"You're too good for her, Lee," Katie said, then a little smile crossed her lips. "Besides, I want to keep you for myself…"
"That's fine, but I suppose I'll have to go on sharing you with that Goddamned wolf and roan," he needled in fun. She laughed teasingly. "Anyway, don't worry about Juan, I'll fix his ass. He won't bother you anymore…"
"I'm more worried about what Mom and Dad said… I mean… Darrel Jenkins wanting me," she said, and he squeezed her hand reassuringly as he felt a little tremor ripple over her. "I wonder what it's all about, Lee? They both seemed so upset… as if Darrel Jenkins had Daddy in some sort of a spot that could mean bad trouble for him."
"Yeah…" Lee replied, getting to his feet to pace aimlessly. "I never did like that sonofabitch. Man, if he tries to bring any harm to Dad, I swear, I'll cut his lousy nuts off…!"
"No, Lee… you won't do anything of the sort," Katie said, getting to her own feet. "If it's me he wants, then I'll handle him… my way…"
Lee swung around to face her. "Your way? Now just what in hell do you mean by that, little sister?"
"I'm not certain yet… but I will be before this day is over with," she replied evenly, "once I get my female brain working diligently on it…"
"Listen, I don't want you to have anything to do with that warped bastard!" Lee snapped. "And I mean it, Katie! You keep to hell out of his reach! You dig me, girl?"
Katie smiled and nodded, her whole body filling with the elation of his concern for her. Dear God, she loved him so much… just as she loved Daddy and her mom; Lord, she would willingly die for any or all of them… and whatever Darrel Jenkins wanted of her, it couldn't be that much of a sacrifice… not if it would save her wonderful father from some horrible fate that was bound to disrupt… maybe even destroy all of their newly discovered happiness.
"All right, brother darling," she said, moving in close to give him a peck on the cheek, then walking toward the door.
"Remember what I said, damnit," he reminded her.
She blew him a kiss; her mind was already made up.
PART FOUR: JAN
CHAPTER NINE
Jan Martin couldn't remember when she had seen her Gil looking so proud and happy, even with the horrifying shadow of a prison sentence hanging over him, nor could she recall when she, herself, had known such joyous sexual fulfillment. In all truth, it had never been like that for her with any man, and there had been a few since leaving Tucson, but all brief affairs and with what she liked to think of as proper decorum, if propriety could be considered under such circumstances.
She smiled to herself now as she stepped from the shower, her lovely body still tingling delightfully from the physical pleasures her husband had brought her. God, how she loved him… and had always loved him; she refused to think how close their marriage had been to disaster up until a mere hour before when he'd brought her enchantment that she'd never imagined possible! But that was all behind her now, as were her drinking escapades; there'd be no more frustrations to drown… no trips into Phoenix where with discretion a girl could meet a salesman or young executive passing through… a gentleman who invariably was more than willing to relieve the tensions of a hyper-aesthesiac… a tryst that more often than not left her in a state of complete physical and mental chaos.
God, she was so happy! Not even the task of facing Darrel Jenkins could shake her… that is, as long as she didn't think of him from a carnal standpoint… yet, there was small doubt in her mind of what she'd have to do to appease him… But in God's name, it was the least she could do for her darling Gil, now… and if she did it well, Katie, too, would be saved from the lecherous little monster's filthy clutches.
Of course, Jan had said nothing to Gil of her plans! Otherwise, he would've absolutely refused to leave her. She thought of this as she toweled herself dry before the full-length bathroom mirror, admiring her voluptuous body narcissistically, and reveling in the wake of the sensations her lover-husband had revitalized inside her. She felt as she had some sixteen years before as a new bride, yet much more fulfilled, contented and determined now at thirty-four than she'd ever dreamed of at eighteen…
She walked naked from the bath into the bedroom and began to dress slowly, her mind a maze of pleasure-filled thoughts, occasionally interrupted by the awesome vision of Darrel Jenkins, a shudder-provoking engrossment that she tried not to dwell on. She sensed a cold little chill ripple up the smooth flesh of her back, but refused to give in to it. There was no other way… and she intended to protect her darlings at any cost!
She forced his evil countenance from her mind with the mental picture of Gil and Lee leaving together for the golf course only a half-hour before. She'd watched them from her window walking toward the car, a little choking ache of joy in her throat at the sight of Gil with his arm around their son. God knows, she'd come to the conclusion only days before that the love and closeness they had all known once as a family unit was completely gone… and then, to witness that beautiful scene… It made it all worth while… whatever she had to do!
Yes, it was a Saturday to remember all right… perhaps, the most important one in all of their lives… and it wasn't over yet… Jan hardly knew how she was going to approach Darrel Jenkins, outside of the rough plan she'd discussed with Gil of inviting him to dinner that evening and trying to make him listen to reason. Perhaps, in the presence of their whole little family he might soften and find some mercy in his heart. Lord, how simple it would be for him financially to cover Gil's non-secured loan… which, of course, he'd already agreed to do… providing both she and Katie gave in to him sexually… Dear God, just the mere thought of him violating her lovely little girl was enough to nauseate her!
No… no, it would be more feasible to meet with him alone… to keep him away from Katie entirely, she'd decided, which was exactly what she was dressing to do at that very moment. She would call him first, make an appointment to see him that afternoon in his Phoenix apartment… and pray that God would go with her.
It wasn't as if he were some brutalizing figure of a man; it was simply his grotesqueness, plus the fact, Jan supposed, that he would be coercing her… but then, she'd always had too much pride for her own good. Perhaps the humiliation of having to bow to his demands might teach her a measure of humbleness… and serve as penance for her unfaithfulness to Gil as well, she told herself almost masochistically. God knows, she would do anything for her darling husband, or sweet baby, Katie… say nothing of her precious Lee…
In panties, bra and hose, she sat before her vanity-mirror brushing the long black tresses that her handsome son loved to run his hands through. Lately, she'd tried with difficulty to restrain her thoughts of this boy who had only to lay his hand upon hers to set the wildest sensations racing through her. Even at that moment, she felt a tingling in her belly at the mere thought of him touching her hair, her face flushing with the shame of her unnatural desire. But now that she and Gil had found each other at last, maybe it would gradually subside and stop tormenting her…
To herself, at least, Jan couldn't deny the growing incestuous hunger for him she had nourished over the past year… yes, nourished… for hadn't she been well aware of the craving in his own eyes when he looked at her, as well as his secret little peek-hole that she knowingly paraded before in near-salacity while he played the voyeur…?
Suddenly, she shook her head as if to rid herself of all the venereally transgressive thoughts that had filed through her brain in the last hour. She was guilty and she knew it… but it wasn't too late! Thank God, she was going to have the chance to redeem herself, at least, in her own eyes, and save all of her darlings in the bargain. She wouldn't fail; she felt confident of that, and quite penitent as she slowly arose and walked toward the telephone.