CHAPTER SIX:
AJ sat in a rented van grumbling to himself. Although he was truly appreciative of Kevin's efforts to get him to Montana the fastest way possible, being cramped up with his buddies for the next three hours or more was not what he had in mind. He wanted...he needed to think. His life had been turned upside down and then straightened out, only to then be turned upside down again in the last 48 hours. Silently, he watched the landscape roll by. Suzy lived in the beautiful countryside, but it was so damn difficult to get there! She was now living 100 miles outside of Billings in a little town called McLeod. McLeod was a great place as far as AJ had seen so far. It was a quaint little place nestled in the foothills of Custer National Forest. Pulling into a gas station, Kevin jumped out of the van to fill up. “Bozeman would have been closer Kev!” AJ complained, his lips puckering with annoyance. Sticking his head into the window of the van as he pumped the gas, Kevin said, “Yeah, but we have so much talkin’ to do bro." After that, silence slipped into the van and the chatter ceased just as quickly as it had started. The only noise that was heard now was AJ groaning loudly. AJ understood that he atleast owed them a simple explanation of what had happened between him and Suzy if nothing else and as he sat there lost in his own thoughts, Kevin hopped back in and they headed down the road to who knew what. Nick had run into the store of the gas station while Kevin was filling the gas tank and stocked up on some munchies. It had been awhile since the guys had actually taken a road trip, much less together. Their concerts were large and well attended these days, but limited in number. As lavish as it seemed to most, their success had enabled them to fly everywhere. Kevin having his pilot license was an extra benefit as well. AJ blankly looked out the window as he wondered what he was walking into. So many unanswered questions were on his mind, and one by one he began making a mental list of questions that he wanted to ask Suzy. Was this little boy his or not? Why didn’t she tell him, or atleast inform him? Five years was a long time and it’s not like she didn’t know where AJ was or how to contact him. In his wildest hopes, he wanted to be able to drive on to that ranch and just have her say yes. Knowing Suzy though, and the fact that she had kept this a secret for so long, that was not likely going to happen. A smiled drifted across AJ's face when he thought back to how stubborn and ill tempered she was...atleast on the outside. If he hadn’t talked to Sam that day so many years ago, he probably would have thought that it was her usual demeanor. He remembered back to a time when she had caught him in her office with the contract from their management company, sitting at her desk. Sitting back in the chair, he had given her an incredibly sexy smile and her face immediately became as fiery as her hair. Suzy's hair was unusual to AJ...it was a deep rich red, blazing almost. In the four days that he and the guys had been there, she had always worn it tucked under her cowboy hat, so the first time he saw the gorgeous mane down, he was bowled over by it’s beauty. Waves of crimson red flowed down her back, and when she walked by him, he just wanted to touch it. “What are you doing? You have no right to be in here! Get out and get out now!” Suzy was shrieking at him as he stayed where he was. Clasping his hands together, AJ leaned forward on the desk, his eyes landing on the contract. “You have a problem Miss DeMonte.” he stated simply. Suzy stormed to her desk. “I don’t have any problems except for a lack of privacy at the moment.” she hissed. Her hand reached for the contract and she tugged on it, but AJ laid both hands on it, refusing to relinquish it to her. “This is mine! Give it to me now!” Suzy demanded. “We need to talk Suzy.” AJ said seriously but softly as he stood up behind the desk with the contract still in his hands. Coming out from behind the desk, he leaned back against it. “The fellas are thinking about leaving.” he explained. “Why?” Suzy managed to ask through stiff lips. At that point, AJ began reading out loud the monetary aspects of the contract, reciting the last clause of the bonus. “If the gentlemen remain at your premises for the entire length of the scheduled stay...." “That is none of your business.” Suzy spat as she grabbed for the pile of papers in his hand. AJ just looked at her in amusement. “Well, one of the reasons we switched management companies was so that it WAS our business. It’s amazing what lengths they are going through to get some material.” His gazed quickly settled on her hair as it tumbled down her back, since she had whipped her hat off and flung it on the desk. Debating whether or not to set her up was difficult. AJ normally didn’t use manipulation as a bargaining tool, but in this particular case it would work for both him and her. He would get the peace and quiet that he and the guys needed and she would get her money. “So Suzy, how bad do you need this cash?” he asked as he coolly handed her the contract. He watched intently as her pride and conscience battled with each other and he noted a new expression come to her face. “AJ, do you bet?” she asked coyly. “On occasion, why?” he answered as he smiled, knowing that she had avoided the question and had skillfully maneuvered the conversation away from it. Her lips curled into a devastating smile. “How about we bet whether you guys stay or not?” AJ crossed his arms as he leaned on the desk. The possibilities were endless and oh so enticing. “What did you have in mind?” he questioned with interest. Suzy bit her bottom lip before she responded, trying to fight the self-satisfaction she was going have kicking this man’s ass. “Say we have a little contest...one to your advantage and one to mine?” She paused slightly before continuing. “You know a little about farms and horses, so a contest that involves both." AJ nodded. “Go on.” he said. He was highly interested in what the she-devil standing in front of him had in mind. He could tell she was highly competitive, but then again, so was he. Suzy's self confidence was only out paced by her delight. “Sucker!” she said internally. Out loud she said, “I have to have the north field baled, and it's all dried and ready, so the contest for strength and endurance would be to split the field in half, the first one done wins. Sam and Troy will run the flats and the tractors. No cheating either! A set of gloves and hooks, that’s all you get to use." Inside, AJ was dying with laughter. 'She has got to be kidding! I’m a man. I’m gonna whip her butt just for the fun of it though. We’re staying here one way or another, but this is going to be fun.' he thought to himself, then said, “That doesn’t sound fair to you Suzy. I’m bigger and stronger than you are." Suzy's hysterical laughter quickly filled the air. “Are you afraid AJ?” she taunted. AJ stood up from the desk, his arms dropped to his sides and he looked her right in the eye. “Hell no, but you better be.” he replied. Suzy dropped her head slightly to hide her little grin. “Go for the macho pride. It works every time.” she snickered to herself. “Where do the horses come in?” AJ asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Evidently Suzy had no idea that he had worked with horses before when he was at Kevin's farm back in Kentucky. “Ever do any roping?” she asked cockily. AJ's smile turned soft as he nodded. “Sure have.” It was a little fib on his part because it had been awhile, but he had Kevin show him once at a party or barbeque...he couldn’t remember exactly which it was anymore. He recalled Kevin saying that he had thought AJ was a natural at it though. He messed around with it for a few weeks but then quickly became bored with it. “Best time wins.” Suzy grinned as she went around her desk and sat down. “Now get out of my office." AJ turned and placed his hands far apart on the desk, lowering his head as close to her as he could get with the monster of a desk between them. “Either way we’ll stay, but if I win you’re going to start being nice to us. We don’t need you Suzy, but you do need us.” he said. Suzy gulped for air. Somehow AJ had spun this little bet into something that it wasn’t, but understanding that either way she would get what she needed was the only reason she agreed with him. A slight nod was all he needed. She watched him saunter out of her office full of himself, whistling away. She put her head down on the desk and closed her eyes. She had set herself up no matter what happened, and her mind reviewed what had just played out in the office. Two things were certain now. One, she was going to win as well as get paid, AJ didn’t seem like the type of person that would go back on his word, and two, if AJ wasn’t so in love with himself, annoying, and irritating, he’d be kind of cute in her book. Suddenly, the door to her office swung open again. It was AJ. “When?” he wanted to know. “Tomorrow.” Suzy answered as she pulled herself together. The last thing she needed was for him to know that she was a little nervous about this. Well, not this...him.When the next day came, they both were up at sunrise. Brian heard AJ leave his room and was more than intrigued. For AJ to be up before noon meant that something was up, so Brian eavesdropped as Suzy, Troy, Sam, and AJ chatted in the kitchen. Suzy was actually being polite. "First time for everything I guess." Brian mused. He listened to them speak and was annoyed more than anything that AJ had just sentenced them to stay there for four weeks. The slam of the back door signaled that they had left and Brian instantly shot up the stairs to wake his buddies and let them know what was going on. Soon after that, four people gathered in the kitchen and watched the two people outside trying to break their necks in an attempt to out do each other. As the morning wore on and the guys became exceedingly bored watching them, they all drifted off to do their own things. At Lunchtime, all of them re-appeared in the kitchen, but nobody was there to feed any of them. Kevin shrugged. “Sandwiches?” he suggested, and each person was left fending for themselves. Nick called them to the window to see both Suzy and AJ sitting on a trailer, sharing lunch and talking. “What do you think?” he inquired. Kevin fussed a little over the whole thing. “It better be nothing! He told me to not even think about it.” he protested. “I’m sure it's nothing people. He is a married man.” Howie commented as he grabbed his plate and headed off. “Let’s go check it out.” Nick suggested. He was already halfway out the back door. The contest began again, this time with an audience. Suzy laughed as she pointed to the guys standing on the other side of the field. “Be prepared to lose AJ, be prepared to lose.” AJ cocked his head and flashed a smile at her. “Suzy, I’ve been pretty easy on you until now. I’ve slowed myself down so you wouldn’t look like a fool over this. Not now though. It's on little girl.” He yanked his gloves on, and grabbing the hooks, he drove them into the bale with fierceness. Sam winked at Troy and Troy returned one to the old man. Suzy was now flustered at the little show of temper, and before she could recover, AJ was six bales ahead of her. Until the little exchange they had been even. She took off running down the row as fast as she could, and when she did make eye contact with AJ, he openly laughed at her. Two hours later, Suzy could barely walk, let alone lift a single thing. AJ just sat on the trailer at the end of the row waiting for her. Casually he chewed on a piece of hay, watching a head-strong woman refuse to give up. The insanity of it all was amusing to him. He had driven her into the ground, but she wouldn’t admit it. Sighing loudly, he slipped on his gloves and grabbed the hooks, then, strolling back to her, he stopped at the remaining two bales that were in front of her. Without saying a word, he began hooking the bales that she was supposed to be doing. Suzy shot a fierce look at him and then frowned, and just as silently, she acknowledged that he had won.AJ rode back with Troy and Suzy rode back with Sam. She wouldn’t as much as look at AJ as she sat with her back to him, her shoulders slightly slumped forward. Now he felt bad. It was wrong to beat her into the ground like he did. Maybe he could have showed a little mercy. Once at their destination, both of them jumped off the trailers simultaneously. “Suzy?” AJ called as he walked towards her. “You won AJ, but that’s only part of the bet.” she grumbled. He watched her ass sway back and forth as she left the barn. “I don’t believe this shit!” AJ exclaimed as he turned to Sam. Sam just chuckled. “She has a heart as huge as this ranch." Troy backed one of the trailers in by hand, then added, “Yeah, and pride to match the whole damn thing too. Don’t worry AJ. You have seen the last of my ill-mannered sister for the evening. She won’t be at dinner. She’ll be upstairs nursing her muscles and her pride.”Suzy quietly slipped into the house, trying not to call attention to herself, but as she reached the very top step, there was Nick, standing in front of her. “So Suzy, what’s this little game all about?” he asked cheerfully. “Nothing.” she grumbled. Stepping to the side, she tried to pass him in an attempt to escape into the solitude of her room, but something latched on to her wrist and stopped her. “Nothing?” Nick grinned mischievously. Now for the first time, Suzy had become well aware of what she called 'Nick’s cute quotient.' “Nothing.” she repeated and smiled warmly at him. “Oh ok.” he giggled. Just then, a voice called out, “NICK!” Hearing his name, Nick immediately dropped Suzy's arm. No doubt who it was calling him...Mr. AJ was back. “Yes Mr. AJ, I know we’re here to work.” he laughed as he bopped down the stairs two at a time.“Sorry Suzy.” AJ said as he looked at her sympathetically. She just turned and glared at him. ”Don’t bother." AJ's head jerked back from the ice in her voice. “Now you wait a minute lady. You’re gonna spend the next three and a half weeks kissin’ my ass.” he said rather loudly. “DON’T COUNT ON IT!” He heard come from behind the door Suzy had just closed. “UGH!” he yelled as he stormed off to his own room for a soak, slightly sore after the day's events....CHAPTER SEVEN:“AJ, what are you thinking about man?” Kevin curiously asked at they drove along the highway. “That stupid hay baling contest Suzy had to have.” AJ answered, laughing and stomping his feet into the floorboards of the van, slightly giddy over the memory. “Typical of her to think she could win it!" Howie laughed at his comments. “That’s right Bone, beat a woman to the ground. You should be proud." AJ's happy mood left quickly as he tried to defend himself to his friends. “Hey, I tried to make it fair. She was laughin’ at me when you guys came out like she thought I was some kind of wuss or somethin’." Now it was Brian’s laughter that reverberated off the windows of the van. “Something funny Bri?” AJ asked as he turned in his seat and lowered the sunglasses off of his nose. “You always, ALWAYS, revert to the good ole boy when someone threatens you. I just figured that out. You stomped Cass Suzy the ground that day because she attacked that male ego of yours.” Brian said. “So what?” AJ grumbled as he turned back around. “What was that entire little game for anyway?” Kevin questioned as he watched the traffic. AJ sighed. “Well, it started out over whether we were staying or not, but then I turned it around so that she had to be nice to us.” he explained as he inhaled sharply and then sighed again. “Then she whipped my ass the next day. That sucked.”The guys now all began to laugh at AJ and rag on him. Suzy had humiliated him like no other woman had ever done before. Big, strapping, handsome, AJ McLean whipped up on like a chicken in the middle of a corral. He actually began laughing himself as his mind spun back rapidly to that time and place. He was listening to Sam tell them the rules. By now the guys were on to Suzy and AJ, and what they were doing, so they insisted they could watch. They didn’t know the reason behind all of it, but they knew that a fierce competition had begun between the two. It was obvious to everyone that Suzy had just beaten AJ hands down as she walked up to him and smiled. “It's a tie. You stay and I’ll try, TRY, to be nice.” she said. “Deal.” he grinned as they shook on it. It was just after that that all hell broke loose. Suzy and Troy mounted up to take off for the day, but for some reason, Suzy's horse became uneasy and pawed at the dirt. Not really paying any attention to it, she gently stroked the steed’s neck in order to settle him down. A second later, the sound of wood splintering and cracking rang through the air and Suzy began screaming for the guys to get off the corral fence. AJ saw her face and it registered a controlled fear, not for her but for them. The guys immediately jumped off the fence, but AJ stayed planted on the top rail. “Troy, I thought I told you to lock that animal up!” Suzy was screeching as her mount danced frantically around the corral. “I did!” Troy countered as his horse circled the animal, trying to contain it from the side of the corral where the boys were.AJ's attention was fixated on the beast. He had never really seen a bull up close before, let alone one that angry. He did see a large cat once in Africa, but that was nothing compared to the animal that was now standing only a few feet away. “Alex, get off the rail!” Sam began yelling since the young man still hadn’t moved. The horse that Suzy was on whipped around and flew into the barn, causing Suzy to lose her seat in the saddle and she was now on the ground on her feet. Sam quickly ran into the corral, still yelling at AJ to get off the rail. The bull was heading in his direction. Suzy noticed this and started running around the corral, her boots slipping in the loose dirt and stones. “Troy, if he doesn’t move, go knock him off of it!” she screamed as she danced around the bull, tormenting it to chase her. Swinging her body between AJ and the bull, she smacked the animal in the face as she went by, causing the bull to turn and charge. The bull turned and charged. Suzy ran out of the corral to a small, reinforced enclosure by the barn. She ran with everything she had into the pen. The guys just stood on the other side of the fence with their mouths hanging open. They couldn’t believe what they had just seen. Suzy had ran into the pen and then scurried up the sides of it to get out, but when she hit the top rail, the bull charged the side and knocked her off it. She landed on her side outside of the pen. “Susan DeMonte!!” Sam yelled at her as he walked over to where she was. “That was the dumbest stunt you have ever pulled in your entire life!" Dusting herself off and smacking the dirt from her body, Suzy snagged her hat off the ground. “No! That was the dumbest stunt I have ever seen!” she protested and pointed to AJ as she grabbed the rope from Sam's hand. She stalked over to AJ and spit at him. “The next time I tell you to get off the rails, you damn well better do it!” AJ only shrugged as he placed his hands on his hips, tucking the toe of one boot under the rail to keep his balance. “I’m fine." Now Suzy was incensed. “Damn you’re stupid!” she yelled as she lifted the rope and swung it in a wide circle. The next thing that AJ's mind registered was that he had been roped and dragged to the ground while he kicked and screamed. Suzy was nothing but a ball of fury, and before AJ knew it, he was lying on the ground of the barn on his back, his one hand and two legs tied together, sticking straight up in the air, with her grinning widely at him. “If you die, I’ll be responsible for breaking all those teeny tiny hearts, not to mention your wife's, and I'm not having that. You do what I say, or you leave.” she stated calmly. “SUZY, YOU UNTIE ME RIGHT NOW!” AJ growled. He was rolling from side to side on the floor of the barn. What really pissed him off though was when Nick said, “Look, now we know what happens when a turtle is stuck on his back!" SON OF A BITCH!” AJ hissed. He was wiggling around like he was on fire and Suzy was laughing hysterically. Sam however, felt that AJ had been humiliated enough. He went to the younger man and told him to calm down while he cut him loose, but as soon as the rope was sliced and he was free, AJ jumped up and ran after Suzy. Kevin stepped between them just before AJ reached her. “Back off! You should’ve done what she asked you to do.” he warned. AJ's face was stone cold. “You back off, and we’re here to work." Kevin shrugged. “Then let’s work.” he said and he turned and grabbed Suzy's hand, squeezing it. She smiled and walked the other way out of the barn. “Thank you Kevin. I’ll see you at dinner.” she called as she walked away. Both men turned to watch and then looked at each other. The remaining three sat off to the side observing. “I don’t like this.” Brian muttered as he followed them into the house.Back in the van, the guys were quiet as A.J. and Kevin glanced at each other. “I owe you an apology Kev. I’m sorry.” AJ finally said softly. “Fine, I’ll let it go, but don’t you walk in there and jump her ass over this. It ain’t right. She hasn’t said anything to you about this at all, so it’s obvious that she doesn’t want you there and she doesn't want you to know.” Kevin replied, then became silent waiting for AJ to reply. “I don’t care man, it’s not right. It’s not fair to the kid or to me. If he is my kid.” he retorted. At that point, before things could get heated between the two men, Howie interjected, his sensible side coming out. “Hey Bone, Suzy knew that you were married. Maybe she just didn’t want to interfere. She could have done so much damage to you and your career, hell, to ours too, but she didn't. You better think about that.” AJ pondered the thought for a moment. “I don’t know what to say to her. Should I just come right out and ask her if he's mine?” “Well, I guess in an hour you’ll find out.” Brian offered.The next hour flew by as they all caught up on what they had been doing. AJ went back to his mental checklist that he had been working on. He was assuming so much, including a warm welcome from Suzy. Closing his eyes, he leaned back in the seat. "I guess I’ll just have to wait and see." he thought to himself as he dozed off. A short whilie later, Kevin's elbowing woke him out of his slumber. “We’re almost there.” Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, AJ yawned as they pulled onto the dirt road. “Do we even know if she still lives here?” he asked no one in particular. “Of course.” Kevin replied. “Kevin, if you have all the answers, then why didn’t you just call and ask her about this yourself?” AJ questioned, his voice was full of sarcasm. Kevin chuckled while the others remained silent. “Because I didn’t sleep with the woman and possibly create a life, you did. You haven’t explained anything about any of this to us yet, but you being here confirms one thing. You slept with Suzy when you told us not too.” he pointed out. AJ cleared his throat at the stinging commentary. “Only once.” he mumbled. Brian now interjected into the conversation. “That’s all it takes Bone. Obviously you forgot to wear your raincoat.” “I’m not that stupid Brian! I did use a condom! I don’t know what the hell happened.” AJ defended. Nick sat in his spot in the backseat, idly munching away. “Well let’s all chill and see if it’s your kid first, then we can go from there.” he said. At that comment, four heads turned and looked at AJ with an incredible glare. “Hey, we don’t know for sure.” he reminded them. Just then, Kevin applied the brakes. halting the van when the ranch house came in to view. “You ready?” he asked as he turned to AJ. “I guess so.” AJ answered, sitting a little taller in the seat. As Kevin lifted his foot off the brake, they all headed towards the house.Troy was sitting on the porch watching the horses play in the corral. Spying the van coming down the road, he yelled into the house. “Suzy, are you expecting company?” “No.” echoed from somewhere in the house. Suzy came to the wooden screen door and opened it. “I wonder who that is.” she said curiously as she glanced at her brother. They both waited for the van to get closer and Troy was the first to see that there was more than one passenger in the vehicle. Suzy came down the creaky porch steps and leaned on the post. The van stopped in front of her in the dust, and as soon as she saw him, she took two steps back up the porch steps. AJ watched her reaction closely. Her eyes locked on him and he could see the hatred burning within them. “Suzy, I came here to ask you something.” he told her honestly, not wasting any time. “I have nothing to say to you!” Suzy snapped, glancing at the van and seeing the rest of the guys getting out of it. “Suzy, I need to know if the little boy is mine.” AJ persisted, speaking with clear intent and trying to calm his own heart as he waited for her answer. He had the feeling that if she said yes, his heart would burst out of his chest. It was already thumping wildly. “What are you talking about?” she replied calmly, maintaining her control with everything she had. Somehow, he had found out but she wasn’t going to confirm anything to the likes of him. AJ turned back to the truck, and reaching in, he grabbed the tape. Then, facing Suzy one again, but making sure to still keep his distance, he shook the tape in the air at her. “The little boy on this tape.”Suzy could immediately feel the acid from her stomach crawl up her throat and burn her insides. “I don’t know Suzy, I’ve never seen the tape.” she lied. AJ closed and then re-opened his eyes. This was difficult enough for him to do, and she wasn’t helping. “Suzy, don’t deny it. Sam sent me this tape a couple of days ago!” he said. 'That answers one question' Suzy thought to herself, before cockily saying to AJ, “Sam died about a month ago. I don’t think he made it to the post office.” “He didn’t Suzy, I did.” Troy whispered from his chair on the porch. He didn’t have the faintest idea what was on the tape. Sam had just asked him to mail it for him, but to wait a while before doing so. “Just shut up. I’ll handle this.” Suzy whispered under her breath as she turned her attention back to AJ. “So you have a tape, no big deal to me.” she smiled politely. AJ glared at her through narrowed eyes. He knew the sweet side of this woman, but he also knew the bitch side, and right now he was facing the bitch side with a smirk on her face. “I want to see him. He’s mine.” he said. Suzy stood there for a few moments not saying anything, just going over the words that he had once told her. They used to cut like a knife, now they just sadden her. Then she thought about her son and how sweet, gentle, and beautiful he was...nothing like the man standing in front of her now. Finally, she broke her silence. “Well AJ, you can think all you want, but you can’t prove that he belongs to you, so I suggest that you leave now." With that being said, AJ had his answer. The child belonged to him. “We can work something out.” he told her. “No we can't, he doesn’t belong to you. I just told you that.” Suzy lied again. She was beginning to feel threatened, so she too another step back, closer to the screen door. She was really going let her brother have it once she got rid of AJ and his friends.Taking a step towards her, AJ raised his eyebrows at her. “Look, I’m trying to deal with the fact that I put a human being on this earth and I didn’t even know about it. You cut him off from his father and now you have the nerve to tell me to prove it?" Suzy's anger exploded as she flung open the screen door and ran inside. In the blink of an eye she was back, her hands securely wrapped around a double barrel shot gun. AJ's eyes were showing fear as his mouth opened to speak, but before he was able to say anything else, Kevin appeared next to him. “Suzy, don’t do this.” he pleaded. “Put it down and tell him the truth.” Suzy leveled the gun, but didn’t point it directly at either one of them. Her eyes slid slightly to the left and then to right. None of the boys had moved, they were frozen in their spots. “Kevin, you are a wonderful guy and I know AJ is your best friend. I understand that you are standing up for him, that is what friends do, but I don’t want him near my child. I don’t want him to call my son a MISTAKE like he called me and our night together." she said. Kevin looked at AJ in disgust. “Get in the van asshole." “I didn’t mean it like that Suzy, you know I didn’t.” AJ was yelling when Nick, Howie, and Brian assisted him back to the van. “Stop it!” he barked, and continued to yell when the guys trapped him the truck. Tears now ran down Suzy's face and she looked at Kevin. “Please leave. He’ll be home soon." Kevin sighed. “Ok, we’ll leave, but you know he won’t give up.” He could visibly see the pain in her face as she watched AJ pound on the dashboard of the van. Setting the gun down and leaning it on the porch, she replied, “neither will I. I made a mistake, and my son is the product of that mistake. I’ll never be that stupid again.” As Kevin walked toward the van, he turned back around to face Suzy. "I'm sure we’ll be staying in town. You know how to reach me.” “How about a heads up, a little advance warning?” she called back to him. Kevin shook his head no. “I can’t do that to him Suzy. I'm sure you understand.” Nodding her agreement, Suzy watched him climb back into the van and drive away.“Oh Suzy, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what was on the tape. Sam just asked me to send it to Brian.” Troy said apologetically as he wrapped her in a hug and listened to her sob. Hugging him back, Suzy watched two vehicles pass each other on the road. The van slowed slightly as it neared the other car, then sped off. “Come on, he's home. You know how he gets if one of us is upset.”CHAPTER EIGHT:AJ's eyes sought out the tiny figure in the back of the car, but all he could see was a curly head of brown hair. At that moment, the little boy raised his head and looked back at AJ with the same piercing brown eyes as that of his own. "Holy shit!" he whispered. Nick was looking out the window too. "He's beautiful Bone." he said. AJ's fist slammed into the dashboard just as Kevin punched the gas to get away from the other vehicle. "AJ, you had better stop beating on this van unless you plan on paying for the damages." "What did she say to you Kevin?" AJ questioned, turning a pleading face to his friend. "That she wanted us to leave because he would be home soon. She also asked for an advance warning on your next move. She's not stupid you know. She knows that you will go after the kid. I told her I couldn't do it, but I really am not sure if I shouldn't." Kevin replied as he stopped the van well away from the ranch. "You slept with that woman and then you had the balls to call her a mistake. In my opinion, you deserve everything you are getting. I can't even think of words to call you right now." he continued. "Asshole." came from the back seat. "Adulterer." Brian offered. "Ego maniac pop star." Howie added. "Oh, I know! Fuck up." Nick threw in as he laughed and then suddenly became quiet. Kevin turned to AJ, seeing his friend listening to everyone but not commenting, then said, "That one will do nicely Nick." AJ placed his head on the cool glass of the van window. He had made a mess of things that day that took place so long ago, and the fact that the guys were leaving didn't seem to help matters any. They had a plane to catch though. The writing had gone so well that they had even impressed themselves and now they were all hoping that the critics, fans, and management were just as impressed. No sooner than had he snuck back to his room, the phone rang. Brian called him downstairs to take the call...his wife was on the other end of the line. Still sifting through the post sexual gratification that was running through his body, he was more than cheery and animated than usual on the phone. Brian and Kevin sat at the kitchen table, half listening to the telephone conversation and reading the paper at the same time. AJ being happy in the morning was definitely something to make them question what made him that way. As they sat there listening, they were waiting for the arguing to begin, which always happened with these calls. First they'd start off sweet, then turn nasty, and then the fight would come. Hanging up the phone a moment later, AJ triumphantly smiled. "We're going to try again. She wants me to come back." he announced to his friends happily. Both of them looked at him questioningly. This was nothing new to them. AJ and Sarah were always on again, off again. "Whatever." Kevin sighed and waved him off as he left. Walking down the hall to go back to his room, AJ ran into Suzy and gave her a loud "good morning", then he turned and saw the hurt look on her face. She turned her back to him and raced out the front door. AJ instantly ran after her, knowing that she had heard his exchange with Kevin and Brian in the kitchen just minutes before. "Suzy, wait!" he called out to her, trying to run in his bare feet, ignoring the rocks that were cutting into his skin. "Suzy, damn it, wait!" He yelled as he chased her into the barn. When he got through the door, she was in a stall brushing one of the horses. "Suzy?" he said gently as he approached her. "Go home AJ. It was nice, but go home now." Suzy answered. She wouldn't look at him. She felt foolish for having feelings for this man, a married man. He waited for her to turn and speak to him, but after a few minutes had went by and she hadn't said anything more, a hand settled on hers, stopping her from moving the brush across the animal. "Stop. You're going make that horse bald." he teased. Suzy sighed. "Just go...please." Her tone was not bitter or sorrowful, just flat and uninterested. Pulling on her arm, AJ turned her to face him while he absent-mindedly smoothed a lock of hair from her face. "Suzy, I'm sorry. What I did was wrong. You were a mistake. I should have never let it happen, it was all just a big mistake." Stopping in McLeod, Kevin waited for AJ to make a decision about his plans on the side of the highway. "Get us a place to stay Kev." he finally whispered, his eyes fixated on the scenery outside. "What are you going to do?" Nick asked, seeing that AJ was really tore up about this. "I'm getting an attorney." AJ answered firmly. Brian scoffed at his response. "You have the best attorney there is already. Why do you need a new one?" Moving his head towards Kevin, AJ replied, "because I don't want my attorney involved until I have concrete proof that he's mine." Kevin just shook his head back and forth at AJ sadly. "Can't you think of another way?" "No. I want a court ordered paternity test. Not only that, but I want it fast and I want it NOW. Therefore, I need a local attorney here to handle it...someone who already knows the judges around here and who will be willing to fight for me and my rights as this child's father." AJ snapped angrily. "She isn't going to let you do this." Brian offered as he sat in the back seat, reminding AJ of what he was going up against. "Then she should have just told me what I wanted to know." AJ said, his tone bitter and upset. "How nice of you to just jump back into her life after a one night stand. Nothing like claiming your mistake Bone." Kevin shot back. He was being just as indignant as AJ was. "Shut up! It's none of your business." AJ bellowed. "Oh yeah, you we're working alright. You were working Suzy between the sheets and that's it." Kevin countered. "Stop it, both of you! This is stupid. Kev, if the boy is Bone's kid, then he has rights. Bone, you owe Kev for pulling you out of that hell hole you were living in." Nick reprimanded. He was getting annoyed with both of them. Their arguing was not getting anything accomplished. "Are you going to tell her?" AJ asked nervously, wanting to know which side of the fence Kevin was sitting on. "No." Kevin answered as he pulled into a small lodge. AJ sighed with relief. "Thanks." "Whatever Mr. Mistake." Kevin replied coldly as he slammed the door shut and disappeared into the lodge. "He's hurting AJ, don't get angry at him. He liked Suzy and you told him to back off." Brian interjected, defending his older cousin. As Howie got out of the truck, he turned back to AJ. "I thought I knew you after all these years, but to think that you slept with a woman and then called her a mistake is really sad." he said. AJ just sat there and waited for everyone to get out of the van and go into the lodge, then he broke down sobbing. Nobody was understanding this the way they were supposed to. Suzy wasn't the mistake, he was. He had slept with another woman while he was still married. True that it was beautiful and wonderful, something he still had never forgotten after all of these years, but still a mistake all the same, and knowing that he had made a huge error in judgment was only made worse by the sad expression he saw on Suzy's face that day. He hadn't promised her anything, but yet somehow they had promised each other something. Nick came back out to the van and knocked on the window. "Come on, we have some rooms." he said, and AJ almost fell out of the van, blinded by the tears in his eyes. Seeing this, Nick wrapped an arm around him for support. "Hey, chill. We'll figure it out together. That's why we all came." AJ sniffled. "Thanks Nick." "Come on you big baby. The world isn't going to end. Look at how cute that kid is." Nick grinned, trying to booster AJ's feelings. He smiled slightly. "You guys are good to me." Nick paused and then smiled. "Yeah, yeah. Hey, I wonder if they have an arcade here?" AJ just shook his head, knowing that he would be the one shelling out quarters for the rest of the night if they did. Entering his room at the lodge, AJ grabbed the phone book and flipped through it. He was looking for an attorney with a discreet ad. He didn't want anything flashy or glaring, people like that were always desperate. He wanted someone who could do what needed to be done discreetly and definitely not someone who would sell his story to a tabloid for cash. Finding an ad that suited him a few pages later, he called and left a message, then realizing that it was Sunday and he wouldn't hear anything until tomorrow, he crawled into bed for a sleepless night. Back at her house, Suzy watched her little boy bound into the house full of life and happiness. Placing both hands on his face, she looked at him. "Did you have a good time?" A nod of yes and huge smile spoke for the little boy. "Ok. Go get ready for bed, and I'll be up in a minute to tuck you in." she said and smiled, hiding her true feelings. After finishing up the dishes, she went upstairs to tuck him in, only to find that he had fallen asleep already. It was a busy day for him. Lightly, Suzy sat on the edge of the bed, fingering the little curl by his ear, and spoke softly. "You look so much like your daddy. You have his eyes and his hair. Well, the curls come from me... He was here today. He wanted to see you. I told him no though. I'm sorry Brandon. I just don't want you to hurt like I did and like I still do. He called me a mistake and what we did a mistake, and I think if he knew you were a little different, he wouldn't accept you. I won't let him hurt you." Reaching down, she kissed the small cheek and then softly walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Curling up in her own bed now, she closed her eyes. AJ would fight, she knew that, but she was not meek and mild by any means. She would fight back. She would get the best attorney she could afford. Of course, she scoffed slightly at her last thought. She knew she couldn't afford much. She had recalled that day in her memory so many times when she found out she was pregnant and many more times since then, but mostly on holidays and Father's day. Brandon always felt left out on that day, but he never asked and Suzy never explained. The words AJ had spoken to her then rang through her head. "Suzy, I'm sorry. What I did was wrong...you were a mistake. I should have never let it happen, it was all just a big mistake." As she fought to hold back the tears that day, she couldn't say anything to him. She heard the barn door close and knowing he had left, she began to cry quietly to herself. She stayed in the barn by herself until way beyond the time the boys were scheduled to leave. She found that pouring her heart out to the animals was easier than telling someone else. "Last night was wonderful, this morning it was sordid, dirty, and wrong." Laying her head on the horses side, she cried out loud, "I'm a mistake." Being discreet for Suzy's sake, Sam kept Troy away from his sister for the rest of the day that day, knowing that he would understand that his sister had been hurt. As she recalled the events of that fateful day, a tear slid to her pillow as she drifted off to sleep, or atleast, she tried to.... CHAPTER NINE AJ awoke the next morning to the sound of the phone ringing. Groggily, he answered it. "Hello?" Is this Mr. Alexander McLean?" the voice on the other end asked. Without giving the person a clear answer, a groan escaped from him. 'There is no freaking way they found us that fast.' he thought to himself before finally asking, "Why? Who is this?" "This is Eric Saiontz. You left a message on my machine last night." the person replied. Swinging his legs from the bed, AJ placed his elbows on his knees. He was trying to wake up and make sense at the same time. "Oh yeah, the attorney. I need an attorney here in town to do something for me. Can you do it?" he asked. "Well, I could answer that if I knew what you wanted." the attorney replied flatly. " I don't really want to discuss this over the phone. Can I meet you at your office?" AJ said as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. "No problem. You have my address, and I do require a retainer." Mr. Saiontz answered. "Ok. Give me about an hour and a half to get there. Is that ok?" AJ asked. "That works for me. I'll see you then." came the response, and then hanging up, AJ set the phone back in it's cradle. Falling back on the bed, he closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind. He felt bad about having to do things this way, but if this little boy was indeed his, he wanted to be in his life. Sighing deeply, he shuffled off to shower and get dressed. He had to get the guys moving as well, so picking up his pace, he went from room to room and aroused them out of their beds, saying that they had to go. He knew he should have done this by himself, but he felt that he might need them for support. The more he thought about it, the more afraid he became. Little questions kept popping up his mind. "What did Suzy tell him about me? Maybe he won't even like me." Kevin drove them to the address that was listed in the phone book and together the five of them walked into a very countrified office. Now AJ wasn't so sure he had called the right person. The place was very simple, not at all slick. A man was on the phone and he waved them in. They passed by an empty desk and AJ took a seat with Kevin taking the only other available seat in the entire office. The remainder of the guys lined up along the wall behind them. The gentleman ended his call and then spoke. "So, what can I do for you Mr. McLean?" "I have a custody case that I need to pursue." AJ began, pausing to see if Mr. Saiontz had recognized him or his friends. "A paternity suit is what he means." Kevin corrected as he sat in the chair with one leg crossed over the other. AJ glanced at him without actually moving his head. It was a silent communication that they had developed over the years. They were here, but AJ didn't want them to interfere, especially Kevin. Mr. Saiontz slouched back in his leather chair, and placing his hands behind his head, he interlaced his fingers. "If you are going to pursue this paternity test against Susan DeMonte, you had better be damn sure that you are actually this kid's father." he said as he exhaled. AJ's mouth opened slowly in surprise and then he stood up, turning his back. He was ready to leave right at that moment. "Hold on Mr. McLean. I'm running on assumption, that's all. There are maybe five kids in this whole town that fit in that category. Of the five, two have red hair and one is blonde. That leaves two, the last one being born last summer." Mr. Saiontz explained. AJ turned back around to face him. "Listen, if you're one of Suzy's friends or something, I can go to someone else." he said. "Sit down Alex. May I call you Alex?" Mr. Saiontz asked as he offered a hand from behind his desk. AJ nodded and sat back down, waiting for an explanation. "This is a very small town. I think you know that. Suzy is the only woman I know who doesn't accuse a single soul of being Brandon's father. As far as the rest are concerned, people pretty much point fingers at each other all the time." the lawyer continued. AJ smiled hearing the boy's name, temporarily forgetting that this man did know Suzy. "His name is Brandon? That's such a cool name." he commented excitedly. Mr. Saiontz's face broke out in a big grin. "So glad to hear that you like it." Coming back to his senses, AJ's smile disappeared just as quickly as it had came. "How do you know his name?" he questioned. The lawyer laughed out loud. "Suzy and I have mutual friends that have been trying to hook us up for years. Don't take that piece of information personally and I don?t have a personal or moral conflict with representing you either." he said. Hearing that, AJ became confused. He wasn't sure what to say or do. "Did you ever sleep with her?" Kevin asked when AJ became silent. "Kevin!" He scolded. He was humiliated. Kevin just sat in the chair he was in, casually picking at his thumbnail. "Well, if he is going to fight for you, then he should have the right answer." he pointed out. Mr. Saiontz considered the question. It seemed very off the wall, but he knew why the question was asked. "No." he shrugged, and Kevin smiled. "You'll do." AJ didn't quite gather what had taken place up to this point, and he wasn't really sure if he wanted to either. Kevin managed to hire this man for him as his attorney and it didn't feel right or make any sense. Grabbing a legal pad off of his desk, Mr. Saiontz sat in his chair once more. "Let's hear it." he said. "Hear what?" AJ asked in confusion. Mr. Saiontz closed his eyes and then looked at AJ. "How this happened. I have to know. I can't fight for you if I don't know." he replied. Hearing that statement, the beginnings of a smile tipped Kevin's mouth. He was finally going to hear the whole story, or so he thought. "Guys, can you wait outside please?" AJ asked, turning to his friends. Brian, Howie, and Nick proceeded to the outer part of the office, but Kevin didn't budge from the chair. "You too." AJ said, pointing a finger at him Groaning, Kevin hesitantly shuffled out of the office to find the other guys. "Are you ready now?" Mr. Saiontz asked as he sat waiting. "Yeah." And so, AJ began his story. The guys sat in the outer office with nothing to do but wait like a bunch of mother hens. Finally, when the door opened some time later, AJ was grinning from ear to ear. "I take it that it went well?" Brian asked. AJ smiled at him. "Yep. Now come on. We have to grab some lunch and then we have another appointment after that." he said. "We do?" Nick looked at him totally confused. AJ shook his head. He was used to the baffled look from Nick, but not the others. "Yes, we do. Just come on and I'll explain it later. This is one small town." As AJ headed out the door, the rest of the guys followed him. "Seems like some of the old AJ is coming back." Howie said snidely to Nick. "Shut up D and just get in the van." AJ said. "Yep, that would be him." Nick laughed as he clapped his hands together. A little while later, t hey sat gathered at a table in the back of a small diner. The people in general were friendly, but not overly friendly. They let the guys order their meals in peace. "Where are we going after this AJ?" Kevin asked as he picked at his fries. "Well, that all depends on what happened after we left Mr. Saiontz's office." AJ replied as he wiped his mouth with his napkin. "If Suzy cooperates I'll see my son today. If not, we go before a judge?" he paused as he looked at his watch, "In one hour." "Jesus Christ AJ!" Kevin moaned as he dropped his fork. "What?" AJ asked, poking at the food on the platter. "Could you be any quicker about it?" Kevin hissed, his top jaw grinding into his bottom one. AJ didn't say a word. He had to think about what he was going to say to Kevin without hurting him anymore. "I have a right to. It's her fault that I have to do things this way." he finally said. "You are a pompous ass! Just because you didn't get your kids before, you are hell bent on claiming this one. It doesn't matter that Suzy wants no part of you, your fame, or your money. Have you once thought about Brandon and what's best for him?" Kevin shot back, his voice raising an octave with each word he spoke. AJ inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. He had thought about that kid so much in the last twenty-four hours that it was driving him crazy. The others just sat there, stunned at the bitterness in Kevin's voice. "Yes Kevin, I have. Look, this isn't about you, it's about me." With that being said, AJ stopped speaking, and slowly he let the comment sink in with everyone sitting at the table. "You of all people know what it's like to feel abandoned and then someone comes out of the clear blue to claim you." Kevin's voice took on a sad tone as he made that statement. AJ licked his lips. "Kev, I didn't desert him. I didn't know." He waited for Kevin to reply, but instead he got up and walked out the door. AJ grabbed some money from his pocket he tossed it on the table. "Stay here." he said. "I need to talk to him alone." As AJ followed Kevin to the van, his anger was rising. Kevin had no right to compare him to his dad or to that situation. "Kevin, wait up!" he shouted as he rounded the bumper. Kevin just ignored him and opened the door to get in, but AJ slammed it shut. "Look damn it, I'm not my old man and don't ever compare the two of us again!" he yelled. "It's the same thing." Kevin shot back as he squared his shoulders. "It's the same damn thing." "Bullshit! It's not the same at all!" AJ countered, grabbing Kevin by the front of his shirt and slamming him against the van. "Yeah, I fucked up, I admit that, but I'm trying to do the right thing!" "Only because it suits you." Kevin accused in a voice that riddled with purpose. He had finished being afraid of AJ years ago, and this entire trip had been tugging on his own emotions. "That's not true Kevin, and you know it! I sat in that office when Mr. Saiontz called Suzy. I asked her nicely to please just tell me the truth so that we could work something out, but she wouldn't hear it. She hates me! So now I have to go to a judge and tell him that my child was conceived during a one night stand!" AJ told him in frustration. Kevin turned his head slightly, reaching into his pocket to pull out a cigarette and light it. "I can't say as though I blame her AJ." he said. "What is it with you? What did I ever do to you?" AJ was now beyond angry and looking for the brotherly bond that the two of them had always had. Without giving him an answer, Kevin searched AJ's face. He wanted his answers. "Are you going to try to take Brandon away from Suzy?" he asked. AJ stuffed his hands deep in his pockets as the wind kicked up slightly and he shivered. "No, but why do you care anyway?" he answered. "Because I do care AJ. Being played like a pawn at any age is no fun. That kid is all Suzy will ever have." Kevin replied. AJ shook his head. "No Kev, I won't do that to her. I promise you that. I just want some time with my son. I don't even know him." he said. "Are you going to take responsibility for him and not hide him from everyone?" Kevin questioned. AJ tossed his shoulders back and looked up at the mountains behind the van. "Hell yes." he answered without hesitation. Kevin smiled. "That's all I wanted to hear." he said as he stamped out his cigarette butt. Both of them simultaneously looked at the diner then. "They ain't comin out, are they?" AJ asked. Kevin chuckled. "I think they are waiting to see if we killed each other yet." "Let's go back and get them then. Those were some damn good fries." AJ. laughed as the two of them walked back into the diner. "I wouldn't know." Kevin snickered. "Guess I'll have to teach that kid what fast food is." AJ joked as he opened the door. Kevin shook his head. "No way AJ., no way." he laughed. He couldn't help but smile. If AJ could get through this, he would be a hell of a dad.CHAPTER TENCOMING SOON.... © Copyright 2002 All Rights Reserved. No part of this text may be copied or reprinted without the author's permission.
Chapters 11-15
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