Charisma #2
“I don’t know you. I’ve never seen you in my town before. For you to end up on my land when you’re a stranger is upsetting to me.”
“Mr—”
“You know who the fuck I am. Or maybe you don’t and that was your first mistake. Give me your wallet.” Nate made the demand as he moved his gun from the side of the stranger’s head.
“Now hold on—”
“Do I look like I need to rob you when I own all this? Be fucking serious. Give me your damn wallet, now!” He barked the command and I was tempted to jump into action and find the man’s wallet my damn self.
The stranger obeyed and I hated that Nate was so close to him. People were crazy and there was ample time for him to lash out and hurt Nate. When he made a move to reach behind him, I heard the distinct metallic chamber of a shotgun chamber from behind me.
No wonder Nate was unbothered.
The man hurried got his wallet and handed it to Nate who started to flip through it.
“Winston Chalmers, hailing all the way from New York City.”
“Not New York.” I recognized James’ voice and wondered why he sounded like he was taking this all in stride. He was probably the one with the gun.
“The jokes write themselves, huh, fellas?” Nate was smiling but there was no joy. It was the smile someone would give watching a human with more audacity than good sense and self preservation. Very, I’m about to show you how badly you have me fucked up.
“You can’t do something to me out here. The police—”
“Nobody is going to defile my property by allowing your blood to spill on it. We’re going to let you walk out of here the same way you walked your happy ass here.”
“What’s the catch?”
“There isn’t one. We know who you are now.
Before you hit the main highway, we’ll know everything there is to about you.
And just when you think to make trouble for us, because that was the real reason you were here I’m sure, your life will start to swiftly crumble.
Men like you and de la Costa think that the world still bends to your will.
I’m more than happy to show you how wrong you are if you decide to test me. ”
The threat was apparent. I wasn’t sure what kind of pull Nate had but he seemed too confident in his words to bluff. This man looked the type to make trouble simply because he would underestimate Nate. And Nate seemed like the type of man to make him pay for it. Extensively.
The man glanced at all of us as Nate took his picture and one of his ID before tucking it back into his wallet and holding it out to him. “Brad?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Can you and James see this piece of shit off the property, please?”
“Be our pleasure, Nate.”
There was movement and the rifleman who was obviously Brad came walking up on my right with James next to him.
“Walk!”
Mr. Chalmers took his wallet and turned to silently follow orders. The three men walked and Nate didn’t bother to turn around until they were out of sight. It was then that he pivoted on his heel and ate up the space between the two of us in less than a stride.
“Did he hurt you? Why’d you scream? Should I drag him back here now?” He held my face in his hands, eyes searching to ensure I didn’t have bruises on me.
“Nate, I’m fine. I was just startled by him when I was walking. It wasn’t until he tried to lie and say he knew you that I realized he was full of shit.”
Nate relaxed after giving me one final once over and took a step back.
“I can’t believe somebody had the nerve to be on my fucking property trying to intimidate you.
Guess I gotta look at locking that gate after all.
” He spoke that last sentence in Doc’s direction and clearly there had already been conversations about safety.
I wondered if I’d inspired them. If he thought I needed some type of protection on his property because I was a woman.
Today’s situation wasn’t doing me any favors in my arguing that I was fine.
“Until we can figure out what’s going on, I’d say that’s a good idea. Or at least rush the installation of the system through the rest of the property. I doubt he came in through the front gate.”
“He didn’t, Nate. There’s some cut through walking path he headed back toward. Don’t know how he found it but it was clearly used. Don’t know why it was here but now we’ll know to put eyes on that spot.” Brad and James walked up, delivering news that made Nate even more tense.
“I’ll get started on that right the fuck now.
Can’t have Charisma unable to walk the fucking property without a damn escort.
” His comment sparked something because he turned back to me with a determined look on his face.
It was clear what he was going to say next was going to piss me off.
“If you need to leave the office you need to let one of us know.”
“Excuse me?”
“Until we can figure out what’s going on, I need you to let someone know. It’s just until we know what’s going on so that we can have eyes on you.’
“Nate, I don’t think—”
He walked up on me again and bent his face down to meet mine.
It wasn’t threatening but it was intense as fuck as his dark brown eyes bore into mine.
“I’m all for a lady making her own path and using her brain.
Y’all are the smarter sex anyway. But right now, fuck all that.
I’m supposed to protect everyone on this land and that goes double for you.
I’m not taking shit away from you, but I’m doing my fucking job as a man and as your boss.
Now, I will call your people up from whatever part of the world you hail from and let them know how I’m carrying you.
That way you won’t get the chance to tattle on me to anyone else.
And before you ask, Maureen and Noah Chisholm-Love would be on my side of this situation in case you thought about ratting me out to my mama and daddy.
Now, do I have your easy cooperation or do I need to show you why my way is the best? ”
With each word, he got closer. Seemed to take up every millimeter of space until he was only a hairsbreadth away from my lips.
And I wanted that gap to close. Like a cheesy romance novel, I wanted him to pick me up, wrap my legs around him, and cart me off to the woods.
My chest was heaving, either from the drop in adrenaline or the increase of my libido, and if Nate’s horse hadn’t picked this moment to interrupt us, I would’ve done sometime stupid.
His neigh was insistent and loud, a signal to his owner that he was fucking up. Nate hesitated, his eyes growing more intense like he wanted to drive home his point, before he stood up straight.
“Is your silence my answer, Charisma?”
“I’ll let someone know where I’m going if I’m not in the office.”
His nod was tight, a silent that’s what the fuck I thought, and I wasn’t about to take the bait and say something sassy. It was dancing on the tip of my tongue but I barely got my last sentence out without moaning. I wasn’t going to take the chance and embarrass myself.
He turned to Brad and James who’d been watching our exchange like we were a live action Days of Our Lives. “Since we have eyes on that part of the estate, we need to get his plate info. Let the sheriff know that he’s got someone else to look out for.”
They both nodded and then walked to their horses to handle gathering the information.
“Glad everything was okay, Ms. Charisma.” James gave me that head nod as he mounted his horse.
“Thank y’all for coming so fast.”
“Didn’t have a choice. We heard that scream and Bucky was saddled up and jumping fences before we could figure out what was wrong. Damn good ears, Bucky.” James was grinning and I felt as though I was the topic of a silent conversation happening between the two of them.
“He seems to come to the rescue a lot.”
“And for you I always will. Let me know what you find when you pull up his plate, James.” He kept his eyes on me as he spoke.
A clear sign he wanted James to move his ass on before he said something Nate wasn’t ready to reveal.
James only answered with a laugh as he and Brad turned their horses back toward the path.
“Well, this was good excitement for the day. I’m gonna head inside and take a nap, Bucky. Charisma, we gotta teach you how to shoot, darling.” Doc spoke like shooting was going to be added to my job description.
“Shoot?”
“A gun. You absolutely should feel safe here but you have to know how to protect yourself.”
“Ain’t no beer bottles hanging around the ranch, love.” Nate’s teasing meant that he was at least somewhat more settled than he’d been when he’d first stormed up. His spirit seemed back to normal, the tempest having ebbed at least for now.
“I don’t know about that.”
“Consider it a job requirement. I’ll start teaching you myself.”
“Is that—”
“He taught me to shoot. Even with his age, Doc can still shoot the wings off a fly. He’s a great teacher.”
I could only nod since I apparently was about to get firearms training. “Okay.”
“Good answer, baby.”
And that baby was shooting sparks through my entire body.
“Y’all get on with it. I’m going to rest.” Doc leaned over to give me a hug, embracing me like a man who loved hard and had seen too much.
His hug felt like relief: relief that I was safe and relief that this place hadn’t been tainted by something ugly.
It wasn’t until Doc’s hug that the realization hit me that something could’ve gone really wrong.
“Get that thought out your head, pretty girl. We would never let anything bad happen to you.”
He patted me on the back he nodded to Nate and headed to his horse.
That nod screamed Your Black ass better not make a liar out of me.
Nate returned one as assurance that he wouldn’t.
We both watched Doc trot off toward the house and I exhaled deeply, thinking back to what I was supposed to be doing before I got distracted.
“Were you heading to the house?”
“Um, no. The storage barn.”
“Come on, we’ll walk you. I haven’t been in there in a minute and you should probably start earning that bonus.”