Dark Tiger by William G. Tapply

you can’t, and who am I to tell you you’re wrong. This doesn’t mean I’m not mad about it, because I am. I mean, it makes no damn sense. If you can’t tell me what you’re gonna be doing for six weeks, and where you’re gonna be doing it, the least you could do is tell me why you can’t tell me.”
    She looked at him with her eyebrows arched.
    All Calhoun could do was shrug.
    She took a big gulp of bourbon. It was pretty obvious she was working herself up. “Dammit all to hell, Stoney,” shecontinued. “You know, it ain’t just about do I trust you. It’s about sharing our lives. People who share their lives together aren’t supposed to have secrets. Not to mention, I don’t like being left by myself this way. I don’t know how I’m going to manage for six weeks without you. I’ve come to depend on you, damn you. At the shop . . . well, I can handle the shop, I guess. Adrian’s good. We’ll be all right. It’s the rest of it, Stoney. Who’m I going to talk to about Walter when he gets all nasty and abusive, or when he’s doing so bad it looks like he’s about to die? Who’s going to hug me when I need it? Where am I going to go when I need a night of lovin’?”
    Calhoun held out his hand. Kate narrowed her eyes at him for a minute, then got up from her chair, came over, and sat on his lap.
    â€œYou don’t need to say anything,” he said into her hair. “I don’t blame you for being upset.”
    â€œI
am
upset,” she said. “I’m not spending the night with you, either. I just wanted you to know that I love you anyway, and I’ll be all right. I’ll get by. And whatever you’re doing, you damn well better be careful and come back in one piece. You hear me?”
    He enveloped her in his arms. “Yes, ma’am. I hear you.”
    â€œI have the feeling it’s dangerous,” she said.
    Calhoun said nothing.
    â€œIf something happens to you, Stonewall Jackson Calhoun, you’ll have to answer to me.”
    â€œI’ll be careful,” he said.
    She snuggled against him for a minute.
    Then she sat up straight. “Don’t think I’m not mad,” she said.
    â€œI understand,” Calhoun said.
    â€œTell me this,” she said. “How long did you know before you told me?”
    He shrugged. “A few days.”
    â€œA few days?” Kate shook her head. “So what the hell were you waiting for?”
    â€œWorking up the courage, I guess,” he said.
    â€œCourage? You? Men have shot at you with the intention of killing you, and you, you just hunched your shoulders and plowed straight ahead. No, Stoney. I’m not buying that. It ain’t courage that you’re lacking. Consideration, I’d call it.”
    â€œCourage or consideration or whatever,” he said. “You’ve just got to accept it.”
    â€œAccept it?” She shook her head. “You telling me I’ve got a choice?” She glowered at him for a moment, then abruptly she got off his lap, turned, went down the stairs, and got into her truck. He followed along behind her and stood there beside her vehicle while she started it up.
    She shifted into first gear, then leaned her head out the window. “I’m mad as hell at you, Stonewall Calhoun. Don’t forget that. I got a feeling I’m just going to get madder, too. I don’t know why I came here tonight. I guess I expected something out of you that you can’t give me. It ain’t fair, what you’re doing. I know you know that. That’s why it took you so damn long to tell me.” She glared at him. “Anyway, whatever it is, good luck with it, and you better be careful. If you don’t come back safely to me, I’ll never speak to you again.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Might not even if you do.”
    Then, with a little