Making New Memories (6 page)

******

I am settling into life at Rock Springs
Ranch. I am enjoying getting to know Melanie Virginia, and
Patricia. Eleven year old Eric is adorable. Eric and I ride
together every morning. He is so excited about the baby brother his
Mom is expecting just in time for Christmas and it is obvious that
Barry is his hero. He is fascinated by all of the Marines on the
ranch.

Eric is an absolute chatterbox and has told
me all about his life in the compound in Idaho where he and his Mom
lived for the first nine years of his life. He told me about how
they escaped from the compound and how his Dad had followed them,
how Barry had rescued them and how the members of the Drake
Security team had killed his Dad before he could hurt his Mom
again. Then he told me about how two men from the compound had
kidnapped him on four wheelers and how Barry and Pinky had leaned
out of the sides of the helicopter and shot them. He also told me
about how his whole family had been kidnapped and kept in a cave
for five days and how Barry and the former Marines had helped the
FBI rescue them. I am amazed that a child so seemingly well
adjusted has experienced all of the things he has told me. When I
ask him about how he deals with all of his feelings and his fears,
he tells me about the counselor Barry has hired to help him work
through his feelings and deal with his fears.

Observing Barry and Melanie together, it is
obvious to me they are very much in love. Barry dotes on her and I
am envious of Melanie's relationship with Barry. I long for someone
to love me in the same way but I know that is impossible, at least
until I work through my fear. During my second week at the ranch as
Melanie and I are working side by side in the kitchen I ask,

"Melanie, Dylan told me part the story about
how you met Barry. Would you mind my asking you how you got past
being r..r..raped?"

Because Barry had shared some of Skye's story
with her, Melanie understands why Skye is asking the question and
thoughtfully answers, "While I was at the compound I just accepted
it as my fate and put it out of my mind. I never really had a
choice. It was be raped and accept the sexual intimacy or die and I
chose to accept it in order to survive. It was much easier and less
painful that way. After I came here, Barry tried to show me that
making love is different, but I didn't really get past all of it
until I went through extensive counseling. Even though I physically
enjoyed being intimate with Barry, I held part of myself back until
after I worked through all of it in counseling."

"Did you have to leave here to go through
counseling?" I ask.

"I was living in Seattle with my parents when
I first started in counseling, but I'm sure we can get Eric's
counselor to recommend someone that will come here if you are
interested," says Melanie.

"I know I need to work through my past and I
think I may finally be ready to talk about it. Would you ask if
someone can come here? I'm not ready to venture out in public yet,"
responds Skye.

******

Dylan contacted his ex-wife Elena again as
soon as he and Skye returned to the ranch. Once again, Elena
refused to allow him time with Damian. It is time to take action.
Contacting the lawyer he used for his divorce he asks him to file
for custody of Damian on the basis of lack of cooperation from
Elena. The lawyer doesn't really give him much hope for custody
since he has not been a part of Damian's life for the past eight
years but maybe he can force Elena to allow Damian to spend time
with Dylan. Having a stable home on the ranch with other children
present is a good case to make to the judge.

Elena is not aware, but Dylan has spent some
time with Damian. He has been going to most of Damian's baseball
games since he started playing three years ago. He always stays in
the background so he is not noticed. One day, after the game he
followed the team to the local mall where they were in the game
room playing video games. Dylan approached Damian and spent time
talking to him. Ever since that day he meets Damian at the mall at
least once a month. One of Damian's baseball coaches is a former
Marine and knows the situation. He has been assisting Dylan by
orchestrating the visits. Dylan can't, of course, tell the lawyer
about the visits or Elena might put a stop to them and that would
break his heart.

******

Dylan has been watching Skye from a distance
giving her time to settle in at the ranch. He knows she and Eric
ride every morning so he decides to wait on her in the barn for a
casual conversation. When Eric and I enter the barn and I see him
standing with our horses already saddled, my face breaks into a
warm smile. "Good morning Dylan. It is nice to see you. How is your
shoulder?" she asks.

"I'm healing nicely, thank you. I must have
had a good nurse. So, are you all settled now?" he asks.

"Yes, it is great here. I haven't felt so
safe in a very long time. Thank you for bringing me here. Why
haven't you been back to dinner? You are always welcome you
know."

"I wanted to give you time to get to know the
others. Would you like to take a walk after dinner tonight? The
weather is supposed to be milder than usual."

"That would be nice. What time?"

"I'll come by around seven."

******

When I come out of my room just before seven
that evening I find Dylan standing by the fireplace in deep
conversation with Barry. When he spots me, a warm smile spreads
across his face. His smile causes my nerves to tingle and a feeling
of warmth and happiness to spread all through my body and I return
his smile.

Barry says, "Go ahead, I'll catch you
tomorrow."

Nodding, Dylan takes my hand in his and says,
"Ready?"

I nod and we head toward the door. Walking
across the stone patio we head toward the river behind the house.
Dylan says, "So tell me what you've been doing the past few
days?"

Blushing, I say, "Well, besides riding every
day with Eric, I had a long conversation with Melanie. I asked her
about how she got past her ordeal. She told me she had help from a
counselor so I am going to try it."

Smiling, Dylan says, "Skye, that's great
news. I know you will get past all of your fears. I'm proud of you
for confronting them head on."

Warmed by his words, I say, "Dylan, the night
up in Montana when your fever was so high you were mumbling a lot.
I really couldn't understand most of it but I was wondering, who is
Elena?"

Because I am holding his hand, I feel him
tense and my heart rate kicks up a level and a sense of dread
overcomes me. I hope I haven't made him angry.

Taking a deep breath Dylan answers, "Elena is
my ex-wife."

"Oh, you obviously still have issues with
her. I'm sorry I brought it up."

"It's all right, I'm sorry I'm so touchy
about her. It's just that she won't let me see our son and we are
headed to a major court battle about it."

"You have a son? How old is he?" I ask truly
interested. I have really enjoyed getting to know Eric.

With anger still obvious in his voice Dylan
answers, "Damian is eight. It is nothing new that Elena won't let
me see him. She hasn't let me since I left her when he was a baby.
I have been sneaking around behind her back spending time with him
with the help of a friend, but I am tired of it and want it settled
once and for all. I want him to be able to come here and meet Eric,
to see where I live and what I do."

"I'm sorry. I know that has to be hard for
you. Why do you think she won't let you see him?" I ask.

"I don't know unless she is just trying to
punish me for leaving. I should have fought her for custody at the
time but I thought he would be better off with her. He was only
three months old and was still breast feeding. I didn't have a
stable home to take him to, I don't know. I was so upset with her
at the time I wasn't thinking straight."

"What happened?"

"Well, I don't usually talk about it. In
fact, I haven't ever told anyone else the whole story except Barry,
but I'll tell you."

A feeling of warmth flows through me. Wow,
Dylan thinks enough of me to tell me something he's never told
anyone but Barry. That makes me very happy.

Pausing to gather his thoughts Dylan begins
his story, "Elena and I were high school sweethearts and she
promised to wait on me until I returned from the Marines. When I
retired from the Marines and went back to Texas she was waiting and
we got married right away. I was so crazy about her I couldn't see
straight. She got pregnant pretty quickly and Damian was born after
we had been married for only eleven months. I was the happiest man
in Texas until I came home from work early one day and found her in
bed with a guy from the bank where she worked. I packed my stuff
and left the same day. I filed for divorce, called the guys, and we
started Drake Security."

I can see the remembered pain reflected in
the depths of his eyes. Gently stroking my hand down his cheek I
say, "Oh Dylan, I am so sorry." I wrap my arms around his waist and
pull him close laying my head against his chest.

He wraps his arms around me, lays his chin on
top of my head, and absorbs my warmth, my scent and a feeling of
peace flows into his soul.

He pulls back slightly and gazes into my
blue, blue eyes and slowly lowers his head. He says, "Skye, I'm
going to kiss you."

When I look into his deep green eyes, I see
the warmth, see his head slowly descending toward mine, a feeling
of anticipation unfurls in my stomach, I lick my lips, and just as
his lips touch mine, the fear takes hold and I push away. "I'm
sorry Dylan, I can't." Tears spring to my eyes and slowly trickle
down my cheeks. I turn my back so Dylan can't see.

Dylan places his hands on my shoulders and
slowly turns me back to face him. He places his fingers under my
chin and lifts my face until I look into his eyes. He says, "Skye,
It is all right, I understand. It will come." Then he kisses my
forehead. He takes my hand in his and heads back toward the house.
He stops at the front door, "Good night Skye, sleep well," and he
kisses my palm, turns, and walks away.

I head for my room with tears streaming down
my face. Why can't I get past the stupid fear? I wanted him to kiss
me. Dylan is so nice and I know he would never hurt me. Lying in my
bed, my heart breaking, I cry myself to sleep.

Dylan, walking across the yard to his room
above the barn, shakes his head. This is going to be a long, slow
road. At least she is seeking help from a counselor. He will just
have to be patient. She will definitely be worth the wait.

Around noon the following day, a red BMW
pulls into the drive. Since Barry was notified by the guards at the
front gate that Stump was on his way to the house with another man,
he and Dylan are waiting in the drive. As soon as the car comes
into view, Dylan recognizes Bear as the man in the passenger seat.
He hurries to the front door and yells, "Skye, your car is here and
you have a guest!"

I am walking through the front door just as
the car pulls to a stop and I am surprised to see Bear stepping out
into the winter sunlight. I run forward and throw my arms around
the giant of a man hugging him tightly. Bear wraps me in his arms,
swings me around in a circle before setting me on my feet. "These
folks treating you right?" he asks.

"Yes, I love it here. I am so happy to see
you! I didn't think you would ever leave Montana. Let me introduce
you." I grab his giant hand in mine and drag him over to where
Dylan and Barry are standing. "Barry, this is my friend Bear."

He holds out his hand to Barry, "Clarence
Kincaid."

"Bear, I'm glad to meet you. I'm Barry
Farrady. Welcome to my home. It's a real honor to finally meet the
famous Clarence Kincaid."

Blushing from head to toe and turning to
Scoot Bear extends his hand and says, "I'm glad to see you again
Scoot. Thank you for delivering Skye here unharmed."

"It was my pleasure, but it was Skye that
saved my life on that journey." Smiling at me he says, "She killed
a mountain lion with one shot just as he was pouncing on me. Then
she stitched me up like a pro before gutting, skinning, and cooking
the animal for our dinner."

Grinning at me Bear says, "I'm proud of you
girl. I knew you could do it!" Then he hugs me tight again.

Stump has been standing in the background
observing the others.

When he sees the other two former Marines
come out of the barn, he hollers for them to join the group. As
they approach Stump says, "Goose, Pinky, I want you to meet my
father, Clarence Kincaid."

Every mouth drops open and then Bear says as
he extends his hand to Goose, "Clarence Kincaid, I'm pleased to
meet you."

After shaking the big man's hand, Pinky says,
"Stump, I cannot believe we spent every day of eight years with you
and you never one time told us Clarence Kincaid is your father. I
thought we are your friends."

Grinning Stump says, "Well, I didn't think it
was right to tell you guys something my Dad didn't even know. I was
born after he left for Vietnam and he didn't know my Mom was
pregnant."

Barry speaks up, "Shut up Pinky, you know we
all have our secrets. The important thing is that Bear has come for
a visit. Sir, would you prefer to sleep with the guys over in their
quarters in the barn or would you prefer to stay in the house with
the rest of us?"

Smiling Bear says, "I think I will probably
be more comfortable with the guys."

"Fine, we'll expect all of you for dinner at
six. Don't be late!" says Barry.

He gives me one last hug then follows the
guys to their hangout over the barn.

Dylan takes my hand and says, "Well, what do
you know? It never even crossed my mind that Stump was his son.
Small world, isn't it?"