FAST RIDE by DEBBY CONRAD

trekked across the yard.
    The wind bit into her skin. The weatherman said to expect snow flurries later that day. October was much too soon for snow as far as she was concerned. She loved fall, all the rich colors of the trees’ turning leaves, and she wanted it to last a bit longer.
    Expecting to find Kenny in his study, she was surprised to see him sitting in the living room in front of the TV. She slid the door open and cleared her throat.
    Kenny didn’t bother turning around. “Don’t you ever bother to knock?”
    So they were back to that. She shut the door and went to stand in front of him. “Kenny, what’s wrong?”
    He looked up at her. “What’s wrong? I can’t see the television screen, for one thing.”
    She stepped to the side and sat in a leather recliner. “Kenny, please talk to me.”
    Sighing, he flicked off the remote and set it on the end table beside him. He gave her an impatient look. “What is it you want? And if it’s sex, forget it. I’m not in the mood.”
    She swallowed hard, trying not to reveal her anger. “I don’t understand.” She searched his face for a sign that he cared about her. Any sign. There was none.
    “What’s to understand? It’s over.”
    Pain stabbed at her heart. “Over?”
    “You and me. The affair, or whatever it is you want to call it.”
    Kenny didn’t want her any longer, but she couldn’t let go this easily. “But why?”
    “Holly, don’t make it any more difficult than it is. You were a . . . nice temporary distraction. Nothing more. And now it’s time to end it.”
    “A temporary distraction?” she managed to choke out.
    “Look,” he said, “I’ve decided to have some surgery, something I’ve been putting off for a while. I’m going to be operated on the day after tomorrow. Once I’ve recovered, I plan to move away from Falcon Ridge.”
    She let his words sink in. “Surgery? But I overheard you tell Lars there was only a sixty percent chance you would walk again.”
    “Yeah, so? I’ve decided to take the risk. My doctors feel it’ll be successful. I’m in good health, strong, and I have a great attitude, mentally. That’s sometimes half the battle.”
    What could she say? It was his decision. Although she was going to be sick with worry until it was over. “Where will you go, once you’ve recovered?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe Seattle, maybe somewhere warmer.”
    “Seattle is so far away.” She fought back the tears blinding her eyes. “What about me? And Jordan?” In spite of his cruel words, that she was only a temporary distraction, she had to ask.
    “You’ll both be fine. You have Greg.”
    Greg? What was he saying? She and Greg were divorced. It was over between them. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
    “Look, Holly, I really would like to be alone, if you don’t mind.” Without looking at her, he picked up the remote and hit the power button.
    The sound of police car sirens immediately flooded the room. Holly stood on shaky legs and started toward the patio door. She stopped, noticing the coffee mug on the kitchen table where Kenny usually sat for his meals. Right next to the kitchen window.
    There was something else she noticed. Instead of the curtain being open, the way it usually was, it was pulled shut, the blinds behind the curtain drawn tight.
    On impulse, she went to the window, opened the curtains and blinds and stared out. She could see her flower beds that still needed cleaned out before winter set in, and she could see the breakfast bar and the two counter stools in her kitchen.
    And then it hit her. Kenny must have seen her and Greg Sunday night.
    Temper flaring, she stomped across the room and yanked the remote from his hand. She punched the power button, and then dropped the piece of black plastic on the sofa.
    “What the hell--”
    “How dare you!” she shouted. “Why can’t you be man enough to tell me what’s really bothering you?”
    “Well, since you seem to know