Drinks and an Update

Ben, Frank, & Liana

Frank Parker sat in the little pub in Coffs where he'd met Ben Wade when he first came to Australia. Frank was waiting for Ben again, and eyeing the waitresses in the meantime. There was a nice-looking blonde who'd given him a few looks.

As he was smiling at the blonde, Frank was aware of Wade walking up to the table. Ben sat down with a glance in the direction Parker was looking. Ordering a whiskey, he grinned at the other man.

"Your mind don' seem to be on business, Parker." Ben tossed back the whiskey.

"My mind's always on business, Wade," Frank replied, grinning himself, but not changing the direction of his gaze. "Maybe not always the same kinda business..."

He met Wade's eyes, as Ben stretched his arms a little. "You feelin' all right?" Frank asked him.

Ben ordered another whiskey. "Oh, fine," he replied. "Spent a few hours down at the stables this mornin' and been over at the club site since then. An' I'm about to go home and help Liana finish up the nursery after dinner. Been a long day."

Abruptly, Parker burst out laughing. He was still choking into his napkin when Ben growled, "What the hell you laughin' at, Parker?"

"You." Frank was still spluttering. "I keep telling myself this is Ben Wade, one of the coldest, most efficient killers I ever met. But then I look at you and I listen to you. You've turned into a working man, a family man, Wade. I'd never believe it, if I wasn't seeing it myself."

Ben's eyes narrowed, as he continued looking at Parker. "You wanna bet your life that I ain't still a cold, efficient killer, Parker? I know a coupla men in the states could tell you different followin' recent events."

Frank stopped laughing. He knew about Ben's recent 'business' trip and what had happened there. He shook his head. Wade seemed to have two completely different sides to him now. Parker still marveled over it.

Getting down to business, he said, "Your wife's fine, Ben. Nothing more's gone on than what I told you about while you were gone--the visit to Sid Harbor's wife and the lunch with Toni Roberts. I gotta tell you, that visit to Harbor's house made me nervous. Was afraid I'd have to go in there and pull her out."

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Ben knew about those two visits. Not only had Parker reported them to him while he was still out of town, but Liana had told him about them herself. After they'd made love that first night and she was lying in his arms, sighing with contentment, she'd admitted that she'd been to see Kate Harbor.

"I know you didn't want me to Ben, and I'm sorry. I just- I felt like I had to at least see her, and not just stop talking to her altogether, without any explanation," Liana had said, with a pleading look in her eyes.

"But you were right. Sid is just horrible! Not only did he not apologize for all those terrible things he said about you, he even said some more. And Kate actually believed him! I could never have anything to do with them again."

Despite his anger at her for disobeying him, Ben had smiled slightly to himself. "Glad you found out the truth for yourself, darlin'," he'd told her. "You think maybe now you'll listen to me, when I tell you 'bout somebody? I'm a good judge 'a people, Liana. Been readin' 'em all my life, an' I'm always right about 'em. An' I'm only lookin' out for you, honey.

"I know, Ben." Liana snuggled closer to him. "I'll listen. I really will."

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Parker looked at the smile on Ben's face. "I'm not really sure you need somebody looking out for her, Wade. She's gonna tell you everything anyway."

"Makes me feel more secure to have you watchin' over her, Parker. An' you're bein' paid well enough, ain't you?

Ben smiled at again. "You're right about her tellin' me things, though. Don' think I could've found a better wife."

Parker took a sip of his brandy. "She's a wonder all right, Wade. Wouldn't've thought a woman'd know who you are and what you are and still stay with you. Not only stay with you, but listen to every word you say."

They finished their drinks, talked a little more and then left. Neither one had any idea that the biggest threat to Liana was on the Wade ranch, where he was right now finishing up his plan to have her to himself. Charlie Prince.