Page 74 of Wyoming True

“Thanks,” Ida said, her voice quiet, hopeful. “He’s been very kind to me. I was afraid that it was, well, pity.”

“He wouldn’t marry anybody just because he felt sorry for her,” Cindy said. “Oops, customers piling in. I have to go. I’ll see you at the church tomorrow. Did you get a pretty dress?”

“I did. Something white, because Jake insisted.”

There was a quick laugh. “Well, honestly, you haven’t really had a conventional marriage until now, so white seems very appropriate.”

“I just hope nobody comments on it. There are a lot of people who think it should be scarlet instead of white. I haven’t done myself any favors, trying to discourage men.”

“You’d be surprised what people are saying about you lately... Gotta go! See you tomorrow!” And she hung up.

Ida put down her phone, her expression quiet and curious. “Cindy said people were saying things about me lately,” she said to Maude.

“Yes, about your disgusting ex-husband and what you did to keep men from bothering you,” Maude said with a smug look. “Cindy and I started some gossip of our own.” She looked guilty. “I hope you don’t mind. I felt so bad about the way I treated you when Mr. McGuire first brought you home with him. Cindy wasn’t happy about the gossip, either, so we put our heads together and talked to some people.”

Ida smiled. “Thanks, Maude,” she said. “Thanks a lot.”

“Wasn’t much. I’m glad it helped.” She smiled. “Why don’t you lie down for a while and rest? Big day tomorrow!”

“Oh, yes.”

IDASTRETCHEDOUTon the cover of her bed with a sigh. She’d already had her morning dose of ibuprofen, which was helping a lot, but she still had some pain. She closed her eyes, just to rest them, but she dozed off.

She was running from Bailey. He was chasing her with a club and yelling curses at her. She was almost to a safe place when she tripped and fell. Bailey caught her with one hand and raised the club in the other.

“I’ll make you pay for putting me in jail!” he was yelling.

The first blow came against her shoulder. She cried out. The next hit her lower back, the next her injured hip. She felt the blows as if they were actually happening; she was crying, screaming for help...

“Ida,” came a soft voice in her ear.

She felt herself lifted, turned, held close to a broad chest that smelled of soap and expensive cologne and leather.

“Ida,” the deep, slow voice came again. “Wake up, honey. Wake up. You’re safe. It’s just a bad dream. You’re safe.”

She was shivering. Her blue eyes opened, full of fear and pain and tears. “Jake?” she whispered, her voice breaking on his name. “Oh, Jake!” She curled into his body and clung to him, still shivering.

Maude was hovering in the doorway, her face drawn and worried.

“There are two liquor bottles in the cabinet in my office that I keep for visitors. Pour me a shot glass of brandy and bring it here, please,” Jake said.

“Right away, Mr. McGuire.”

Jake’s arms tightened as Maude went to the liquor cabinet in the den.

“He was chasing me, with a bat,” Ida murmured into his shirt. “He hit me, over and over!”

“He’s not here. He’ll never get to you again, I promise!”

She swallowed. “I was so...afraid.”

His big hand smoothed over her sleek hair. He kissed her forehead. “I won’t let him hurt you. I won’t let anything hurt you, ever again.”

She closed her eyes with a ragged sigh.

Maude was back, with a tiny glass of brandy. “I hope this was the right bottle. I don’t know much about spirits,” she said apologetically.

He chuckled. “You haven’t had to, up until now,” he pointed out. He took a whiff of the liquid. “Well, it’s not brandy, it’s whiskey, but what the hell, it’ll do.”

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