A Walk In The Wilderness (3 page)

    He was interesting, intelligent and very talented, as well as good-looking.  She thumbed through all the information and stared at the glossy 8x10 for a long time before she turned out the light.

    Patricia was not in class the following day.  Caitlin was almost glad of it.  She was still thinking hard about the prior evening and all that had happened.  It had been wonderful, yet unsettling. 

    She was drawn by Skyler’s music; and if she could have been honest, she’d have admitted that she was drawn by Skyler, himself. He had been very nice to her, really. 

    She was a bit confused by his overture toward her, though.  Why had he done such a thing?  She supposed they could go again, together; if Patricia wouldn’t leave her alone with him!  Caitlin had no intention of being toyed with by a passing musician.

    Still, there had been that one question that she’d left unanswered:  “Do you know Jesus?”  For she knew that Skyler had been asking her, though Patricia had answered instead.  It annoyed her that she couldn’t quit thinking about it. 

   She played his CD again the next evening, and mulled over her strange encounter with this most intriguing man.  She couldn’t seem to bring closure to the interesting experience. 

     She napped the evening away, and went to work that night feeling rather tired.  The first hour went by slowly.  It was another quiet night, hour after endless hour, with no business to attend to.  She tried to study for finals.

    Then, around one in the morning, a group of four men came through the lobby, talking and laughing quietly.  Caitlin looked up and smiled at them fleetingly as they headed toward the elevators.  

     “Goodnight.”  She said politely.

     She realized then, that one of the men had stopped and was approaching the desk.  She looked up to ask if she could help him, and encountered a pair of very dark, brown eyes.  The words froze in her throat as he came near.

     “Caitlin, isn’t it?”  he asked curiously.

     “Yes.  Hello, Mr. Vaughn.  I didn’t realize that you were staying here.”

    Skyler Vaughn looked at his companions, and waved them on.  “I’ll be along later.”  He dismissed them.  Then, he turned back to smile at her.  “I am.  And I had no idea that this was the hotel which employs you.  I’m so glad I’ve run into you! I had the sinking feeling last night as you walked away, that I’d never see you again. ”

    “My uncle owns the inn.  He has been kind enough to allow me to work my way through college, this way.”  She answered nervously.

    Skyler smiled at her thoughtfully.  “How much longer have you got?” he asked.

   “This is my last year.”  She admitted.  She could feel a blush creeping up her neck.

     His smile broadened.  “You don’t like talking about yourself one bit, do you?  I wonder why?”

    Her eyelashes fanned over her cheeks.  “Boring subject, Mr. Vaughn.”  She answered tightly.

   “Not for me.  You mustn’t assume that everyone shares your opinion, you know.”  He chastised her lightly.  “Especially when I’ve been praying for another opportunity to see you.  Give me a break and take the clamps off a bit, will you?” he teased.  She looked at him warily and he shook his head.  “Now you’re looking at me the way a doe looks at a hunter.  I wonder why?”

     Her blush was brilliant.  Caitlin closed her eyes and wished that the floor would open and swallow her whole.  She just shook her head.

     Skyler sighed, and crossed his elbows on the desk.  “Listen, Caitlin.  I’ve got all night, and there’s nowhere you can go to hide.  Satisfy my curiosity, won’t you?  I just want you to talk to me, a bit.  Tell me about yourself.”

      She forced herself to look up at him.  He was waiting patiently, with eyes that sparkled forcefully.  “I heard a great deal from your friend last night, but there was precious little from you.”  He urged.

    Caitlin shrugged.  “They were her tickets.  I was just along for the ride, actually.  It was fitting that she get to do the talking.”

      He looked her straight in the eyes and just considered her carefully.  “Well, tonight is a very different thing.  Is it all right with you if I stay here and talk to you?  Or would you prefer that I go?”

      Caitlin looked at him, shocked, and blushed furiously.  “Well, I suppose it’s all right.  I don’t generally have any customers in the middle of the night.”

      “But is it all right with you?” he asked pointedly.

     She couldn’t quite look at him.  “Yes.” she agreed.  She felt a bit like a bug specimen being pinned to an exhibit board, until he smiled again. 

      “Good.”  He said quietly.  “Start by telling me what you’re going to do when you get out of college.”

     Caitlin shrugged.  “Look for a job.” She said lightly.  “Uncle has been very good to me, but it’s time for me to move on and get out of their hair.”

       He nodded.  “What of the rest of your family?  Where do you hail from?”

      She gave him a look that conveyed mistrust.  “I have no one.  I was an only child and my parents both died some years ago.”

     “I’m sorry, Caitlin.”  He said quietly.  “Perhaps you could find it in your heart and schedule to have lunch tomorrow with a lonely guy from Ontario.”

     She looked at him in almost sheer terror.  She felt the blood drain from her face and then rush back forcefully into a blush. 

      Skyler watched the emotions with quiet interest.   Finally, she looked up at him with incredulous, green eyes and then looked quickly away again.

      He put his index finger under her chin and lifted it, forcing her to turn her panic-stricken eyes back to his.  “Or dinner, if it’s early enough.  I really won’t bite you.  And I am a gentleman, I assure you.  I am not married, engaged or otherwise promised, and you will be perfectly safe.”

     She tried to smile, and lowered her eyes.  “All right.  Dinner would be better.” She managed to say .

     Skyler let the corners of his mouth turn up.  “Will wonders never cease?” he chuckled.  “Very good.  I suppose you take a long nap when you get home from school, don’t you?”

     “Well, actually, that’s my only sleep time because I work graveyard.”  She admitted.

      “Will four o’clock work for you?”

      “That would be lovely.”

     “After dinner, perhaps I could convince you to accompany me to the concert again.”  He suggested hopefully.

      “Well, yes.  I could, actually.  I don’t work tomorrow.”  

      “I’ll pick you up at your door, then.  What’s your room number?”

     “One sixty-two.”  She said immediately.  Then she wondered if she’d been wise, giving it to him.

      But he went on without reacting, and he got her to tell him all kinds of things about herself.  He kept her talking until half past three.  By that time, her blushes were fewer and farther between and she was talking with him quite freely. 

    “I suppose that I should get upstairs and try to get some sleep.”  He said, stretching wearily.  “I’ll see you at four.  And, thanks for letting me get to know you a bit.”  He added with a teasing smile.  “Goodnight, lovely Caitlin.” 

     She watched him walk away, and bit her lip uncertainly.  Now that it was over, a thousand questions and reservations filled her mind.  She could hardly believe that she had a date with this incredible man!  How suddenly he’d thrust himself into her life!

    Caitlin was still feeling dazed when her relief showed up at seven and she went to her room.  She hugged herself as she went through her clothes for something to wear.  She chose a teal dress with a Mandarin collar and cut, and frog closures down the front.  She had suede heels to match, and her white wool coat over all would be very nice.

     Her day was long and tedious, as she anticipated the coming night.  She didn’t get much sleep to speak of, and her classes were hard to concentrate on.  At last, she was getting ready for her date. 

       She answered her door at four sharp to a man wearing a forest green suit, a sea green shirt and black boots.  He looked exceedingly handsome.

      His eyebrows went up as he took in the dress, her long, wavy auburn hair and her smoky make-up.  She was a knock-out, and then some.

      “Hi.  Can you come in for just a sec while I get my coat and let the desk know I’ll be out?”  she asked with a sweet smile.

     “Sure.”  Skyler agreed, stepping inside, but leaving the door open.  He leaned against the door frame and watched her walk away.  Her long hair swung to her hips, but didn’t completely conceal her very trim waist, hips and legs.  He blew a sigh through his nostrils and tried not to think about what he was seeing. 

     He looked at the hotel room and recognized that it was much like his own.  Her bed covering was of her choice, obviously, and the placement of her personal objects showed that she was a resident and not merely a visitor.     

      “Vicky.”  She said evenly into the phone.  “I wanted to let you know that I’ll be out this evening.  Would there be a problem if I’m a little late getting back?  I did try to reach you earlier.  We could surely call it even from that deal when you went to the football game.  Great!  Thanks.  I really appreciate it.  I just don’t know, I’ll be going to a concert with a friend.  It shouldn’t be terribly late.  I’ll see you then.”

     She found herself blushing as she realized that he was scrutinizing her carefully.  She got her coat and handbag from the armoire.

      His rental car was new and expensive.  He opened the door for her and she felt like a princess.  No one had ever done that before, for her.  And the behavior continued as they went to the restaurant.  His hand in the small of her back was warm and he opened doors for her, left and right.

     The restaurant that he took her to was very, very nice.  Caitlin was glad that she’d chosen a dress that wouldn’t be a disgrace.  The corner booth that they were shown to put them at right angles to one another.  Skyler’s knee brushed hers as she sat down.  She blushed and pretended not to notice.  But the truth of it was, Caitlin was extremely aware of him.  So much so that it frightened her.

     However, Skyler leaned back as though unaware of her discomfort and gave her a half-smile.  “You look lovely.”  He told her softly.

     The blush couldn’t be helped.  “Thank you.” She said quickly.

      As the evening progressed, Caitlin began to relax.  She found Skyler to be a very pleasant and attentive date.  He was kind to a fault, and continued to ask a great many questions about her and about her life. 

    Finally, she drew some boldness up within herself and took the reins.  “Enough about me.  Tell me about you.”  She insisted.

      He shrugged.  “I’m just a piano player from Canada, lady.  I’m trying to put some music down and make a living at it.”

      “Do you have a family?” she asked.

      Skyler’s smile faded to a melancholy tone.  “No.  Not really.  I’ve got a sister someplace, but I don’t see her.  I’m pretty much alone.”  He gave Caitlin a look that gave her pause.  “I never realized until now just how alone I am.” 

     She smiled stiffly.  “What do you like to do when you’re not playing the piano?”

      Skyler shrugged.  “Rest, mostly.  Touring is a very draining and demanding commitment.  I have a pool at home, and I swim a bit.  I’m not all that much of a type to live hard and fast, really.”  He smiled at her.  “What about you?”

    She smiled shyly.  “School and work haven’t left me much time to do anything.”  She admitted.  “But before my parents died, I was avid with the horses.  They were pretty much my life.  I do swim a lot, and I read.  When I have the time, I like to develop my own photographs.”

     “Fascinating.” He said with satisfaction.

     “What’s that?” she asked blankly.

     “You.”  He retorted, showing her a dimple.  “I hate to say it, but I suppose I’d better head over to the theatre.”

    Caitlin smiled and immediately made ready to go.  They were both quiet during the drive across town, but it was a comfortable silence.

    “I’m surprised that they put you in a motel so far from the theatre.”  She commented as he opened the back door with a key.

     “Designed to keep any curious fans from finding me.”  He admitted.  He put a hand on her shoulder in the dark hallway, and reached for the light switches.  As they hummed to life, Caitlin was led by the hand up some stairs and was shown to a dressing room.

    “Let me quickly check to see that my clothes are here and ready for me, Cait.”  He urged.  He unlocked the door and flipped on the light.  The room was very comfortable, and there were two suits hanging on a rack.  Skyler smiled his satisfaction and closed the door behind them.  “Ever been on a big stage?” he asked as they walked toward the wings.

     “No.”  she admitted, her eyes taking in the vastness of the curving stage and the black emptiness of the auditorium beyond.  It was quite intimidating from this side.  She wondered how Skyler’s nerves could withstand the sea of faces and the daunting roar of the crowds.

      He smiled down at her.  “Come sit with me at the piano.”  He urged, and took her hand.  She shyly allowed him to lead her to the piano bench, and sat down next to him.  He was so close that it unsettled her a bit.  But that was soon forgotten as he began to play.  He had quite a touch.  His melodic, haunting riffs captivated her. 

     She stared at his shadowed face and thought him truly beautiful.  Quite suddenly, it came to her for the first time that they were entirely alone in the building.  The realization gave her grave discomfort.  She really didn’t know Skyler Vaughn at all.  Besides that, no one in the world had any idea exactly where she was, or who she was with. 

     Then again, she reminded herself, he had come here to perform.  It was silliness to think that he would do anything to her now, even if he were inclined.  Which she doubted.