Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Nothing Carmen said could coax Katie to say more. For the next few days, Carmen mulled the idea over in her mind. The only thing she could think of was some kind of disease. Yet Alex seemed so healthy. What dark secret had he been holding from her that he would be forced to reveal if he knew how she felt about children? Was it because he didn't want children? No, that couldn't be it. A lot of men started out not wanting children, but when they saw their own children it was another story. He would be embarrassed. The only other thing she could think of was that he was a pedophile. She caught her breath. Was there another reason why Katie ran away from home?

She shook the ugly thoughts from her head and straightened, leaning on the hoe as she glanced around the garden. Standing out here imagining the worst wasn't doing any more good than pumping Katie. She almost wished Katie had never said anything. Almost, but Katie wouldn't have said anything unless she considered it to be extremely important.

She glanced around the lush hills. Think of something else - anything else. The house on the hill caught her eye, immediately transporting her thoughts to another sector of her mind. Someone was building a log house so close that they could overlook her farm. The fact that it was the perfect place for a house and provided a spectacular view from the wide porch, was beside the point. Until now she had been completely secluded. Now she felt like she was in an arena. She hacked at a piece of grass with the hoe. Maybe it was time to sell the farm. It didn't look like she was ever going to fulfill her dream of raising a family on it anyway.

The telephone rang and she dropped the hoe, racing for the house. It was probably Katie. She was supposed to call today about her doctor visit. Carmen made it to the telephone on the sixth ring, gasping for breath as she picked up the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Hey, sweetheart."

"Alex?"

A pause. "Someone else greets you that way?"

"No." She fought for control of her breath, but the increased pumping of her heart didn't help.

His voice gained an edge. "Is something wrong?" Another brief pause. "Has Josh been by?"

"No . . . Yes. I mean he pulled my truck home the other day, but . . ."

"I thought you were driving my truck?"

"Well, I am now. I blew a head gasket on mine. Josh said the engine is shot."