A Walk In The Wilderness by Nancy Hopper Page A

probably wasn’t his.  He said she refuses to get blood tests, she just prefers to hang the child over his head all the time.”
       “Then the next day, I went for a short afternoon outing with him, to the Botanical Gardens.  He starting rubbing my leg and talking about … having children of all things, and he got very strange.  He began pressuring me to quit school, and run off to be with him.  When I refused, he didn’t like it.  He was almost threatening in his assertion that I belong to him – and will never need to work.  I felt as if he were trying to simply bend me to his will; and tell me that everything would be just as he demanded.   He even said he always gets what he wants, eventually.”
          Caitlin looked up at him, obviously embarrassed.  “Do you know, I didn’t want to see him anymore.  I just wanted to run.  The next day, I refused to see him.  I told him that I had to have some sleep, and some study time.  He kept coming to the door, and calling on the phone.  He drove me to distraction!  I was never so glad to see anyone leave, as I was when his tour took him away.”
         She shrugged.  “And then once he was gone, I began to question.  He seemed so devoted, you know?  He’d put his heart on a platter and offered it to me, and I’ll admit that I was cold to him.  But he’s frightening!  He can’t seem to stop pressuring.  When I refused to commit to his demands, he just put on more pressure.  And I just couldn’t feel right about it.  Then, he kept calling me at work, after he left.  Talking to me, and being so nice, and friendly.  He sent me flowers.   I began to relax my guard, over time.”  
         “So I wanted to come tonight, and see him.  I had hoped that we could at least, be friends.  And, I wanted to be sure that I couldn’t respond to him.  He’s seemed to want it so desperately.  But the moment he looked at me with that hard, devouring look; I knew I could never … it just made me shiver with dread.  So as you can see, it’s no use.  I want no part of him or that … woman .”  she shuddered expressively.  “I’m sorry.  I know I just keep talking, and talking.”
         “No.  Caitlin, no.  It’s good for you to talk about it.  I do believe you.  After what I saw tonight, I had no doubt at any rate.”  David shuddered subtly, remembering what he’d seen.  He’d been able to actually feel Caitlin’s shock.  He could see it in her braced arms, desperate for freedom from his steel embrace as he imprisoned her.  As he mauled her.  He recalled feeling a bit of her horror and embarrassment at Skyler's behavior. 
        He was beginning to appreciate this girl’s very clear distaste for Skyler’s manhandling.  “And I really think it would be a good idea, if you and I switched rooms, tonight.  I would feel much better.  If your uncle calls or comes to see you, I’ll bite the bullet and explain.  What do you say?”
     “You’ll never explain it to Skyler, if he should come knocking on the door.”  she warned dryly.
           David gave her a slow, lazy smile and chuckled.  “I wouldn’t even try .  I think it would be most amusing for Skyler to face another man at your door.  As long as you don’t mind what he’d think.” he challenged.
      Caitlin blushed furiously.  “It’s not nice , David.  And it’s not the truth.  Beyond that, I can almost agree.”
          He gave her a grin, with a challenging twinkle in his eye.  “I’d very much enjoy seeing his face.  And I’d enjoy even more, chasing him away.”
         Caitlin smiled and lowered her eyes, blushing.  “Well; it would certainly let him know that he’s not welcome.  Wouldn’t it?”
         “Indeed.”  David agreed, trying to hide a smile.  “Indeed, it would.  It will be our little deception.”  His dimples kept jumping into action.  Caitlin watched them in