Blind Hope Read online

  Judy realized it had been a while for him just in his reactions to her touch. A man who received ‘attention’ on a regular basis didn’t react this way to the initial stages of foreplay. He wanted her to take care of him. It was the least she could do, considering her need for what was about to occur was equal if not greater than his own. Losing herself in the moment, she treated his body as if he were the last man capable of reproduction on the planet.

  Cotter bit down on his lips as her mouth worked him over. Clutching at the bed covers, he reached for a pillow to shove in his mouth to keep from yelling out like Tarzan. It was good. Damned good, but he didn’t have any reserves in him as he blindly reached for her, pulling her naked body away as the suction sound of her mouth leaving him made him throb even more.

  “Enough. I want you,” he said, pulling her body atop his own. He struggled with her legs, positioning him over her, pointing, aiming and gently pushing into the warm opening. It was a snug fit, but he planned to take his time.

  “Goodness,” she said, leaning forward, the perfectly sized, small ebony breasts, pressing against his chest. The narrow hips moved slowly, trying to take him all in. “You feel good.”

  “Ditto,” he mumbled, allowing his rough hand to run down the smooth skin. Cupping her bottom, he craved the need to have her speed up. He was right there and ready. Needing the release like a cold glass of water on a hot muggy day, he encouraged her to move. “Get me there, Judy. Take care of me.”

  She needed no other words as she began rocking her hips up and down. The feel of the thickness sliding in and out turned her on to the point she nearly forgot the child was in the house. Leaning forward, she grabbed a handful of his hair, whispering in his ear, “This is mine. You’re mine, Cotter Wihlborg, from this day forward, ‘til death do us part.”

  “Sure, sure, whatever you want, lady,” he said, focusing on the sensations, the pleasure, her enjoyment of him. The bed squeaked as she gyrated low into his hips then high, and coming to her feet. Her hands rested on his chest for balance as she worked him in and out of the dampness of her body. His eyes were wide, watching the throbbing hot rod disappear into her dark skin, her movements amazing him. Then she started to twitch.

  “Oh, my goodness,” she said, feeling the start of her climax. “This is so fucking good. So good.”

  She worked her hips, moving faster and faster, her body clamping tight around him. Her nails grazed his skin as she rocked fast and hard, whispering his name, riding him for all he was worth. Judy flung her head back as he licked his thumb, searching through the thick mass of girl curls, locating the nub of flesh and rubbing it quickly. He could feel the explosion inside of her as she let go. Getting close himself, he sat up on the bed and rolled her over to her back.

  He buried himself as deep as he could go and thrust hard. She whimpered against his cheek. Her hot breath fueled him as he pumped, deep, deeper still until he was there.

  “Say my name, Judy,” he said to her. “Tell me this is yours again. Tell me, dammit!”

  “You’re mine, Cotter Wihlborg, you’re mine!” she moaned, clamping her legs around his hips, encouraging him to give her more.

  Cotter let go. Years of late-night connections with faces he didn’t want to see in the morning all vanished. He wanted to see her face in the morning, the evening, and all damned day long if he had his way. She said he was hers.

  For the first time in his life, he believed a woman.

  “Damn!” he grunted as he let loose months of pent up aggression, hatred, and frustration. He body slid across the bed as he pumped her so hard that he almost feared he would snap her into, but there was no way to stop what he was giving her. She shifted his body to come to his knees as he thrust repeatedly, filling Judy with his hot seed. His right leg shook as he collapsed on top of her, sated.

  “That was amazing,” Judy said, rubbing his hair. Hot breath, followed by a fit of coughs ensued as she pushed at his chest, to get him off of her so she could clean up and get dressed.

  “Not just yet,” he said into the side of her neck then rolled to his back, taking her with him. “Let me hold you for a moment.”

  In silence, they lay in bed, filled with words which needed to be said, but he was right. This was not the time.

  OVER DINNER, QUIETLY they ate sausages simmered with onions over a bed of rice with a green salad. Johnnie monopolized the conversation about Christmas ornaments and the need to go shopping for presents. She also chose this time to barter for more allowance.

  “You are giving her an allowance?” Judy asked, surprised.

  “She gets 10 bucks, but I didn’t say how often,” Cotter said.

  “I think it should be a week, that way I will have enough to buy each of you a present,” Johnnie said with pride.

  “Well, first we have to get packed and get to St. Louis to make the train,” Cotter said.

  “We are really going?” Johnnie said getting to her feet. “We are really going to take the train to Las Vegas? If I had friends, this is when I would call them to brag. I’m so excited I can’t stand it!”

  Cotter looked at Judy, squinting his eyes. “Yeah, she needs to get out more.”

  “So, does her Mama,” she said, looking at him and seeing a different man. A relaxed man. A man who seemed to be a bit more at peace. “Only thing is, I am flat broke. Hey, you said Caleb sent a box to us?”

  “Oh yeah, let me go and get it,” Cotter said, eating the last of the sausage on his plate.

  “What do you think it is, Mama?”

  “I hope it something good,” she said with a forced smile.

  Cotter went out to the truck, returning moments later with the box. It was locked and Caleb had not given him a key with which to open it. Judy didn’t have one either, but it was Johnnie who laughed.

  “I have the key,” she said, running to her room to retrieve the skeleton key her Daddy had given her before he left.

  “If you have the key maybe you should open it,” Cotter said.

  “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Judy replied, taking the key from her daughter who took it back, clutching it to her chest.

  “Daddy sent the box and only I have the key. He meant for me to open it,” Johnnie said defiantly. She looked to Cotter for reinforcement of her decision, and he nodded his head. Both he and Judy held their breath as she inserted the key, turning it, freeing the hasp. The box opened, and her eyes grew wide. Judy anxious, turned the box around to see a manila envelope sitting atop a pile of cash.

  “Must be at least 25 grand in that box,” Cotter said, more interested in the envelope which Judy opened, then frowned. Reaching for the envelope, Cotter glanced at the photos of the well-known Senator, who preached marriage vows and righteousness, in copulation with a woman who wasn’t his wife. He saw no need to look any further into the envelope but took it to the fireplace and threw it on the embers.

  “He sent back the money he took from me,” Judy said softly.

  Johnnie, not missing a beat, grinned. “This means my allowance is going to be more than 10 bucks! I can get some really nice Christmas presents for you guys with this!”

  “Sweetie, I’m sure your Daddy meant for you to share it with your Mama,” Cotter said.

  “Uh-uh! I have the key, so it’s mine,” Johnnie said, “but I will share.”

  They laughed as Johnnie went to find paper and pencils for her new parents to make their Christmas lists. Over the table, Cotter and Judy shared knowing glances, wanting the tree trimming to be over so they could all go to bed. Tomorrow would be a big day. Tonight, was going to be special as well.

  “This is going to be the best Christmas ever!” Johnnie said happily.

  “I think she just might be right,” Cotter said, reaching across the table to give Judy’s hand a squeeze. Tonight, would be all about the loving and their weekend all about Johnnie. On Monday, with the marriage certificate in hand, he would tell her the truth.

  I just hope she can forgive
me.

  Chapter Eleven – Truth Be Told

  In the twilight hours of the morning, Cotter snuggled close to the woman, loving the feel of her body next to his, thinking for the first time in his life, he was actually content. He would move heaven and earth to hold onto this no matter the cost. I have a family. She will bear me a son. Here is where we will raise them on this land, but man, this house needs some work. In his head, he made a mental list of all the repairs and upgrades he would add to the homestead. At some point, he would need to take a few jobs to ensure they had enough money for annual vacations and to buy his family the things they needed.

  I will worry about that stuff later.

  JUDY WASN’T ASLEEP. She needed to talk to Cotter about so many things yet he always changed the subject when she tried. It would be a two-hour drive to St. Louis to take the train. She’d never traveled by train before or a road trip in a car. True, she and Caleb had driven from Las Vegas to Rocheport in a rented Winnebago, but a road trip in a vehicle was new. A mini vacation before Christmas.

  She tingled all the way to her toes in excitement. She thought herself an idiot for falling so fast for a man she didn’t even know, but she didn’t care. Cotter was hers. Her husband. They were going to pick up the paperwork that said as much.

  Please don’t regret this. Please don’t regret this. Sighing loudly, she drifted off to sleep.

  JOHNNIE WAS AWAKE AND packing her small suitcase. In the closet, she put away the extra ornaments from the tree and set bowls on the table for oatmeal for breakfast. Anxious, she ran to the bedroom door, not bothering to knock, bursting into the room. She bounced on the bed, encouraging her newly united parents to get up so they could get moving.

  “Johnnie, what time is it?” Judy asked.

  “The little hand is on the six and the big hand is on the five,” she said. “Get up, we have to get ready. Eat. You guys need to pack. We are going to Las Vegas! I don’t know where that is, or what it is, but I want to go!”

  “Fine! Fine!” Cotter said, sitting up and wiping the sleep from his eyes.

  “Yay!” she said excitedly, showing off her row of tiny teeth. “Vacation! I’ve never been on one, but I have seen it on television.”

  “We have to get her some friends, enroll her in dance classes, art classes, or something,” Cotter said.

  “I couldn’t agree with you more,” Judy said. “Teach me to drive and help me get my license, then she can get out of this house.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said, throwing back the covers and looking for his shoes. Most of his personal items were in storage in Georgia, but nothing he couldn’t live without. Other items he would replace as he went along, leaving the tools of his trade in the truck which was a modified home office. “The train leaves at four and it’s a two-hour drive. I figured we will get into Vegas about three in morning on Sunday. Head to the Records Department on Monday to get what we need and head back out on Tuesday night. That will put us back here by Thursday night.”

  “You really know the schedule by heart,” Judy said, squinting her eyes.

  “Best way to travel if you don’t want to be seen,” Cotter said, leaving her alone in the bedroom with her thoughts as he made his way to the bathroom.

  “I guess you’ve spent a lot of your life not wanting to be seen,” she said to the air. He didn’t bother to respond. Judy wanted to call him out on it, but his phone rang. Reaching for it, she picked it up to take it to the owner, but Cotter was in the room lifting it from her hand.

  He looked at the caller ID and answered the phone. “Stop,” he said into the phone.

  “Your documentation is complete,” Gabriel Neary said. “When do you plan to pick it up?”

  “Headed that way. We will have it on Monday,” he replied.

  “When you headed back out?”

  “Tuesday,” Cotter said, not giving any specifics.

  “Good enough, pay the bill,” Gabriel said.

  “Will do and thanks,” Cotter said, ending the call. To Judy, “Never answer my phone. Do you understand?”

  “I was only going to bring it to you,” she said.

  “Just remember, never answer it, even if my Mother’s picture pops up on the screen,” he said.

  “Fine, yeesh,” she said, turning her back to him. Cotter caught her by the arm. “Judy, I work for some not so nice people. They don’t know about you or the kid. It’s best they don’t.”

  “I guess you won’t be adding us to your insurance plan,” she said sarcastically.

  “I can add you to my military insurance, not The Company one,” he said, looking at her.

  “What do you do for a living, Cotter?”

  “I take hard jobs, skip traces kind of,” he said, taking a seat on the side of the bed.

  “And the name, Stop?”

  “It means the buck stops with me,” he replied. “Clients who are hard to locate are my specialty. I find them and make them pay their debts.”

  “Is that how you met Caleb?”

  There it was. The conversation he’d been dreading. If he told her now, the whole family trip thing would be ruined. It was important to him to give both the woman and Johnnie fresh air and sunshine and the bright lights of Las Vegas. He wanted to get dressed up and take them to dinner and a show. Gamble a bit, make a few extra bucks to maybe buy her a car that was reliable. Telling her now would ruin everything.

  “Kind of,” he said, standing. “I didn’t finish my bath. I want to look at that shower before we go, in case I need to get a whole new tub and enclosure in St. Louis. It will be cheaper there.”

  “Avoiding the truth is just like telling a lie,” she told him.

  “Tell me about it, Judy,” he said. “Johnnie said you make bad people disappear, is that what you did with Caleb? If I do a thing to displease you, will you make me vanish as well?”

  He’d done it again. He had turned the tables on her, leaving her speechless. She stood in the bedroom, wearing the threadbare nightgown, just staring at him.

  “Thought so,” he said, leaving the room again.

  “Cotter, if we can’t be truthful with each other, then this will never work,” she called after him.

  He popped his head around the corner, smiling at her. “When you’re ready to tell me the truth, I will do the same.”

  THE BETTER PART OF the morning was spent fighting with the shower and tub. It leaked like a sieve, forcing him to realize that the whole thing was a bust. He would need to remove all of it and install a new one. The frustration over the bath situation was levied by Johnnie’s enthusiasm.

  At 11 am, they loaded in the truck and headed towards town. He stopped at the Sheriff’s office to let him know they would be gone for a few days and to drive by the place to keep an eye on it. The Sheriff said he was happy to oblige, Cotter gave a nod, and they were on their way.

  Johnnie talked non-stop for the first hour. Judy and Cotter were grateful for the silence when she slept the second hour until they finally pulled into Gateway Station in St. Louis. She popped up in the back seat like a meerkat, looking left and right and asking a million questions in the loud orange coat, drawing too much attention to them. Judy whispered in her ear, and the exuberance subsided into a quiet child. Tickets in hand, they located their sleeping car and closed the door. Judy unpacked their things, pulling out board games to occupy the child, along with coloring books with too few pages left to color and crayons which were down to the nubs.

  He would get her more for Christmas along with a few paints, easels, and coloring pads. The train rolled along, gently rocking through the midwestern countryside creating a peaceful cocoon in the car until Judy’s phone rang. Everyone jumped at the sound. Her hands shook as she took the call.

  “Mrs. Morrow, the death certificate is now available in Henderson, Nevada,” the voice said. “This completes our transaction for services. We thank you for using The Company to take care of your needs.”

  “Thank you,” she said as the call en
ded.

  “Everything okay?” Cotter asked, not knowing anyone had the number of the new cell phone he’d purchased for her.

  “Death notification,” she said. “It appears that Caleb’s certificate of death is available in Henderson, Nevada.”

  Her eyes met Cotter’s. They were filled with suspicion as a sinking feeling hit them both. Both certificates would be able to be picked up at once. At his encouragement, he had her bring the original marriage certificate with them. He knew. He knew where Caleb had died which meant he also knew where they had been married. She fisted her hands, remaining silent for the remainder of the trip.

  Cotter had nothing to say either. After dinner in Las Vegas, he would confess all his sins and let the truth be told. Either she would love the man she married or want nothing to do with him. He sat silently watching the child play. Getting to his feet, he left the train car to go to the bar. Never really a smoker, he purchased a cigar, puffing on it lightly while he made a plan with the two of them in his life and a backup plan in case, she never wanted to see him again.

  THE TRAIN ARRIVED AT McCarran International Airport at 3:15 in the morning. Rested, but feeling sluggish, they walked through the terminal to the cabbie stands to secure a ride to the Treasure Island Hotel where he’d booked them for their stay. He had opted not to rent a car for such a short turn around, and the cabs would suffice for what they had to do.

  Johnnie’s excitement over the hotel’s pirate theme was enough for him as a start. Checking in, he left the child to her mother’s care as he headed straight for a hot shower, then the bed. He slept like a log, not feeling the light weight of her body when she lay down next to him. Only a few words were exchanged between them during the train ride and the journey to the hotel. First thing was first.

  He needed sleep.