Underestimated Part 5

"No tears, Morgan. I am doing you the biggest favor of your life. You are going to live like a queen and all you have to do to earn it is listen to me. Now get dressed. We are leaving," he demanded with a clinched jaw and a look that frightened me to the core. He moved my knees apart and looked down. I quickly snapped them back together. He snickered.

I dressed quickly and pulled on my sneakers.

My dad never said a word as I was led from the trailer. He was too busy counting the dollar bills and antic.i.p.ating his night at the bar.

I rode in the back seat with Drew, and the two other men sat up front. We drove in silence other than Drew being on his phone talking business and getting mad because of the poor reception. We were driven for almost two hours, and I wondered where I was going. Where was I going to be living? He said we had a plane to catch, but we kept driving and driving. Finally, we arrived at a small airport and Drew led me by my elbow to the private jet.

I looked around, wondering if I could run, knowing that I couldn't.

"Bring us back some refreshments once we are in the air," Drew told the man that didn't exam me. I would soon learn that this man was around a lot.

I was now nervous about flying. I had never been on a plane. h.e.l.l, I had never been out of the mountains.

Drew directed me to the leather seat and told me to put my seatbelt on. The white leather was the softest thing I had ever felt in my life, and although I was scared s.h.i.+tless about my future, I couldn't help but to be a little excited about the flight.

Drew sat beside me and buckled in, as well. Once we were up, I looked out the small window and was in awe of gliding through the clouds. He touched my hair and smiled at me. I flinched and pulled away.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Las Vegas," he answered.

"Las Vegas?" I asked.

"Did you not hear me the first time?" he snidely remarked.

I didn't know how to respond. He obviously expected some other reply, but I didn't know what it was, so I didn't say anything. I stared out the window, wondering what lay ahead.

I wasn't a dummy. I knew the distance between West Virginia and Las Vegas. I couldn't believe that I was going that many miles from the only home I had ever known. Would I ever see my brother again? How would my mom ever find me? My dad could rot in h.e.l.l. I didn't care if I ever saw him again.

The man brought two gla.s.ses of wine along with some cheese and crackers. Drew handed me the gla.s.s of wine, and I sipped it. I didn't like it and thought it was bitter and sweet. I of course drank it, and the cheese and crackers helped settle my stomach. I had never tasted such rich cheese in my life. If I did eat cheese it was the wrapped imitation kind with not much flavor at all.

I was brought back to current when I sipped my empty cup of tea. It was a lot easier to tell myself that I was going to move here and never think about my previous twenty five years on this earth than it was to actually do it.

Maybe I should seek counseling. No. No. I just need to occupy my mind and stop thinking about the past. I liked my job. I loved Lauren, and my house was perfect for me.

I even loved the rough terrain beach.

I woke in a panic once again, too early. I sat up and calmed my speeding heart. I was getting used to talking myself down. I thought about the dream and wondered why it always went back to my childhood. I got up and looked out the window. The moon was full and had a misty halo circling it. I could see Justin screaming for me not to let the social worker take him. He was so little and scared. All I could do is watch them take him. They didn't take me because the lady explained that n.o.body would want a seventeen year old girl and that I was old enough to take care of myself. She promised that I could see him, but every time I called, she had a different excuse as to why I couldn't.

I showered even though I should have gone back to bed. I pulled on my new cotton panties and fuzzy socks. I checked myself out in the full length mirror, hanging on the back of my bedroom door. My jeans fit much better than the ones that I had brought with me. I wore one of my new s.h.i.+rts as well, and that too looked good on me. It fit snug and hugged my body in all the right places. I pulled a white b.u.t.ton up s.h.i.+rt overtop. I knew I should have worn my old clothes. I was going to get dirty. I was sure of it.

I pulled up to the curb of the coffee shop, knowing that it was closed on Sundays, I didn't have to worry about taking any parking s.p.a.ces. I made one pot of coffee for myself and looked around. Where do I begin? I was sure the place had never had a good cleaning, and after a week, my OCD couldn't take it a second longer. I knew I could rearrange things to make better use of the s.p.a.ce. It was a decent size store. It was just going to take more manpower than me. Maybe I could talk Lauren into helping me. I decided that I would start at the very front and work my way back. I needed to work on the front while the store was closed.

I poured a cup of the delicious coffee and started on the windows. Wow. These things have never been cleaned. I cleaned the windowsills first, using three buckets of water to rid the wood from the dust and grime.

Starlight definitely wasn't the cleaning type. After cleaning the wood trim I decided that I should clean the walls, as well. I was sure that they had never had a good scrubbing either.

The sun was just coming up, and I was almost finished with the front wall. I was astounded at the difference between the front wall and the side walls. They weren't tan after all. They were a very unique pale yellow. I liked it. I was just finis.h.i.+ng up with the window cleaner on the door when I heard the tap on the gla.s.s. I peeked down from the chair that I had been using for a ladder and hopped down.

"Kind of early for criminals eh, sheriff?" I asked, opening the door for Dawson.

"Or late," he replied, stepping in, "and I told you, call me Dawson."

"What can I do for you?" I asked, not wanting to stop my task at hand. I was making good time, and I wanted to keep at it.

"I just got off of the night s.h.i.+ft and saw the lights on here. What on earth are you doing here this time of morning?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Couldn't sleep, I have had this on my mind since I started working here, so I decided to get up and get it done."

"Wow," he said turning to the clean storefront.

"I know. Isn't it nice?"

"It's amazing," he said, not believing the difference. "You have a cup of coffee?" he asked, walking to the pot not giving me time to answer.

No. I don't. I want you to leave. I don't have time for entertaining.

"Sure, help yourself."

I didn't stop to chat or entertain. I emptied my mop bucket again and started on the next wall, hoping he took the hint. He didn't. He sat at the table and watched.

"You know coffee has caffeine. I would think after working the night s.h.i.+ft you would want to go home and sleep," I tried.

"Are you trying to get rid of me?"

Yes. That is exactly what I am trying to do.

"No, not at all, but if you stick around too long, I might put you to work."

"Let me go home and change, and I would be happy to help you."

I was speechless for a moment. I was joking. I didn't think he would take me up on it.

I laughed. "Thanks, but I'm okay. You should get some sleep."

"I actually won't go to bed until tonight. I am on days during the week, and if I sleep, I will be all messed up and won't be able to sleep tonight."

"Thanks for the offer but I couldn't ask you to help me."

"I don't think you asked, Riley. I think I offered."

Now what the h.e.l.l was I supposed to do? I could use some muscles to help me move the shelves, and I would really like to move the cash register counter closer to the door.

"You'll get dishpan hands."

"I'm a bachelor. I am used to dishpan hands."

Great, just what I need, a bachelor.

I turned to look at him, trying to think of something to say. I noticed how handsome he was and how nice he looked in uniform. He had a military cut, and I could tell that he was very well built. He was wearing a five o'clock shadow and had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. I wondered if they were contacts.

What the h.e.l.l is wrong with you, Morgan? You are not getting involved with a man. Forget it.

I broke our gaze and turned back to wiping the wall. I still hadn't said anything, and had no idea what to say. I had never in my life said no to a man. I wasn't trained that way.

"It's settled. I'll see you in an hour."

Dawson left, and I sank to the floor. I didn't want him to help. I didn't want him around. I jumped when my cellphone started singing something about having a girl's night out. I knew it was Lauren. Every time she was around she was changing the ringtone on my phone.

"Where the h.e.l.l are you? I was going to come over and eat your leftovers."

"At the shop cleaning, you can go over and eat my leftovers if you come here and hangout with me so that I don't have to be alone with the sheriff."

"Why is the sheriff there?"

"He saw the lights on and stopped to make sure everything was okay. He saw what I was doing and has now gone home to change so that he can come back and help me."

"Are you kidding me, Ry? That man doesn't have an interest in women. He hasn't dated since his wife left him."

"When was that?" I asked for unknown reasons.

"Um, let's see. I have been here for almost two years, and I think she left about a year before that so I would say three years or so."

I almost asked why she left and then remembered that I didn't care.

"Please come here. I don't want to be alone with him."

"Fine, I will be there in a little bit, but I don't understand you. Let me get Dawson Bade alone."

"Well, I will gladly go to the back so that you can do that."

"Yeah right, I have asked that man out three times now. My ego won't take any more than that."

I was dreading the day ahead with Dawson. I didn't mind Lauren and was glad that she was coming, but I really, really, really didn't want Dawson to be there.

Lauren showed up first, and Dawson was only ten minutes behind her. Lauren and I were talking about how handsome he was, or she was anyway. I was trying my best not to notice. That worked until he showed up in jeans and a nice fitting t-s.h.i.+rt.

Oh, my G.o.d. Stop it, Riley.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun we had. We all worked and talked. I was relieved that I didn't have to answer any personal questions. I didn't really have anything to talk about, but commented on the things that Dawson and Lauren talked about. We managed to get all of the walls washed down and after Lauren, and I moved all of the things from the shelves we all turned them. After three tries, I had them the way that I wanted them. I was proud of myself. I had a really hard time, telling them that I didn't like it the way we moved it the first time, and the second time was even worse. Thank G.o.d Dawson picked up on it.

"You don't like it, do you?" he asked, looking at me staring at the shelves.

I looked over to him, and our eyes did that uncomfortable locking thing again.

"Not really," I smiled and turned my eyes quickly back to the shelves.

We worked until after four and stopped when our pizza arrived. We all sat at the same table, and I looked around at our work. I couldn't believe we got as much done as we had. I just wished we would have gotten the wood floors cleaned. After moving the shelves, you could really see a difference in the two toned wooden floor. The walls were spectacular, and I was going to talk to Lauren about her friend in the construction business about having the ceilings painted. The register by the door was a lot nicer too. You could actually engage in conversation with the customers, rather than being in the back of the store.

I hope Starlight isn't mad about changing everything.

"Earth to Riley," Dawson said snapping his fingers.

"What? Sorry. I was just thinking about what to do next."

"I'm leaving," Lauren abruptly said, afraid that I was going to start another project at that time.

"I didn't mean now," I said, giving her a look of, don't leave me alone with him.

It didn't work.

"I will see you at home. I need a shower," and she was out the door. I knew she was leaving me on purpose and wanted me to be alone with Dawson.

"You should probably leave and get some sleep too," I said to Dawson, standing up to clean up our paper plates.

"Yeah, you wore me out today too. I should sleep like a baby."

The mention of sleep made me apprehensive about going to bed. I wasn't sleeping much lately, and I hated waking and remembering my nightmares.

"You can go. I'm not far behind you. Thanks for your help today. I greatly appreciate it."

Dawson stood and sucked the noisy soda through the ice of his cup. "Don't mention it. It was fun. I would love to see the look on Starlight's face when she walks in this door."

"I just hope she's not mad. I mean she did tell me to do whatever I wanted, but I'm not sure meant remodel the whole place," I smiled.

"She will love it. I'll see you later."

Please stop smiling at me like that.

"Okay. Thanks again for your help."

I didn't leave and worked until after nine. I was hoping that getting myself good and exhausted would cause me to fall into a deep sleep and not be tormented by my dreams.

It worked, and I slept sounder and healthier than I had since I had left Drew.

I felt rehabilitated and improved as I unlocked the back door to the store on Monday morning. The three locals showed up just as the last pot of coffee had run through. All three of the older men made a big deal about how clean the place was. I felt very comfortable with them for the first time, and had no problem talking and laughing with the men as they drank their morning coffees.

I was rearranging some clothes on the rack toward the back of the store when I heard the one man that they called Tom.

"Good morning, Sheriff. What brings you out and about on a Monday?" he asked, knowing that he was usually only there on Sat.u.r.day mornings.

"Morning, Tom, Jake, Luke. Just thought I would stop in and see what all the talk about the new look was all about."

I smiled, amused that he didn't mention doing half the work.

I was looking right at him still carrying the smile when he looked around, looking for me, I was sure.

He smiled when he saw me. "Morning, Riley."