sleep it off somewhere besides on the dirty carpet of the casino.

Suddenly the drunken man was jerked roughly away from her. Rowan gasped. A long strand of her hair was caught around the man's watch and she shrieked as it was ripped painfully from her scalp. Derek had the man by his shirt. And before Rowan could even react, he cocked his fist back and slammed it into the old man's face. Blood splashed onto the green felt of the gaming table. The old man dropped like a rock. He hit the floor and vomited on the carpet. Two other men in suits were rushing in their direction. Derek gave the old man a hard kick to the ribs. Then the other two men grabbed him and started dragging him away towards the door. Rowan sucked in a ragged breath. Her body was tense with fear. When she looked down her hands were shaking.

"Are you okay?," Derek asked, rushing to her side, "Did he hurt you?"

Rowan shook her head. When Derek reached for her, she instinctively took a step back. She wanted to defend the old man. He smelled like old socks and strong liquor. But he didn't hurt her. He was just drunk and confused. But Rowan was so shocked by Derek's violent display that she couldn't form words.

Derek followed her movement, grasping Rowan's arm to keep her from backing away again.

"Are you alright?," he asked again. She nodded her head. Her body went stiff when Derek pulled her into his arms and held her against his chest.

A moment later Rowan heard her father's voice, asking Derek what happened. Derek told him that some drunk grabbed her but not to worry because he already took care of it. Her father thanked him. Rowan thought about speaking up to argue with Derek. She didn't think his version of what happened was accurate. But after what he just did to the old man, Rowan was afraid to contradict him. And it was clear Derek was only trying to protect her. She didn't want to make him feel bad over what she assumed was just a terrible misunderstanding.

"Can't leave you alone for a minute," her father teased. Derek wasn't pinning her against his chest anymore, but he held her next to him with his arm around her shoulders. Her father asked her if she was alright. Rowan nodded again, though she wasn't really sure if she was.

"Still want to have lunch?," he asked. Rowan was about to shake her head. After what just happened, all she wanted to do was go home. But Derek spoke up before she had the chance.

"We'll meet you there in a few minutes," he told her father. Grey Wolf nodded and set off towards the restaurant to get them a table. Derek led Rowan away. She cast one longing glance at her father's back, wishing she had darted away and gone with him when she had the chance. Derek didn't say where he was taking her. He just led her through a set of doors, down a long hall, and into an office. Rowan watched as he opened a small closet and pulled out a white button down shirt. She didn't see any of the man's blood on Derek's clothes but when he pulled out the shirt, she just assumed that maybe some got on him and he felt he needed to change. She looked at the garment in surprise when he held it out for her to take.

"Put this on," he told her. From the tone in his voice, he was clearly not making a request. When Rowan hesitated, Derek added, "This isn't some hippie nudist colony. You can't walk around half naked here. Look what already happened because of the way you're dressed."

Rowan took the shirt and slipped her arms through the sleeves. She knew her shorts were a little small but she really didn't think it was such a big deal. Now she felt ashamed of her appearance. Her hands were trembling when she tried to fasten the buttons of the shirt. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to spill over. Derek stepped towards her. He reached in and quickly buttoned up the shirt. His tone was softer when he spoke again.

"I just don't want anything happening to you," he said. "It's fine if you want to dress like this when we're alone together."

Rowan wiped at her eyes with the back of her hands. After what Derek just did to that poor old man, Rowan wasn't sure if she wanted to be alone with him no matter what she was wearing. She glanced towards the door, hoping now that she put Derek's shirt on like he asked he would take her back to her father. He was still standing close to her and when he leaned down, Rowan tensed up. She was afraid he was going to try and kiss her. But he only whispered in her ear.

"I've got a surprise for you."

Derek moved back behind his desk, poking into the top drawer. He returned with a small box, handing it to Rowan. Since he was looking at her expectantly, she assumed he meant for her to open the box. Rowan pulled at the ribbons and lifted the lid. When she saw what was inside, she gasped. Not only was the necklace beautiful, it was something Rowan would have picked out for herself if she had money to waste on something so expensive. The necklace was two feathers that were attached to silver chains and attached together in the center. The feathers were made of sterling silver. And in the vein of each feather, there was a geometric design made of turquoise mixed with a few other stones.

"It's beautiful," Rowan gushed. She eagerly removed the treasure from the box. Derek motioned for her to turn around. Rowan did, lifting up her hair so he could fasten the small clasp for her. Once he was done, Derek rested his hands on the bare skin of her neck. His touch was gentle but Rowan still wasn't sure if she liked the feeling of his large hands wrapping around her throat. One hand whisked down, wrapping around her waist. She felt Derek's mouth on her next, kissing up the column of her neck. He nibbled at her ear before pulling back and spinning her around. Rowan expected him to try and kiss her again, now that she was facing him. But instead Derek dropped to his knees in front of her. He took her hands in his and looked up into her eyes and spoke to her.

"I want you to be mine."