Kaye Leigh went into the bedroom,
shut the door without bothering to turn on any lights, slipped
off her robe, and climbed into bed. She turned onto her side
and wondered how much more she was going to have to deal with.
Kaye Leigh tried to give into sleep, she was too tired to sit
up and cry about her situation.
Jeff came into the room, turned on
the light, sat down at the window seat, and watched his wife.
Kaye Leigh was curled up under the covers asleep. How was he
going to fix this whole mess?
“God please help us.” He said.
“There’s no help for us Jeff.” She
said from the bed.
“I thought you were sleeping.” He
said.
“Sleep doesn’t happen much with me
lately.” She replied.
“Do you want me to sleep somewhere
else?” he asked.
“Yes, no, yes.” She said. Jeff
watched her roll over. He sighed got up, got his stuff, and
went to Dan’s room. When she heard the door shut, Kaye Leigh
gave into the tears she had been holding back.
When she got up the next morning, she
was not feeling quite right. She laid in bed a while to see if
the feeling would pass. When she felt a little better, she got
up, put her robe on, and went downstairs. Becki was the only
on in the house.
“Where are Jeff and Jon, out beating
each other?” she asked. Becki laughed.
“Out in the stable, how did you know
Jon was here already? Are you feeling alright Kaye Leigh?”
Becki asked. “You look kind of pale.”
“I don’t feel right this morning but
its nerves I’m sure. I just figured Jon would be here at the
crack of dawn to make sure I was alright.” She replied.
“He was, he wanted to wake you up I
think but Jeff wouldn’t let him.” Becki said.
“Do you want something to drink?”
Becki asked.
“Some tea would be great thanks.” She
replied. When Becki sat, back down Kaye Leigh looked at her,
and said, “What’s happening to us?” She wiped a tear that had
fallen. Becki looked at her and said
“You’re being manipulated by Morgan.”
Kaye Leigh shook her head.
“How did she get my rings and know
things were going on at the house?” she said.
“I’ve been thinking about that,
someone here must have helped her.” Becki said. Kaye Leigh
laughed.
“Jon and Curtis were the only one’s
here. Do you really think either of them would do something
like this to us?” she asked.
“Who would have access to your room?
Alexis was here and so was Justin. I don’t believe it was Jeff
or Jon, but we should certainly look at the others.” Becki
said.
Kaye Leigh could not believe she was
hearing this.
“So you’re thinking either my foreman
and a very good friend of ours, or my niece or her boyfriend.”
She said. Justin is Alexis’s boyfriend who moved down here
when Jon did, he lives with Curtis. “Why on earth would any of
them do it?” she added.
“We’ll have to find out.” Becki said.
Kaye Leigh was about to say something
else when the phone rang, she got up to answer it just looking
at Becki.
“Hello?” she said.
“Kaye Leigh, honey it’s taken me a
while to get your number, I’ve been waiting for you to call
me, but you haven’t.” Sam said. Kaye Leigh sighed and shut her
eyes.
“What do you want Sam?” she asked
harshly.
“Hang up on him!” Becki said loudly.
“Tell your friend she should be
politer to me, you should be a little nicer to me also. Is
that really the way you want to treat the man who is going to
save you?” he asked.
“What do you want?” she repeated.
“I want you Kaye Leigh, Jeff wants
Morgan, and I want you. You should really accept your fate.”
He said.
“Really Sam then why was Jeff with me
last night after our little run in with Morgan? Why did he
come home with me?” she said.
“Maybe he’s thinking he can have the
both of you. Is that what you want Kaye Leigh, to share your
husband? Or would you rather have someone who would love only
you?” he asked. Kaye Leigh laughed.
“You’re supposed to be the one who
loves only me? Whatever. You’re forgetting who you’re talking
too; remember I was the one who you left alone to run around
with women like Morgan.” She said.
“Kaye Leigh you know that I love you
but my patience is running thin. I will be coming to Texas
soon to get you, no one will stop me, anyone in my way will be
hurt, and one way or another you are coming with me.” He said.
“Whatever.” She said and hung up.
Jon and Jeff were out in the stable.
“Jon I’m sorry about last night,
you’ve got to believe that I love your sister more than
anything and I would never do anything like this to hurt your
sister. I can’t tell you where I was at, I can only ask that
you trust me when I say I wasn’t anywhere near Morgan.”
Jon looked at him.
“Why can’t you tell me?” he asked.
“Everyone will find out later but I
can’t say right now.” Jeff asked.
“You’re family Jeff so I am going to
give you the benefit of the doubt, but I hope for Kaye Leigh’s
sake your telling the truth.” Jon said.
“I am I promise Jon.” He replied.
“What are you two doing out here?
Continuing from last night?” Curtis asked when he came in.
“Kaye Leigh wasn’t up yet and I
figure she doesn’t really want to see me when she does wake up
anyhow.” Jeff said. “I slept in Dan’s room last night.”
“I came over to make sure Kaye Leigh
was ok, but Jeff wouldn’t let me wake her up.” Jon said.
“Excuse me guys, but where is the
boss?” Tim said when he came in.
“She’s at the house, what do you
need?” Jeff asked.
“I wanted her to ride out with me and
check on a couple of the horses.” Tim said.
“Maybe we’ll ride out later, but not
right now.” He said.
“Ok just have her find me when she’s
ready.” Tim said. Tim left.
“I don’t trust him.” Jon said.
“I don’t know what to think.” Curtis
said.
“Let’s get up to the house and I’ll
make some breakfast.” Jeff said.
Kaye Leigh was lying down on the
couch in the living room watching television with Becki.
“Becki? Kaye Leigh?” Jeff called.
Kaye Leigh closed her eyes, dreading this moment.
Becki said “In here.” All three of
the guys came into the living room.
“Hi Curtis.” Kaye Leigh said.
“Are you ok Kaye Leigh?” Jeff asked.
“I’m fine.” She said.
Everyone sat down, Kaye Leigh moved
so that Jeff and Jon could sit down on the couch.
“Are you sure you’re ok sis?” Jon
asked.
“We’ll if I am under a little stress
I think I’m entitled don’t you?” she said.
“Well your moods improved.” Jon said
smiling at her. Becki and Curtis chuckled.
“Guys I want to talk to you about
something.” Becki said.
“Becki this is absurd, I don’t
believe that at all.” Kaye Leigh said quickly.
“What is it Becki?” Jeff said.
“I was thinking that since I believe
that Jeff didn’t give Morgan those rings, then someone in the
house that night must have helped her.” She said. Kaye Leigh
shook her head.
“One of us?” Jon said shocked.
“I’m sure you wouldn’t hurt your
sister.” She said.
“But I would or her niece would?”
Curtis said hurt.
“I’m not accusing anyone I’m just
throwing things out there.” She said quickly seeing the hurt
on Curtis’s face.
“Sounds to me like you’re accusing
someone.” He replied.
“Don’t pay any attention to her; I
think she’s suffering from lack of sleep. There is only one
way she got those rings and we all know it was from the person
who took them.” Kaye Leigh said.
“For the last time I didn’t give her
those rings.” Jeff said.
“You’re more likely to have done so
than any of the others, especially since you were the only one
that left that night and won’t say where you went.” She said.
“Why is it Kaye Leigh that Becki
believes me but my own wife doesn’t?” he asked.
“She’s more foolish than I am?” she
replied sarcastically. Jon laughed.
“I love Kaye Leigh and Jeff just like
they are my own family and I would never hurt either of them
like this.” Curtis said. “I thought you knew me better.”
“Curtis I’m sorry, I didn’t mean
anything by it, and I just really want to help them.” Becki
said quietly.
“We all do Becki but turning on each
other isn’t going to solve anything, it’s just going to create
more problems.” Jon said.
“I’m sorry guys.” She said.
“We’ll forgive you this time because
you’re so darn cute.” Curtis said. Becki blushed and everyone
laughed.
“By the way Jeff Sam called.” Becki
said. Kaye Leigh shut her eyes; she had not planned on
mentioning the call to anyone.
“What did he want?” Jeff asked. She
could feel everyone looking at her. Kaye Leigh looked at Becki.
“Sorry but you weren’t talking.”
Becki said.
“There was a reason for that.” She
said.
“What did he want Kaye Leigh?” Jon
said.
“He wants me to be with him, he said
he’s coming to Texas and that his patience is running thin.”
She said.
“I won’t let him hurt you Kaye
Leigh.” Jeff said.
“I’m not worried about him.” She
said. “Really guys, I’m not worried.” She added when they all
stared at her.
“Tim wants you to ride with him to
check out some horses.” Jeff said.
“Can’t you go Curtis?” she said.
“Of course I can, but he asked for
you.” Curtis replied.
“Just tell him I don’t feel like
riding today.” She said.
“Are you ok? You’ve never turned down
riding.” Jon said. Jeff, Curtis, and Becki all nodded in
agreement.
“I’m just a little tired right now
other than that I am fine.” She said, figuring if she kept
saying she was fine eventually she would be. Jeff had a
feeling she was trying to hid something. “Aren’t you going to
work? You didn’t go in yesterday either.” She said to him.
“I think working out our problem is a
little more important right now.” He said.
“I’m going for a walk.” She said
getting up to go change.
When she came back down, Jeff asked,
“Do you want some company?”
“Not yours would you like to come
Becki?” she replied.
“Sure.” Becki said looking a Jeff
apologetically.
They went out the door and heard
Curtis say, “She’s such a pleasant girl.”