Chapter 23 Knight of Pentacles

Knight of Pentacles, Nine of Swords, King of Cups.

~~~

Tim rubbed his forehead as Molly slammed the door. Lloyd leaned back in his chair to stare at the Christmas Tree.

"I told you so." His cousin's deep voice grated on his last nerve.

"And I told you we should have told her years ago," Tim retorted.

"Boys," Grandma Fern's stern voice stopped their argument before it could start. "We made the decision we felt was best at the time. She was a child and did not need the trauma of knowing both her parents were dead."

Grandpa Cordell agree, "She had a decade with the man who was her father from birth even if he wasn't her father by birth."

Tiana looked around the table then she took her dad's hand. "She'll forgive you. Aunt Molly loves you. You all just let her live her life and grieve her mom without the pain of realizing she was an orphan."

"She isn't an orphan, she has a family who loves her." Tim wrapped his arm around his daughter. "Just like you have a family here who loves you, even if your mom tries to drive them away."

"Tim, it's the day after Christmas," Fern scolded. "We don't speak ill."

"He's not wrong," Lloyd stood up for Tim then he look at Tiana. "Is there anything you need for the house, mermaid?"

"No, Uncle Lloyd," Tiana answered. She hugged her Dad tighter and asked, "Do you really have to leave in two days?"

Tim nodded. "I could only get five days off. Their New Year's celebration isn't until January and most don't celebrate Christmas."

"Don't worry, I won't tell Mum." Tiana murmured as she clung to him. Tears began to leak from her eyes.

"Tiana, sweetie, what's wrong?" Tim asked in concern as Lloyd sat up straighter, paying keen attention to her.

"I just miss you so much," she sobbed then begged, "When you come home, please, please can I live with you?"

Tim held her and closed his eyes, promising, "As soon as this project is done. I'm coming home for good."

"Anything you need, kiddo, you call me," Lloyd added, resting his hand on her shoulder as she continued to cry.

The phone rang so Fern answered it, she scowled as she announced, "Yes Tonia, we are aware of the time. Lloyd is bringing Tiana home soon... Goodbye and merry..." She huffed and hung up without finishing the salutation. "That woman." Then she smiled guiltily at Tiana, "I'm sorry sweetheart. I know you love your mother, I don't mean to disparage her."

Tiana stood then rushed to hug her great-grandmother. "I love you so much Grandma Fern."

"Oh Tiana, I love you too."

Lloyd stood up and got his and Tiana's coats. "I need to get you home before Tonia comes out and I have to drag her car out of a ditch again."

"When will you be back?" Tim asked.

"I am starting a twenty-four at 6PM." Lloyd looked tired. Fern filled a thermos and made him a travel plate as Tiana hugged everyone again but Tim.

She pulled her dad out onto the porch and looked at him earnestly, "Do you promise you're coming home to live?"

"Tiana sweetie, what's wrong?" He begged because he could feel in his gut there was something she wanted to tell him.

"I... Mum, she... she tries but I miss you. I need you." She held him again as she cried more.

Seeing his baby girl so bereft was breaking his heart, so he held her as tight as he could. Kissing her hair, he vowed, "As soon as this project is finished, so is my contract and then I am going to spend every day by the pool watching you dive. We'll even do one of those college tour trips in the spring so you can decide where you want to go."

Lloyd came out so Tiana went with him. Watching them drive away, he couldn't shake the feeling his daughter was trying to tell him something. Looking out across the ranch, he watched Audie the bull making a line through the fresh snow toward the box canyon Cassandra King lived in and shook his head.

Going inside he announced, "Audie is headed back to Ms. King's house."

Fern frowned then asked, "Would you be a dear and fetch him in a few hours? I'm not feeling up to the ride."

Tim looked at her trying not to tremble, as Cordell suggested, "You had a busy morning. Perhaps have one of those cookies Milli made you and have a nap."

"Perhaps I will. At least Lloyd didn't get into them again," she said lightly, and Cordell laughed confusing Tim.

"What happened?"

"Miss Milli was lovely enough to make me Cannabis infused Spice cookies for my Chemo and she always frosted them with the loveliest green buttercream. Lloyd brought them out to me and ate four on the drive from the bakery." She giggled almost girlishly as she shook her head, adding, "He was so stoned he couldn't walk."

In shocked disbelief, Tim chuckled with his grandfather as Cordell revealed, "Lloyd was madder than a bull stuck in a chute. They had to pump his stomach because it was the equivalent of sixteen adult doses."

Fern patted Cordell's shoulder. "The fool boy blames her for the whole this, but it was his fault. He shouldn't have eaten cookies that were for someone else."

Tim grinned, "I bet he is still mad."

Fern sighed, "He admitted that he loved her, but I swear that boy does everything he can to push that sweet girl away. I wish he would marry her."

"Now, Fern, Love will bloom when it does, and Lloyd's heart is a rocky field that he needs to clear the stones and briars from before he can grow anything good," Cordell announced wisely then he insisted, "Go have some rest, we'll do the dishes."

As Fern went back to the bedroom with one-fourth of a cookie on a plate and a cup of chamomile and mint tea, Cordell closed the door. Tim cleared the table. His worry for his grandmother was as keen as his grief for Molly losing her husband. Cordell put the leftovers into containers while Tim rinsed the dishes and put them in the dishwasher.

"Grandpa, how long until... I mean, how is her treatment going?" Tim swallowed as he asked, his fear of his great-grandmother dying before he returned felt like it was strangling.

"She's fighting it and the treatments are working." Cordell stood a straighter, declaring adamantly, "She'll beat it." He got the detergent pod from the pantry then said, "Thank you for the cruise before Christmas."

Tim nodded. "I am glad you enjoyed it." He didn't know what else to say. He'd buy his grandmother a hundred cruises if it would make her happy in last days. He went into the bathroom and turned on the fan so his grandfather wouldn't hear him crying for the woman who raised him after his mother's death.

~~~~

Tim rode Thor through the snow to the canyon, following the bull's solitary track through the snow. He dismounted and pushed the gate further open in the knee-deep snow, then he led Thor, who snorted grumpily about walking in the snow. Audie's tracks led to the garage; the door was closed. Shaking his head, he went to the door and pushed the call box on the post. No one answered and no one came to the door, so he went to the garage door and knocked. There was opera music coming from inside. He went inside cautiously. A cat and a bobcat were laying on a pet bed in front of her Jeep. Walking around the animals and vehicle, he saw Cassandra brushing Audie and singing to him. Her voice was glorious. Taking off his hat, he held it in his hands and waited for her to notice him.

When she stopped singing, he stated, "You sure have a pretty voice, ma'am."

Cassie turned to face him with a terrified gasp, staring at him with wide eyes as she hyperventilated. Her fear screamed at her to just take a few steps over and hit the door button so she could flee out the open garage door. Her mind told her to stay calm and keep the giant bull between herself and the handsome stranger. Her body decided to freeze and then to faint was the best plan and that's what happened.

Tim watched in surprised shock as her eyes fluttered closed and she dropped on the mattress Audie the bull used for a bed. Putting his hat back on, Tim rubbed the back of his neck.

"Well, hell."

Gently, he picked her up and carried her inside. She was heavier than he expected, but there was a feminine curviness to her shape that appealed to him. The wind was just starting to blow again, and he wondered if the first line of the incoming storm was early. The large Maine Coon cat followed him to the house. He carefully squeezed through the door of the enclosed part of the deck then the door of the main house. He looked around and decided to lay her on the couch because he didn't want to intrude in her bedroom. The cat came in and sat by the door then growled at Tim when he went to leave.

"Easy kitty, I'm not here to hurt anyone. I'm just going to take Audie home."

Every time he tried to get out the door the cat refused to let him leave. Finally, he pulled off his coat and sat down. He was surprised to watch the garage door go up. Thor stared at Audie for a moment then sauntered into the barn with his head ducked. The bull looked at the house then nosed the button.

"What in the hell?" he muttered then he heard a squeak of terror and turned quickly. "Please don't pass out again," he begged holding out his hands helplessly, before apologizing, "I'm sorry I am in your house, but you fainted, and now your cat won't let me leave."

Trembling, she crawled ungracefully over the couch, while he didn't move. Panting, she stood with her back against the wall. She was a large woman but not obese, just tall and curvy. She was as opposite of his exwife as anyone he could imagine, and he regretted deeply the tears running down her cheeks and past her full lips.

"Please be calm, Miss King, I won't harm you," he murmured in a low tone like he was talking to a wounded animal.

"F-F-Fern..." she stammered, forcing herself to stay in the room with him. She reached over and turned on the overhead light because the snow was making it darker.

"Grandma Fern cain't come right now. She's taking a nap because her chemo treatments wear her down."

His revelation felt like a slap in the face. She stared at him then whispered, "Mrs. McConnell has cancer?" She looked stricken. "But... but she just went on a cruise and..." She stopped when she realized she didn't know what else Fern did when she wasn't running the ranch and helping her husband at the clinic.

"I know, I paid for the cruise as their anniversary gift." Tim lowered himself slowly into a chair, hoping that if he made himself smaller, she would be less frightened. "I am leaving in two days to go back to work overseas, and I don't know if she'll be here when I get back. Thank you for singing for her."

Cassie was struck by the tourmaline blue color of his eyes, and by the honesty and worry in them. "You really love her." It was more of a statement than a question as she noticed his beard and hair were the same color.

"Yes, Miss King, I do. She raised us after my mother died," he revealed. "Her death was such an embarrassment to the family that none of my other kin wanted me and my sister."

Cassie could feel the pain the tremored in his voice and her fear retreated somewhat. "I loved my grandmother and miss her too. She raised me after my mother disappeared one day. I never knew what happened to her or where she went but Grandmother Adeline made certain I had the best life she could give me." She glanced out at the snow swirling around her house. "Would you like a cup of coffee? Or tea or cocoa?"

"Coffee would be nice. Thank you, ma'am."

"Please call me Cassie or Cassandra, like your grandmother does." She went into the small kitchen and began to make the coffee as he responded.

"Please call me Tim."

She poured the cups and put the sugar bowl on the counter between them. "How did you get here?"

"I rode my cousin's horse to get Audie," Tim grinned sheepishly and apologized again. "I am so sorry I startled you. I guess you couldn't hear me over your singing when I knocked."

She nodded as she sipped from her cup. "Do you need to put your horse in the garage? You can't ride back in this weather. Do you want to take my Jeep?"

"Ma'am... I mean Cassandra, your little jeep won't make it over the drift across the gate. I'll have to call my grandpa and tell him I'm stranded up here." When she inhaled, he hurriedly said, "I can sleep in the garage. It is plenty warm inside. And Audie let Thor in then closed the door behind him."

Cassandra went into her room and closed the door. She opened the wooden box on the dresser and took out the top three cards of her tarot deck looking at this morning's cards. Tim could definitely be the Knight of Pentacles or the King of Cups or both and she was absolutely the Nine of Swords. Looking at the cards, she wept because she was so lonely and so tired of being afraid. Putting the cards back, she wiped her face and went out to see Tim putting on his coat.

"Wait."

'Be brave, he is a good man. He won't hurt you. Honest, trustworthy, hardworking.' Her mind repeated the traits of the cards as she revealed, "The couch folds out into a bed with a memory foam mattress, but you're so tall... I usually sleep there when Erin and Nick are here so you can have my room until the weather passes." Her voice was surprisingly steady.

"Much obliged but I'll take the couch, I don't feel right sleeping in your bed." He moved toward the door, but Miss Priss hissed at him and growled. "I need to go take off Thor's saddle." He stepped closer to the door, so she swiped a paw at him.

Mortified, Cassie edged past him and picked up her cat then backed away apologizing, "I'm so sorry, she has never done that to anyone."

Nodding Tim put on his battered Stetson and went out into the horizontal swirl of snow to the garage. Cassie busied herself making dinner. She didn't know if he had eaten or would want to eat. Offering him a meal was the least she could do since her cat was determined to hold him hostage. Quickly, she had a meal of boiled cabbage and corned beef with potatoes cooking on the stove top. When he came back, he left his coat and boots in the sunroom. She noticed his jeans were wet from the snow and went to get the pair of Nick's sweatpants that ended up in her laundry before he and Erin left.

Timidly she offered them to him and her largest plain teeshirt, "These are for you, your cousin left them. They're dry and your jeans aren't so... uhm, the bathroom's past the kitchen."

Taking the clothing, Tim looked at her in surprise then responded quietly, "You're being very kind and very brave. My Grandma says you have a terrible fear of people after you were attacked. I'm very sorry that happened to you."

Cassie chewed her lip trying not to cry as she asked tremulously, "What exactly did your grandmother tell you?"

"Only that you were attacked in your home by the man who murdered your roommate and that you were here because the police couldn't find him."

Cassie picked up her cat and hugged her, admitting, "I was so sick with the flu I could barely walk. He didn't know I was there. I heard Shivonne scream and found her. He attacked me and then Miss Priss saved me. She attacked him and while he was distracted, I hid. Erin and Nick found me when the police couldn't. Nick is the only person I trusted who wasn't family until I met Fern."

"Nick is a great guy, and I am proud to have him as my cousin. I promise you we are very similar. We were raised to never hurt a woman or anyone unless it was in self-defense," Tim vowed then he went into the bathroom.

"There's towels in the cabinet if you want a shower," Calling after Tim, she waited to see if the shower turned on. It did. Cassie quickly called Nick and Erin.

"Hello, how's the weather?" Erin asked, sounding tired.

"I need to talk to Nick," she demanded in a harsh whisper then she listened to Erin walking around.

"Hello, Cassie darlin', what's up?" Nick greeted her.

"Will I be okay if your cousin Tim is stuck here for the night?" She whispered.

"Uhm, yeah, Tim is a real good guy, except for his terrible taste in women. You don't have to worry about him. What's going on?" Nick demanded.

"He came to get Audie then I fainted when he came in the garage, but he carried me inside and Miss Priss wouldn't let him leave so he's stuck because the storm is already here. He's taking a shower and I am making dinner. I gotta go." She hung up when she heard the shower turn off and hurried back into the kitchen. Rubbing her sweaty hands on her pants, she looked out at the rapidly dimming light then jumped when her phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Miss King, this is Doc McConnell. Did my grandson make it to your place? He headed that way over two hours ago."

"Yes," she squeaked. "Uhm." She tried to breathe slowly, then she said, "I... uhm... Offered to let him wait out the storm here. His horse is in with Audie."

"I see, well, tell him visibility on the ranch is only about twenty feet and getting worse. Thank you for letting him stay." The old veterinarian's voice was so soothing to Cassie she felt all her trepidation melting away as he offered, "I'll bring the tractor around to clear your drive in the morning. Goodnight."

"Thank you. Please tell Fern, I'll come see her soon. Goodnight." Cassie hung the phone back up then turned and had to swallow her scream. Tim was standing there and she hadn't heard him come out of the bathroom.

"Are you okay?" he asked in concern as she pressed her hand over her heart.

"You walk quieter than my cat." She accused. "Don't do that." Then she started to giggle at his bemused expression. He chuckled too.

"I'm sorry, I'm not used to having guests."

"I understand, I'm not a very good guest. I live on an oil platform eleven months of the year." Tim grinned handsomely and suddenly Cassie remembered what the term swoon worthy meant.

Catching her breath, she checked dinner as she asked, "So tell me about your life on an oil rig. I don't know anything about you except Nick says you have terrible taste in women, and he hates your exwife."

Tim sat down on a barstool. "He ain't wrong and he has good cause to hate Tonia." Tim didn't know how much Nick had told her, so he swallowed his pride and revealed what a fool he had been.

~~~
Bonus double update