by: iluvaqt@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: As per default chapter.
iluvaqt's Notes: In my haste to get the previous chapter up, I forgot to mention…Superblonde, I love when people pose questions. It challenges me. I honestly wouldn't have explained it, had you not asked. Thank you all for your comments, they are much appreciated.
Chapter 3 -
Saturday, November 21st 2020
Evening,
Lounge, Krit/Syl's
"She made it." Krit slumped into the armchair, a smile on his lips. Somehow he instinctively knew she would. That night, when they arrived back at the van and only Lydecker greeted them, a cold, sinking weight had formed in his gut.
"…Max is KIA. Let's move out!"
There were no words after that. He realized afterward why Logan had been silent on comms for awhile. The guy was lying on the bench seat unconscious. Krit hadn't questioned Lydecker over it, the job got done - the lab was destroyed - but he couldn't help thinking that Lydecker had interrupted something. Something important. Whatever it had been, his interference served its purpose. Lydecker always had a reason. Max was out and she was alive. He couldn't hide his relief and joy over that.
Syl watched Jondy's face. They'd talked about the attack on Manticore, and the fact that Max had escaped. She had yet to drop her bombshell, this was just all just the tip of the iceberg. Her sister hadn't said a word, the only indication that she was listening evident by the intent look in her eyes and the occasional nod.
Leo was asleep on Krit's lap. The baby fit snuggly into the nook of his arm. The firelight danced on the Leo's sleeping face, he looked so peaceful. How wonderful it must be to feel comfortable and safe. She hoped that Leo would always have that. Maybe it would be better for them to forget about Zack. It was obvious that it still pained Jondy to think about him. What if it turned out for the worst? Max had said he was a different person. Could they risk it? Would it be worth it? Or would it do more harm than good?
"And Zack?" Jondy asked quietly. "What did Lydecker say about Zack?"
Jondy was sitting on the settee opposite Kirt, while Syl on a rug, leaning against the cushion by Jondy's feet. Jondy was curled up against the arm and she had pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail. Syl knew it must have been hard for her to ask, but the thought of not knowing must have been far worse.
"Max found him a couple of weeks ago. She…" Syl stopped and wondered how she could say it without faulting Max all over again. She wanted to tell them everything, but she didn't want Max getting more phone calls from angry siblings. "…He's living at Walker Ranch and he's living under the alias Adam Thompson. He has no idea who he is. Max is alive because Zack gave her his heart. I don't think he intended to come back from it. Manticore can really screw you over there."
There room was quiet for a long while after she spoke. She hadn't even told Krit what she'd learned that afternoon. She wanted to say it only once. After dinner, she'd casually sat them all down in the lounge. It wasn't something you could plan. And there weren't any right ways to go about it. What she had to say was difficult to talk about. She knew it had to be hurting Jondy, and there wasn't anything she could do to make it any easier. Zack had always put them first, who's to say he wouldn't have done the same thing for any of them. Before she could think it through, she said, "He would have done the same for you, Dee."
Jondy shook her head. "I don't know..."
She hadn't seen Max since Manticore, so she had no idea how her sister was now. But back when they were kids, Zack had always taken unnecessary risks for Max. He did little significant things - like the day he interrupted a training exercise to get a red balloon for her. Jealousy tore through her like a scalding flame. She bit her lip, refusing to let it claim her control over her. Focusing on Syl, wanting to find grounds for her feelings, she asked her a question.
"When Eyes Only did that broadcast… Zack had escaped Manticore right?" She waited for someone to confirm her assumption. When Krit nodded, she continued. "How did he get caught?" She had a hunch that it had to do with Max too, and she wanted to know. She needed to know.
Krit had the answer and he felt her eyes on him. He shifted uncomfortably. Considering their current discussion he knew where she was headed and it didn't sit well with him. Syl hadn't said anything before, but he knew that she thought the same about their brother's weakness. It only took being there to notice the lingering looks he sent in Max's direction, and extra attitude he gave Logan. As a momentary distraction, Krit pretended be focused on fixing Leo's blanket. As the awkwardness stretched, he resigned to the inevitability of having to speak up.
"Lydecker picked up on Max in Seattle. Zack gave himself up before Lydecker could get her. According to what Zane gathered, it was necessary."
His brother, Zane, wasn't a gossip, but when no one had heard from Zack for over three months, they'd done some digging. A girl fitting Max's description was wanted for the murder of a PI in Seattle. Zane said that Zack had left as soon as he heard. Afterward, they'd found that it wasn't Max, but Zack who had pulled the trigger. Taking responsibility for his actions. That was Zack. But now, as Krit meet Jondy's eyes, the secondary purpose showed a pattern.
Jondy nodded her head slightly and broke contact with Krit. She stared down at the patterned fabric of the cushion covers, not really looking at it, just giving herself something to avert to, while she assessed every that was plaguing her mind. She didn't want anyone to be able to read the raw emotion she knew was plainly exposed in her eyes. The finalization of her suspicions settle in her chest and for the life of her, she couldn't fight free of it. He loved Max. Maybe he'd always loved her. Perhaps that's why he didn't stay that morning. Not only could he not face her. He couldn't face that he'd been with her and not Max. Questions started forming before she could stop herself. "What if it had been Max? What if it had been Max carrying his baby? What then? Would he have been so cold and callous to her too? She hated herself for feeling the way she did. She hated that she was jealous of her sister, whom she loved so much. She just wished that the man she loved, loved her and not Max.
Leo stirred in Krit's arms and immediately Jondy's attention shifted. She hushed the baby from where she sat, not wanting to seem overprotective and take him from Krit.
"It's okay, Leo. I'm here. Ssshhh. Sleep little one."
The baby relaxed again and his lids drifted closed, long golden lashes sweeping to rest against full dusty pink cheeks. Small fingers closed around his index finger and Krit felt a surge of emotion. A lump lodged in his throat and tears sprung into his eyes as he stared down at his nephew. He had never seen a child so perfect. This little boy felt safe with him. A fierce urge to protect Leo coursed through is body, and consciously, he pulled Leo closer. Looking up at Jondy, his eyes glittered with unshed tears. "I'm going to bring Zack back. I don't know how yet, but I'll figure it out," he said with conviction.
Later that night, when Syl crawled into bed beside him, Krit immediately drew her close. There was heaviness in his heart and he felt relief when she nestled against him. Breathing in her scent, it cooled his nerves. He hadn't realized he was angry or tense till his muscle relaxed and he felt their stiffness. There was no point looking to place blame, he argued. What's done is done. He'd now made a promise to Jondy, but he had no idea where to start, or even how he was going to make Zack remember something that could prove impossible.
"You're not going alone," Syl whispered, reaching down to cover his hand with hers. His hand rested against her stomach and she interlocked her fingers with his. She could feel his warmth against the length of her body and she smiled to herself, knowing he was hers. She wanted the same for Jondy. And Leo deserved a father. Aside from that, she had no intention of letting Krit head off to the mountains without her.
Krit propped himself up on his elbow and gave her a glittering smile. Leaning down he placed a feather-light kiss on her forehead, before claiming her mouth.
When he finally broke away, Syl sighed happily. Dreamily, she gazed up and him and reached up to playfully tap him on the nose. "Hell'd freeze over before I let you go where some man-hungry country hussy can drag you off."
"It'd take a lot more than that to drag me away from you," Krit said with a chuckle as he nuzzled her hair. It was so silky soft and as usual smelled like field of wild flowers. All day he's fingers itched to bury themselves in it. Sometimes she lay on his lap and allowed him the luxury of playing with it. He wished today hadn't been one of those days.
"I'll call the Walker's tomorrow and introduce us. Might take the edge off stealing their prize cowboy." Syl turned under his arm and kissed his throat. "What do you say, you convince me I have a prize stud right here," she said with a twinkle in her eye.
"I'd be much obliged," Krit returned with a devilish grin.
The guest bedroom
With Leo fast asleep next to her, Jondy had plenty of time to think. Too much time. The nights were filled with quiet and the hours seemed to stretch on forever. She begged for sleep to come, but not only did her body not need it, her mind refused to allow it. If it weren't for the soothing sound of her baby's breathing, she'd have gone mad months ago.
Nighttime gave her too much time to go over what might have been. It allowed her to over analyze her actions till she had scrutinized every last word and emotion. She couldn't even remember how many times she had beaten herself up over falling for Zack - for letting herself fall into bed with him - she had lost count. She had brazenly thrown herself at him. No wonder he'd had despised her. It should come as no surprise when he accused her of being a slut.
Most mothers' worn tired looks came from dawn feeding calls and midnight diaper changes. Hers was entirely self-inflicted. She wished she had let it all go, but she couldn't. There was too much regret. Too many things she wished she'd done differently. Most of all, she wished she'd told Zack that he was a father.
"I'm going to bring Zack back."
With all her heart she wished she could believe that was possible. It wasn't that she doubted her brother's capabilities. He would find Zack and maybe he would bring him home. But what if he never regained his memory? Or worse, what if he did and didn't want anything to do with them?
Jondy closed her eyes, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye and into her hair. The moisture touched her the tip of her ear and she turned her head on her pillow. Staring through the darkness at her baby's sleeping face, she said a soft prayer.
"God, I know I haven't talked to you in awhile, and that I have no right to ask anything of you again, when you so graciously saved my precious baby, but… Please help Zack remember. Don't let him reject his son. I couldn't live with that. I swear on my life that I'll be the best mother to Leo, and I don't wish anything for myself. If he hates me…so be it. But please, all I ask is that he love Leo."
Curling up beneath the covers, Jondy touched a finger to her baby's cheek. His skin was powder soft, but the winter air had made his cheeks cold and she snuggled closer to him. Fixing his blanket, she extended her arm and curled it above his head, making cocoon to keep him warm.
Jondy closed her eyes again. Warm air drifted across her skin and she smiled. Feeling Leo's breath wash gently over her face, she drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Sunday, November 22nd 2020
Walker Ranch, Idaho
Buddy sat at the table casually sipping his morning coffee, while Mary fretted. She bustled about the kitchen in a frazzle. He understood her distress, and did his best to soothe her, but as always, if the woman was going to fret there was no stopping it. The best thing to do, was keep out of the way and let it blow over.
This time he couldn't any claim responsibility for the storm that had blown their way this morning. It had to do with a blond-haired man that a few miles away in old cabin up the mountain. It seemed his past had decide to come looking for him. A great pity. Buddy mulled over the few short weeks, the man had been with them. He had done more work around the ranch, than most of ranch hands could do in an entire year. During the toughest part of it all too. Adam couldn't have come in at a time.
Their foreman was laid up with a broken leg; an accident while rounding up in the cattle in the south paddock. Adam had proved to be invaluable. He was an incredibly accurate marksman, and a natural horseman. He had such a quiet and unobtrusive nature that the animals readily took to him. For instance, the stubborn, injured stud he'd won at a card game. The owner's didn't want to breed him because he had a genetic disorder, and he was hopeless as a racehorse because nobody could ride him. Adam had tamed the horse and ridden him all-800-acres along the east boundary in one afternoon. At first Buddy thought it might have been luck, but after the horse almost bucked Mary, he decided that wasn't the case. His wife was a gifted horse whisperer. Obviously the horse seriously was a dud, or maybe he'd just been destined for Adam. He'd called the stud, Tiny of all things. He had always wondered after the name. Perhaps it had to do with the amount of intelligence the animal had, Buddy mused. With Adam you never could tell.
Adam never spoke much; he was rather the quiet observer. What he knew of the man's past was only what Logan Cale had provided. Logan Cale was a contact Buddy had through the Eyes Only informant net. Logan had called him a few weeks ago, asking if he could do Eyes Only a favor. Considering the money Eyes Only had saved him and many other ranchers when he did the expose on a corrupt high-end cattle trader. He'd only been too happy to help.
It was just over a year ago, that it had been almost impossible to make good money at the major stockyards; St Pauls and Seattle, Newmark. "Tex Make'em Best" had been deliberately infecting stock before it went on the market. Jed Tex's men would contaminate the feed and the disease would spread rapidly amongst the closely confined cattle. It wasn't contagious to humans, but the meat didn't comply with industry standard and was impossible to sell. It seriously hurt the cattle trade. The disease was fast acting and made the cattle sick, some even died within hours of infection. He'd even infected some of his own stock so he wouldn't be suspected. Because the yards weren't heavily surveillance, it took an insider to spill the beans - the undercover work of an Eyes Only Informant. Eyes Only broadcasted the story and Tex and his business were crushed. The company was sued by hundreds of traders and the stockyards themselves. Not to mention his getting clobbered by Animal Welfare groups.
All he'd been told about 'Adam Thompson', what that he was a man in need of a new identity. He hadn't asked a lot of questions. Just where was he from previously, did he have family and would he bring any trouble to the ranch.
Logan had said that Adam had lost his memory, and that he had a dangerous past. It wasn't a past he wanted to remember, which is why Eyes Only was helping him escape and make a new life. He came from all over and his family were scattered. Max was a close friend from Adam's past, who'd seen him off at the hospital. She said she had wanted him to leave it all behind and start afresh, but needed to make sure he would be okay.
Well, Buddy thought, the man's family had turned up to claim him. And from the sounds of them, they seemed all right. Adam being up in the mountains would give them a chance to assess them a little better before they gave him up.
Checking the clock on the kitchen wall, Buddy got out of his seat. They'd been here in another four hours. He had a lot to get done before then. Walking up behind Mary, he pulled his wife into his arms and hugged her tight. Tilting her chin up gently and gave her an encouraging smile. "It'll be fine, love." With a soft kiss, he released her and took his jacket and hat from the coat rack. Pulling on his winter coat, he gave her one last look from the door. "See you round noon."
Mary watched her husband's back from the kitchen window. The snow drifted softly with the breeze and his shoulders were soon lightly dusted with snowflakes. Despite his calm and reassurance, Mary couldn't shake the apprehension in her heart. In the short time he'd been here, Adam had really grown on her. He was the son every mother dreamt of having. Always courteous, an easy smile greeting her at every meal and he was dependable. Whatever the chore, she knew he'd see it done. He also shared her life's passion - horses. If Tiny found something special in Adam, it was for good reason. Men like Adam were rare. Like her Buddy. She smiled to herself as she cleared the breakfast dishes. The heavens had truly blessed her; a good man, a profitable and successful ranch, many great friends and now Adam.
They never had any children of their own. There'd always been children about on the ranch; relatives, friends, worker's children, but none she could claim as hers. She had a rare condition that caused her to miscarry in the first trimester. At first they tried several remedies but then other problems arose that affect her ability to do anything. She got intolerable cramps and it frustrated her to no end that she felt useless. After the fourth-failed pregnancy, she resigned to the fact that it just wasn't meant to be.
Buddy had been ready to adopt, but she had chosen to throw herself into work and indulge her passion of horses. Maybe there was a reason they weren't meant to have children. She didn't debate it. "The universe is right on schedule, everything happens for a reason," her mother had always counseled. Her mother, God bless her, was part Indian and believed very much in destiny. She'd kept that belief. Which is why even though she felt saddened by the thought of Adam leaving, she was sure it had its purpose. And perhaps he had fulfilled his part in her life, however short it had been.
Turning on the taps and filling the sink, Mary put her mind to work on how she would get to know Adam's family. Not only could she learn a little more about the man she'd come to love as a son. She would be better prepared to provide him with support, if facing his past wasn't something he was ready for.
