Chapter Eight. #2
“Did you get hurt? All anyone could talk about was how that bitch tried to kill you and how you’re pressing charges,” Stone asked as he checked me over.
“I’ve got bruised knees and elbows, but you took the brunt of it. Thank you, that ambulance would have seriously injured me,” I managed to say in an even tone.
Stone looked at me, and a quiet chuckle escaped. “That really fuckin’ hurt you, didn’t it?”
“Oh, you’ve no idea,” I replied, and Stone chuckled again before wincing.
“Use the pain relief. A fractured skull is no joke. Have you had nausea or felt shaky?”
“April, I don’t need another nurse,” Stone said, and I stiffened.
Well, fuck you too!
My thoughts must have shown on my face because Stone started babbling.
“I didn’t mean it like that. People won’t leave me alone in peace and quiet…
crap, that’s not what I meant either. They keep coming in and poking me with shit.
Worse, Sailor stands there watching over them and making everyone nervous.
I’ve a head injury, so why do they need to keep drawing blood and jabbing me? ”
“Wow, whiny much?”
Stone glowered. “I hate hospitals.”
“Okay. Anyway, I wanted to say thanks. You didn’t have to do that,” I said.
“Yeah, I did. I owed you,” Stone argued. “April, can we talk?”
“No! That’s not happening. You and I aren’t going to be friends. Stone, you broke me, and you did it on purpose. You saved me from being squished, and I’m grateful, but there’s no us. Once Clara is healed, we’re leaving South Dakota. Stick in your lane, I’ll stay in mine,” I replied.
Stone geared up to argue. I wasn’t prepared to hang around and let Stone offer explanations about his appalling behaviour when we broke up.
“Thanks for saving me. Have a good life, Stone.” I hurried from the room even as he called my name. Sailor glanced over as I nodded to him and headed for the elevator. There was nothing else to say. I’d done my task for the day.
Harlequin
I sat outside the house before swinging off my Hog.
This time, I wasn’t going to be chased away.
April was at work. I’d seen her leave. I guessed she had a meeting about the suspension.
Remembering what she’s said about Clara, I expected to wait.
I knocked on the door, and it opened instantly, and the scowling housekeeper answered.
“Well, Clara loves flowers,” she muttered, glancing at the bouquet I held.
“Can I come in?”
“Wanna say no, but Clara adores gifts,” Rose mused before stepping aside.
“Who is it, Rose?” Clara called.
“That biker man,” Rose replied.
“Ah. Stone. You can bring him through. April’s not here. She’s gone riding,” Clara announced.
I marched towards the cosy lounge from where Clara’s voice originated. My boots stomped, and I winced. Clara was sitting in an oversized chair when I entered, sipping tea.
“You grew into your promise as a handsome man,” she stated.
“Thanks, I brought you these,” I said, offering the massive bunch of flowers and a large box of chocolates.
“Rose, please put them in water. They’re my favourite, Stone, how kind of you to remember,” Clara replied and waved a hand to a sofa. I took a seat and studied her.
Clara was as beautiful as I remembered, although slightly older.
She wore pressed slacks and a silk blouse with two strands of pearl necklaces.
Her hair was short in a bob but immaculately styled, and her makeup was light.
A floral scent engulfed me, and I guessed Clara still used the same perfume, even after all these years.
“What can I do for you, Stone?” Clara asked. “I won’t intercede with April.”
“April let slip you’d been injured, so I came to see how you are.”
Clara eyed me astutely. “Did you now? How strange. You’ve not bothered until now, when April’s returned.”
“Just because we broke up, it didn’t mean I didn’t care,” I retorted, stung.
“Actually, it did mean that. How you acted was reprehensible and unworthy of the man I believed you’d become. You were a disappointment, Stone.”
Shit, that really hurt. That was something I’d never aimed to be. “There’s more to the story, Clara.”
“I’m uninterested, as is April. Neither of us cares for your version of the truth; we know exactly what happened.”
“I was arrested and facing prison!” I blurted.
Clara’s eyes narrowed in disappointment.
“Did you believe April would abandon you? Unless you’d raped or committed a murder, nothing would have damaged her love. You didn’t even give April a chance to decide for herself. You made a unilateral decision and decided April had no brain through the process of her own!” Clara replied calmly.
“No!”
“But you did. You didn’t give April the respect of considering that she knows her own mind and letting her choose. Instead, April was to be protected like a brainless bimbo.”
“Clara, you’re twisting my words. April would have quit nursing to stay local.”
Clara threw back her head and laughed. “Not at all. She would have continued because she knew there’d be no point moping at home while you were locked up.
Stone, you seriously underestimated my daughter, and still are.
Our conversation is over; I grow weary, and I need rest. Time for you to leave, Stone. ”
“Clara, I’m sorry about everything.”
“Sorry means nothing, Stone. It’s just a word people used to ease their conscience. Goodbye.”
Clara leaned back and closed her eyes, and I was dismissed. I got up and left. I don’t know what I’d expected to resolve here, but whatever I had been, I was leaving empty-handed.
April
Leaning low over Steel Knight’s neck, we jumped the small hedge, and I let him have his head again. Clara’s stallion raced forward, his legs making powerful strides as Steel Knight burned off energy. The stallion hadn’t been ridden since Clara’s fall, and he desperately needed to run.
Steel Knight headed across the field with me securely on his back.
Unlike most riders, Clara had preferred the English saddle, and I’d been taught to ride using one.
A laugh escaped as a sense of freedom washed over me.
There was nothing around but Steel Knight and me.
The grey loved to gallop, and letting him have his head was satisfying to the powerful horse.
I reined Steel Knight in near a stream and let him drink.
As he did, I checked for any burrs or thorns he might have picked up.
Steel Knight nuzzled and whinnied. I slowly walked him so he didn’t get any cramps, and his muscles didn’t go cold.
After mounting again, Steel Knight was happy at a more leisurely trot.
We’d crested a hill when another rider surprised me, heading towards me.
He had a fine seat, I thought critically as I watched, and then I stiffened.
That was Stone! What the hell was he doing here?
Worse, Stone was riding a horse two days after fracturing his skull.
Thankfully, he was wearing a helmet, but that wouldn’t help the injury he already had. Damn fool!