Touch the Sky

Chapter 10

"I think you better go," Delilah said, turning to wrap her arms around Foster. She rested her head against his chest. "He's going to be back soon with more law men and I don't want you to get in trouble."

"I'm not afraid of a law man," Foster assured her. Delilah relaxed into him as he pressed a soft kiss onto the top of her head. She felt safe in his arms. And as the sudden burst of adrenaline she had in the kitchen wore off, her legs began to shake. She clung tighter to him as the throbbing in her face intensified. Delilah didn't object when he leaned down and lifted her carefully up into his arms. She hugged him around the neck, burying her face into the crook of his neck.

"What can I get you for your face?," he asked, setting her down onto the well worn sofa in front of her fireplace.

"A bag of frozen peas and a kitchen towel," Delilah said. She also sort of wanted an ibuprofen or a tylenol. But she didn't think Foster would know what that was or be able to locate it in the messy bathroom cabinet where she stored her over the counter medication.

Foster returned with the peas and the towel, handing them to her before he hurried back towards the kitchen. Delilah pressed the peas gently against her face, laughing a little at herself and how disappointed she was that Foster didn't join her on the couch. She might not be sure about what exactly was happening between them. But she had it bad for him. Delilah was certain of that.

When Foster returned to her side, it was with a rolled bundle in his hands. When he shook it out, it only took Delilah a moment to realize what it was. She reached forward, running her fingers over the sleek black fur. Foster must have skinned the bear that attacked them that night and cured the hide. He lowered it down, laying it over her lap to cover her legs. Delilah had gotten gifts from men before. Flowers and jewelry mostly. But she'd never received anything like this. She wasn't even sure what to say at first. Delilah's first instinct was to tell Foster that she couldn't accept the fur. It was too much. Foster worked so hard on it, she thought he ought to keep it for himself.

"It's beautiful," Delilah finally managed to squeak out as she stroked her hand over the hide.

Foster's face lit up into a handsome smile. "You like it?," he confirmed.

"I love it," Delilah assured him. She lowered her hand that was holding the frozen peas down into her lap. Staring into the steely blue of his eyes, she was completely lost to him. Delilah didn't even realize she was leaning forward until her lips were on his. The kiss was whisper soft. But she felt it tingle all the way down to her toes. She felt Foster's hands move to her waist. And there was no doubt in her mind that he was going to lift her into his lap if the knock on the door hadn't interrupted them.

"Hi Wade," Delilah said, opening the door after she ensured that Wade was alone on her porch. If Ray was with him, he was waiting in the car. Delilah took in Wade's bedraggled appearance. He looked like he'd slept in his uniform. And there were dark bags under his eyes. He also smelled strongly of stale beer and cigarette smoke. She knew he'd been having a bad time since his wife died. Everyone in town knew that. But he usually didn't look this bad. "You look like shit," Delilah observed.

"Thanks," Wade huffed. "I'd say I still look better than Ray Tate. You wanna tell me what the hell is goin' on around here this mornin'?"

"Fine," Delilah said, pushing the screen door open. "You better just come in. I'll get you some coffee." Wade stepped into the doorway, stopping mid-motion when he heard Remy's low toned grumbling growl. But this time, Delilah was quick to silence her giant trouble making dog. She snapped her fingers and sent the large beast off into the house to lay down. Wade followed her into the kitchen, stopping again when he saw a beast of another variety. The man in Delilah's kitchen was easily six and a half feet tall if not taller. His long hair and homespun clothing marked him as clearly as if he'd been wearing a t-shirt that said I'm a Farrell. And he wasn't just any Farrell. Wade recognized him as part of the rowdy group that came down into town and raided the grocery store some time ago.

"Is this the Farrell you didn't start trouble with outside that bar last week?," Wade asked.

Delilah smirked as she set his coffee down in front of him. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she replied. The lie was so obvious and blatant that all Wade could do was shake his head and laugh. He took the sugar and creamer Delilah set down on the table for him, doctoring up his coffee the way he liked it and taking a few large sips before he continued with his investigation.

The story Wade heard from Raymond Tate was that he and Delilah were having breakfast when a wild mountain dweller broke into her house out of nowhere and attacked them. Wade found the man's story highly suspicious from the start. Mostly because if it was true, that meant Ray left Delilah at her house with the wild attacker in question as he drove casually to the police station to bitch up a storm. Raymond was a shit cop. But he wasn't a coward. At least not a big enough coward to do something like that. He would have at least called the incident in before he left if his story had any truth to it. And now that Wade was here, watching Delilah and the giant wildman in question hold hands as they looked at each other like they were ready to hop into bed together the moment he left, Wade knew Ray's story was a load of crap.

"The faster you tell me why your brother-in-law showed up at my station house beat ta shit, the faster I'll be outta here," Wade said. He directed his words to Delilah. But it was her giant friend that spoke up.

"He deserves to die for what he did," the mountain man announced. "If I ever catch him around here again, he's done." Wade glanced over, slightly relieved that he wasn't the object of the large man's wrath.

"What did he do exactly?," Wade asked.

"He tried to force himself on her," Foster said, gesturing to Delilah. "...and he hit her."

"That true?," Wade asked, though it was obvious from Delilah's reaction that her large friend was telling the truth. She nodded.

"Ray showed up here this morning. He was mad because I haven't been answerin' his calls. He came on to me. And when I turned him down, he got physical."

"He's the one that did that to yer face?," Wade asked, getting another affirmative nod from the woman. She didn't look as bad as Raymond. But it was obvious that Delilah took at least one hard hit to the side of her face. "You wanna press charges?," Wade asked.

Delilah's eyes flicked towards the large wild haired man to her right. Then she shook her head. "Only if he tries to make trouble for Foster." Wade nodded. That was what he was hoping to hear. It wasn't that he didn't think Raymond Tate deserved some punishment for what he'd done. And there was no doubt in Wade's mind that he did exactly what Delilah said he did. Raymond Tate had been an asshole since grade school. But arresting a fellow officer for attempted rape with a Farrell as the only corroborating witness wasn't Wade's idea of a good time. And he was way too hungover for this assorted bullshit.

"I'll make sure Ray knows that it's in his best interest not to pursue his complaint," Wade promised. With that he gulped down the rest of his coffee and let Delilah walk him to the door. He paused there, considering his next words for a moment before he said them. "Be careful who you're keeping company with over here," he warned. "Everyone in town is already talking." People in Blackburg needed the mining jobs that One Planet was offering. And they knew the job was being held up by the Farrells. Wade didn't want to see any of that anger directed towards Delilah or her farm, even if she was a constant pain in his ass.

"Thanks Wade," she bristled. "As always, it was a pleasure," Delilah added, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she snapped the door shut in his face. She stuck her feet into her slippers before she shuffled her way back down the hall and into the kitchen.

"You think everything's alright then? With the law man?," Foster asked. Delilah nodded. She was sure she hadn't seen the last of Ray Tate. But at least she'd seen the last of him for today.

"Yeah," she said. "I think so." She rounded the corner, lifting up onto her tiptoes so she could wrap her arms around Foster's neck. He leaned down, brushing the tip of his nose against hers. The brief contact made her giggle. She had to admit she was eager to pick back up where they left off on the couch before Wade Houghton showed up. But there was something she wanted to know first. "How long can you stay?," Delilah asked.

"I said I was going hunting," Foster admitted, honestly feeling slightly ashamed of himself. He didn't like to lie. That wasn't the Farrell way. But as long as he did a little hunting on the way back, he decided it was more of a stretch of the truth than a full on lie. "Should be a couple days before anyone starts to worry."

"Really?," Delilah asked, her face lighting up into the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen.

Foster smiled back. He wasn't sure if he'd be welcome at Delilah's home at all, let alone for days at a time. He was prepared to simply drop off the gift he made her and head back up the mountain. But now he could see that his worries had been totally unfounded. She obviously wanted him there. And it felt good in a way Foster would be hard pressed to explain to have Delilah looking at him like he was the only man in the world. In all the time he knew her, G'Win never looked at him like that. For years, he thought he loved her. And he supposed that he did. But this was something else entirely. Something pure and beautiful.

"Really," Foster confirmed. He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers.

"What are we going to do for a few whole days," Delilah teased, nipping at his bottom lip. It was obvious from her tone that she had a few specific activities in mind to fill the time. Foster laughed, and then laughed harder when he saw her face light up with excitement. "Oh!," Delilah exclaimed. "Actually I do know something we can do! This friend of mine from college, her band is playing at this bar a couple towns over tonight. We should go!" She hadn't been out in ages. After Jonathan died, she hadn't really felt up to it. And since he had been more into hanging out around the fire than he was in bar hopping, Delilah really hadn't been out more than once or twice since they got married. "We can dance. And get some beer and chicken wings. I bet you've never been to a bar before," she added.

"I don't have any paper," Foster admitted, finding it hard not to get caught up in her excitement. He wasn't sure about the rest of what Delilah said. And his only Blackburg bar experience was being stabbed outside one. But he did like dancing and music. And beer.

"I've got it," Delilah assured him. And before she could object, she added, "...I could really use some help around the farm while you're here. So the least I could do is buy you dinner."

"Okay," Foster agreed, laughing when Delilah pulled him down by the shirt so she could kiss him again. As soon as he felt her slim body pressing up against his, he knew there was no point in objecting. He'd take her wherever she wanted.