Always Dakota - Debbie Macomber [84]
Matt’s response was to reach for the whiskey and toss it down his throat. It burned, and he shook his head in an effort to cut the effect. “Another.”
Bob hesitated.
“What’s the matter?” Matt demanded. “Isn’t my money good enough?”
“It isn’t your money I’m worried about.”
“Just give me the damn drink.” He downed that glass, then shook his head again, coughing violently. He heard his name shouted from outside the restaurant.
“Matthew Eilers, come out here!”
Margaret? He whirled around and found his wife looking straight at him through the large window. One glimpse of the anger and outrage that flashed from her eyes told him he could stop worrying about breaking the truth to her. She already knew.
No sooner had he stepped out the door than she sprang directly in front of him.
“Is it true?” Her anger was fierce, unrelenting. “Is it true?” she screamed again.
“Margaret, perhaps we should talk about this someplace less public.” He glanced around, and it seemed everyone in town was watching. A couple of store owners stood in doorways. People crowded nearby, wanting to know what all the noise was about.
“Answer the question, dammit!”
“Is what true?” he repeated, buying time while he could.
The words had barely left his mouth when she grabbed hold of his shirt collar and jerked him toward her. Her face was scant inches from his own.
“You know what I’m talking about, so don’t play dumb with me.”
Matt closed his eyes and nodded.
“You son of a bitch.” She dragged out each word—and then slammed her fist into his belly with enough force to double him over.
Too stunned to react, Matt staggered backward only to have her immediately plow her fist into him a second time. Clutching his middle, Matt fell to his knees and groaned.
He looked up, silently pleading with her to let him explain, but he could see it would do no good. Nothing he had to say now would make a damn bit of difference. He closed his eyes, expecting her to kick him next.
Instead she whirled around and stalked off.
“You okay?” Buffalo Bob asked as Matt rose painfully to his feet.
Not only had Margaret slugged him as hard as a man, she’d humiliated him in front of the entire town.
“You need a place for the night?” Bob asked.
Matt shook his head. He was going after his wife, and they’d talk this out. Sheryl might try to screw up his life, but by God, he wasn’t going to let it happen. He loved Margaret and would do everything in his power to save his marriage.
He couldn’t have been more than ten minutes behind her, but by the time he pulled into the yard, she’d managed to drag the contents of his closet outside and dump it all on the ground.
Matt parked and advanced cautiously toward her. “Margaret…”
In return she glared at him with such ferocity he swallowed his plea.
“I want you out of here, understand?”
He raised both hands in a pleading gesture. “Can we talk about this?”
“No!”
“All right. I can see you’re upset…. Perhaps this isn’t the best time for us to—”
“I want you off my land! Now get the hell out.”
Matt rubbed his face. He felt as if he’d walked directly into a full-blown nightmare. “Margaret, I know you’re angry. I don’t blame you, but the least you can do is hear me out.”
“The least I can do? That’s rich.” Her laugh was high and hysterical. Next she proceeded to stomp all over his clothes, grinding them into the mud and dirt. “Get out…of my sight…before…I do something I regret.”
The tears in her voice damn near broke his heart. Not caring what she did to him, Matt moved toward her, taking her in his arms. As he knew she would, Margaret started to pound at his chest with her fists. He took each hit, not caring about the pain, more concerned with the agony he’d caused her.
Margaret was sobbing now. Matt felt like weeping himself. He tried to hold her, but she wouldn’t allow it. She pushed away from him with such vigor that she stumbled backward. He reached