Page 60 of Half Blind

“I know who you're talking about without even saying his name,” she said. “I'll add a couple of extra plates to the table for dinner.”

Colette had come into the dining room and was standing at the window, watching the young man get out of the vehicle. She found herself blushing at how handsome he was but frowning at the pretty young lady who was with him. “Helen, who is he?”

“Trouble with an accent,” Helen replied, “so stay clear, and please don't touch him. The young woman with him is his bodyguard. You get too close, and she will drop you.”

“What have I moved into? Doc Myrtle left this morning dressed like an assassin and now teenagers are arriving who look like bad people,” Colette asked.

“I ask myself that question every damned day,” Helen said, pressing a few limes to go into the pitcher of sweetened iced tea.

Micah arrived at the front door, tapping lightly as the girls arrived at the back door, coming through in a whirl of breathlessness. Ayanna hurriedly ran to the bathroom to check her hair and breath. Bria stopped at the mirror to check her lip gloss, and Jared stood at the door rolling his eyes. His mind immediately conjured an image of Jesus flinging a dusty sandal at the girls, just as his mother would when his sisters behaved recklessly. He opened the door for the young man who greeted him with a smile.

“Señor Jared,mi amigo, how have you been?” Micah said, entering the home. This time, Jared spotted the suitcase. The young man planned to stay the night once more, but he sure as hell wasn’t eating any more damned neck bones for dinner. Micah’s eyes immediately searched for Helen as he stepped through the doorway.

The girls entered the living room, pretending to be sophisticated and speaking to Micah with a greeting in Spanish. He offered a smirk in acknowledgement of their efforts to make him feel welcomed. He was dressed comfortably in black jeans with a dark button-down shirt. The shirt, untucked, appeared expensive as he waved his assistant Alita forward.

“I come bearing gifts,” he said, looking about. “Where is the chemist? I have items for her as well.”

“I'm here, Señor,” Lemon said, stepping forward. Her eyes showed a weariness Micah immediately picked up on.

“This life can be tough,” Micah offered. “We do what must be done to ensure the world in which we live is safe for those we love. My father reminds me of this often.”

“Your father is a wise man,” Lemon said pressing her lips together. The assignment was a nasty one which required the assistance of Pear. The visuals hurt her brain. The reality of what she’d seen hurt her heart. Micah saw it all in her eyes.

“No need to be down, my friends. I brought presents,” he said, passing Jared a box. “I brought steaks from the ranchtambien!”

“The ranch,” Jared said looking at the box which wielded the logo of The Busy B. “Ranch, as in Blakemore Ranch, the Busy B?”

“Sí, Bobby Ray, the Blakemore cut these fresh for me this morning. We shall all have the T-bones for supper. I brought three extras for the pilots and Julianna. Will you grill these for us all?”

Jared blinked, “Blakemore, as in Saxton Blakemore?”

“Sí,mi Mama, her sister, is married to Saxton the Blakemore,” Micah said.

“Your Aunt is Odessa Blakemore?” Jared asked as Lemon's mouth dropped.

“You have heard of her,no?”

“We've heard of her,” both Lemon and Jared said, but Micah's eyes were on Helen.

He moved closer to her, staring deeply into her eyes. Helen didn't flinch under his gaze this time. This brought a twitch to the corner of his mouth. From his pocket, he removed a square velvet box.

“I brought you this from my mine,” he said, passing the box to her.

Helen didn't accept the gift. “What do you mean you brought me something from your mind? What have you thought up?”

“No, my lovely dangerous woman, my mine; as in the earth,” he said. “I discovered a vein of yellowish emeralds found nowhere else in the world. Our jeweler handcrafted these pieces for you. There are no other stones like this anywhere. It is a rare delight, much like you.”

“What in the hell,” Helen said, pushing the box away.

“Alita, please pass out the other gifts I have brought,” Micah said, his focus solely on Helen. He moved closer. Then he frowned. In Spanish, he swore under his breath. “I almost wish to not present you with this priceless gift. You have recently been with this lover of your yours while I was away.”

Helen pulled back her entire face as if she were a turtle trying to tuck her head into her neck, “Excuse me?”

“This man, who makes the passionate love to you has marred your throat with his fevered kisses,” Micah said. “Who is he? I shall bare knuckle fight him for your affections!”

“Young man don't get your shirt folded while you're still in it,” Helen said as Micah took a step back.

“I do not understand this phrasing,” he said, looking down at his shirt. She could see him imagining mentally folding the shirt he was wearing while it was on his body. He looked up in recognition of her wording. “Ah, you makethe funny. Wait, did you threaten to harm my body by folding me likethe shirt?”

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