A somewhat calm reply of, “I know,” explained a lot to Swan as to why the evening had unfolded as it did.
Slater watched Swan bow her head and wrap her arms around herself. He could only imagine the difficulties that this single mother must have had to endure. He tried to picture her pregnant, blind, totally on her own, and accepting life as it had been given to her.
He asked the question that had been eating at him for three years, “Why didn’t you let me help? Why did you just leave Breckenridge without a word?”
She answered without hesitation, “I couldn’t ask a handsome young man to give up his life for me. So, when the doctors told me the blindness could well be permanent, I felt that for all concerned, it would be better if I split.”
“What made you think I was handsome?” he asked with a cocky grin.
His question, as usual, threw her off center. Her eyes flickered up to his.
“All the nurses said so.”
Slater threw out the half smoked cigarette and reached over to rub her neck, “I want to hear more details later. Let’s go eat.”
After all the emotional upheaval, Slater was hungry and grouchy. He started the engine and reached over to take Swan’s hand. She clutched his as well. It was a good sign that they had a truce for now even though it remained a fragile one.
CHAPTER 34
They were a stunning couple. Individually they would have turned heads--together, they were smashing! Every eye in the entire bar was following them. Neither Slater nor Swan noticed as each of their thoughts and emotions were in total chaos. Fortunately, they were seated in a secluded area and everyone around them went back to business.
The cushy cocktail seating gave a comfortable peace to their first date. They had had a normal conversation over the dinner table and now they were relaxing with drinks. Slater leaned over and casually draped his arm over Swan’s bare shoulders. His thumb made circles on the edge of her shoulder blade, relaxing her. She still remained somewhat tense. She was beginning to realize that he went to direct interrogation when he was making her feel the most vulnerable.
“Did you have a hard time?”
Swan blinked a few times wondering if she had missed part of the conversation as she sipped her champagne cocktail and looked up at the stars. “Wwwhat?” she stuttered.
He repeated the question, “Did you have a difficult time delivering Quinn?”
“Yes.”
We’re back to one-word answers again, he thought. “How so?” he pressed.
He wanted to hear every detail of the birth that he had missed.
“He was breech.”
Slater sucked in an audible breath between his perfect teeth and his thumb stopped circling Swan’s shoulder as he imagined her all alone and blind, birthing their son breech. He had helped with enough animals on his Malibu ranch to get through a difficult birth to know it was not a pleasant way to go whether you were animal or female woman. Sometimes neither made it.
He swallowed, “I should have been there.”
Swan looked right into his soul and replied serenely, “I wish you would have been there, too. I needed you.” She looked away.
“I’ll be there the next time.”
At that comment, Swan’s head jerked up and she stared directly into Slater’s eyes. Slater leaned down and tenderly kissed her lips. It was an apology for the things that he had had no control over in the past and the way things might be in the future. Her response told him that she understood and accepted the way things had been and would let time take care of things to come.
CHAPTER 35
Slater arrived at Swan’s condo the next day with a handful of trucks, planes, and GI Joes. He had missed two birthdays and he was determined to make up for lost time. Slater came the day after that and the day after that. He totally fell into the role of being a daddy. Quinn soon fell under his spell and was greeting him with open arms. Slater would throw him up in the air and tickle him making laughter and happiness while adding a new dimension to the life of a young boy with a new daddy.
Slater soon was a permanent fixture. The female condo began to change with the constant presence of male company. Maria was a little skeptical at first and remained constantly vigilant; always, hovering subtlety nearby. Slater knew that he was being judged and evaluated. He was pleased that she watched over his little family so carefully. It wasn’t long, however, before Maria realized his commitment and devotion was the same as hers and accepted him as part of their daily ritual. She was pleased with what she saw and the happiness that he generated for the family. When she began to retreat more and more into her own quarters, Slater knew he had passed her evaluation test.
Slater was elated to hear that Quinn would soon be having his third birthday. He found himself planning to bring an entire circus to preschool. He was a little disgruntled that his practical mother quickly squished the thought. A simple birthday with family and cake was exciting as it was going to get. So, the following Saturday he planned their first trip to Disneyland.
It was a comfortable clear day when Slater and his little family arrived at 8:00 A.M. at the Disney theme park in Anaheim along with a score of other families. They took the tram from the parking lot and were now standing in line for tickets. Slater carried Quinn who was perfectly comfortable in Slater's arms as though his daddy had always been a normal part of his life. With big gray eyes, he was soberly observing the chaos around him.
They soon were through the turnstile and grabbing a coveted baby stroller. It wasn’t long before they were making their way down the crowded Main Street USA with Quinn taking in all the sights. He squealed with delight when he saw Tigger and Mickey Mouse. Both of them squatted down for pictures with him. From then on, he was a declared “Disney Groupie”.
The morning passed quickly after several kiddy rides and standing in line for Snow White, Peter Pan, and It’s a Small Small World. Mom and Dad waved and smiled indulgently as Quinn flew by on Dumbo and scooted along on Donald Duck.
Time out was finally taken for lunch. Slater was more than a little distracted when Swan leaned over in her little white shorts to lift Quinn out of the stroller. Her cute little tush was outlined very distinctly as she did so. He had watched her backside swish back and forth all morning and now that he had an opportunity, it was just too tempting not to touch. Swan swatted his hand away, continued with her task as though it were normal, and then turned to glare at him. Slater returned her glare with a dimpled grin letting her know that he was not the least bit contrite.
Swan handed Quinn to Slater saying, “Here, let Daddy carry you, he needs something to do with his hands.”
After a late lunch, Quinn began to yawn. Crawling into the comforting arms of his mommy, he was soon sound to sleep on Swan’s plump breast. Slater watched in fascination as he snuggled his head close and stuck his thumb in his mouth. He was so close to her nipple that it was hard not to imagine Quinn sucking at her breast. All too soon, he was wondering what it would feel like for him to do the same. He was convinced that at the end of the day, he would find out.
The evening concluded with the Electric Parade and Tinker Bell flying down the wire. Then, the entertainment was over and suddenly all the strollers in the amusement park seemed to be trying to converge and funnel into Main Street USA simultaneously. By this time, everyone was tired, cranky, and no longer amused. Stroller road rage had begun and Slater was the leader of the pack. Finally, they passed through the exit gate and mounted the trolley that took them to the parking lot. An hour later, they walked into Swan’s condo.
Slater had Quinn’s routine down by now. A quick dip in the tub, a bedtime story, and Quinn would be out like a light. The anticipation of taking a shower himself and crawling under the covers with Swan generated some extra energy. Swan appeared at the doorway of Quinn’s room in a white terry robe. Thanking him for getting Quinn ready for bed and for the entertaining day, she asked him to lock the door on the way out as she was going to bed as well.
“Good,” thought Slater, “that’s right where he wanted her.” Kissing their son good night, he softly treaded his way down the hall to Swan’s bedroom. He turned the doorknob only to find it bloody well locked. There was no way that a locked door would keep him out if he chose to be on the other side, but for now he gave Swan a reprieve.
“Swan, darling, you can’t keep me out of your bed forever,” he spoke in a husky menacing voice.
He didn’t know if Swan heard him as there was no reaction on the other side of the door, but he felt better for saying it. Swan did indeed hear his deep voice and each word he spoke. She tossed and turned for over an hour after he left while visions of another night danced in her head before darkness claimed her in a restless sleep.
Slater left the condo and arrived at his own luxury pad fifteen minutes later. He poured himself a scotch and went out on his balcony. Standing at the railing overlooking the Pacific, he began drumming his fingers on the edge as he thought about Swan. She was not going to make this relationship easy. He was not averse to plying her with liquor and getting her a little tipsy if that is what it took to lower her defenses. However, he knew that she would blame him in the long run and that that would probably not be his most creative idea. Besides, he wanted her alert and ready the next time they made love. He wanted her to want him as much as he wanted her. And yes, there would be a next time whether she realized it or not.
CHAPTER 36
The next afternoon Slater arrived on the doorstep with two dozen red roses. He had given roses before; they just were never red. Red was only for lovers and the mother of his child. No one had ever been that special to him before this.
Swan graciously accepted the flowers and put them in a crystal vase of water. She wore a white linen halter-top that showed a lot of cleavage; especially, when she leaned down to place the flowers on the table. Slater, being as horny as he was, was not averse to ogling every jiggling movement. When Swan looked up, she caught his glance and became a little flushed. Good, he thought, maybe he was inching under her skirts after all and it was time to press to his advantage.
He pulled Swan reluctantly onto his lap. “So, did you get a good night’s rest?”
Slater was amused as he watched a little blush came over her face. He was beginning to realize that when she was on the defensive, she met his eyes unwaveringly with much more bravado than she probably felt.
“I slept like a log,” she stated without as much as a twitter of an eyelash.
At least they were getting past the one-word answers, he thought.
“Good, because Babe, you’re going to need it tonight.”
He made sure that there was no doubt what he wanted from her by pulling her close to his hardness and pressing her breasts against his chest as he lips came down in a demanding kiss. She responded without a struggle, but when his hands began to wonder, she immediately put a stop to them and climbed off his lap putting space between them.
There was not an opportunity to pursue the romance farther as Quinn was soon in the middle of both of them. He was always excited to see his daddy and today was no different. He began tugging on his hand hoping to go to the beach and build sand castles. It wasn’t long before they were all sitting at the shoreline, each trying to “out do” the other with a little sand art.
The day soon turned into evening. They returned to the condo with a box of pizza and a six-pack of beer. Soon, they had eaten and it was time for Quinn to “hit the hay”, an event to which Slater had looked forward to all day. It wasn’t long before sleepy eyes closed after indulging in a duo read from both parents. They kissed him good night and tiptoed from the room.
Once the light was flipped, Slater backed Swan against the hall wall and resumed where he had left off on the couch earlier that day. The passionate kiss that followed was supposed to set the mood for the rest of the evening. Unfortunately for Slater, the angels gave a nervous Swan another reprieve.
They had just sat down in front of the fireplace with a glass of wine when Slater’s cell phone rang. It was from Juanita in Malibu. Jake had had an accident on the ranch. One of the cattle had not been particularly uncooperative during dehorning and he had gotten gouged in the belly. Juanita’s English was never the greatest under the best of circumstances and under duress; she was having a difficult time communicating. Slater immediately lapsed into fluent Spanish. After speaking with the hospital doctor he understood the seriousness of the situation as Jake was bleeding profusely and they may not be able to get it under control. He might not make it. Slater ran an agitated hand through his hair. Assuring Juanita that he would be on his twin engine within the hour, he hung up the phone. A quick explanation and a kiss on Swan’s upturned lips; he immediately exited out the door.
CHAPTER 37
The next day passed slowly. Swan’s concern for Slater and his friend were making her a little worried as she had not heard from Slater all day. When the phone finally did ring, she jumped in anticipation of bad news. Slater gave a brief description of the events of the day. By the time that Slater had reached the hospital, the doctor had been able to stop the bleeding. Jake was not in immediate danger, but because of the seriousness of the wound, he would remain in intensive care overnight. He would probably be in the hospital for the rest of the week. Slater had held and soothed Juanita the best he could trying to reassure her that all would be well.
When Jake seemed to be holding his own, Juanita could not thank Slater enough for coming. She promised to bake him a peach pie if he would only stay a while longer. Slater had no intention of going anywhere until his friend returned home and was totally on the mend; however, it never hurt to have a homemade pie dangled in front of his nose. Besides, he never in his life turned down Juanita’s home cooking.
Slater finally arrived back at his hacienda towards the end of the day. He settled onto the cowhide couch with the fireplace burning and gave Swan a call. He explained Jake’s situation while Swan listened with relief. Then, she made the mistake of asking if there were anything she could do.
Slater didn’t hesitate a moment before he said, “I’d like to have you here with me. Would Maria be able to take care of Quinn for a few days if I flew back on Monday and picked you up?”
Swan knew what he was asking. She hesitated a moment before Slater pressed the issue.
“I need you.”
That was her undoing and he knew it---the snake! Before she realized it, she was saying “yes” and it was a “done deal”.
After hanging up the phone Swan began to pace the floor wondering what kind of a trap she was falling into and if it were a smart idea to join Slater in Malibu. Since she had committed and was always one to face the inevitable; she sucked it up and began to make arrangements for her departure whether it was an intelligent decision or not.
Swan packed a bag of casual clothing for the trip to Malibu. It was only after a short hesitation, she also threw in a pale peach satin negligee as well just in case she got gutsy enough to wear it.
When the limo picked Swan up at 9:00 sharp the next morning, Swan was ready in a sleeveless, mid-calf jean dress with cutouts in the top part of the bodice and red leather boots with fancy tooling on the sides. Slinging a denim jacket over her arm and grabbing her small overnight bag, she flew out the door and scooted into the backseat of the luxury vehicle.
The chauffer zoomed to the John Wayne Airport in twenty minutes where Slater was impatiently waiting and wondering if Swan were going to show. Relief was not evident on his stoic face as he grabbed her arm and they headed for the small private plane hangar.
They didn’t have a lot of time before takeoff. So, Swan was stuffed immediately into the front seat of a twin-engine piper. Fifteen minutes later, the plane were bouncing down the runway and then into the wild blue yonder. Slater glanced over at Swan. He realized that she hadn’t said a word and that she had the ol’ white-knuckle clutch on each arm of the chair. Her face was ghostly white and she looked like she could ba
rf at any moment. He’d bet his last nickel that she probably hadn’t flown since the plane crash almost four years ago. He just hoped he had a paper bag in one of the plane’s compartments. As luck would have it, he did. He handed it to Swan and tried to distract her by pointing out various landmarks. It didn’t work.
They landed on the private runway at the Malibu ranch an hour later without incident. Except for Swan’s face that matched the lime green moss on the rocks below, the flight was smooth and uneventful.
The Malibu amethyst mountains had taken on a slight mauve haze. They were dotted with colorful fall vegetation that seemed to be giving their last bloom before cooler weather arrived. It was that scenic evening setting that greeted them.
Driving the twin engine plane into a small hanger that was close to the ranch house, Slater turned off the motor. He immediately slipped his hand under the denim jacket that Swan was wearing and began to rub her shoulders. It was a few minutes before the tenseness left and she was able to focus on getting out of the plane. Slater put his arm around her shoulders and helped a wobbly Swan depart the plane before scooping her up in his arms and walking to his hacienda a few yards away.
Laying Swan down on the leather couch, Slater gave her a glass of cold water and put a cloth on her forehead. It wasn’t long before she was sitting up and feeling normal again.
Swan began to look around and absorb her surroundings. She was in the main room of the old Spanish casa. It was a lavish and yet primitive room decorated in authentic Southwestern culture. It was a mixture of old and new with a unique and impressive private collection of art. It was as though she were experiencing the flavor of the seventeenth century while being in the twenty-first.
Slater was the perfect touch to the hacienda as he strode from the hearth room eluding power even wearing dusty boots, a western shirt, and jeans. It was his kingdom. He belonged here, just as the other great cattle barons did of long ago.