Love's Gamble

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Book excerpt

Chapter 1

Lanie was in a rush to get seven-year-old Christopher ready to catch the school bus. She sighed. It seemed like she was always in a rush. She never had a chance to do anything but rush around and try to keep herself and Chris in a place to live, with food, clothes, and other necessities. She was so tired of struggling to survive. Time was flying by, and she never had the chance to sit back and enjoy these years with her son.

He was growing up before her eyes, and all she could do was watch as he was shuffled from school to Sally’s, and then home to bed. She had to work two jobs to make ends meet. Even on weekends, he had to stay with Sally, a grandmotherly neighbor of theirs, while Lanie worked.

Lanie didn’t have a choice. She had no formal training. She had hooked up with Chris’s dad straight out of high school. He shipped out the day after they married. He was only gone a week when she received word of his death because of sniper fire.

Two days after she received word of Ben’s death, Lanie’s dad died of a massive heart attack. Lanie’s brother Bradley flew in from Arizona, where he lived with his wife and children, for the funeral. After the funeral, he packed up their mom and carried her back to Arizona with him. Lanie was waiting for Ben’s body to be shipped back for burial. She was also receiving a life insurance settlement. Ben had arranged it before he left. Ben’s parents were waiting until after Ben’s funeral, and then they were moving away. They had not approved of Ben and Lanie’s marriage.

It was not until a month later Lanie began to suspect she was pregnant. She took a test, and it came back positive. The apartment did not allow children, so Lanie had to find another place to live. She put off moving at first. She had a hard time finding a place she could afford. The money from the life insurance would not last long. She knew she would have medical expenses when the baby was born. She finally found a small house where children were allowed. Having Sally for a neighbor was a plus. She helped Lanie every way she could. Having her there helped Lanie feel less alone.

Lanie found a job as a maid at a local motel, but it was only part-time work. She did not tell them she was pregnant at first. She knew she would be able to work for a while before she started showing. She wanted Ben’s baby, but she was scared. Sally was her only backup support. When she told her mother about the baby, she thought she might get asked to move to Arizona, but no invitation was forthcoming.

Somehow Lanie made it through the months of her pregnancy. The lady in charge of the maids at the motel gave her a talking to for not telling them about the baby, but she didn’t fire her.

When Chris was born, Lanie took one look and fell in love. Sally was there at the hospital with her. They both loved little Chris at first sight.

When Lanie had to go back to work, Sally would come over to Lanie’s apartment and sit with Chris. Chris came to love her and called her Nana. Sally loved it. She had never had children, and Chris became her grandson in spirit.

As Chris got older, it got harder and harder to make ends meet. Sally would not accept any money from Lanie for keeping Chris. So, Lanie made sure Sally had extra food whenever she went shopping. When Chris started kindergarten, he had to have a uniform and school supplies. So, Lanie started looking for work with better hours and better pay. She has no luck. The only thing she found was as a waitress at Stan’s Bar and Grill. She took the job but kept the maid job also. Neither job paid enough for her to make it on one job alone. She only planned to be at Stan’s until she found something else.

It was three years later, and she was still here, and there was no sign of an end in sight.

Lanie had been working for hours. Her shift was almost over, and she was more than ready to go home. Billy Joe and Bobby Joe Hall were sitting at a table with some friends drinking. Lanie knew both of them. They were twins and had been in school with her. They usually treated her okay. They flirted but did not get out of line. Tonight, they had been drinking for quite a while, and they were getting bolder.

Lanie saw two strangers come into the bar, and she was distracted for a minute. Billy Joe took advantage of her distraction to grab her and try to kiss her. She struggled to get away from him, but the alcohol had given him extra strength.

While she was struggling to get loose, she heard a voice behind her. “The lady asked to be turned loose,” said the voice.

Billy Joe turned and looked at the stranger behind Lanie. He laughed. “This ain’t no lady,” he said. “This is just Lanie.”

Lanie was furious. She drew back her cowboy boot-clad foot and kicked Billy Joe as hard as she could in the leg. “I may be just Lanie,” she said. “But I am a lady, Billy Joe Hall, and don’t you forget it.”

Billy Joe howled and sat down, nursing his leg. Bobby Joe started to get up. Lanie gave him a hard look, and he sat back down. Lanie turned and nodded to the stranger. Then, she headed to the bar and a grinning George, the bartender.

“Thanks for all of your help, George,” she said sarcastically.

“I knew you could handle them, Lanie. They don’t mean any harm. You know both Billy Joe and Bobby Joe have major crushes on you,” said George.

Lanie made a scoffing sound. “I have told you all, repeatedly, I am not interested in either of the Hall brothers,” said Lanie. “My shift is over. I’m heading home.”

Lanie turned to leave. She saw the stranger and his friend having a drink at the bar. They had been listening to her conversation with George. The stranger who had tried to help her smiled at her. She smiled back and turned to leave.

Marcel Black Feather watched the waitress leave. Stanley White, his employee and friend, sat beside him. “Nice looking,” said Stanley, watching Lanie leave the bar.

“Yeah,” agreed Marcel. He and Stanley were on their way home after delivering a load of horses to the rodeo group in Harvey. They were about two hours from home when they decided to stop for gas and some food. After filling the tank, they spotted Stan’s Bar and Grill. So, they went in for a burger and a drink.

When Marcel had seen the waitress being harassed, he had to step in. Women were not treated in such a way on the reservation. He grinned when he thought about the kick Lanie had delivered to her offender. The drunk got off lightly. He would not have wanted to tangle with Marcel.

Marcel and Stanley finished their food and drink and left to continue their journey. They had just started out of town when they saw a small, older model car pulled over to the side of the road with its hood up. The unmistakable figure of Lanie was standing by the car.

Marcel pulled to a stop behind Lanie’s car, and he and Stanley got out and went forward. “Having trouble?” asked Marcel.

“Yes, it just quit. I managed to coast over to the side out of the road. I have no idea what the trouble is. I checked the gas. It has plenty.”

Stanley had gone to look under the hood of the car. He turned back to Lanie. He had a broken cord in his hand. “This is your problem. The belt has broken. You have several more that are frayed and ready to break,” said Stanley.

“Are they very expensive?” asked Lanie.

“They are different prices,” said Stanley. “This one will probably be around seventy-five dollars. It will cost another fifty dollars to get it installed.”

“Figures,” said Lanie bitterly. “I only had one more payment on it.”

“It looks like someone doctored it up to sell it. They hoped to get their money before the belts gave out,” said Stanley.

“Can we give you a ride home?” asked Marcel.

Lanie looked at him and Stanley and the truck with the horse trailer behind it. Marcel saw her uncertainty.

“I’m Marcel Black Feather, and this is Stanley White. We are on our way back from delivering a load of horses. We live on the reservation just outside of Rolling Fork. It is about one hundred miles from here. We don’t mean you any harm. We only want to help,” said Marcel, holding out his hand for her to shake.

Lanie placed her hand in his. “Ouch,” said Lanie, snatching her hand back from the shock of touching Marcel’s hand.

“Sorry,” said Marcel with a grin. “It must be static electricity.”

“I guess,” said Lanie, rubbing her hand.

Marcel was grinning because he knew he had met the woman meant for him. He turned slightly so Lanie would not see his grin. She might misunderstand.

“Will you let us give you a ride?” asked Marcel. Stanley was watching silently. He knew what the shock meant also.

“Okay,” said Lanie. “I would appreciate a ride. It has been a long day, and I was not looking forward to walking home.”

Stanley got into the backseat of the extended cab truck and left the front seat for Lanie. Marcel opened her door and helped her inside. The truck was large, and Lanie was wearing the short skirt that was part of her waitressing outfit. Marcel grinned as he enjoyed the amount of leg Lanie was showing. He went around the truck and got into the driver’s seat. After he cranked the truck, he looked at Lanie.

She looked back at him, puzzled.

“Where do you live?” asked Marcel.

“Oh,” said Lanie, flushing slightly. “I live in a housing project about two miles ahead.”

Marcel pulled onto the road and went forward. He did not go too fast. He did not want to miss his turn.

Lanie guided them to a group of houses just off the road. There were about two dozen houses down a street. Half were on each side of the street. They all looked in bad repair. Marcel pulled his truck to a stop in front of the house Lanie pointed out as hers. He and Stanley got out and went with Lanie to the front door.

“You don’t have to see me inside,” said Lanie.

Marcel didn’t answer. He had noticed the used bicycle and some other toys scattered around the yard.

“Are you married?” asked Marcel.

“No,” said Lanie. “I’m a widow.”

“I’m sorry,” said Marcel. “You have children?”

“I have a seven-year-old son, Christopher,” said Lanie with a smile.

Lanie had reached the door and opened it and started inside. She stopped abruptly. Sally was sitting in a chair watching Chris color a picture. She was fighting tears.

“What’s wrong?” asked Lanie.

Sally looked at Lanie. She did not see Marcel and Stanley behind her.

“We all received notices today. They are going to tear down our houses and build condos,” said Sally. “We have a week to find somewhere else to live. We are being evicted.”

Lanie sank down in front of Sally on the floor. Sally looked up and spotted Marcel and Stanley. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there,” she said.

“Sally, this is Marcel Black Feather and Stanley White. They brought me home when my car quit on me,” said Lanie.

“Oh no,” said Sally. She looked at Marcel. “Thank you for helping Lanie.”

“It was our pleasure,” said Marcel, smiling at her.

Lanie was just sitting there, staring into space. She had no idea which way to turn. They could not afford to move. Without a car, she could not work. Lanie shook her head. “What are we going to do?” she whispered.

“You are coming home with me,” said Marcel.

Lanie looked up, startled. “What?” she whispered.

“I need a housekeeper. I have a nice three-bedroom apartment. It is fully furnished. You all three could live there. We have a good school on the reservation, and there are lots of children for Christopher to play with.”

“Why would you help us?” asked Lanie.

“People are supposed to help each other. The Great Spirit will not bless those who do not help when help is needed,” said Marcel. Stanley turned away to hide a grin.

Lanie looked at Sally. “What do you think, Sally?”

“I think he is the answer to a prayer. I have been praying hard ever since I opened the letter,” said Sally.

“Okay,” said Marcel. “If you ladies will gather your personal belongings and anything else you want to keep, we have plenty of room in the horse trailer for them.”

“You want us to move tonight?” asked Lanie.

“Why not. We are here. We have plenty of room, and you don’t have much time,” said Marcel.

“Why not indeed,” said Sally, getting up. She looked at Stanley. “Young man, would you like to help me gather my things from the house next door?”

“It would be my pleasure, Ma’am,” said Stanley following her out.

“Chris,” said Lanie. “Go to your room and gather all of your toys and put them in a pillowcase. Then, put all of your clothes in another pillowcase. We are moving to a new place.”

“Okay, Mom,” said Chris. He looked at Marcel. Do you have horses?”

“Yes,” said Marcel. “After we get you settled in and in school, I will teach you how to ride.”

Chris had a big grin on his face as he hurried to his room to pack his things. Lanie went into her bedroom to start packing.

Marcel looked around. He went into the kitchen and looked through the cabinets. There was not a lot there. Marcel took the plastic bag of trash out of the trash can. He started taking down dishes and packing them in the can with towels and other cloths between them to keep them from breaking. When he had the can filled, he carried it and sat it by the front door. He found another can on the back porch and put the pots and pans in it.

He found a large ice chest and, dumping all of the ice in it, started packing the things in the refrigerator in it. He put it by the front door beside the other two containers.

There were a few pictures on the walls. Marcel took them down and laid them on the second-hand sofa. Lanie came back into the room with three pillowcases stuffed with her things. She looked surprised at first when she saw what Marcel had done. Then, she shrugged and put her things by the others at the door.

Marcel smiled at her, and she smiled back. “You don’t realize how little you have until you start packing to leave,” said Lanie.

“You are taking the most important things with you,” said Marcel. “As long as you have Chris and Sally, nothing else matters. It can all be replaced.”

Lanie smiled. “You are right. As long as I have my son and my friend, I am blessed.”

“Here are my bags, Mom,” said Chris, coming into the room.

“I’ll take them,” said Marcel. “I’m going to start taking some of these things and putting them in the trailer.”

He picked up the can of dishes and went outside. Stanley was already out there, packing Sally’s things into the trailer. They both left their loads and went back for more.

They soon had the trailer filled and were ready to go. Both ladies left their keys inside. After being told to leave, they did not think they owed anyone any consideration. They turned out all of the lights and closed the doors.

“What about my school?” asked Chris. “Don’t I have to let them know I am leaving?”

“We can have the school on the reservation send for your records,” said Marcel

“Okay,” agreed Chris with a smile.

Sally climbed into the back seat, and Stanley took a seat beside her and showed her where the seat belt was. Chris got into the back seat between them, and Stanley fastened him in.

“Do you want to take the bicycle?” asked Marcel, pointing at the bike in the yard.

“No,” said Chris. “It has a flat tire, and I am going to learn to ride horses now.”

Everyone laughed, and with a considerably lightened atmosphere, they were prepared to start their journey to their new life.