The Lioness Read online

  “Ok, we’ll take care of it.”

  Ty could hear Hasina’s voice as Noori guided her down the hall.

  “It’s not right. They aren’t married. He shouldn’t be in there with her, alone.”

  He would have to tread carefully. He wasn’t budging and that was it. He sat down and looked at her face. She slept but he knew it wasn’t a good sleep. She tossed and turned and her face would pucker up. He leaned over and brushed her face, her hair kept falling down.

  Hasina had managed to get her clean but he knew she was going to have a fit when she woke up. She hated being dirty on her bed. She would blow a gasket. She said she had only one place that wasn’t dirty and that was her bed. She said that was her one spot in the world here that didn’t have dirt.

  He got up and went to where he knew she kept her extra sheets. She had silk sacks that she slept with plus a couple other sheets. He opened up the cupboard and pulled out a clean fitted sheet. He still marveled that she was able to bring two with her. When she had arrived she had said she was packed light. She managed to pack quite a bit and still her bags were light.

  He shook his head and smiled. First woman in history to pack light. Well she knew what it was like, to have to go at a moment’s notice. She admitted, she liked her creature comforts and had to have nice sheet, even in the back end of nowhere.

  He put the sheet down on her small sandali. It was the typical table that all Afghani’s had in their home. In the winter a blanket would be put on and a mankal or charcoal heater would be placed under there so she could keep warm as she worked. Her computer was neatly put in its case, to keep it covered from the dust. Everything about Rose was neat, tidy, orderly.

  He sat back down and watched her as she slept. She was a rare gem in his book. She did a good job, taking photos, doing sketches to go with her stories, getting to the meat of the story, the real human side of life here in war-torn Afghanistan. She was able to charm even the most hardened soldier to get a great story. The photos though, well they were worth their weight in gold. She would show the people the photos she just took on her camera’s screen. She promised when she got back to Kabul she would get copies and have them sent up. She knew these little things brought a bit of happiness into their pretty dreary lives.

  He sat and watched her move. She moaned and then cried out and said something he couldn’t understand. She was speaking in Dari, which she was fluent in. He hadn’t picked up much but she had been here before and was here when the Northern Alliance leader was killed.

  He bent and brushed back her hair. Her hair was so beautiful. So full of color. He loved to see it when she had her candles and lantern lit at night. She automatically lit her candles and lantern. With power being spotty she said she actually enjoyed working by candle light. He would have to start lighting them soon. He saw her fresh pile of candles out, plus her flashlight. She was well prepared and organized, well equipped to work in any situation. She took minimal time to set up, even with all her high-tech gear. She had told him about her brother who was a techie and had her outfitted with only the best. ”That way I can keep in touch with not only my editors but my family,” she had said.

  He sat there and thought of the time he had known her and thought what a blessing she had been to him so far. Never had he heard her complain about the conditions. Oh, she had complained when it came to “barbaric conditions the women and children had to endure.” She never complained about or for herself. She said she was so happy to be here and thankful that Ty had called her asking her to work with him. Would she think that now?

  Ty jumped when the door pushed open. He had been so deep in thought he had forgotten about Noori and Hasina. He looked up and Hasina looked at him funny.

  “Ty, why don’t you go get a little rest, if you are sitting with her for the night. I have some teapot soup in the kitchen. You go eat and get some rest and you can come back in a couple hours.”

  “I’ll be back in a little while. You’re up at an earlier hour then we are. You need your sleep. Rose would have a fit if she knew you were staying up late.”

  Hasina shook her head. “Well do as you wish. I’m here till you come back.”

  **********

  Ty went to the kitchen and saw Noori standing there, apparently deep in thought because he didn’t budge when he came in.

  “Hey, what are you thinking on so hard?”

  “Oh, Ty I didn’t hear you. Come on, sit down. I have coffee made. My Aunt made soup, teapot soup, so why don’t you get some and nan and sit down.”

  “Yeah, that sounds good. Then I’m going to relieve your aunt.”

  Ty went to get some soup and sat down next to Noori. He looked over at his friend. They were friends. They always talked when he wasn’t with Rose, which wasn’t much, but he liked Noori and wanted to help him to get a better job, more stable, when he and Rose left. He was the only one providing for his family and his aunt.

  “She’s so beautiful, so giving and compassionate but so stubborn. Her stubbornness could have killed her. She wanted to get the girl but the little one was running away from her mother and not looking, going straight for the man. I had to get Rose down.”

  “You did the right thing. Unfortunately Rose will think it’s her fault that the little girl died. There are no easy answers in an incident like this. You have to make a call and it has to be quick. Not everyone will be happy with the call. I, for one, am happy with what you did.” He lowered his head and saw Rose’s face in his mind’s eye. Her face was white as a sheet, her eyes empty. He felt a chill. He tried to take a bite of the soup but it just came up. He pushed the bowl away.

  Looking at Noori he knew what he was thinking. “I know your aunt is going to be upset that I’m not eating. Just explain, I haven’t an appetite.”

  “You love her, don’t you?”

  First Ty jumped at the question. “It’s growing that way. I saw what I could have lost when you brought her in. At that moment I realized what she’s become to me in the short time I’ve been with her.”

  “Have you told her?”

  “No, not yet. I know she likes me but I haven’t rushed things, I want it to be on both sides, not just me. When the time is right.”

  “What will her parents think? You know you and her are not exactly from the same background. Her being from an Irish Catholic background and you….”

  “I know a Baptist Preacher’s son. We don’t have to worry about it since it’s in a friend stage but if I tell her how I feel, well then we’ll have to work it out.”

  “What about your family?”

  “My mother already knows about how things are heading. She’s cool with it. It’s not as big of an issue as it was say back when I was born. She’s one in a million, like Rose.”

  **********

  Rose woke and tried to figure why she felt so heavy, so groggy. Her mouth felt like she had swallowed a ton of sand. She turned her head and saw Ty sitting next to her bed. “What in the world, why are you here?” Then she remembered when she saw Ty’s look. The market, the photos she had been shooting, the girl, the man.... “Oh my God.” She started to cry and curled up in a ball and felt engulfed all of sudden by Ty and his arms. He had her up and was gently holding her, mindful of her arm. She pressed her face into his shirt and cried. Letting the storm and torrent of tears take over, she cried and beat at his chest. He took it all, holding her, smoothing back her hair, talking while she cried hard. She would live with the pain of that little girl’s death the rest of her life. Even Ty’s soothing voice couldn’t erase the pain and guilt she felt and bore.

  “Ty it was my fault, my fault that she died.”

  Ty held her tight, caressing her head. He bent his head and brushed kisses against her scalp. He needed to be in contact as much as he needed to give to her. He knew nothing he did or said would help at this moment but maybe it would help a bit holding her.

  “Rose, I know nothing I say will help, the whole incident will be with you forever, but I
want you to know there is nothing you could have done short of getting yourself killed, too. Don’t you know how close you came? Noori told me. He said you would have gotten killed too.” It was so hard to say it, it was too fresh. He would have been done for the rest of his life.

  He tilted her face up so she was looking at him. “Listen, I know this may sound cold but I’m glad you didn’t get any further. I couldn’t have spent....” he looked away. He couldn’t say it, or could he? Could he tell her what he was feeling, that she was important to him, more than just a partner, a co-worker.

  “What Ty? You couldn’t have spent what?” She touched his cheek and felt a tear. Did he care? No, he was just her co-worker. He wanted her here so they could work together. He liked her work, nothing more, he felt a responsibility nothing more, nothing less. She held onto the thread though, something in his voice, in his eyes that made her want to hope in spite of all the awfulness in this whole situation.

  Ty looked at her, felt her cool touch and knew he was sunk. His heart was wide open now, he was a goner. “I couldn’t—couldn’t,”he lowered his head again, “go through life not knowing if we might have become more than friends. You’ve become my best friend.” He felt courage swell up. He had already said enough to sink a ship, why not go and say all? No, he wouldn’t do that but he’d come close.

  “We share so much in common, I knew we’d work well together. I just never knew it would be this good.”

  “You like me Ty?”

  Ty looked down at her and smiled. What did she think, she was chopped liver? She was a saint, a beauty. The sweetest person he had come across in a very long time, no in his life.

  “Yes, I like you Rose, a lot.” He was warmed by her smile, a little one but a smile. He had to change the subject before it got into dangerous territory. “Do you want anything, anything to eat, drink? Hasina is dying to feed someone and I’m afraid she will be upset with me because I didn’t eat like I should. I was too upset.”

  “I could go for a cup of tea and some of her nan.”

  “I can handle that. Anything else?”

  “Only your company. I don’t want to be alone and somehow having you here, just sitting is such a comfort. You don’t have to do anything for me, just stay here. If you want, bring in your computer and work. You don’t have to babysit me, or entertain me. I just want someone here and it would be so much nicer if that someone, was you.”

  Ty looked at her. He reached out and took her hand. A warm feeling that he couldn’t explain any better than feeling comforted knowing she was here, safe and sound made him feel very good.

  “I’ll go get you some tea and nan and bring back some stuff to work on. I’ll only be gone a minute.”

  Rose tried to sit up but her head swam. “Did I hit my head? Why am I so dizzy?”

  “Doctor said with the medicine you may feel like that for about 24 hours. Just stay put. I’ll be right back. If you need to go to the bathroom, I’ll have Hasina come and help. She’d have a stroke if she saw me trying to help you in the bathroom.”

  That brought a giggle from Rose, which made Ty feel better. If she was laughing, she would be ok. There would be scars but she would cope. She was made of strong stuff.

  When Ty came back in with a tray Rose was sitting up. He had run into Hasina and she was right behind him. “You get out, Ty. She may need to go to the bathroom. You can come back in when I am sure she is okay.”

  “Hasina, I already got up and went to the bathroom, I’m fine. I just hurt, that’s all, and now I’m really hungry.”

  “Well then while Ty sits with you, I’ll go get you something to eat. I have some teapot soup.”

  “With mutton?”

  “Yes. So you sit back and relax and don’t move.” She scurried out, her robes swishing.

  Ty looked at Rose. “You know you shouldn’t have gone to the john without someone. You could have gotten dizzy.”

  “I wouldn’t have moved if I got dizzy. I would have sat down. I just hate to have people waiting on me.”

  “Get it out of your head. We all need looking after once in a while.”

  “Yeah, but you’re not my family, you’re waiting on me.”

  Ty got up and went to her bedside after setting the tea and bread down. “I may not be your family but I’m your friend, I hope.”

  Rose took his hand and scooted towards the edge. “You’re more than my friend, you’re one of my best friends. One I wouldn’t want to be without.” She pulled herself to the edge and knowing Hasina would be back soon didn’t do more but squeeze his hand and look into his eyes. “I don’t have many people I can call my friends, who I would trust with my life. You, Ty, I trust with my life.”

  He looked at her. Would she trust him with her heart if they ever came to it? He knew they could become involved, but would she let him be more if it went that far?

  He watched as she got up slowly, favoring her right side. He could tell she was uncomfortable. “Why don’t you sit on the bed and I’ll get you the tray.”

  “I’m not hurt that badly Ty. I shouldn’t stay in bed just because I have a few scratches.”

  He could see the stubbornness, boy was she stubborn. “It won’t hurt for you to sit in bed the rest of the day.” He felt like banging his head against the wall. Seeing her chin go up and the set look in her eyes. He knew he was sunk, in every way. She was so beautiful, even this way.

  “Well maybe I should tie you to the bed.” He saw her brows shoot up and he laughed. He got the reaction that he wanted and it lightened the mood.

  “Isn’t that a bit kinky? I never would have thought you were into kinky.”

  He looked at her, glad to see the smile and liking the way the conversation was heading. “I can be anything you want at this moment, as long as you behave and sit perfectly still on the bed. It won’t kill you to let someone take care of you for once. I’d like to be that one, if you would stop being so stubborn.”

  He saw her smile, then saw a look of mischief come across her face. Her eyes almost twinkled, which made him feel better. She would be okay. He would make sure of that. He’d keep the mood light and see if he could distract her, any way he could.

  Well since your motive wasn’t what I thought. I was hoping if I got out of line, you might....” She lowered her voice. “Give me a licking that would set me straight, one that I wouldn’t forget.” She saw his look and enjoyed the shock value of what she said. She still didn’t know where she was getting the nerve to say this but it was making her feel better. He was just trying to keep it light. A little harmless flirting wouldn’t hurt.

  He got closer to her and smiled. “If you don’t behave, I’ll have to take you over my knee and give you a spanking, so behave.” He was saved by the door opening and Hasina coming in. She was laden down with a tray that had all kinds of treats. Looking from Ty to Rose and seeing their faces, she snorted.

  “You should be in bed, Rose. If Ty can’t watch over you then I will sit in here with you.”

  Rose loved Hasina, she was so sweet and very kind and giving. She didn’t know how she found all the treats she managed, knowing supplies were not up to par. She appreciated what she was going through to keep a guesthouse and feed who knew how many people every day. She and Ty were here a lot more, waiting to get permission to travel north. But, in the meantime, there was enough work here in Kabul.

  She took Ty’s hand as she sat back down on the bed. “I’m sorry, Hasina. It’s not Ty’s fault, he’s been a regular jail keeper, trying to keep me on the bed, doing everything from bullying and threats.” Seeing his face she made one of her own.

  “Well I’m glad he’s responsible enough, you never know with men, they can be big babies too and don’t know what to do when the time comes.” She looked over at Ty.

  “I’m just joking, as you Americans say. I know you are trying. Rose needs to listen more. If you think you have everything, I’ll get back to the kitchen. Some of the BBC crew came in and they’re going to be h
ungry. I told them about Rose, so I’m sure they will be in to see you.”

  Great, just what he didn’t want. He wanted Rose all to himself for the night. He was being a selfish bastard but that was the way he felt. He felt like he had been given a precious gift back and he didn’t want to share. If only she knew what he felt, what she was becoming to him. She wouldn’t know unless he told her.

  He turned to get the tray with the tea and felt a pang. He couldn’t tell her, not yet. He felt frozen up all of a sudden and it was because of Tiffany. He had showed his heart once too soon and Tiffany had taken it, stamped on it thoroughly, and then picked it up after it was almost completely ruined, squeezed the rest of any emotions he had for her, and then threw it out. Just like throwing out the garbage. She had treated him like some celebrity. When she found he was deep, had feelings and wanted a home life, not a constant string of parties, only after he had thought they had a future and he had let his heart go, then she had left. That had been two years ago. Since then he was lucky if he got past the first date. He couldn’t trust, or hadn’t, until Rose came along. She was so different, a breath of fresh air. The more he saw the more he liked. She wasn’t like anyone he had dated before. He didn’t want that, he wanted Rose and he was willing to go slow in order to make sure she felt the same.

  Turning back, he saw Rose’s eyes on him, intent, studying him. Was he easy to read? He watched as Hasina scurried out. That was the way she walked, always fast, robes swishing. It was a comforting sound, though. He looked back at Rose.

  “They won’t stay long, Ty. We’ll have all evening to talk. Maybe you’d read to me from the poetry you have. I’d like that. I find it calming to hear your voice. Actually I’d do anything to hear your voice all the time.”

  Ty smiled. “That’s fine, I’ll go get my collection of Hafez. I’ll read till you go to sleep.”

  “Sounds like a date.” She smiled at him. “Really, I like listening to you. I don’t think there is anything else I’d rather do tonight then listen to you read poetry.”