Page 19 of Barry

Barry closed his eyes and shook his head before looking at her dad. “In those rages, I want to hurt myself. Have I picked a fight? Yes, usually with bigger guys who could beat me down because, as I said, I don’t like myself when I’m in that state. Before I came here, I started many fights. Only the last guy, although way bigger than me, couldn’t fight. I got into a legal pickle. Andrew Hollister is my old CO. He bailed me out, got me legal representation, and gave me one chance to pull myself together. I’ve been working with Dr. Wheeler, and I haven’t crossed that line again. I’m not saying I haven’t wanted to, but I haven’t.” He glanced at Kathy. “I’d walk off a cliff before I hurt a woman. That is a fact. You can ask Corrie. She and her husband took me in after the military. I wasn’t in therapy then, and I was a loose cannon, but I never raised a hand to her, and I never would.”

Her father stared at him for a long moment. “All right. I can live with that. However, if you ever hurt her, you’ll have to deal with me.”

“I respect that, sir,” Barry acknowledged.

“Well, now that all the posturing is over, who would like some apple pie?” her mom asked, and the tension around the table fell away like fluttering leaves in a breeze.

Since then, they’d spent time together. Long walks in the fields beside her home. One night they took a blanket out to the backyard and stared at the multitude of stars. He’d told her about his childhood. Thankfully it was dark, and he couldn’t see the tears she’d shed for him. No child should grow up unloved and mostly unattended. Yet, the kindness that he showed her and her family had survived.

They’d spent the day down at Orman Dam, the lake just outside Belle Fourche, and played in the water with the pups. She’d laughed so hard that day her cheeks hurt. Barry made her happy. He made her feel loved, wanted, and so safe. There wasn’t any one date that triggered all the feelings she had for him. It was a multitude of things, mixed up over the last six months. No sudden revelation but a growing culmination of time spent together. It was a simple, easy way to fall in love. She chuckled. A simple, easy way to fall in love with a complicated, wounded man.

Mitzi jumped off the couch and ran to the door. Kathy followed her and smiled when she saw Barry’s truck. Honey dropped down, and she let Mitzi out. The two dogs started zooming all over the place. Barry pulled out a large bag and headed her way.

Toeing up, she kissed him at the door. His free hand went around her waist, and the warmth and feel of his body against hers fed a need deep inside. She leaned against him and sighed. Both Mitzi and Honey started barking. The sound wasn’t friendly.

“What in the world?”

Barry spun and gave a sharp whistle. Both dogs stopped barking, but they were staring at a big clump of bushes in the field next to her. “Honey, Mitzi, come,” Barry barked the command, and the dogs backed up before they turned and hightailed it to the house.

“Probably cornered a critter or a snake,” Kathy mused.

As she held the door open as the dogs ran inside, anamazing aroma hit her. “Oh my goodness, that smells delicious. What is it?” She reached for the bag and put it on the counter.

“Steak au Poivre with cognac cream sauce, baked potatoes, salad, and red wine.”

Kathy turned to look at him. “Steak au what?”

“Poivre,” he said and laughed. “I call it steak and peppercorn sauce. Corrie knows all the fancy names. It’s one of my favorite dishes that she makes. She was thrilled I asked her to make us dinner.”

“She’s the best. Make sure you thank her for me. Oh, never mind. I’ll tell her when I see her on Sunday. She’s coming to Mom and Dad’s for dinner?”

“She is.” Barry helped her pull the containers out of the bags. “I’ll get the wine opener and glasses.” Kathy opened the utility drawer, pulled out her wine opener, and then went to the glass hutch in the dining room to get two of her crystal wine glasses. She’d won a set of four as a conference door prize. If she were alone, she’d pour a small amount into a coffee cup and nurse it all night long. Usually, she ended up pouring at least half out at the end of the night, but it was nice to enjoy a bit every now and then.

They were just sitting down to eat when the dogs started barking again. Barry was up almost instantly. “I’m going to go take a look outside.”

“Take them with you, but don’t take too long. I might eat without you.” She watched as both dogs and Barry trotted down the stairs. The dogs went back to that samearea, and Barry followed them. He pushed open the bushes, and the dogs darted in. He stepped into the bushes and then hopped back out, calling the dogs.

He picked up Honey, who came immediately, and then grabbed Mitzi.She opened the screen door. “What is it? What’s …” The wafting odor of skunk hit her. “Oh, no, not again!” Kathy grabbed her nose and darted for the kitchen sink. She yelled, “Don’t come any closer! Keep them out there. I have the stuff right here.”

She grabbed two pairs of rubber gloves and the de-skunking solution and dropped them into a big silver tub.

She ran outside with everything and turned on the hose. “Oh, God, not again.” She gagged at the smell. “Put them in the tub.”

Barry bundled both dogs into the tub. He pulled off his shirt and flung it away from him, still wearing his white t-shirt. “What in the hell were you thinking, girls?” he said to the dogs as he put on the gloves and poured the soap over them.

“They weren’t. Stupid animals.” Kathy coughed and gagged.

“I’ve got this. You don’t need to get stinky, too.” He tipped the bottle over Honey and then Mitzi.

“Strip out of your jeans and t-shirt.”

He looked up at her. “Excuse me?”

“Your clothes. This stuff works on clothes, too. You can take a shower with it. It really works, I promise. I have three more bottles in the house.”

“Why?”

“Because Mitzi isn’t the smartest animal. She chases skunks.” Kathy wiped at her watering eyes.

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