Page 16 of Triple Puck Valentines

“Ma. For once Jeremiah is right. That’s why I stopped going.”

“And that’s why you’re hell bound.” She hisses at him.

“Ma. The fathers were trying to get me to take their daughters for a…as they put it a dowry. They were selling the girls. I drew the line when one father tried to get me to take his sixteen-year-old daughter. Not even marry her. Just take her. He didn’t care what happened to her. He only wanted the money. I don’t know who actually got the poor girl, but it wasn’t me.” Noah slams his fist into the palm of his hand. I’m glad to find out he wasn’t into the cult like Ma is.

“But, Noah they’re biddable girls. Trained. I could use the help.” She tries pleading.

“That’s not the way to get help. I’ll hire a housekeeper.” I slap my palm against my forehead. It’s like talking to a statue. Doesn’t listen.

“I don’t want you to waste your money on a housekeeper.” Mama steps over to me, runs her hand along my arm. I shake her hand off. She isn’t going to make me change my mind. I wonder if Abe has reached LAX yet. He has cop friends. Maybe he can contact them before he takes off.

“Babe. I have a call to make. I’ll be right outside the door. If you need anything just Yell. I’ll come run in’”

“I’ll take care of her for you. Make your call and then decide if you want to go to the picnic.” Noah walks over, clasps my hand in his, yanks me into a man hug, slapping my back.

This is the most emotion he’s shown to me in…in. Ever. He’s never shown me emotion like this before. That I can remember anyway. It chokes me up.

“Thank you, brother.”

I go outside where I can’t be heard. I’m not worried about Kat or Noah, but what Ma will do. I don’t know. I do know. She’d call her church and turn me in.

Shaking my head, I punched contact and started the call. “What? We’re almost ready to enter the plane.”

“Abe. I need you to contact one of you cop contacts. Men are selling their daughters here to the highest bidder. This needs to stop. Now.”

“How do you know?” I hear the rustle of cloth. I know he’s resting the phone against his shoulder, his cheek against the phone.

“My mother tried to get me to accept a young dutiful trained girl.”

Abe grunts. “Sounds like training a dog.”

“That’s what I thought. No consideration for the girl and what she might want out of life.” I hope Abe can help, because I don’t think we’ll be back unless things change.

“Okay. I’ve got a few minutes. Let me make a call and start the ball rolling. You get the address for this church and text it to me. When I get off the flight I’ll send to necessary persons.”

“Thanks. Knew I can count on you.” That’s why he’s my best friend. Him and Jesse. In his usual way he doesn’t say good-bye he disconnects the call without another word. The way he acts you’d think he was a CEO and not a hockey player. That’s his way.

I throw my head back to stare at the afternoon sun. It’s a perfect day. Low seventies with warmth heating my shoulders and head. The white fluffy clouds chase each other as if frolicking puppies. The young steers act the same way. Almost the middle of February. Almost Valentines Day. We had planned to do something special with Katrina instead we’re here in the middle of this shit.

Enough of this daydreaming. I have shit to do.

Walking back into the house, dread stabs its icy fingers through my heart and drips down my spine. My footsteps echo over the tile floor like the ring of the church bell counting down the hours. Why do I feel it’s counting the hours to our death?

Back in the living room Kat sits at one end of the sofa, hands folded in her lap, back straight as a steel post. Noah sits slouched at the other end of the sofa, against the arm as if he has no care in the world. I know that’s misleading. The cattle wouldn’t be so well cared for if he didn’t pay attention to detail. No sight of Mama.

“Where’s Mama?”

“To her room.” Noah sounds bored, his shoulders slump forward.

“But she was supposed to stay here.”

“What did you want me to do? Tie her up? I tried to convince her, but you know her.”

“Not anymore. She’s not the same woman I grew up with. So, is she sick? Was that a scam?” I sit next to Kat, taking her hand into mine, sliding my fingers along hers.

“I have no idea. I thought she was. I didn’t go in with her when she went to the doctors. Like you said. She’s different.” He huffs after the last word.

What he says is true. But how will that difference affect the next hours till the BBQ?

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