LETHAL OBSESSION (6 page)

      Gene
smiled at her.  "I like it when you look at me like that."

      Ellen's
felt her face grow hot.  "Like what?  You're crazy.  I'm not going to sit
here and listen to babble." 

      She
started to move away but once more he reached out to stop her. "Okay, I
quit, if the princess can't take a joke."  He shrugged taking a sip of his
coke.

      "Oh,
you."  She slapped at him.  Looking out over the lake Ellen pondered her
next question to him.  She was curious about him now.  Did he have a wife? 
Would it matter to her if he did?  No of course it wouldn't matter.  They're
friends, nothing more, nothing less but it would still be nice to know. 

      "Are
you married, Gene?"  The words came tumbling out like a bag of spilled
beans.  She turned to look at him when a sudden fit of coughing nearly threatened
to close his throat.  A spray of coke sloshed down his shirt.

      "You
don't mince words, Lady.  No woman could ever put up with me."

      "Well
even if you are it doesn't matter.  I was just curious.  So if you're still
breathing over there, is that a yes, no, or plead the fifth?"

      "Well,
let me see."  Gene scratched his head pretending to be in deep
concentration.  He started counting on his fingers. "I've been through
four, no five wives.  Would you like to be number six?"  He raised his
eyebrows enticingly.

      "Not
on your life, Casanova."  She laughed.  "Gene, you're right, no woman
could put up with you."  Ellen came to her feet and looked down at him. 
"Feel free to hold up that tree for as long as you like.  I'm going
fishing. Bye."                           

      Ellen
walked toward a group of kids with fishing poles.  She didn't look back and
missed the strange look that crossed Gene's features.

      The
afternoon went by swiftly.  Ellen stayed busy on the front lines, getting slimy
wiggling tiny fish off hooks, baiting lines, and untangling hooks from shirts,
hair, and britches.  She was having a ball and so glad Gene had talked her into
coming today.

      Gene's
calls continued to come on a daily basis but there was a subtle difference in
their friendship now.  They were careful to skirt personal issues keeping to
friendly, benign topics like the weather, and community happenings. Ellen could
sense an emotion in Gene that made her uneasy.  Sometimes she would catch him watching
her.  The look in his eyes was anything but platonic.  Ellen was torn between
wanting his companionship and fleeing from a romantic encounter. 

      Late
at night Ellen's natural desires would bubble to the surface.  She wanted to be
held and touched and kissed.  Ellen and Mark shared a lusty sex life.  Her
throbbing body reminded her of how much she missed this natural aspect of
life.  She wondered how it would feel to be kissed by Gene.  Then her guilt
would censor any further musings.

      Perhaps
someday she would welcome a man's warmth and closeness but not yet.  Mark's
presence in her heart was still all consuming.  She could only hope Gene would
have patience with her.  If it was meant to be, he would wait.

      On
this particular morning Gene showed up with a backpack. "You brought
breakfast?"  Ellen eyed the pack.

      He
held it up.  "This is lunch.  I thought you might enjoy seeing some local
trails around here that have really spectacular views. Are you up for a hike,
Princess?"

      Ellen
stared at him.  She would enjoy going for a hike, but being alone with Gene in the
forest didn't sound like a good idea.  When he came over Juanita was always
present.  That night at the crash site and afterwards was the only time it was
just the two of them. Trying to explain that to Gene would be mortally
embarrassing.  Might as well say outright she doesn't trust him.  Or maybe it's
herself she doesn't trust.  Why did life have to be so complicated?

      "Sounds
like fun.  I'll get my camera." 

      They
left the highway and drove up into the hills for a long time. Ellen assumed
Gene knew where he was going but where ever it was, they were extremely high
up.  He followed narrow, gravel roads higher and higher until they became
little more than rocky paths.  Ellen took careful note of where they were going
so she could find this trail again on her own.  She had better trust him at
this point because they were certainly isolated now. 

      When
Gene finally pulled his truck over and stopped, Ellen looked around. They were
so high that misty clouds surrounded them. Ellen got out and inhaled the pungent
fall air.  The frosty nip at this altitude had her reaching for her
windbreaker.  There was a rare tranquility up here.  Except for the guilt of
being with Gene, her mind was slowly relaxing.  The fall trees created a
wonderland of red, yellow, and bronze. They were perched on a mountain peak,
one of the highest in the National Park. 

      "Gosh
Gene, you did say a hike and not a road trip right?"

      He
laughed.  "I should've warned you the hike I had in mind is a bit out of
the way."

      "It’s
so beautiful here.  Where did you find this spot?”

      “This
is my secret place.  I always come here when I want to get away from things and
be alone.  I feel powerful up here like I'm standing on top of the world.”

      “Yes,
I can see how you would feel that way.” 

      She
looked around at the panorama of purple green mountain peaks.  They were so
high the wind whipped at her hair and clothes.  The surrounding mountain peaks
looked like thousands of miniature, cloud kissed castles. 

      "I
didn’t have a place like this to run away to when I was young.  Living in Mississippi
was totally flat, but I did have a nice, muddy river to sit next to.  You were
lucky to grow up here.”

      “I
know. Walk with me.  I'd like to show you something."

      "Up
here?"

      "Sure,
it's right through the trees over here."     

      They
hiked the few steps to the crest of the bluff as a chilly wind whipped at her
hair.  Then Ellen saw it. There, nestled among the tall pines sat a quaint log
cabin.

      "Does
somebody live here?"

      "Yeah,
I do when I feel like getting away from everything."

      "This
property is yours?"

      "It
is and I wanted you to see it because it's so special to me."

      Ellen
felt touched.  "How long have you had this land?"

      "I
inherited it.  My great grand pappy built this cabin for his new bride around
the turn of the century. My grandfather was born here right in this cabin. I'm
lucky it stayed in the family."

      "Is
this where the moonshine was made?"

      "Absolutely,
come on, I'll show you."   Gene led her around the side of the dwelling. 
"This is where three generations of Stones made corn whiskey.  Best white
lightning you could buy in these parts."

Ellen
saw rusted, coiled pipes connected to a large metal container. Weeds were
slowly devouring the contraption.

      "So
that was no tall tale about you running illegal whiskey when you were a
teen."

      "All
true and this is where we made it."

      "Do
you make any today?"

      "Gosh
no, it’s too much trouble.  I'm on the other side of the law now."

      "Ah
yes, here we have the good, upstanding sheriff of Cedar Grove, Tennessee."

      "That's
me.  Three generations were born in this cabin. I was the last. I lived here
when I was small, until my folks quit making moonshine and decided to go
straight with the law. Now it’s my secret haven.  This is where I come when I
need to get away and think.  I’ve never brought anybody here until now.  I wanted
to share this with you, Ellen.”                                

      They
walked up the steps to the front porch.  An old fashioned swing hung on the far
side.  The front door creaked open as Gene unlocked it. The inside smelled of cedar
and pungent wood smoke where a crackling fire had burned recently in the stone fireplace.
There was an antique sofa with colorful Afghans spread over the back.  Ellen
was impressed.  The cabin looked lived in.  Gene must come here often, she
thought.  It was clean and had all the comforts of home. 

      The
head of a six point buck stared at her with its glass eyes from a perch on the
wall over the fireplace.  She pointed to the deer.  “A former friend of yours?”

      Gene
chuckled.  “Yeah, sort of.  I bagged him four years ago.  He had come up right
in the yard over there.” He pointed out the front window. "Kept the
department in venison for quite awhile.  Look around, make yourself at home.”

      Ellen
began wandering around the cabin while Gene put away food supplies from his
backpack.  From an adjacent door she saw the bedroom.  The large brass bed
looked like something out of the nineteenth century. Apparently this was where
all the Stone children were birthed. The fluffy pillows and early American
spread matched the pleated window curtains. 

      Suddenly
a feeling of unease washed over her. Ellen had the wildest urge to run out of
the cabin and as far away from this place as she could. What on earth was she
doing here on an isolated mountain peak with this man?  Good God, she had to be
nuts.

      Gene
must've sensed her panic. Handing her a sandwich he said, "Let's go sit
outside on the front porch swing."            

      They
dined on ham sandwiches and potato chips while enjoying the panorama of the
Great Smoky Mountains in all its autumn glory.  Gene reminisced about his
childhood growing up on this mountain top.  Ellen listened to him, feeling at peace. 
She realized her growing attachment to Gene was something that started on that
fateful night he took her to witness Mark's burned out plane. 

      Now
with only four months since her husband's death, Ellen felt desire for Gene. When
his warm fingers began to caress her neck, she didn't move away.  Pulling her
close, Ellen snuggled into his chest lulled by his steady heartbeat.  She was
enjoying the closeness.

      The
rickety ancient swing rocked slowly until the rusted chain could no longer
support their weight.  As Gene and Ellen found themselves unceremoniously
dumped on the wooden floor, they laughed until tears streamed. "How old
was that chain?" said Ellen between hoots of laughter.

      "I
think it came with the house."

      When
the laughter died down they continued to lie on the floor facing each other.
Gene's hand came up to stroke her face.    

      "I
love you, Ellen." She opened her mouth but no words came out. "I
don't expect a response.  I just want you to know how I feel."

      Gene's
lips met hers with a fervor invoking a response that had her head spinning with
sexual arousal. It felt wrong.  It was too soon, but Ellen couldn't stop so
great was her need.  Her arms came around his neck as they lay in each other's
arms amid the broken chains on the porch.

Her
conscience condemned but Ellen's body was too starved.  She wanted this man and
she wanted him now. 

      It
was Gene who broke the contact only long enough to sweep Ellen off the porch
floor and into his arms.  Once again Ellen tried to stop the inevitable but all
she could do was cling to Gene as he walked to the bedroom and laid her on the
printed spread. 

CHAPTER SEVEN

      Her
breathing was coming in gasps as Ellen felt her clothes being peeled away.  Why
couldn't she stop this betrayal of Mark's memory?  It wasn't until she felt
Gene's rigid nakedness against her that something snapped.  Ellen didn't
realize she was crying until she felt cool air on her skin.  Gene had moved
away and was looking at her.  

      "You
aren't ready for this, are you?"                          

      "I
thought I was. I wanted to," she sobbed.                               

      "It's
okay, don't cry."  He wrapped the sheet around her nakedness and pulled
her into his arms.  "You're worth waiting for, Princess, believe me.  I
meant what I said.  I love you and I will wait for you."

      "I
really want to be loved again."

      "I
know you do, and you will be.  I'll be here for you and we will be happy
together."

      Her
tear stained face looked at him.  "That means a lot to me, Gene."

      He
left the bed pulling the sheet snug around Ellen.  "I'm going to let you
get dressed and I'll meet you outside."

      "Okay." 
Her voice sounded small and lost. Her body was still acutely aroused making her
arms weak and shaky.  Ellen thought about the last few minutes.  She had come
so close to making love with Gene.  They had spent a lot of time together over
the last four months.  Was it possible for love to develop in so short a
period?  Ellen knew she cared deeply for Gene or she never would've been
willing to share her body.  But even after four months her love for Mark
continued to occupy ever inch of her heart.  Hopefully that would fade with
time.  Grieving hurt.  Ellen needed to get on with her life and be done with
mourning.

      Coming
out the front door, she looked down at the broken swing where it all started.

      "Yep,
I'm going to have to fix that."

      "Maybe
not yet.  It will give us some terrific memories."