As I lay in bed I think about dinner. Pa, told all of us the whole story about how he got in over his head with the bank. He thought this year he could pull us out of it, but spring brought a flood that wiped out a lot of our crops; leaving us with a bigger hole to fill.
I just don't know what to do. I would never consider Paxton's proposition, but seeing my family suffer is not something I want to go through, especially if I can fix it. I can hear my parents yelling at one another down the hall. I don't know what they're saying, but it doesn't sound good.
I must have dozed off because about an hour later I'm startled by a bump, Pa is cussing and telling Ma not to leave. I sit up in bed, pulling the blanket off my body when I hear my mother's car start. She can't be leaving. I run to the window and look out. My mother is driving away and my father is standing with his head in his has, completely defeated. I run out of my room to the front of the house. Trevor and Brent must have heard too because they come out of their rooms as well.
I get to the front door and rush out to meet my father. I run to him, hugging him as hard as I can. She left. I feel hurt, I can't imagine what he must be feeling. "She left, she's going home to California to stay with her sister," he says, his voice breaking. I feel his tears on my cheeks which cause my own to fall. My big, tough dad is crying, I've never seen him cry. I hug him harder and pray that I'm dreaming.
"I can't believe she left," Brent says, stunned.
"Things got tough. I'm surprised she lived here for as long as she did, she always hated it," Pa admits.
"What about us? She just abandoned her family! What kind of mother does that? She didn't even say goodbye. I'll never speak to her again. I promise you that," Trevor declares, shaking with anger.
"She'll come back," I say, not really believing my own words. Like Pa said, she would always complain about living here. I know she hated it, I always wondered why she stayed in the first place. It certainly wasn't her love for me.
She wanted out for a long time. She saw the opportunity and left without looking back. I'm starting to get as mad as Trevor. I scoff, when I recall my own thoughts of wishing I looked like her, or was in anyway like her. No, I'm happy I'm nothing like her. Thank God I won't have to look in the mirror tomorrow and see her. I'll never forgive her for leaving us. She was and will always be a weak woman. Why Pa married her, I'll never know.
"It's late. wWe have work to do in the morning. Let's go on in, to bed, all of us," Pa orders, sadly.
I look back down the driveway. I'll make her pay for this, I swear I will. We all go to our rooms. I know what I have to do, but everything in me is screaming not to. I pick up Paxton's phone number from the bedside table. The front has his work phone number, on the back it has two cell phone numbers written in ink.
Why would he want to marry me anyway? It doesn't make any sense. If he wanted to settle down with someone, why wouldn't he choose someone he knows? I've only seen him here and there. I've never spoken to him before today. To propose marriage to me for the farm confuses me. Why marriage? Maybe he has to marry and can't find anyone... No that's not it. I've heard the women in this town talk. All Paxton West would have to do is point his finger if that were the case. Ugh, I'm going to drive myself crazy. I should just call him and ask. I pick up my cell phone dialing the first cell phone number on the back of the card. I take a deep breath and hit send.
I count one ring....two rings..."What?" he asks irritated. I woke him up I think to myself and grin wickedly.
"What? You act like you were sleeping, it's only three in the morning. Get up. I have questions for you." I demand.
There's a slight pause. "Oh, I'm up. Now come over and ask those questions," he replies, huskily.
"No. I think this is okay for now. Why marriage? I don't get it."
"Why not?" he questions back.
"I need to know. Do you have to get married...or something like that?" I ask again.
"Why would I have to get married? Have you been reading romance novels?" He teases.
"Stop answering my questions with questions!" I yell, quietly.
He laughs. "I want you. It's that simple." He states, easily.
"You don't even know me." I remind him.
He grunts, "I don't have to know you, to want you."
"Whatever. So if you don't have to get married you just want me for sex, right?" I ask, getting to the point.
He growls into the phone. "I don't want you just for sex, no."
"That's what you want, admit it. I don't want to marry you. We need to compromise. My mother just left my father so I have to fix this. Marriage is not going to happen, so give me an alternative proposal."
"There's no alternative. When you're mine, you'll be mine forever. Understand?" I huff...I need to think of a plan. How can I change his mind? "Answer me," he demands.
"I heard you." I respond.
"Good. Now tell me what you're wearing."
"What?! Nothing," I yell.
"Really? You sleep naked? I wouldn't have guessed that," he replies, happily.
"I'm not naked, you pervert."
"I know." He laughs, then gets serious. "Has anyone seen you naked?"
"No, God! Why would you ask that? You know I'm a virgin."
"How virgin are you?"
"What the hell kind of question is that?"
"Have you done anything with a boy?"
It's my turn to growl. "No. I've never even been kissed. Happy?"
"Very. Do you touch yourself?"
It takes me a minute to understand him. When I'm about to ask him what he means it clicks. "No! Okay! Enough of the questions."
"Damn. I really want you," he says, groaning.
"Then agree to sex." I encourage.
"No, I'd have to be out of my mind to agree to that, I know what cards I'm holding."
"I'm tried. Goodnight, Mr. West." I tell him, irritated with the way the conversation is going.
"Call me, Paxton. Goodnight, beautiful." He says, as I hang up. I should have never of called him. Now, I'm even more confused. I can't marry someone I don't love. It's just not right. I can't spend the rest of my life living a lie.
I only have one option. I'm going to seduce Paxton West and get him to agree to sex for the farm. I'll go shopping in Eastlake and pick out a lacy sexy outfit, go to his house and....and what? How do you seduce someone? Why did this have to happen to me?
I fall back into my pillows then I pick up my cell phone again. 'What kind of lingerie do you like?' I text Paxton.
'On you?... NONE...Or anything... ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO SEDUCE ME?' He replies.
How did he know? I could be asking for future reference, idiot. I decide to play with him. 'Of course not. You're not the only wealthy man in Marquette who's interested in me. I just figured you'd know their taste.'
'I'm wealthier.' He texts back quickly. 'Don't you do it.'
'I CAN IF I WANT.' Okay not my proudest moment... I know I sound like a two year old. But he's making me mad.
'I WILL TAKE YOUR LAND AND BURN EACH HOUSE TO THE GROUND. DON'T PLAY WITH ME.'
Whoa, anger issues Mr. West. 'What do you think I'd be with them for? I'd be able to pay you off.'
'I'M THREE SECONDS AWAY FROM COMING OVER THERE AND SPANKING YOUR TIGHT LITTLE ASS. WATCH IT.'
I don't know why but that makes me smile. I quickly wipe it off my face and reply. 'You can't touch without the deed to the farm...otherwise it sounds...interesting.'
'I'm coming over.'
"What!?" I yell to myself, blushing. Okay, what the hell am I doing flirting with a man that's going to take away my farm and our home? Pull your shit together, Adelaide!
'No, I'll behave...Goodnight.' I text, quickly.
'IF I HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER COLD SHOWER AFTER THIS I'LL MAKE YOU REGRET IT.'
I laugh, maybe seducing him will be easier than I thought.
'Sorry, Mr. West.'
'Show me you're, sorry. Come over."
'Do we have a deal?" I question.
'I don't know. Do we?"
That ass... I'll change his mind. I get out of bed. I take off my clothes and put on my trench coat; it hits me mid-thigh. This will work, I think, walking out of the house to my old black Chevy s10 pickup truck. I look in the reviewer mirror. I don't have makeup on but my long hair is down and nice and wavy. Hopefully this is enough. I start the truck and leave.
At the end of the driveway, I text Paxton. 'On my way. Address?"
'3345 West Lane.' He writes back. I can do this. I can do this. West Lane? Of course the ass named the street he lives on, typical.