Page 16 of Weatherman

I wasn’t proud of it, but the anger in me drowned in a sea of fear. Memories assailed me and emotions flooded my brain, paralyzing me with the pain of being overpowered and helpless. This was not new, and I felt myself being pulled back into something I didn’t want any more. The snake in my belly uncoiled and hissed as it awakened.

“If you need help, you know where to find it.”

The sibilant voice laughed at me. It knew I was losing. Should I just give in and get it over with?

“Don’t do it, sweetness,”another voice spoke up in my head. One that was both welcome and dreaded.

So much whirled through my brain, I couldn’t figure out how to react. Run? Give in? Fight? Take the drink and throw it in his face? Or toss it back and down the lot?

In the end, it was decided for me.

A flash caught my eye just as a fist connected with the man’s face. He yelled, “Motherfucker!” as he let go of my arm and stumbled back. Weatherman stepped in front of me, shielding me from the asshole.

The snake grumbled but returned under its rock. The other voice went silent, but I got the impression of amusement.

“The lady said no once. She shouldn’t have to repeat herself.”

Only one other person had ever thrown down for me like this. Stood between me and danger.

And because of me, he would never do it again.

The asshole wasn’t backing down, and neither was Weatherman. The man outweighed the biker by at least fifty pounds, yet this David and Goliath scenario kept going.

Then another Goliath came to stand next to Weatherman. The biker who’d been sipping coffee at the bar stood larger and taller, and his face seemed to swell with anger like the Hulk’s.

The pretend cowboy backed off with a sneer, attempting to save some sort of face. “Ain’t no cunt worth this trouble. Plenty more to choose from.”

I wanted to slap him.

I didn’t have to, as the big bar bouncer did it for me. The asshole crumpled and didn’t get up.

“Thanks, Mute,” Weatherman said to the behemoth, getting a thumbs-up in response before turning back to me, his eyes filled with fury. “Come with me.”

I followed him outside, not sure why I was also mad as hell. What was it I had that drew jerks to me all the time?

Weatherman whirled around, catching me short. “What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded. His harsh tone rubbed me the wrong way.

“I came with my friend Kimmie.” I didn’t tell him I only did it because she’d badgered me. He didn’t need to know any more of my business than that.

“Kimmie? The one with the pink hair? Ah, hell.” He crossed his arms and stood over me. “Do you know where your friend is right now?”

No, I didn’t, but I wasn’t going to admit that to him. “I think she went to the bathroom.”

“If you turn around and look at the Jeep Cherokee in the back under the pin oak tree, you’ll see her giving a blow job to one of the oil refinery crewmen who comes here on weekends. She best hope Betsey doesn’t find out she’s turning tricks out here.”

Cold dread hit my stomach like a lead anchor. Sure enough, when I glanced at the Jeep, I saw a head of pink hair bobbing up and down in a man’s lap. He had his eyes closed and his head back as she worked him.

I spun away from the sight with a slight cry and squeezed my eyes tight. If it hadn’t been for Weatherman’s arms catching me at my elbows, I might have fallen. The image still showed behind my lids, embedded in my brain. Panic clawed its way up my throat.

“Take a breath, baby.”

I took in a deep one, filling my lungs as I’d been taught to do. Count to four, exhale over eight.

“Shit. I’m sorry I threw that at you. Wasn’t a good idea.” His trite tone sounded regretful. “You just don’t strike me as a woman who hangs out in bars.”

Gut punch. Whatever air I had taken in left me. “You don’t know me well enough to know what kind of woman I am.”

His eyes glittered down at me. “You’re right. I don’t know you, and it’s not right for me to judge you for taking some time for yourself. Single parenting isn’t easy, and you never get time off. But I can tell this is not where you want to be.”

---