Heart At Risk

When she’d stood up to leave, Kurt had offered to drive her home. Even though he’d been inebriated, she’d accepted. On the way home he’d driven up to Poorman’s Peak and parked. Since it was still early and the party was still going strong, they’d been the only car.

But kids didn’t come there for the view; they came to make out. In his drunken state Kurt had leaned over and kissed her—and then kissed her again. She could still remember the smell of the whiskey on his breath, and even more intoxicating, the excitement of his nearness and thrill of his kisses. Having worshipped him from afar she’d been too enthralled to resist when he’d slipped the dress off her shoulders and made love to her. It had been the most divine memory of her life, and despite the hardships that followed, she’d never ceased to cherish those stolen moments. He had fallen asleep—or more likely passed out. She’d driven him home, parked the car in front of the shack where he lived and left him undisturbed.

The next morning she’d overheard Joey telling their mother Kurt had left town. A couple of months later she was certain she was pregnant.

Determined to raise the child, she’d refused to reveal the father’s name and ignored her parents’ suggestion to abort the pregnancy or put the baby up for adoption.

Her brother Joey had gone off and enlisted in the marines and shortly before Scotty was born, her parents were shot to death when the bar they were in had been held up. Aunt Beth had taken her in and helped her to raise Scotty.

With Beth’s help Maddie had been able to go to a junior college in the morning and work the second shift at the quarry. After earning an associate’s degree, and with her aunt as a cosigner, Maddie had been able to borrow enough from the bank to open a bookstore and tiny tea shop. It had been ten years of constant struggle and hard work, but at least her son would not end up as a Stoner.

And now Kurt Bolen had appeared from nowhere. She harbored no bitterness toward him. How could she, when he was responsible for giving her the most precious thing in her life—her son. But she also realized he could threaten everything.

Was it fair not to tell Kurt the truth about Scotty? Was she being selfish, and not considering what would be best for her son?

Obviously Kurt had no intention of remaining in Vandergriff, but what if he demanded equal parental rights? She knew nothing about him or what he’d been doing for the past ten years. He’d been pretty wild when he was younger. She couldn’t imagine turning Scotty over to this stranger on alternate weekends and such. And that could very well happen if Kurt demanded it.

And what if he was abusive or a drunkard? He’d always drank heavily, even on the night Scotty was conceived. To reveal the truth to him now would only open a can of worms that could have a negative effect on Scotty’s life and her own. No matter how much she’d held on to those girlish fantasies through the years of Kurt coming back to town for her, she was no longer an irresponsible teenager. Her responsibility—and only consideration—was for the welfare of her son.

She would not let anything or anyone threaten that welfare.

After checking out of the motel the next morning, Kurt filled the gas tank, went to the diner and ate breakfast then said goodbye to Gertie.

Once outside he took a final look around, climbed into his car and turned on the ignition. “Goodbye forever, Vandergriff.”

Last night had resurrected too many memories. He wanted to get back to Milwaukee then home to D.C.

He took a shortcut on a back road to get to the I-94 Expressway. Nearing an old abandoned quarry that had filled with water during the years, he thought of the many times he’d used it as a swimming hole when he was a kid.

He slowed his speed when he saw a young boy skimming stones into the water. As he got closer, he recognized Scotty Bennett, and saw that Elizabeth Bennett, wearing a floppy, wide-brimmed hat to shade her face and eyes from the hot sun sat on a rock nearby. Times sure had changed since he was a kid. Back then, no one thought you needed a babysitter when you were a nine-year-old playing outside.

Kurt tooted the car horn and waved. Scotty spun around, recognized Kurt, and attempted to wave back. He lost his balance, staggered backward and toppled into the water.

Kurt slammed down on the accelerator and sped to as near the edge of the quarry as he could get. Elizabeth had just reached it.

“Can he swim?” he shouted to her, dashing out of the car.

“Not very well,” she said. “Oh, dear God!”

Peering down into the hole, Kurt saw the struggling boy surface then go under again. He pulled off his shoes and dove in, then felt a shock of pain to his knee when he hit the water.

Visibility was poor in the murky water and without goggles it was difficult to see. After several painful dives, he caught sight of Scotty and brought him to the surface.

Elizabeth was on her cell phone calling 911 for help and came quickly to his aid to help get Scotty out of the water. Kurt’s knee was throbbing and by the time he succeeded in hoisting himself out, Elizabeth had Scotty stretched out on his back and was attempting to give him CPR to get some air into the unconscious boy’s lungs.

Kurt took over the rhythmic procedure and after several more attempts Scotty began to spit up water. Kurt quickly flipped him onto his side as the boy regurgitated the water out of his lungs. “Elizabeth, get the blanket from the backseat of my car.”

She nodded and hurried to get it. By the time the volunteer fire department and every other emergency vehicle in town arrived with sirens blazing and lights flashing, Scotty was wrapped snugly in a blanket and sitting up coughing a bit but coherent.

The paramedic with the fire department checked Scotty’s vital signs. Satisfied, he packed up his emergency equipment. “He’ll be fine. His lungs sound clear and the rest of his vital signs are okay, Ms. Bennett.”

Beth had remained calm and efficient throughout the whole ordeal. “Thank you, Kevin. How’s the new baby doing?”

“Mother and child doing fine,” he said. “And Sandy loves the sweater and booties you knit for the baby.” He shook his head. “Each summer we have to pull a kid out of that hole. The county should either drain it and fill it with dirt and rocks, or build a fence around it. Last year one of the kids wasn’t as lucky as Scotty here. We lost him.”

When the vehicles had all departed Elizabeth grasped Kurt’s hand. That steel control she’d maintained throughout the ordeal had dissipated, and her voice trembled when she tried to speak.

“How can I ever thank you enough, Kurt. Scotty would have drowned if you…” The bubble finally burst. She couldn’t go on, and broke down sobbing.

Kurt put his arms around her and let her cry. It would do her good.

“I’m sorry,” Scotty said sorrowfully, tears streaking his cheeks. “I feel real bad that I made you cry. Please don’t cry anymore, Aunt Beth.”

Elizabeth knelt beside the boy and kissed him, then dried her tears and held him in the circle of her arms.

“Sweetheart, it wasn’t your fault. I’m just so happy you’re okay. I think I better get you home and into some dry clothes.”

Kurt started to hobble back to his car. He had some pain pills in his pack, but rarely used them to avoid becoming dependent on them. Right now the pain was too severe to try and tough it out.

“Oh, dear, you injured your leg again, didn’t you?” Elizabeth asked.

“I’m sure it’s nothing serious. I aggravated it when I dove into the water.”

“Well I insist you come home with me and let me check it out. Besides, you’re soaking wet and should change into dry clothing.”

The last thing he wanted to do was go back into town. But he did want to get out of his wet clothes.

“I can change right here, Ms. Bennett.”

The sweet old lady’s countenance hardened into a stern frown. “I do not intend to stand here and argue with you, young man. You’re coming home with me.”

The issue was settled.

In a lighter vein she added, “Besides, you wouldn’t abandon us out here, would you?”

“How did you get here?”

“We walked. Are you able to drive, or should I?”

“My right leg’s fine, Ms. Bennett.”

“And please drop the formality,” she declared. “I’m either Beth or Aunt Beth. Whichever you prefer. And I think I should probably drive.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Kurt replied, tempted to snap off a salute.

“Come on, honey,” she said to Scotty, slipping an arm around his shoulder and helping him into the car.

Once they were on their way, a twinkle appeared in Beth’s eyes. “You take orders very well, Kurt.”