A Walk In The Wilderness (9 page)

     “No.  Caitlin, no.  It’s good for you to talk about it.  I do believe you.  After what I saw tonight, I had no doubt at any rate.”  David shuddered subtly, remembering what he’d seen.  He’d been able to actually feel Caitlin’s shock.  He could see it in her braced arms, desperate for freedom from his steel embrace as he imprisoned her.  As he mauled her.  He recalled feeling a bit of her horror and embarrassment at Skyler's behavior. 

    He was beginning to appreciate this girl’s very clear distaste for Skyler’s manhandling.  “And I really think it would be a good idea, if you and I switched rooms, tonight.  I would feel much better.  If your uncle calls or comes to see you, I’ll bite the bullet and explain.  What do you say?”

     “You’ll never explain it to Skyler, if he should come knocking on the door.”  she warned dryly.

       David gave her a slow, lazy smile and chuckled.  “I wouldn’t even
try
.  I think it would be most amusing for Skyler to face another man at your door.  As long as
you
don’t mind what he’d think.” he challenged.

      Caitlin blushed furiously.  “It’s not
nice
, David.  And it’s not the truth.  Beyond that, I can almost agree.”

      He gave her a grin, with a challenging twinkle in his eye.  “I’d very much enjoy seeing his face.  And I’d enjoy even more, chasing him away.”

     Caitlin smiled and lowered her eyes, blushing.  “Well; it would certainly let him know that he’s not welcome.  Wouldn’t it?”

     “Indeed.”  David agreed, trying to hide a smile.  “Indeed, it would.  It will be our little deception.”  His dimples kept jumping into action.  Caitlin watched them in fascination.

      “So, you know Skyler quite well.”  she said slowly.

     “Too well.  He’s not a bad sort really, but he’s weak and unstable.  He loves to take the easy way,
and
indulge himself when he can.  It’s caused him a great deal of trouble in the past; and I’m not about to let him walk on
you
.” he explained evenly.  “Your life doesn’t need to be sullied because of him, and Connie.  It will be my pleasure to prevent it.”

      She looked up at him uncertainly.  He seemed a gallant knight, and her only defense, at the moment.  There was nothing to indicate that David had any motive beyond seeing to her safety, and teaching Skyler a lesson.  She was content. 

     The car pulled up in front of Kilpatrick Inn.  David opened his own door and got ot.  He went around, and held a hand to Caitlin as the driver opened her door, and she climbed out.  Then, he held her arm protectively. He smiled down at her with a sparkle in his eye. 

      “Don’t forget to look like you’re enjoying this, now.”  he teased.

     “I never have been much of an actress.”  she admitted softly.  “I have to tell you, I’m still ... so frightened.”  she admitted.  She was embarrassed by the shakiness In her voice.

     David’s head swiveled toward her worriedly as she gulped back a sob.  He turned her face toward him, and made her look up into his eyes as he held her shoulders. 

     “Caitlin.  I know.”  he assured her softly.  “Don’t worry, you can trust me.  I won’t let them harm you.  Now, listen.  Hold up your head, and walk into this lobby as though you own the place.  By the way, will you tell the clerk to hold your calls?  I might get some sleep, that way.”

     “All right.” she agreed.

     “And don’t be alarmed if I do things to put suspicion in Skyler’s mind.  It won’t hurt for him to wonder a bit about us.”  he whispered, slipping an arm around her waist.  She looked up at him, and he raised his eyebrows questioningly.  There was nothing in his eyes but a friendly, teasing glint.

     She grinned, and shook her head.  “You’re very naughty.”  she accused.

     He chuckled in reply as they walked up to the front desk. 

    Caitlin smiled at the clerk.  “Hi, Lauren.  Listen, will you hold my calls?  I’m exhausted!  If I don’t get some sleep tonight, I’m dead.  I’ve got finals next week.”

     Lauren looked up at the swarthy, handsome stranger with his arm around Caitlin.  His eyes were gleaming as he looked down at the pretty girl. 

    “Sure.”  Lauren agreed immediately.  She wondered what she might do if Uncle William became interested in his niece’s whereabouts.  This man obviously had plans for Caitlin, and Lauren seriously doubted that sleep was a part of the equation.

     “Thanks.  See you tomorrow.”  Caitlin said, with a sweet smile.

     David kept an arm around her, and whispered as they walked down the hall.  “He is watching us, from just outside the front door.  We’ll have to be a bit sneaky.” 

     “I wonder where he stashed Connie?”  Caitlin hissed as she put her key in her lock. 

    “Lord only knows.  As he's watching, I'll follow you.”  he murmured as he followed her into her room. 

     The place was like Caitlin, with the soft, lace eyelet bed covers and pillows, and the beautiful things she kept around her.  He picked up a hand-sized heart fashioned from ruby glass, and looked at it absently.  Then, he took another look around. 

      Antique rocking chair.  White lace.  Dried roses.  He smiled.  Caitlin was a romantic. 

    She opened her armoire, and took out a nicely folded nightgown.  White flannel with tiny pink rosebuds, and lace.  Then came a pair of jeans, a lavender sweater, some matching socks.  She put them all in a canvas bag, and added a pair of brown leather boots.  She reached into a drawer and put under-things quickly into the bag; but David was looking out the window, and didn’t even notice.

      She turned to him with a fleeting smile.  “I’m ready.”  she announced bravely.

    He smiled.  He liked Caitlin.  She was a proper young lady, and she was sweet.  Not to mention innocent, and completely without guile.  He loved her honesty.  “All right.  I’m down the hall in one twenty.”

     They opened her door slowly and silently -- and David looked up, and down the hall.  No one was visible.  He took her arm, and pulled her out.  After closing her door silently behind them, they walked quickly and quietly down the hall to David’s room.  Caitlin sighed as they opened his door, and locked it behind them as they went in. 

     It appeared that they’d gotten away with it.

     “Hey.  Everything is going to be fine.”  he comforted her gently.  She was visibly shaking.

    “Oh, but this is all so
wrong
!  David, I should never have pulled you into this terrible mess!”

     He chuckled quietly.  “You didn’t '
pull me in
'.  I thrust myself into the middle of it, Cait.  With gladness.  You must remember, I am well used to these games of Skyler’s, and it is not at all traumatic for me, as it must be for you.” 

     “Now, unless you have another knight in shining armor to call on, why don’t you just hand over your key?  I’ll give you mine in return, and we will say goodnight.”

      She nodded slowly, and he smiled. “Don’t answer the phone, whatever you do; or you’ll give away your location, and this will all have been for nothing.  Here’s a card with my cell phone number on it.  Just call, if you need me.  I don’t mind, even if you just feel uneasy.  I’ll come.  All right?”

     Caitlin smiled uncertainly, and nodded.  “Thank you, Mr. Majors.  You’ve been incredibly kind.”

    He sighed and looked down at her, with his hands on his hips.  “You’re welcome.  Call me David.  Now, you should get some rest; and we’ll have a good laugh over breakfast.  I’ll get myself some clothes, and be out of your way.”

      Caitlin nodded numbly, and sat down in the armchair to watch him.  He was very organized, and efficient.  He quickly selected a pair of jeans, an ivory cotton fisherman’s sweater, some socks and briefs. Then, he tucked them under his arm, and turned to look at Caitlin.  She looked peaked, and exhausted.

      “Are you going to be all right, Cait?”  he asked gently.

      She nodded, and smiled.  “Of course.”  she assured him.

     “All right.  Then say a prayer or two for me tonight, will you?” he asked with a chuckle.  “I really want this to go well.”

     She smiled shyly, and nodded. “That’s the least I can do.”  she agreed quietly.

     David smiled, and locked the door securely behind him on his way out.

CHAPTER THREE

    Caitlin found it difficult to sleep.  She saw two-thirty.  At three-thirty, the telephone rang, and woke her up.  She lay perfectly still, with her heart beating wildly. 

      It had to be Skyler, checking around for her.  No one else would call at such an hour.  She shivered and hugged David’s pillow closer, squeezing her eyes tightly shut.

      She managed a few hours of sleep after, and awakened to the sound of a tap on the door, at eight.  She sat up, and then cautiously tiptoed to the door.  “Who is it?” she whispered through the door.

      “David.” 

     Clutching a blanket around her, she opened the chain just enough to be sure.  David was standing outside, with damp hair and a grin.  He was dressed in the jeans and sweater, and was looking swarthy and satisfied, if tired.  She opened the door and admitted him, eyes wide.  He came in, and she locked and chained the door behind him.

     David sat in the wing chair, and rubbed a hand over his eyes.  Caitlin sat on the bed, wrapped in her white blanket, and waited with big eyes. 

     “Tell me, Caitlin.  What is this power that you have over men?”  he teased dryly.

      She looked alarmed. Her soft lips parted in protest, and her eyelashes batted in confusion.

      He chuckled.  “You
do
have a way about you, you know.”  he chastised.  “I was wondering why I was doing this, by the time morning came; but I knew also that I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”  he sighed. 

      “What happened, David?”  she demanded tightly.

    “Well, he did come.”  he chuckled.  “When I answered the door, he was incredulous.  Furious!”

      “What did he say?”

      “Not a word.  He just started swinging.”

     Caitlin gasped, and ran to kneel beside the chair.  Her soft, little manicured hands rested on his forearm in alarm.  “Oh, David.  Did he hurt you?  It’s all my fault!” she gasped.

     “No, no.  He didn’t hurt me.”  he scoffed, as her fingers explored the slight, purple swelling on the point of his cheek.  “But I’ll guarantee you that he
did not
appreciate finding me sleeping in your room.”

      “What did you tell him?”

      “He wanted to know where you were.  I just asked him where he thought you might be, and smirked at him.  Then, I advised him to leave you alone.  I told him that I rather thought you wouldn’t be …
amenable
to his attention anymore; and that I’d be with you every step of the way, on that.  I didn’t lie; but I gave him plenty of room to read between the lines.  He’s quite convinced, I’m afraid, that I was in bed with you last night.”

      “I’m so sorry that he hit you.” she stammered, evading his eyes.

     David laughed.  “I was expecting it, and I enjoyed myself.  The look on his face was worth every bit of it.”

      She sat there looking at him, with tears and confused admiration in her green eyes.  Her hair was like a soft, coppery cloud around her, to the waist, and her white gown and blanket made her look very sweet, innocent and pure.  The rosebuds on her gown were the same color as her lips, and the leaves on the roses were the same color as her eyes.  David began to realize that he was enjoying looking at her in a new, odd way; and purposely looked up at the ceiling, stretching his neck. 

     “At least now, he’ll be more cautious.  Don’t you think?”

    David nodded.  “As long as you stick with me.  He thinks you’re
mine,
now.  He’s not happy about it, but it should cool his jets, just the same.  You should also be aware that your uncle is now in the loop.”

      Caitlin rolled her eyes, and dropped her head in her hands. 

      “Hey; don’t worry about it.  He was a prince, actually.  I think he likes me.  He had no difficulty remembering Skyler and the discomfort he caused you last trip.  And, he was amused by our plan.”

      Caitlin blushed furiously.

   “You’ll be glad to know that Skyler and his leather princess have been banished from the motel. Skyler for hitting me, and Connie for her mouth. She showed up and performed true to form, before it was over.”

      “Oh, boy.”  Caitlin sighed.

     “Don’t worry.  I’m in for the duration, lady.  He’s not going to terrorize you anymore.  He’s leaving town before I do, so you’ll be covered.”

     “David, you’ve been very kind.  But you’re not obligated to take care of me.  You’re a very busy man.  You need your rest – and you don’t need all
this
.”

     He took her hand gently, and looked down into her eyes.  “Listen to me carefully.  I’ll rest better, knowing that you’re all right.  If you aren’t taken care of, I won’t be able to rest
at all
.  It’s best to let Skyler continue thinking that I have a vested interest in you.  Just pretend for a time that you’re my best girl, and this will all blow over.  What’s the harm?”

     She sighed.  How could she explain?  He made it sound so simple, and benign.

     He took her arm, and towered over her.  “Cait.  I’m not planning to pick up where he left off.  I’m just in a position to help you.  Relax, and let me.  Will you?”

     She looked up at him in mortification.  “David, I never once thought
that
of you.” she objected.

      “Good. I just wanted to be sure you know.”  he said gently.  “You are perfectly safe with me.”