Long Ride (Riding with Honor) (9 page)

“You can think whatever you want to.  Just don’t set yourself up for disappointment when it doesn’t happen
,” she said with a grin of her own.

When lunch was finished she cleaned up so he could get back to finishing the bedroom door when her
cell phone rang.

“Hi
, this is Carmen James returning your call.”

“Hi
, Carmen, I looked through the file on the two foster girls and, as adorable as they are, I can’t commit to taking on this case without knowing the name of the potential foster dad,” she said.

“Richard Long
,” Carmen said as though Becca should already know.

Of course.
  She had known it was coming but now that it was confirmed, there was no hiding her relationship with Dickie.

“I was afraid you were going to say that
,” she sighed. “I feel that I need to make you aware that I have been seeing Di…Richard Long.”

“So?” Carmen said
.

“I just wanted you to be aware so that it doesn’t come back to bite me somehow… conflict of interest
,” she said.

“No
, it just means that if you will be staying overnight with him or even living with him, it is best if you become a licensed foster parent as well.  That is also why Mr. McMurray will need to become a licensed foster parent… he lives with Dana Atkinson,” Carmen said.

“I am only here temporarily…
I’ll be returning to New York soon,” she said.  She could swear her heart slowed down at the thought of not seeing him every day.

“Well why don’t you, Mr. Long, and Mr. McMurray join us next Friday for an orientation and we can go from there.  Then if they are interested in the program we can see about setting up foster training and scheduling a home inspection and study
,” Carmen suggested.

“I can at least go to the orientation with them and ensure they understand the requirements
,” she said. “I am meeting with both Dana and Tommy this week to talk about what we discussed.  I would say for now go ahead and put our names down for the orientation and if for some reason that changes I will let you know.”

“That sounds great
, Becca, and I have a few things together regarding your case for Charles Reynolds.  Did you want me to drop it over to you or will you be in the area that you could stop and pick it up?” Carmen asked.

“If you happen to be in the neighborhood today you could run them by.  If not, I will
pick them up tomorrow sometime,” she replied.

After hanging up with Carmen she called Daniel at the art gallery to give him Chuck’s counter offer.  She couldn’t help but smile at the thought of the young man’s excitement about marrying Meredith as she waited for the receptionist to connect her through to him.

“Daniel, this is Becca Waters,” she said when he finally answered. “Listen, Chuck Reynolds gave me the proposal you sent to him and asked me to call and discuss the sale with you.”

“I’m glad, as we have an offer on another painting that we just mailed to him today but since I’ve got you on the line…”
Daniel said. “So how does he feel about the price on the proposal for the first one?”

“Well actually that is why I am calling…”
she started. “Chuck and Meredith are engaged now and he is looking to purchase a home with her and would like to pay cash.  He is willing to offer your client another painting of their choice out of the works you have there or, if there isn’t one they prefer, he is willing to commission something for them that is personal.  He would simply need a photograph or video of the subject.”

“Let me make a phone call and I will call you back.  The other sale is for around the same price, but my concern there is that the painting is garnering a huge response from everyone who sees it.  Sometimes hanging onto
a piece like that not only makes the painting itself more valuable but also other works by the same artist,” he said. “I would counsel him not to sell that one.”

“What is the painting of?”
she asked in interest at the excitement she heard in the man’s voice.

“It’s breathtaking really…”
he said. “I would venture to guess it is Meredith.”

“
What?
” she nearly shouted.

Silence ensued for several
moments until he said, “The painting shows her sitting in a claw foot bathtub with a sheer curtain surrounding it, partially blocking her from view.  It doesn’t show her full face but having met her and seeing the two of them together… it has to be her.  It only shows her shoulders, an arm and the back of her hair, yet it is by far one of the more intimate paintings I’ve ever seen.”

Shit!
  How did this happen? 
Carla.
  Carla had boxed up the paintings from Chuck’s apartment and must have accidentally mixed in one of his personal paintings by mistake.  He was very specific about what art he would share with others and those things he considered personal. 

“I’m going to have to call you back
,” she said.

“Ok…is everything alright?”
Daniel asked.

“I think you have a painting you weren’t supposed to get…
and I didn’t force him to read the list of them when I should have,” she said. 
Double Shit!
  She didn’t make mistakes like this.
Ever.
  Yet she had let him skim over the list of the paintings and the proposed names for each one and then sign it.  He was going to be mad at her and with good reason.

“Ok, well I would recommend that if he has any others like this one he might reconsider and allow me to showcase them
,” he said.

“I’ll call you back
,” she replied and hung up.

Then
glancing at the phone she dialed Carla’s number and when the call was answered she said, “Are you all at home right now?”

“Becca?” Carla said
. “Yes, we are here, is everything ok?  You sound upset.”

“
Are Chuck and Meredith there with you now?” she asked.

“Meredith is here but Chuck is still at the shop.  What’s going on?” Carla asked
.

“The paintings… the paintings you sent to New York, did you look through them before you shipped them?”
she asked.

“Actually, I didn’t.  In fact I didn’t ship them, I asked my father to stop by his apartment and box up the paintings in the closet
,” Carla replied.

“Can you call your father and ask him if he looked at the paintings before he shipped them?  I’ll get Dickie to run me over to your house if you are going to be there for a little bit
,” she said.

“Yes, we will be here
,” Carla replied.

After hanging up with Carla
, she went and found Dickie where he was ensuring that the bedroom door was rehung correctly.

“I need to drive over to the Johnson house.  Something has come up and I need to speak with them in person
,” she explained.

“I’d love to let you drive over there, but I let the neighbor lady use the car to get to work this morning when hers wouldn’t start
and the truck is at the shop.  I was going to take a look at her car this afternoon.  So unless you are willing to ride on the back of my bike, I’m afraid I can’t help you,” he said with a grin.

She remembered wondering about the car this morning when they had
gone for their walk but had been side tracked and forgot to ask.  Now he stood there all smug, waiting for her to decide whether to take him up on his offer or call a cab.  Would it be that bad to be seen on his motorcycle with him? 

“I must have a death wish but okay, fine
, we will take your bike,” she sighed

“I’ll be driving the bike, not you, so we should be a
little
bit safer,” he said with a grin.

Her
cell phone buzzed with a text message from her brother.  “We got him!” it read.

Becca
changed into some jeans and the heavy jacket he insisted she wear and went in search of him.  He had rolled his motorcycle out of the garage.  The bike was simply a completion of all that he was, a mischievous and rowdy rebel with a heart of gold.  It was like the one accessory that when added to an outfit completely changes the atmosphere of it.

After she managed to get the helmet on, slide onto the seat behind him, and wrap her arms around his waist she relaxed against him.  She loved the feel of being wrapped around him, she loved being with him, she loved the things he said, the way he took care of everyone. 
Especially her.

The day was beautiful and she couldn’t help but appreciate the ride.  It
felt like the strong rush of wind was blowing away all of her worries and fears.  She finally understood why he was the way he was.  The feeling of freedom she got just from riding behind him was exhilarating. 

All too soon they pulled up to the Johnson’s house
.  She managed to get off bike, remove the helmet and attempt to push her hair back in place before Chuck stepped out the front door.

“I bow to you man!  You have managed to corrupt her in less than a week, first with all the sex, and now the bike.  What’s next?” Chuck laughed
.

“Chuck… I need to talk to you about your paintings
,” she said, attempting to ignore his comment and the wide smile that displayed on his handsome face.  He and Meredith would have beautiful children someday.

“I know
.  Carla called me at the shop.  Let’s go in and get some tea and you can tell me whatever it is that has your panties in a knot,” Chuck said.

Once they were settled at the kitchen table with Carla and Meredith joining them
, she took a deep breath and said, “The gallery is showcasing one of the paintings you did of Meredith.” 

It was best to get it out in the open and go from there but the shocked look on Meredith’s face spoke volumes.

“Oh God!  Which one?” she asked. “How did they get it, Chuck?”

“There were
no
paintings of people and especially not of Meredith in my closet, so how did one of
my
paintings get shipped?” Chuck asked angrily.

“I shipped it
,” Judge Patterson said from the entry to the kitchen. “Carla called and asked me about it.  I figured this day would come eventually so I thought I would stop by and shed some light on things.”

“What are you talking about
, Grandpa?” Meredith asked.

“The painting wasn’t vulgar by any means but it is
just breathtaking in its elegance and simplicity.  It’s the same quality as the painting of your grandmother.  That is the art that he should be showcasing… those that come from his heart and soul,” Nathan Patterson said.

“
The paintings he creates while using his feelings are what will put his name in the history books.  I knew it when he gave me the picture of your grandmother.  That, Chuck, that is the reason why I’ve been so hard on you ever since you stepped foot in my courtroom.  Use that God given skill to touch other people’s souls and to heal your own,” Nathan finished.

Everyone was quiet for a little while until
Becca finally said, “The painting shows Meredith in a bathtub surrounded by a sheer curtain.  Daniel said it doesn’t show her face, only her shoulders.  Do you know which one they have?” she asked Chuck.

Chuck
and Meredith looked at each other and grinned and then he said, “Oh, yea.”

“I’m truly sorry that I did not make you
really
read the list of paintings they would be showcasing a little more carefully.  Daniel has sent a sale sheet for the painting but he told me he doesn’t think you should sell it.  It is gaining so much attention, it could make the rest of your paintings more valuable as well,” Becca said.

“Daniel knows more about selling art
and shit than I do so I guess we just trust his judgment.  Not to mention I don’t want some rich perv having a painting of my wife.  As for you screwing up… if you do it again I will personally take that
mistake
and stick it sideways up your ass.  Isn’t that similar to what you told
me
when
I
made a mistake by having a gun?” Chuck asked with a mischievous grin.

“Fair enough
, Chuck,” she laughed. “I have re-learned one of the most important rules in the legal profession… read everything at least twice.”

“I figure you’ve been distracted so it’s partially Dickie’s fault too
,” he laughed. “Why don’t we go see if Tommy and Dana want to take a ride this evening?”

“I was thinking tonight might be the last
time we can ride at night for a while, with the weather getting colder.  What do you say, Becca?” Dickie asked with a knowing smile.

“Who will keep the girls?” Carla asked
.

“Well at least maybe Tommy can sneak out for a while
,” Chuck laughed.

“The boys and I could follow you over there and watch them for a bit.  I know Ben and Matt like playing with Gretchen and I’d get to hold the baby
,” Carla smiled.

Chuck called Tommy
while Dickie called Bobby it was decided to all meet up at Tommy’s house.  So they loaded up and took off on the bikes.  After meeting up with the other two couples the four bikes took off together.  The night sky was beautiful and Becca enjoyed it even more since the other women were along and enjoying it as much as she was. 

After they rode around
for a while they stopped off at a small diner for some coffee and dessert for Lilly.  As they entered the restaurant Becca listened to a voice mail message from Carmen.

“I dropped off some of the paperwork you requested on Charles Reynolds with Richard Long’s neighbor.  It is in a sealed envelope and I will let you know when we have everything else on him ready
,” the message stated.

She should be working but was having too much fun and decided to enjoy the rest of the evening instead.  She could start again in the morning by going over the documents on Chuck.  The time passed all too quickly as it
often did whenever she was with the other ladies in this group.  They were a family… a unique one… but a family none the less.

After leaving the diner they all rode together for a ways before people started to break off and head their own directions toward home.  Watching each couple together on their bike seemed to say something about the relationship of the rider and passenger. 

Bobby truly looked like a biker between his size and his dark looks and Lilly seemed to be the light… a contrast to him.  Dana had swept her long hair around her neck and tucked it in to her jacket and was snuggled up as close to Tommy as possible with her hands in the pockets of his jacket.  Meredith and Chuck appeared to having the time of their lives… occasionally Meredith would lean up and kiss Chuck’s neck and they would both smile.

She was pressed up against Dickie who occasionally would let go of one of the handle bars and rub or pat her leg.  She was almost fifty years old and it felt like she was just now starting to live.  It was amazing what a new perspective could do.  She would miss this feeling when she returned to New York, but was still glad she had experienced it.

When they finally got back Dickie walked over to the neighbors and retrieved her delivery and promised to look at the car the next morning.  Then he brought in the envelope and set it on the couch before heading out to the garage to pull his bike inside.  She decided to call her brother back.

“You ready to come home?”
Greg said upon picking up the call.

“Actually
, no I’m not.  I have a bunch of stuff going on down here at the moment with cases and I need to finish up some loose ends before I can come back but I am so glad you got him,” she replied.

“
We actually busted him right here in New York… he must have run off after seeing what Dickie did to his friend.  He’s claiming he’s been in New York the whole time and the threats he made to you back then were the words of an angry young man, not who he is now,” Greg said.

“
However, he has no alibi for the day you received the photograph.  Being picked up on a probation violation won’t help his case either,” Greg said with a smile in his voice. “Oh and what happened to ‘I’m not working on any cases’?” he mimicked.

“Well… it’s just stuff for the guys at the shop mostly
,” she said.

“
Whenever you get ready to head back give me a call and I’ll pick you up at the airport,” Greg offered and then said his goodbyes and hung up.

When Dickie returned from the garage she said
, “They caught Roger… Greg has him in custody.”

He looked relieved for a few seconds but then his smile disappeared and he said
, “I guess you will be anxious to get back home now.”

As unnerving as it had been waiting for the other shoe to drop, or at least for Roger to make an
actual
attempt on her life, it had given her an opportunity to really enjoy herself.  Here in Dickie’s home she’d felt safe, even despite the break in. 

He had
proven he was capable of protecting her by showing up at the door to the bedroom just as the man had finished tying her up and ordering her to be quiet.  In those brief moments before Dickie arrived she had been concerned that the stranger would kill him. 

Then he had displayed the
set of skills Chuck had described and within seconds had the man incapacitated. 

Yes, she did feel safe around Dickie, but she also felt adored, cherished, respected and especially
sexy.
  When she did return to New York she would be going back to her hectic schedule and overwhelming caseload of high dollar court battles.  She would be returning to her life of solitude and loneliness and in all honesty really wasn’t looking forward to it.

He hadn’t ever spoken of what their relationship would entail once Roger was no longer a threat and she had never asked.  Did she want more than just a casual friendship with benefits?  They were polar opposites. 

He was laid back, jovial and kind hearted, while she was motivated, slightly bitchy and the wall built from distrust around her heart might never come completely down.  He deserved someone as high on life as he was and it was doubtful she would fit that bill for any length of time.

“I suppose that I am in some ways
,” she said. “In other ways not so much, but I do have some things I have to finish up down here before I head back.  I could get a hotel now though since the threat is gone.”

He approached where she stood and gently held her upper arms in his hands and said
, “Will you stay with me until you have to go back?  I think I’ve done well… haven’t been in your way too much.”

She felt her heart breaking a little at his words but she had known this day would come.  The smart thing to do would be to go now and begin letting the part of her heart that had been exposed to him heal
, but his eyes would not allow it. 

“I’d like that
,” she heard herself say.

He smiled and said
, “I’m glad to hear that because your self-defense training isn’t done yet.  Hitting a man in the balls is effective if you can pull it off, but that is rarely the case or there would be a lot less victims in this world.”

With that he reached out and gently ran his fingers from her chin down her neck
.  There he extended them to wrap around her throat as an attacker would and backed her slowly toward the wall that was a couple of steps behind her. 

His blue eyes gazed at her and though this had been one of Brian’s favorite ways to control her
, she wasn’t afraid.  This was a lesson she needed to learn.  How to break free… how not to be a victim of fear.  His grip was gentle and his eyes never left hers.

“What will you do Becca?  How can you escape?”
he whispered.

Instinct brought her knee up but he guarded himself with his leg.  Shaking his head no at her
, he reached down and took her right hand and made a fist without using her index and middle finger.  Then he guided the two fingers to his trachea. 

“Hit here firmly and he will choke and bend forward
,” he said imitating the movement.

“Then you hit hard with your other fist in the same area and then kick him away
,” he said, taking her left hand and forcing her to make a fist which he then brought slowly to his neck demonstrating where to hit. 

“Then you run and you scream.  Use that fear as a weapon
toward your attacker rather than as a hindrance to you.  If you listen to the fear it will tell you how to survive… sometimes that means fighting back and sometimes it means submitting.  Let your fear guide you, not consume you,” he finished quietly.

He made her practice the move a few times before finally capturing her lips with his own and whispering
, “Enough fighting… let’s make up now.”