The Risk

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.

"Pooh!" he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you." A.A. Milne

Chapter 11

Haley worked her spray bottle over the kitchen counter before wiping off the anti-bacterial mist with a paper towel. Pots or pans filled all the burners on the stove.

Nathan had been dropped off by Deputy Gary Jr. after the report was filed and the bus towed. "Is the Army coming to dinner, Hales?" Nathan mused hiding his own anger and frustration. He was trying to hold off telling about the accident as long as possible.

"I can't believe the weather made you this late. I'll have to warm dinner up." Haley sent him a perfect smile, too perfect. She had been so wired that it was either cook and clean or go out of her mind with worry with the new revelations about Tim Smith. "How does smothered pork chops, corn-on-the-cob and new potatoes sound with pumpkin pie for dessert?"

"Delicious!" Nathan sounded, bouncing in his step. Food was definitely a way to his heart

It was too bad that it took that lowlifes action to set this meal into motion. Smith wouldn't be able to hurt another child once he got his hands on him.

"Need any help?"

"Yes, I would appreciate it if you washed the dishes later. The food will be ready in fifteen minutes, that gives you time to catch the end of the evening news while I mop this floor"

Nathan couldn't focus on the Middle East issues being explained by NBC's Brian Williams. He was having a secret conversation with Cooper Lee, notifying him of the bus's sabotage. Lee had some information of his own.

Haley rambled nonstop during supper about the possible school expansion and other nursery school business. However, not once did she mention Tim Smith or her discussion with Cooper Lee.

Nathan listened with a growing sense of despair. She was hurting and unsure, but refused to share her pain or anxiety, just like when her parents died.

She was serving the pie when he could no longer hide the truth from her. "After I dropped the kids and Bevin off earlier, I had a little car trouble."

"What kind of trouble?"

"A blowout …. Going around the curve at Cheery Tree Bend."

"OMG! The kids."

"Haley, I told you. I had already finished the route. They're fine."

"A blowout?"

"Actually two, front and rear."

"But I just put brand new tires on the bus two months ago."

He dreaded saying it as much as she would hearing it, but it was necessary. "It appears that the tires were slashed, Beautiful."

They silently stared at each other. Then her eyes broadened with terror as his words caught up with her thoughts.

"You mean- how could he do something so awful? The children could have been hurt, died even and Bevin!" She shuddered with horror. "What about you, Sweetheart. You aren't-?

Nathan gently stroked her face with the back of his hand. "I wasn't injured. The insurance company is going to send an agent out this week. They'll have a rental out in two days. The bus has been towed to the auto shop. It's banged up pretty badly, but it will be good as new in no time. We were very fortunate, Hales."

Haley couldn't stop the tears from falling. "How could he do such a despicable thing?"

Nathan wiped her face with his paper napkin. "He's a lunatic. I'm glad he's no longer a threat to this community. I talked to Cooper. Tim Smith is gone, on the run. Your association with him is over. I don't care if this sounds selfish, but I'm glad as hell. I don't want you anywhere near someone with his issues. It's over, Beautiful"

She inhaled sharply, trying to fight off the rising sense of panic that had been a major companion to her since Cooper Lee's visit. "If only it were that easy." She was antsy, rising, she started clearing the dishes.

"That's a fact." He persisted.

Haley didn't respond. Nathan took the dinnerware from her hands and set them on the table before clasping her by the waist from behind and nudging her out of the room. down the hallway, and into the sunroom.

"Sit." He pointed to the wicker chair beside the fish tank.

"But-"

"No buts. I have dish washing duty, remember? Just sit here and breathe easy." He urged, laying his hands on her stiff shoulders. "Watch the fish, that always relaxes you. Gawd, you're so wound up."

Haley was too upset to fight. She leaned back, giving into his magic fingers as he massaged the kinks out of the tense muscles in her neck and shoulders.

"Good?"

She nodded with a plastered smile not wanted to worry him further.

"You can talk to me, Beautiful. Tell me how you really feel about this Smith bullshit."

He wasn't positive why it was so important for her to open up with him. It just was. Yes, he may be a little hypocritical since he easily put up barriers himself. But she had to know he was there for her. All she had to do was call on him.

"Please." He was as surprised as she was to hear a rough plea in his deep voice.

She moved left, just out of his reach. Her body slumped tiredly. "It's not over, Nathan. I have to inform all the student's parents."

"Haley- you're not thinking clearly. That kind of notification will only alarm the town for no good reason!"

"Their children have been exposed to a vicious murderer, that's reason enough!"

"We have no evidence he's harmed anyone. What purpose would scaring the towns people serve? Haley, think about this. It could ruin the schools reputation and put you out of business."

"That's the last thing on my mind. The children come first and I have to know if he threatened any of them or God forbid touch any of them .Their parents can talk to them about what happen to Mr. Smith and hopefully they will admit to any wrong doing on his part to them. I also asked Skills, Bevin's husband to come in and counsel the children since he's a child psychologist. I need parental consent for that. Nothing is more important to me than those kids …. Nothing!" She narrowed her ignited eyes at her as if he were her foe. Suddenly aware of her actions, she said tenderly. "I'm sorry, Sweetheart. I didn't mean to yell at you."

Her fears were getting the best of her, but she couldn't prevent it. First, she cooked enough food last a month. Then she had drank down two glasses of wine at dinner, but hadn't actually eaten anything on her plate, aimlessly shuffling around the foods so it looked like she was eating so Nathan wouldn't notice her lack of appetite. Meanwhile, she was shoveling food at him like he hadn't eaten in years. Now she was screaming at him when all the wanted to do is crawl up on his lap and let him hold her while she cried her eyes out. The chance of that sadistic predator touching or making plans to attack any of her sacred children made her want to vomit.

Nathan's feeling were soaring as high as Haley's, but his was rough and directed at a single man. The freak deserved to suffer for the anguish he had left behind. Haley was hurting. Nathan longed to ease her worries. But all he could do was offer support that she didn't seem to want.

"Haley, lets just follow the routine. The FBI and local police are aware of the situation. Cooper verified that and from what I have been told, Skills Freeman is one of the best in his field. Let him do his job. If Smith got to those children in any way, he'll get it out of them and help them through it."

The dark haired man leaned back in the garden tub, letting the hot swirling bubbles dance around his naked frame. He absently kneaded the tenderness in his midsection and arms.

"It's been a long day," were his unspoken words, eyes closed. Unfortunately, the stress and irritation that had plagued him all evening was as easily rid as the discomfort in his joints and muscles. His temper hadn't benefited from watching Haley's misery.

Yes, she had spoke some of her apprehension, but most of it was guarded right below the surface. She shut him out, claiming complete exhaustion and calling it an early night.

Only she could reach the soft-hearted emotions deep inside his soul that others claimed he didn't possess. Her smiles were as refreshing as a cold bottle of water after a cross country run. For more time than he cared to measure, he had gone about his career, comforted by the knowledge that she remained somewhere safe.

Now, a weirdo like Smith had wormed his way into her world and threatened her safety and happiness. What bothered him the most was that for the first time since their reconciliation, he wasn't about to reach her. He couldn't protect her.

He had done his best to comfort her with his words, over and over. Yet, she held on to her sadness like a buffer. He could feel it, see it in he cloudy brown eyes, but she kept him at arms length. He was never more frustrated!

As his thoughts returned to the bus's blowout, he gritted his teeth with rage. It wasn't odd for him to come face-to-face with death on a daily basis. But this vendetta was not against him. It was meant for Haley- his Haley. The thought left him trembling with fury. He had never hunted another human before with the sole purpose of ripping him apart with his bare hands- that was until tonight. Nathan knew if he had been able to find Smith, he would have been the one being arrested, after he killed that jackass.

What was wrong with him? He had slipped up. He should have had Smith checked out when he first arrived and Haley told him of her problems with the employee. It would have taken one lousy phone call and Tim Smith would have never gotten close to Haley. He swore madly.

Having rinsed the tub and discarded the cleaning items in the hall closet, he stopped in the midst of drying himself. Haley's muted weeps of despair could be heard from behind her chamber door.

He couldn't stand that sound. He knocked soundly. When she didn't respond, he made sure the towel hanging low on his middle was firmly in place and entered Haley's room. Light from a plug-in air freshener illuminated where she lay in a ball on the bed, her arms fastened to the pillow, her face pressed deep into it, her whole body shaking with grief.

Nathan's heart clenched with care as he crossed the room to the bed. She needed him and she was his sole priority as he dropped down beside her. "Beautiful …. Don't cry," he whispered in a gentle tone. He stroked her hair, trying to soothe or pacify her.

Unable to bridle the roaring intensity racking her small frame, Haley cried harder. It tore at Nathan. He picked her up, lifting her onto his lap until her moist cheek lay against his firm chest and her slim arms crossed his waist as she accepted the console of his powerful arms.

"Shhh … shhh, Beautiful. It's gonna be alright." he stroked, his lips right below her ear lobe. His hand tossing the damp, pillow-soft waves from her shaded face. "It not the end of the world. None of this is your fault."

When her sobs increased, Nathan slid back on the bed with one of the shams the only separation he had from the headboard and he carefully rocked her like a little child. Her hurt was his hurt, she was his life.

As her gut-wrenching tears eased somewhat, he murmured soothingly. "Hales, you're going to make yourself sick. Stop this. He isn't worth it." He wiped the tears that stained her cheeks with his large blunt fingertips.

"But I should have kno-own he was a bad guy. It is my fault." She breathed, burying her face against his collarbone.

"Beautiful- can't you"

"I should have kno-own."

"How could you have know?" Finding a box of tissue on the nightstand he cleaned her blotchy yet still pretty face.

The tears had calmed down, but not the agony, " It was my responsibility. Those beloved babies …. Their parent trusted their care to me …. To …. To keep them safe."

He cupped her chin in his wide palm. " Listen to me! You depended on a reliable agency with a stellar reputation and checked all of Smith's references. None of this is your doing. They didn't he had a criminal record either. He lied to them- he lied to you."

"But-"

"No. I won't let your blame yourself for that swine's behavior. The facts as we know them are: 1.He's never been alone with any of the kids 2.There's was always a teacher or aid around. Correct?"

"Yes."

"In the school the children are always well supervised."

"You don't think he hurt one of them, do you?"

"When would he have a chance? You and your staff take great care of the little sprouts. Beside, Cooper said the murderer had a preference for teenage girls. He was probably only in Tree Hill to lay low for a while, earn some cash before he moved on."

"God, I hope that's true," She said softly, wanting desperately to believe Nathan.

"Haley, face it. We may never get the whole story. Let's be thankful that as far as we know he hasn't done his worst."

She smiled through the waterworks. "I'm so glad you're here. I don't think I could handle this by myself."

Nathan tingled when her velvety lips brushed down the column of his neck and across his shoulder blade. Her sweetness was not lost on him. The thin material of the yellow chemise gown she slept in, was transparent. He was sure she would have change if she was any condition to notice that she didn't normally wear lingerie around him. It only enhanced her lovely features. It opened below the bodice, showing the smooth plain of her middle and the ruffle trimmed matching bikini panties as her round bottom fit snuggly against his sex.

He convinced himself she was only showing her thankfulness, nevertheless his tone was raspy when he said. "You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for, Beautiful." He face was still pressed into his shoulder and her breathe warmed his skin. She smelled like cinnamon and nutmeg (like the pie she made for dinner).

"I still feel accountable."

"Well don't. If you're going to blame someone, it should be me. I should have had him checked out when you first raised doubts." His error have proven unlucky for her. The incident with the tires, attested to just how dangerous Smith was. If anything had happened to her …. Nathan instinctively brought her closer, sheltering her in his arms. He chose to ignore the undeniable proof of his arousal. His shaft was tenting the towel.

"Oh, Sweetheart. …..No." She looked into his eyes, caressing his ear with her tiny hand. "I was the one that refused your offer. You trusted my opinion."

All he knew was she had been hurt and he could have somehow prevented it. His anger was now directed inwardly. "I didn't protect you! None of this should have happened, Haley."

She felt his self-loathing and heard his defeat, " Nathan, be reasonable. You weren't here when I hired him. When you arrived you were in no condition to properly evaluate someone. You were recovering from gun shot wounds for goodness sakes!"

There was no excuse as far as Nathan was concerned. Her happiness and security was far too critical to him. His carelessness could have cost her life.

"I'm so glad you here with me and not halfway to China or in a little corner of the world. I need you with me right now …. so much, Sweetheart." She cuddled against him.

Nathan seriously doubted Haley realized how deeply her sincere and lowly spoken declaration had affected him.

"How about some hot chocolate? Might help you sleep." He fought but couldn't force his eyes from the soft curves beneath the silk fabric. The creamy peach skin of her chest rose, practically spilling from the skimpy garment, her narrow shoulders left bare with only a ruffled strap each and a darker yellow band of satin fell right below her breast. Her legs were curled across his thighs and her supple bottom rested snug against his lust for her.

"Please …… just hold me all night." She was pleading in her need for his support and warmth, his strength. If she grasped the daze her spicy scent had on him, she didn't give any sign. "Hold me closer, Sweetheart. Care for me."

"I don't think we should be doing this." He uttered a wisdom he couldn't deny.

"Why not?" She pulled back, surveying his eyes with confusion.

"I want you so damn bad, Beautiful. …… I can't stop myself. ….I don't want to anymore." He strummed passionately.

No matter how he tried, he couldn't pull his eyes form her splendid beauty. He didn't have to strain his imagination to recall the deep pink hue of her plump nipple straining seductively bumping the cloth. He knew the richness of her skin, he knew how full and ready her breast were, knew the exact circumference of her shapely waist. Moisture beaded his forehead, hunger twisted his stomach, while his manhood was painfully ready for Haley…..

Pamela