Mouse

chapter fifteen

But I had this sense of foreboding that everything was not going to be alright, and I knew I just couldn't return to the caravan.

I needed to know what was happening between Ricardo and Paul; which was why I walked around, then hurriedly doubled back and hid behind the caravan where they stood, so I could eavesdrop on what was going on.

They couldn't see me, but I could just about hear their conversation over the loud thudding of my heart in my chest.

I could hear Ricardo's voice, cold and hard in its tone, that send a little shiver up my spine

"-I don't care, just stay away from, my wife.. Understand!"

"You are totally over reacting," I heard Paul reply, his tone calm, "There is nothing going on between me and Melanie, we are just friends.. there is no need to get all macho, and feel like you have to defend your territory"

"So that little conversation you were having just then, that I overheard, is just about friendship?" Ricardo demanded, I could almost see the sneer in his expression as he spoke

"You reckon she would be better married to you, that you could treat her better?" he mocked, "that doesn't sound like just a friendly conversation, that sounds to me like you are just wanting to jump into her knickers.."

I found myself cringing at his crudeness, feeling my face heat up, and realising with some dismay that Ricardo had been standing listening in, he had probably one of his loyal little spies in the circus report back to him that I was with Paul

"Don't judge our relationship by your own standards," Paul retorted back getting angry himself now, "Everyone knows you screw around with other women, and treat Melanie with total disregard, You are arrogant and full of yourself strutting around, looking down on her, thinking you can treat her like some sort of skivvy, as if she is not good enough or worthy of you.. But the truth is, she is too good for you, and she does deserve better"

I found myself holding my breath awaiting for Ricardo to explode at this verbal attack.. maybe even take a swing at Paul

But instead I heard him laugh derisively, "And you think you can to give her what she deserves, do you?"

"Well at least I care about her feelings, which is more than you do," Paul replied in heated defence, "she does have them you know. She is a sweet sensitive young woman, you see her quiet ways as weakness, I see it as her strength, and you do nothing to help her self esteem except destroy it.. Tell me, do you think that was what her Grandfather had in mind when he asked you to take care of her?" he then asked in deliberation

Even from where I stood I could feel the tension in the air. There was a moment of agonizing silence before I heard Ricardo reply, "Don't you dare bring her Grandfather into this." his tone was calm yet ice cold, sending a shiver of alarm down my spine as I felt Paul might have pushed him too far

But at that moment I heard other voices and noticed figures coming towards the caravan where I stood, and I knew I would have to move before they discovered me

Besides, I realised I would have to get back to the caravan; if Ricardo knew I had been eavesdropping it would make him even angrier that I had disobeyed him, so I had to get back before he returned. I couldn't risk hanging around any longer, much to my frustration.

Back in the caravan, I paced up and down chewing my nails to the quick with anxiety, peering occasionally out of the small window, hoping Ricardo and Paul were not murdering one another.

Ten minutes passed, although it felt much longer. I heard the door open making me freeze on the spot as Ricardo came in, his scowling countenance told me things had not ended well, raising my anxiety levels further