Your Cheatin' Heart

Chapter Two

DISCLAIMER: (is looking rather harried because of her recent escape from the police) Okay... I'm back... and I still don't own them... now read... YIPE! (police are back. Panamint starts running madly in the opposite direction)

Dick: Okay, now that she's out of the way, we can start the story...

By the afternoon the next day, I felt well enough to get out of bed and actually do something. But, more importantly, Alfred felt I was well enough to get out of bed and actually do something. So I did. I went out to the stables, grabbed a brush and began to groom my pinto. His name was Rainforest. Bruce gave him to me on my 14th birthday.

About halfway through with the brushing, I heard someone enter the stable and stop right in front of Rainforest's stall. It couldn't have been Bruce or Alfred because the steps were too light. The only one left was Tracie. So I ignored her.

However, like most people I don't like, she refused to be ignored.

"Hi," Tracie greeted.

"Hi," I said, not even bothering to turn around and look at her. Anyone responsible for getting me kicked out of my own home was no friend of mine.

"You have a beautiful horse, Dick," she continued. I knew by the way Rainforest tossed his head that she was stroking his nose. "What's her name?"

"It's a he, and his name is Rainforest."

"Oh."

There was a pause. I still refused to look at that woman, and I liked her even less when I realized she was giving me the once-over. If there's one thing I don't like, it's getting the once-over. That and being replaced by some ditzy female. Although Tracie had seemed pretty sane so far…

"You don't like me much, do you?"

Apparently, I was right. She wasn't as much of an idiot as I had expected. Was that good or bad?

Well, since she seemed to have some sort of brain in her blonde head, I decided to be completely honest with her. And so, turning to her with what I hoped was a cold expression, I proclaimed, "No. I don't."

Good, it was out. Unfortunately, Tracie didn't look the least bit upset.

"Why not?" she asked.

I sent another glare in her direction.

"Oh? Isn't it normal not to like the person who's about to get you kicked out of the only home you've known for the past six years?" I asked as sarcastically as I could.

"Kicked—!" Tracie opened the stall door and stood next to me even as she continued, "What in the world are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb, you know what!" I shot back angrily.

I stalked over to Rainforest's left side and began brushing there instead. My temper got the best of me a couple of times and I brushed a little too hard, but not enough to really hurt him.

"Dick, I honestly don't know what you mean," Tracie insisted.

"Alright, we'll do it your way. Ever since I was nine, this has been my home. And I like it that way. You may have convinced Bruce that you're some sort of angel, but not me! People have tried to take me away before, but it didn't work—it didn't work then and it certainly won't work now!"

I threw the brush down, startling the poor innocent victim of this disaster, which would be Rainforest. Then I stormed out of the stall.

"Dick!"

Because of Alfred's training, I was too much of a 'young gentleman' to simply tell Tracie to shut up. So I froze and waited for whatever cruel taunts and insults she was about to throw in my face.

"Is that what you think? Do you honestly think that we'd throw you out of your own home?"

She was a good actress, I'll admit. She actually sounded disturbed and incredulous about the idea, as if she never heard something so ridiculous. I wanted to say something really sarcastic about that. However, the training kicked in again and all I could say was "You heard me."

Then Tracie seemed to be struggling for the right words, as if shocked by what she was hearing.

"Dick, we would never do anything like that to you!"

I spun around to face her and retort, "Then why didn't Bruce tell me about you and him? Why didn't he trust me? He always has before!"

"I'm afraid that was my idea," Tracie sighed. "From what Bruce has told me, I figured you were very close and were used to just the two of you living here. I didn't want to cause a rift between you, so I suggested we kept it a secret until we were sure our relationship was going somewhere. That's all."

"Well, it went somewhere alright," I muttered, still not sure what to believe. It sounded plausible, but still…

"Okay, Dick, I know now that it was a bad idea, but I only did it to prevent any petty arguments. You sounded like a level-headed, reasonable boy, but you'd already gone through one major crisis, what with your parents and all, so—"

"Bruce told you?"

"He didn't have to—I read the papers six years ago when he took you in."

Right, I knew that. It was blasted all over the front page of every newspaper in the country for at least three weeks. That comment really must have made me sound intelligent.

Tracie sighed again.

"Look," she said. "I admit I made a bad choice in keeping our relationship a secret. And I'm sorry. But I did it because I thought it was best for you—for everybody. Please… forgive me."

I crossed my arms and remained silent. In case you haven't noticed, I can be pretty stubborn when I want to be: a trait that Alfred has been trying to remove since the day I arrived. It hasn't worked.

"I really would like to be your friend."

I gave her a look, but said nothing. I was still mulling this over. Was she telling the truth, or was it just another lie?

Tracie's shoulders slumped in resignation.

"Well, I guess I can't make you like me… and I guess I have nothing left to say. If you'll excuse me."

And with that, she walked past me and headed out of the stable, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the horses.

Dinner was a silent affair that day. I still wasn't speaking to any of my elders—that included Alfred—for keeping me out of my own life. They seemed to sense that, especially Tracie, and didn't say anything. However, by the next morning, I had decided to buy Tracie's story. After all, Bruce trusted her, so why shouldn't I?

I found Tracie walking along the beach by herself. By the time I caught up with her, she had paused and was gazing out over the open ocean. Without even looking at me, she seemed to detect my presence and said softly, "It's beautiful here, isn't it?"

I followed her gaze. The sun had just barely risen over the horizon and was casting a yellowish glow on the calm ocean waters.

"Yeah," I agreed. There was an awkward pause as I tried to figure out what I was going to say. Making apologies was not my favorite of hobbies, although I knew it was much tougher for Bruce than for me. Still…

"Tracie—" I began.

"Dick," she interrupted. "I know you've come to apologize, but really—I understand. You had every right to act the way you did. I guess I kind of deserved it."

Oh, great. Don't you just hate it when people try to take you on a guilt-trip? It's even worse when they succeed. And she was succeeding.

"Really, I—"

"It's alright, Dick. Really, it's alright."

She smiled at me. I found I couldn't meet her gaze and glanced away, shoving my hands in my pockets, feeling a bit like the nerd that everyone at school considered me to be. Which I'm not. I just happen to know a little about everything and to keep to myself. That does not make me a nerd; that makes me an effective secret crime-fighter… I hope…

Tracie caressed my cheek and gave me a motherly kiss on the forehead. Then she headed back inside the house.

Women, I couldn't help but think.

Dick: Pinto? Have you been watching too much Bonanza again?

Me: Heck no! I watch just the right amount!

Dick: I knew it. That does it-I'm taking your TV into custody.

Me: NOOOOOO!

Reviewer Replies

Alexnandru Van Gordon-You're really observant. You know that, don't you? And don't worry, Tracie won't be sticking around very long. Do they ever? ;-)

Me: Gimme my TV back, ya moron!

Dick: You'll never get it back that way, for one thing.

Me: BUT "JURASSIC PARK" IS ON!

Dick: So?

Me: Argh!