Eddie’s Prize (24 page)

“Well, I’ll just be sure to always be busy when he asks me to dance.”

He pushed away from the counter he’d been leaning against to put his arms around her. She could feel the tension in him. “I’m being stupid,” he whispered into her hair. “I know I am. But I can’t help it.”

“Shh.” She laid her head on his shoulder and smoothed a hand over his back. “It’s all right. I’m looking forward to the Gala. It’s been such a long time since I’ve gone to a party at all, much less in a party dress. That’s why I was late. I designed a special evening gown to wear to the Gala, and Hannah and I were discussing it. It’s going to be beautiful.”

Eddie stiffened, shoving her away to hold her at arm’s length. “A special dress? Like that flimsy one you wore in the magazine?”

“Ye—No. Eddie? If you don’t stop grinding your teeth, you’ll break one.”

“Not grinding my teeth,” he growled, even while muscles in his face bunched. “What does your dress look like?”

“That’s a secret.”

“How much of you does it cover?”

Lisa stiffened at his tone, but forced her voice to be mild when she answered. “All of me. The only skin you’ll see is my hands and my face. I promise, Eddie, it’s not like the dresses in the pictures you saw.”

His growl moved into a freaky roar. Lisa jumped about a foot. “Eddie? Are you okay?”

Eddie shoved past her. “I have to leave.”

She straightened with an angry snap. “Stop pushing me around! You’re leaving now? But supper—”

“Don’t bother cooking. Go eat with my parents.”

Lisa watched him speed down the narrow hall to the back door. “Wait! When will you be back?”

He wrenched the door open. “Late,” he said briefly, before slamming the door behind him.

Lisa stared blankly at the door for a few minutes trying to decide if her husband had been angry. He had sounded a little angry, suspicious, and then desperate… Lisa wasn’t sure. They had to work on their communication. Meanwhile, she’d do what he suggested and join her in-laws for supper.

As she walked across the yard, a flash of dark gold caught her eye. A mountain lion flew out of the tool shed and down the road with the lethal grace of a predator. Lisa shivered, glad it was heading away from her. Where did Eddie keep his pet lion? In that shed? This was the third time she’d seen it, and not once had it been in a cage.

If Bree was surprised to see her walk into the kitchen, she didn’t show it. Lisa said something vague about Eddie being out and not coming back until late.

“That happens with veterinarians almost as often as doctors,” Bree said cheerfully. “You go ahead and set an extra place in the dining room while I finish slicing the bread.”

Darlene was already putting a fourth plate on the table when Lisa went into the dining room. “Will Eddie be joining us?”

Lisa shook her head. “No. He … left.”

Her mother-in-law placed the flatware beside the plate with unnecessary care. “Did you two have a fight?”

“No. At least, I don’t think so.” Lisa considered, trying to remember what was said and how it was said. “He didn’t yell.”

Darlene put a hand on her lower back and arched into a stretch. Ray came into the dining room then, and his eyes focused on his wife’s rounded belly with concern.

“Sit down, Dar,” he ordered, and then softened it with a hand under her elbow to take her to the foot of the table. “Don’t try to pretend you’re not tired. I hate to see you wearing yourself out.”

He saw the extra plate and then Lisa. “There now, Lisa is here to help, so you just relax and let the girls do the heavy work.”

“I think I can manage to set the table, Ray.” Even Darlene’s waspish tone couldn’t hide her affection. “Honestly. Men.”

Lisa gave her a sympathetic smile and went back to the kitchen to help Bree bring out the food. After supper was eaten and the dishes washed, Lisa was urged to stay a while. They settled in the living room to chat.

“So,” said Ray. “Where’s my boy tonight?”

Bree wrapped yarn around her fingers to knit and said, “He’s out on vet business.”

And at the same time, Darlene said, “He and Lisa had a spat, and he went out to blow off some steam like he always does.”

“A fight?” said Ray, concern on his bearded face.

“It wasn’t a fight,” Lisa protested. “Just … we met the Overdahls on the way home. Did you hear that Taye Wolfe’s den was attacked?”

The concern on Ray’s face faded to disgust. “Yeah, I did. Some of the Wolfe boys were in town this morning buying new fencing. Dick Dickinson got what he deserved, trying to steal a woman from those wolves. How does that fit in with you and Eddie’s fight?”

“Well, it doesn’t. But Dane Overdahl is always friendly to me. A little too friendly. It really bugs Eddie. Dane asked to dance with me at the Gala.”

All three Madisons continued to look at her, waiting for more.

“I told Dane I was going to dance with only Eddie—”

All three protested.

“It’s the Gala!” Bree exclaimed. “You have to dance with everybody.”

Darlene lowered her mending to rest over her baby bump. “I won’t be dancing much. You will have to represent our family on the dance floor.”

“You can’t sit out,” Ray decreed. “Might cause bad feelings.”

“Yeah, after we got home Eddie said something like that.” Lisa examined her fingernails to hide from their stares. “He got upset and went slamming out.” She looked around at her in-laws, an appeal in her eyes. “Really, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. In the beginning I did flirt a little. I thought it was harmless, but it drove Eddie crazy, so I stopped. What else can I do?”

“You ain’t done a thing to make Eddie need to be jealous, far as I can see.” Her father-in-law scratched vigorously at his beard. “He’s battling the green-eyed monster, huh? Natural enough, what with you two just wed.”

Bree cocked her head. “They’ve been married for over two months, Dad.”

“It takes a while for two people to settle into marriage,” he said. “Take your mother and I. It was a good year before we got things figured out.”

His wife reached a hand to squeeze his. “It does take time. And just think—Lisa and Eddie had never even met until a day before the Bride Fight.” She smiled at Lisa. “I know it’s difficult now, but you’ll work things out as you go. Just try to be patient.”

“I’ll have a word with the boy,” Ray decided.

Darlene shook her head. “Let me, Ray.”

He looked doubtfully at his wife. “Is that the kind of thing a man talks to his mother about?”

Darlene laughed drily. “Probably not specifics. But being a woman, I can make him understand how Lisa feels. Besides, he’s so much like my father I think I know what’s driving him.”

“Ah.” Ray nodded. “I’ll leave him to you then. ‘Bout time to turn in. I’ll walk you back, Lisa.”

As the crossed the yard, Ray spoke to her in a serious tone. “My boy isn’t evil-hearted.”

“No, of course not!”

Her father-in-law nodded. “But he’s a mite spoiled, and he doesn’t always consider how other people feel. You might want to give him a hint when he hurts your feelings.”

Lisa kept her eyes on the snowy ground. She tried to let Eddie know, but she wasn’t good at confrontation. She would have to try again. “Thanks, Ray. I’ll keep it in mind.”

He opened her door for her. “Lisa, could you call me Dad? I’d sure like that.”

Warmth glowed in Lisa’s chest. Growing up, she’d wanted a father to love her so much she sometimes pretended she had one. This was real. “I would love to call you my dad. Good night, Dad.”

He leaned in to give her a quick peck on the cheek. “Good night, Daughter.”

Lisa’s plans to stay up to talk to Eddie failed. She woke the next morning with her husband’s lips travelling over her as if he were starved for her. It was a nice way to wake, and what followed was even nicer. When he had exhausted her, she lay half over him, limp with lingering pleasure.

“It’s hard to believe only two months ago you were a virgin,” she moaned. “You know exactly what to do to make me come like a rocket. It must be natural born talent.”

A low laugh rumbled in his chest. “I don’t know about that. I just watch you to see what you like best and then practice.”

“If this was practicing, I can’t wait to see what happens when you think you have it right.” She slid her instep up his calf. “Are you okay?”

He rolled away from her. “Sure. Lots to do today. I’m headed over to the Packards first. Did you want to come along and visit Alexander?”

“Yes!”

Lisa made breakfast. She would have called it a quick breakfast, except in 2065 a quick breakfast took twice the time of a regular breakfast in the Times Before. But it was still early when they walked through the compound to the Packards’ stable.

While Eddie worked on one of the other horses whose eye was infected, Lisa tried to lure Alexander over to her with a crumbly lump of sugar. Mr. Packard watched from a distance, giving her low-voiced encouragement. When the colt finally accepted the sugar, success painted a huge grin on her face, even though he immediately scampered away. She straightened up to see Eddie smiling behind her.

“I got him to come to me!” she crowed.

“Good job,” he congratulated her. “I’ll take you home. I have to head out south of town. Some cattle are sick. Sounds like it could be ringworm.” He nodded at Mr. Packard as they left.

Ringworm in cows sounded horrible. Lisa shuddered. “Will you be back for lunch?”

“Probably not, but I will be home in time for supper.”

He walked her right up the steps of their house. She pressed a kiss on his lips. “Eddie, you’re wonderful.”

A cold breeze blew his golden hair over his face. He grabbed it and put it behind his ear. “Even though I’m a jealous fool?”

“Even though you’re jealous.” She hesitated. “I think we need to talk about it, okay?”

He gave her a quick kiss. “But not right now, Lisa-love. Sick cattle, remember?”

“Okay. I’ll see you for supper.”

* * * *

But somehow, their discussion never took place. It seemed like animals got sick and hurt more often in the winter, and Eddie was always out. Lisa was busy with her designs and also getting other things ready for the Gala, like more baked goods. It was a week before the party when she overheard Eddie and his mother talking in the living room of her in-laws’ house. She and Eddie were going to visit Carla at the den that afternoon, and she had walked over to drop off another tin of cookies to add to the store to be taken to the Gala.

“Mom, it’s killing me,” she heard Eddie say. “It’s like I’m not in control anymore. It’s growing. I hate it.”

“You have to fight it, Eddie.”

Lisa turned to the living room, drawn by the pain in Eddie’s voice.

“Mom, it’s ruining what Lisa and I have. She’s my wife. She should know.”

“Edward.” Darlene’s voice was hard. “Your father and I have been together nearly twenty-eight years. He doesn’t know.”

“And when we have kids? They could inherit this too. Do you think Lisa won’t notice there’s something wrong with our kids?” His voice rose with frustration.

“You’ll have to hide it from her, as I have protected you from your father.”

“It was easier for you, Mom. Dad was out most of the time. Lisa will be home alone with the kids while I’m away working. I have to tell her, explain it to her, so she’ll understand when they turn into unmanageable little monsters.”

Lisa stopped, a wave of chilled confusion splashing over her as she tried to comprehend their words.

“I forbid it, Edward.”

Darlene sounded coldly determined; Eddie sounded desperate. “Mom, please listen. Lisa already knows something’s wrong with me. Every time a man gets too close to her, I start to change. I hate it! She hates it. If I could explain it to her, she’d understand.”

“The only reason you and I are alive is because no one knows our secret. Maybe Lisa would understand. But what if she lets it slip to one of her friends? Will they understand, or will they come after us like my father’s neighbors came after him? What if…” Darlene lowered her voice threateningly. “What if they decide Lisa is a danger to them too? And your children? Do you want to see your wife and babies burned or hanged beside you?”

There was silence for a long moment. “No.” It sounded like the word had been torn from Eddie. “Of course not.”

“I’m glad you see reason, Eddie. I love you, son. I only want what’s best for us all.”

“I know, Mom.”

Their voices were coming toward her. Lisa turned and walked as quietly and quickly back to the kitchen as she could. Bree looked up from her bread mixing.

“Lisa? You okay?”

“Sure.” Lisa heard the forced note in her voice and hurried to cover it. “Just anxious to get to the den. Where is Eddie? He was going to meet me here.”

Bree waved a hand sticky with dough. “He’s here somewhere. Oh, here he comes now.”

Lisa looked carefully at her husband’s handsome face, looking for signs of sickness. Or insanity? Was insanity something passed through DNA to the next generation? Eddie looked tired but sane.

“Ready to go, Lisa?” he asked easily, his voice perfectly normal.

Lisa tried to match it. “Sure.”

She maintained her false relaxed attitude as they walked. It was a cold day in late January, and the wind was pushing them along. Her mind was churned trying to identify Eddie’s secret. Could it be something as innocent as Bi-Polar Disorder or Schizophrenia? Those could explain his mood swings and his off-the-wall jealousy, and with no medication to control the condition, he could turn violent. But no, it couldn’t be that. If Darlene was a victim, she would have shown some signs of it. Ray would have noticed.

Lisa took her husband’s arm, aware of the men in front of them and in back. The den was in sight, so if she wanted to talk to him, she had to do it now. She leaned close as if to absorb his heat. The position put her close enough to be able to speak quietly into his ear.

“Eddie, I love you,” she began. “You know I wouldn’t ever do anything to hurt you, right?”

He raised a quizzical eyebrow. “Yes, I know you wouldn’t intentionally do anything to hurt me. Why?” Suspicion shaded his tone.