Hi! This will be the second fan fic I've posted, started another one about a week ago. Don't think work on any others for a while, considering I'm going to be starting school again and will actually be busy. Anyway, hope you enjoy this story. I couldn't think of a better title :( I hate titling things...
Read and review please, it'd be much appreciated
Enjoy!
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"No! I refuse to, Andy; you can not force me to marry that man. That man is an arrogant insensitive pompous brute. He has no respect for women, and I wish not to marry Paul Slater." I stared icily at my step-father, who had just come from the Slater ranch, to apparently arrange a marriage. Anyone but that Slater boy, I simply hate him.
"Susannah, sweetie don't be ridiculous. His family is one of the most respected in all of Carmel, and the wealthiest. Imagine what marriage between our families could bring to our small mediocrity of a farm."
"I don't care. I'd much rather marry the least wealthy man if it meant that I love him, and I will never be able to love Paul Slater. You can't make me marry him; you are not my real father." A tension erupted in the room. I had not meant to say that, I love Andy, and he's been a great father to me since my own passed away all those years ago.
My mother who had been in the room while Andy attempted explain the agreement inhaled sharply, glaring in my direction, "Susannah!" I know she loved Andy; the two off them cared deeply for each other. Since my father's death, my mother had been a walking corpse, then she met Andy and they decided to marry. She's never been sad a day since. That's what I want, to love the man I marry despite how rich or poor he is.
I looked at my mother, hurt by the expression ridden on her delicate face, "Mother, I'm so sorry. I-I… I didn't mean it." Not knowing what to do, I ran out our front door, neglecting to hear my mother's and step-father's cries for me to return at once.
I am normally not one to cry, so I was even more so unsettled to find warm saline tears streaking my face. But I know what I had said had been hurtful, to both my mother and step-father. They didn't deserve me as a daughter, by blood or marriage. I will never measure up to their expectations of the 19th century lady. I just can not stand what women are expected to do in this day and age.
It might sound bizarre for me to say this, but I cam communicate with deceased spirits. Such as my father, who normally shows up whenever I least expect it. Right now I wish he'd come to me, but I probably won't see him for a while, he likes to make himself scarce. So, not being able to see my father, I went to the one place I knew I could still feel him no matter what. I went to the cove. Our cove. His cove. He used to bring me here quite a lot back when he was alive, before he'd gotten sick and bedridden. I was quite little then, but I've always remembered the location, even after 12 years of him not bringing me here.
My horse, Shadow, galloped fiercely against the dirt covered road, plummeting through the valleys of sunny Carmel, California. Minutes later, we'd arrived at the beach. I directed Shadow towards the rocks at the end, where I'd be able to reach my cove.
When I arrived, I was quite shocked to see another horse waiting by the rocky area. A beautiful stallion, honey colored, unlike my dark black horse. The other horse was clearly well bred, belonging to a member of the upper class in Carmel, no doubt. Leaving Shadow behind by the other mare, I started climbing up the rocks into my cove. Hopefully, the owner of the other horse wouldn't be nearby, I like to think that I'm the only one who knows where this is cove is located at. That it is my special place where I can come to think.
Imagine my disappointment when I saw a young man, not much older than myself, sitting against the ledge of the rocks on my cove. The stranger, deep in thought, did not hear my coming; he was solely staring out at the ocean ahead of him. I took this moment to take in his appearance. To say he was good-looking would be the ultimate understatement, he was gorgeous, beautiful. Much better than that hideous Paul Slater for sure. Paul is a good looking man, that I will not deny, but his personality is truly an ugly one.
Sitting next to him, he finally snapped out of his reverie, quite shocked to see me by him, as much as I had been when I'd found his horse out by the rocks. The stranger took in my appearance much like I had done moments earlier, and finally spoke, "Good evening, fair lady. May I ask what it is you are doing here?" His eyes reminded me much of someone I'd known long ago, but no names came to mind at all.
I smiled my toothiest smile at him, surreptitiously happy that he'd acknowledged me. "Good evening. I came to clear my mind. I had an argument with my step-father, so I came here to clear my thoughts," should I tell him this used to be my father's spot? "My father used to bring me here when I was little, so I've always loved it here." Why had I just told him? This man was a stranger to me, someone I'll probably never see again.
He nodded, taking in this information. "It is beautiful here, isn't it?" Only, when he said this, he wasn't looking out at what lie ahead, but deep into my eyes. My cheeks flushed, damn things, no man had ever said such thing about me. Or maybe I was just imaging the whole ordeal. "I've come here for as long as I can remember. Since I was just a lad of four years of age. So, what is it that you come to clear your mind of, miss? Maybe a confessing your problems to a mere stranger will help you feel more at ease?"
I don't know why it is that I went on to explain Andy setting my marriage to Paul Slater, even though I didn't use his name, to keep our meeting more anonymous, but his eyes were so enticing that I found myself purging myself of these thoughts with no trouble at all. I told him all about the argument that had followed how I had said Andy was not my real father and how hurt both he and my mother had looked at this confession.
The stranger's dark pool of eyes never left mine, and he nodded knowingly, as if he knew what I was going through. I still hadn't learnt his name, but he was just so beautiful. With dark hair to match perfect dark eyes, he is by far the most handsome man I have ever set my eyes on. He apparently seemed to be of Mexican decent as well, if his tanned skin and Spanish accent were any indication.
"I understand. My father is currently setting me up to marry my disdainful cousin, Maria. That lady is deeply arrogant and holds herself higher than others," I snorted, simply to express my feelings for how she and Paul are made for each other. This caused a look of confusion to spread across his face, and above his right brow, I noticed a white streak, a scar that was left there. Then recognition dawned on him and he chuckled a deep chuckle.
"Looks like we're both in similar situations, miss." He smiled at me.
"It would seem so." I found myself scooting in closer to him as a chilled breeze blew pass. The sun was starting to set now, indicating that I had clearly been here for well over an hour talking to this stranger, a beautiful stranger nonetheless.
"It's getting late, wouldn't you say so? I must be returning to my family, surely they will begin to worry soon." I nodded in agreement.
"Yes, and so will mine. I must too make amends with my step-father."
He stood up and offered his rough calloused hand to help me stand up which I accepted. He led the way from the cove, helping me in the steep parts. Each time I accepted his help, though I've been here times a thousand before and very well could climb down on my own. It goes with the whole ladies are fragile as porcelain image we have in this era. I hope one day things will be better for us women.
"Would you like me to accompany you to your home?"
"No, thank you. Your offer is kindly appreciated, but I can handle it myself." He looked at me the slightest bit disbelievingly but didn't argue against it. "Thank you for your kind company today."
He nodded, "And to you the same, querida." He took my hand in his and softly kissed my cheek before mounting his horse, the honey colored mare from earlier before.
"Remember; follow your heart's desire, querida, if you do not wish to marry that man, explain it to your stepfather as you have done so to me." What was with this whole querida business about? The way he laced the word with his smooth silky voice? And worst of all, we were departing ways and I still did not know his name. With that, he rode off, his horse leaving imprints in the soft sand, leaving me too watch behind deeply mesmerized by him. This'll probably be the last time I see him ever. There was something so familiar to him, as if I'd known him before, but I couldn't quite place how or where I might know him from.
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My mother, step-father, and father-uh oh- were all waiting for my return, the first two completely oblivious of my father's presence.
"Susannah, where have you been?" Both my fathers asked the moment they laid eyes on me. Taking a step closer, I found myself facing Andy, ignoring my father to deal with later, seeing as I couldn't very well initiate conversation with him right now.
Ignoring their question, I sincerely looked Andy in the eyes, "Andy, foremost, I would like to extend my apologies to you. I did not mean what I said to you about not being my father, you're a great father indeed," I flinched, not wanting to let my gaze land on my actual father only a few feet away. "I was upset, is all."
He nodded appreciatively, "Your apology is accepted, Susannah. Now, go off to bed, we will discuss this marriage business further tomorrow." I nodded, great: I'm still not saved from marrying Satan's spawn. I shudder to think if he really is Satan's spawn. I noticed my father vacated the room I was currently in; he must've left clearly upset with me.
I'm a father upsetter. That's what they should call me: Susannah the-father-upsetter Marie Simon-Ackerman.
Reaching my room in the upper part of the house, I found my room illuminated by a glow of the spirited variety. My father is waiting for me in my room. Perfect.
"Susannah, who was that man you were with? I came to see you up by the cove, after sensing your distress, but I found you with that man instead." He'd been snooping on me? How dare he!
"Father, I was upset, and that man had already been there when I arrived. We talked some, about our fixed marriages. That's all. I didn't even get his name; I will clearly never see him again."
"Very well then, Susannah." He took me in his arms, embracing me, "I love you, you know that, right? Never forget me; I will always be your father." With that, he dematerialized. I love you too, father. Who knows how long it'll be before he shows up again.
I changed into my night gown; I settled in to bed, my dreams revolving around the handsome stranger.
Well, that's chapter one. I am currently working on chapter two, which will be a little longer than this one.
Thanks
