TRAPPED IN DARKNESS

Chapter 3: Living Room Conversation

Amanda had put her wet clothes in the dryer and changed into some dry pajamas. She was not sitting by the fire place warming up, wrapped in a blanket that Undertaker had given her. Her stomach had warmed up too with chicken noodle soup and warm apple cider.

"I really love your home." Amanda said politely, looking around the room. "It's a nice place."

"Thank you," he said with a smile before taking a sip from his own mug of apple cider.

"How long have you lived here?"

"A couple of years. I lived in the city for as long as I could remember. I thought it would be a good change of scenery. So peaceful and quiet out here. I like it."

"I bet you do. I can tell." They shared a smile with each other. Amanda took another sip of cider before speaking again. " I truly appreciate what you're doing for me. You don't have to do this."

"I wanted to help. I couldn't see a young woman walking out in the rain much longer. If there's one thing I learned from my mom and dad, it's to help someone when they need it."

"I must say, your parents raised you right." She gave him a slight grin as she adjusted herself more comfortably on the sofa. "I've been here for a little over half an hour and I don't even know your name."

Undertaker sat more upright in his recliner and sat his mug aside on a table before letting out a sigh. "Calaway. Mark Calaway."

"Mr. Calaway..." she began to say.

"Just Mark please."

"Mark...nice name.

"Thank you. It means 'God of War' or 'Warlike'."

"Warlike? You don't seem like the type of guy who wants to start a war."

Mark laughed out loud. "Maybe not. So what does the name 'Amanda' mean?"

"It means 'Worthy of Being loved' or 'Lovable'."

"I like 'lovable' more than 'warlike' myself." They both laughed out loud. "So how about you? How did you wind up in this situation, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I guess I too need a change in scenery."

Amanda told Mark that she had jsut finished nursing school and was going on a mini vacation to celebrate. She wanted to do a little sight seeing. She didn't really have plans on where she was going to go. Unfortunately, she had car trouble and wound up here at Mark's ranch. When she was finished telling about her trip, she arose from her sofa to gather up her dishes to take them to the kitchen.

Mark arose from his seat in his chair. "Here let me take those for you."

"Oh, no please. It's not..."

"No no no. I insist." She looked at him, tray of dishes in her hands, then, gently passed the tray onto him. "Now you just sit back down on the sofa, and get comfortable. I'm sure you're exhausted."

Mark walked to the kitchen and put the dishes and the tray into the dishwasher. After turning on the dishwasher, he walked back into the room to see Amanda with her eyes closed. Amanda had drifted off to a peaceful sleep on his couch. He shook his head and a soft chuckle left his lips. He couldn't disturb her. She looked so peacful. He carefully removed the shoes from her feet and sat them next to the fireplace. He lifted her feet onto the couch and covered her feet with the blanket she had. He took one last look at her before walking up to his room to catch a little shut-eye of his own.