Courage Under Duress (SYTYCW)

Chapter 7

Wandering the large field of wild flowers, toward the barn, I realized I hadn't had a peaceful of a day in as long as I could remember.  It felt like heaven.  I felt refreshed, like a multitude of weight had been lifted off of my shoulders.

As I approached the small corral, I smiled at the sight of a mare and her colt.  The youngling was still learning how to get his legs under him.  From the opposite side of the enclosure, smiling emerald eyes found mine.  Beyond the sweat, the dirt, the dusty jeans and tattered t-shirt, Thomas looked content with his life.  The cowboy look suited him.  I craved the simplicity of his life and for the first time, as I watched the colt walk around, gaining strength, I realized that I was on my way.

I smiled at the scene and headed toward the house, leaving the colt, its mother and Thomas behind.  Things will be okay.

Fighting a sense of claustrophobia, I sat on the stone patio, sipping a glass of lemonade. The fresh country air did wonders.

Thomas came out, clean and re-dressed.  "It's nice to really see you smile, you know that?"

"It's a good change."  He took a seat across the bistro table from me.  "How's that colt?"

"Trick will be just fine," he said.  "It took him a while to figure things out but now that he's up on his feet, he'll be ready for training in no time."

"He'll be a beautiful horse when he's grown," I said.

Tom hummed his agreement.  "I hope you're hungry.  I ordered us some pizza."

Absentminded, I said, "That's fine."  He groaned.  "I'm sorry."

"We need to find you another favorite saying to replace that one," he said.

I smiled.  "I'm open to suggestions."  I didn't want things to be fine.  I didn't want to be fine.  I wanted to be happy.  I wanted things to be great.  I wanted to walk around with my head held high like Trick and never have to look over my shoulder in fear again.

Over a glass of wine and some greasy pizza, we managed to get caught up on the turbulence of each other's lives.  Thomas had done most of the talking; covering what he had been up to during the last three years.  It had been clear to me, that Thomas envied the life that Dominic and I had before their deployment.

"I never said thank you," I whispered to break the moment of silence.  I waited for him to say something but he never did.  I found the courage to shift my gaze to him.

"What are friends for?" he asked.

"I don't know," I began, my tone grown somber, "but I doubt that it's to help you escape an abusive husband.  I don't have anyone.  I-"

"You have me."

"Tom."  I sighed.

"Listen, this once, Erica.  Dominic is weak and cares only for himself.  I'm ashamed to say we were friends.  What he did wasn't right.  I may have known him all my life but I know you too.  I know the woman you are."

"But," I started.

He held his hand up.  "No.  No woman deserves what you've been handed.  I wish...I-" He let out a loud huff, shaking his head.  "Never mind.  What matter is that I got you out.  Dominic won't find you.  Not if I can help it."  He grabbed my hand.  "You have me, always.  You think about that.  I'm turning in."

I never got more than a goodnight in before he bolted inside with our plates and goblets.  Something about the emotions that toiled in his eyes and his voice told me that he meant much more than the words he had spoken.