I Dream of Colorado

Analiese's heart pounded in her chest as she rounded the corner of Oakhill Road and towards her street. Letting out a controlled breath she came to a stop at her driveway, staring up at the rusty red house. Its color enhanced by deep oranges, yellows and pinks of the sinking sun in the evening sky. The ivy-covered porch and well-tended flower beds gave it a wooden cottage feel. Analiese took a deep breath, and stretched out. As she leaned back up, the deep orange light, lit up the navy-blue door and just below the peep hole was a note that had been taped to it. She effortlessly made her way up the stairs and grabbed the note off of the door. Opening the small piece of paper, she recognized the swift handwriting as Dustys.  Analiese,   Take what you can carry and be gone by sunset.  -Dusty   Crushing the offending note in her hands, hot tears pooled in her eyes. Heart shattering, Analiese drew in a ragged breath. She knew if she didn’t get what she needed there would be trouble. Opening the door, she stopped and took it in, the lavishly decorated home with stainless steel appliances, plush furniture, and expensive rugs and drapes. Her quaint little home decked out like a Home and Garden Magazine spread. The strong smell of apples and cinnamon greeted her with a calming, familiar smell. Moving towards her bedroom she opened the door, suddenly her little dog Tilly came out, wagging her stubby tail.   “Oh, Tilly baby...” she whimpered, picking up her little dog. Tilly started licking away the tears and nuzzled her face. A little laugh escaped Analiese, Tilly always knew how to cheer her up. If it weren’t for Tilly, she would never have been able to deal with Dusty and his bullshit. She gave the little dog a kiss on the snout and set her on the bed. Reaching under it, she grabbed her suitcase and started packing. Hoping she could be done by the time Dusty came home and found her here. Halfway through packing, her phone rang. It was Lucy.   “Hey Lu, what’s up?” she tried hiding the trembling in her voice, but it must not have worked  “Ana, are you okay? You haven’t called all day. Is there something wrong?”  And just like that the tears started flowing again. Hearing her best friends' voice set her over the edge. Suddenly she was explaining every occasion Dusty had hurt her, the note left on the door and the fact that she had to be out of the house by the time Dusty got off work. The other end of the line was silent until a stern voice on the other end said “Stay right there, I’m coming to get you.” Lucy hung up, and Analiese set her phone down on the bed. She looked over and Tilly had settled on curling up on her favorite pillow and snoozing. Grabbing the last of her things, she snagged the dog carrier, bed, food, and bowls. Along with Tilly’s favorite toys and leash. Coaxing Tilly into the dog carrier, she shut it and grabbed her suit case and started heading down the hall to the front door. She would just wait for Lucy to show up, hopefully she got here before Dusty did. Setting the carrier and the luggage on the porch she stopped and admired the house one last time.   Unfortunately, her reminiscing was cut short by the rumbling of a diesel engine. She turned and pulling up in a sleek black truck was Dusty. The vehicle was shut off and the driver side door swung open, Dusty hopped out and stomped in her direction.   Here came this mountain of a man, a sturdy 6’5 with a build of a seasoned farm hand. His piercing blue eyes glaring out from under thick, furrowed, black eyebrows. Shapely lips turned down into a crooked frown. He was still dressed in his work attire. Tight faded jeans, heavy boots, a dirty (once white) t-shirt and a logoed ball cap covering his thick black curls. Animosity glowed in his eyes when they locked onto hers.  “I thought I told you to be gone by sunset! You know I'm home by then you dumb b***h!” he growled. His heavy footsteps hit the wooden porch. When he was eye level, she could smell the beer on his breath.   “I thought I told you to leave. What are you still doing here?” he grumbled.  “Dusty, I just finished packing, Lucy is coming to get me. I swear-”  She didn’t see it coming, his calloused had swiftly connected with the side of her face, almost knocking her against the front door frame. He then grabbed a fist full of her hair and drug her off the front porch into the yard.   “I don’t care what you say, I just want you gone. You god damn worthless b***h!” Throwing her down he went back and picked up the suit case and the dog crate and threw them out onto the lawn at her. The crate landed with a thud and a resounding yelp from Tilly made Analiese jump to her feet and run at him.  “Don’t you hurt her! You monster, don't hurt Tilly!” she screamed and started pounding on his chest. Without issue he grabbed both her wrists and twisted her arms behind her back, letting out a yelp startled Tilly and she started barking at Dusty like she always did. “Shut up you damn mutt!” He wheeled around quickly and kicked the dog crate. Another squeak from Tilly. Analiese wiggled loose of his grip and ran to Tilly to check on her, but Dusty quickly grabbed ahold of her hair again and started smacking and punching her repeatedly. The barking started again, when suddenly the passenger side window rolled down and a plume of cigarette smoke came out. A bottle blonde stuck her head out of the window, taking a long drag off her cigarette. “Dusty, what the HELL are you doing?! I don’t fancy viewin’ you through bulletproof glass the rest of my life. Git your hands off that girl and let's go!”   He dropped Analiese like a sack of potatoes and turned to the blonde in his truck.   “Shut your mouth Sherry! Or you’ll be next you dumb cunt.”  With that command, Sherry opened the door and climbed out. The Petit, bottle blonde had tan skin, honey brown eyes, slightly heavy makeup. Wearing daisy dukes, a baby blue crop top and trainers. Her pony tail bobbed back and forth as she approached Dusty and Analiese. “Dusty Hatfield, leave that girl alone. I don’t much care for her, but what you're doing to her, is not right. You need to leave her be. So, get your ass back in that truck or I’m not going with you.”   Analiese looked up at the woman, who, even though stole her husband, was trying to save her life. Maybe this bottle blonde wasn’t so bad after all. She smiled slightly, and looked over at Dusty, who was being dragged to the truck by Sherry the bottle blonde. Suddenly, Lucy screeched into the driveway and jumped out of her little car. “Ana!” she screamed, tears streaming down her face. Running to Analiese she kneeled and held up her head. “Are you o-okay?” she blubbered  Analiese nodded. “I’m better now that you’re here.” Together they stood up, and watched Dusty climb into his truck with Bottle Blonde Sherry. “Good riddance!” Lucy spat.   Analiese hugged her and sighed heavily. “I’m so glad you’re here Lu. I thought he was going to kill me. If it weren’t for that b***h Sherry I wouldn’t be standing here.” Lucy held her at arm's length and shrugged. “Don’t sweat it kid. I just dont see how that home-dye disaster will be able to put up with him as long as you did.” Analiese nodded. “Yeah Dusty and I had dated since high school and we married right out of it, nine years of my damn life. Gone. Nothing to show for it but black eyes, and a broken arm” Lucys’ eyes went wide. “You mean he broke your f*****g arm?!”  Analiese nodded. “Yes, he did. It wasn’t an accident like I had played it off as. We got into an argument and he twisted my arm so hard that it snapped. I honestly don’t know when I ever started to hide the abuse...” Lucy knew exactly when and looked at her best friend, and mumbled, “Your Dad. That’s when it started. I remember going to your house when we were kids and it was a constant. I never knew how your Mother ever put up with it. Especially since she had you and your brothers and sister to worry about.” she shuddered. “I remember him throwing s**t at your mother, screaming at her all times of the day. I was so glad when you got out of there. I thought Dusty was your way out, but he never use to be like that.”  Suddenly Lucy’s words started fading out and all sound was replaced with static, Analiese passed out and the last thing she heard was the garbled screams of her best friend calling her name.   When she opened her eyes, she realized she was in Lucy’s car going down a bumpy road, the darkness rushing past them. Mumbling something incoherent, Lucy looked over at her and smiled softly. “Hey, you passed out. Dusty may have given you a slight concussion. We’re heading to my parents' place so mom can look you over. I probably should have taken you to the hospital, but I don’t want to risk running into Dusty out on the main roads in town.” Analiese looked around and spotted Tilly sleeping in her carrier in the back seat along with all her luggage.   “You said we’re going to your parents place? Isn’t that half an hour away from town?”  “Yeah, it is, but I felt it safer than anywhere else in town Ana. Dusty may have left you alone for now, but what's stopping him from finding you and doing worse things than just beating you?”   For once Analiese agreed. Dusty had tormented her for most of their relationship. It wasn’t until he started coming home reeking of s*x and stale beer, did she start suspecting something. Then one night she noticed smudged, glittery lipstick stains on his clothes and skin and the smell of cheap perfume and cigarettes. When she confronted Dusty, he threw a tantrum and couldn’t believe that she was accusing him of cheating on her, even when the signs were completely visible to her, she just couldn’t wrap her mind around it. But that night he was a slobbering drunk too, and that was the first time he really laid into her and almost beat her into a hospital bed. The man she had met in high school had grown into a completely different person. He used to take her out on Fridays, and bring her flowers. So many holidays and special occasions with her family. It was like he was wearing a mask the whole time. He really was too much like her Father. It was almost like she had married someone like her Father. Exactly like him.   A big bump in the road jolted her out of long train of thought and she looked around they were getting closer to Lucy’s parents' house; she could see their porch light. They made a turn into the driveway, and pulled in. Analiese could make out the silhouette of Lucy’s parents standing on the porch. When the car came to a stop, Lucy opened her door and saw her little boy Benji running to greet her. “Benji!” she squeezed him tightly. “Guess who I brought with me?” The little boys face scrunched up, trying to think who his mother possibly could’ve brought to his home in the middle of the night. Analiese seized her opportunity and stepped out of the car. Benjis eyes widened and he shrieked. “Auntie Liese!!” he wormed his way out of his mother's arms and jumped down, running around the car and into the arms of Analiese. She hugged him tightly. His soft curly hair smelled like lavender, and brushed up against her neck. She smiled. Probably for the first time in months. Years even.   There was clearing of a throat. “Hola Analiese, aren’t you going to come and hug your Papa Alberto?” He grinned. Papa Albertos family came from Mexico City in the Eighties and here is where Lucy was born. His dark, playful eyes gleamed as he smiled, and his round cheeks ever so prominent. Analiese was sure he always had the big bushy mustache, but now its luscious black color was now a dusty grey. She grinned, “Of course!” she set Benji down and ran up the stairs and hugged Alberto. She then turned to his wife Nina and held her tightly too. Nina was just and older version of her best friend Lucy. Chestnut brown hair, hazel brown eyes, a small face and the brightest smile. Although Nina’s hair was streaked with grey and she had small smile wrinkles near her eyes and mouth.   “Hola mi amor” Nina cooed. Analiese inhaled the sweet smell of cinnamon and mint that always surrounded Nina and smiled. She was where she belonged. When she pulled away, she looked at both Roberto and Nina, “So where’s Mateo, Carmen, and Abuela?” she asked. Nina smiled “Abuela and Carmen are inside watching Rosalina, and Mateo is on his way home from work. He just called. We told him you were coming, he wanted to beat you home but it looks like you go here first.   “Mami!” Lucy called “Send Carmen to help me get Analieses luggage!” Nina nodded and opened the door and shouted “Carmen, cono ayuda a tu hermana a descargar el carro!” she paused and then shouted again “Date prisa jovencita!” Carmen came bolting out of the house and down the stairs, she spotted Analiese. “Ana!” she screamed. “I haven’t seen you in forever! Que sucede contigo? Porque no viniste a verme?” Analiese was expecting them to chew her out, but not this much. She laughed. “Carmen, I’ve been very busy. Can’t you just help your sister and I’ll tell you everyone when we get inside?” Carmen nodded and headed to the trunk of the car. Analiese stepped off the porch and went to the car, she grabbed Tilly’s carrier and went inside, with Roberto and Nina right behind her. Lucy, Carmen, and Benji all came in after them with the luggage. Benji even decided to carry Tilly’s bag.   When everyone was settled, and Analiese showered, she came out in her pajamas and sat at the kitchen table. Lucy, Nina, Roberto, Carmen, Mateo and Abuela were all there. Lu handed her a cup of coffee. She took a sip and relished in the deep, rich flavor. All the while the entire Montoya family was staring at her in anticipation. Analiese looked at them and sighed. “Who has questions?” Like a flash of lighting they all threw their hands up in the air. Eyeing them she nodded at Roberto. He stared at her intently. “Que te ennegrecio el ojo Analiese? Fue ese loco bastardo tuyo? Did he do it??” She nodded and his face turned a deep shade of red.   Mateos eyes widened, “You can’t be serious? He gave you that black eye?!” he slammed his fists on the table, waking the baby Rosalina and causing her to fuss. Carmen quickly ran to the bassinet and picked up Rosalina and began rocking her. Mateo took a deep breath.   “How many times has he done that to you Ana? For how long?” His words trembled. Fighting back tears he grasped her hand and held it. “Ana...Como te has quedado con un homre asi, como pudiste haberlo amado? Tell me how...”  Analiese sighed. She knew this was coming. “Look, it was hard to even think of leaving. I loved that man so much. He became so much more to me than my lover, for the longest time he was my best friend. I didn’t think that he would change so much, and into something I thought I would never have to face again.” Mateo squeezed her hand again and looked at her. “Mija, listen, if he ever lays another hand on you, husband or not, I’m going to Rasgar sus bolas y rellenarlos-”  “Mateo!” Roberto roared. “That’s enough, silencio!” He shook his head. “I’m sorry for my son's ridiculous manners Analiese. I sincerely apologize, it seems he doesn’t have the decency that his Mother and I worked so hard to instill in him.” Alberto smacked Mateo upside the head and cursed a little at him. The only part that Analiese cared to remember was “You should apologize to her now”. She chuckled a little. “Papa Roberto, it’s okay. I understand what he meant, although I don’t condone violence as much as Mateo does in this situation, but I do agree that something should be done about Dusty.”  Abuela finally spoke up, “Analiese, where are you going to go now that you were forced to leave your home?”   Nina butted in and said “She can stay here as long as she likes Mami! She’s always been like one our own. Don’t you think so Roberto?”  Analise shook her head “Although, I would love to stay here with you all, but I don’t want to impose, you have so many mouths to feed. And Carmen has Rosalina, and Benji too. I couldn’t bare it if Dusty came looking for me and he came here and hurt any of you, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself!”  Lucy nodded. “You have a point, but where would you go? Not to your mothers house, right?”  Analiese again shook her head. “No, there's only one other place I can go, that even Dusty would have trouble finding me in”  “And where would that be?”  Analiese smiled. “To my Aunts house, in Colorado.”