A Mess on the Mesa
Chapter Four: Little Purple Riding Hood
Day four, Silver Spruce Ranch, early morning
Not wanting to disturb Shaggy, Daphne gently shook Velma's shoulder.
They had played cards for a while, the girls losing the third game, and the challenge, by a mere two points. The guys had zipped the sleeping bags together positioning their bag on the right of the fireplace, Shaggy and Velma taking the left side. Fred had placed a log on the fire, in prelude for bed. Nervous laughter erupted as they looked at each other, not sure how to handle changing into night clothes.
With no response from Velma, Daphne shook her shoulder harder, "Velma."
They had decided to take turns (guys first) in a bedroom for privacy to change. Embarrassed snickers, giggles and wolf whistles erupted as the girls returned to join their boyfriends in the bags; this was the first time the four had slept together in the same room.
"What? Is it time to get up already?" A sleepy Velma, minus glasses, rolled, looking up at her friend.
"Fred's gone!"
"What do you mean, gone?"
"Gone, as in not here. I'm going to dress and go look for him."
"Do you want Shaggy to go with you?" Velma reached for her glasses, placing them on her nose.
"No, Fred may want to talk but I'll take Scooby. Fred is going to be cold when we get back. Could you and Shaggy have a fire going and some coffee?"
"Go! We'll take care of things here. We'll see what we can rustle up for breakfast."
The storm had moved in during the night, dousing everything in sight. Dressed for the wet raw weather, Daphne scratched Scooby behind the ears, "Find Freddie, Scooby."
Little Purple Riding Hood followed the trail Scooby led her on. It was canopied by large Oaks, Spruce and Evergreens; as is common in the mountains the storm had left as quickly as it had arrived, leaving dripping leaves and vegetation to soak anyone or anything that came along. The path randomly wandered through the woods making Daphne wonder why Fred had left the dry, warm sleeping bag they had shared.
She caught up with Scooby at the edge of Rock River near where John had led them. Scooby sat watching the far side of the river. He turned his head to look at the red head; satisfied, he started up river toward where John had said there was a waterfall. Daphne took several moments to let the scene of reflected trees and mountains speak to her soul. The sun had come out, making the water shimmer.
She finally left the mirrored image, following her canine friend.
She came upon him suddenly, laughing at the man and dog playing in the river with the waterfall as a backdrop. "Fred! What are you thinking? You're soaked!"
The man bowed, his hair plastered to his head, as a little boy caught playing in a mud puddle wearing his best clothes. The blond man looked up at her voice, mesmerized. "Daphne! Scooby, I think we've been caught."
Daphne pushed the hood back, shaking her thick hair as the man and dog sloshed their way out of the water. Scooby shook himself from tip of nose to tip of tail, sending water everywhere. Fred's shoes made squishing noises as he selected a spot to sit. Daphne sat beside him, "Why, Fred? What made you come out here so early?"
A pause met her question, then, "You looked so beautiful, sleeping so peacefully, I hated to wake you. I just needed some time alone, to think about what may be causing the dreams."
"And did you?" She didn't want to break his train of thought now that he was talking but she couldn't help urging him on.
"I was twelve years old, it was summer to be exact. I came home after playing...Mom wasn't there. Dad only said she'd left. I felt like I'd been tackled by the biggest linebacker ever."
"I remember that time," Daphne whispered, placing an arm on his shoulder. "I was only eleven but I remember."
He broke then, quiet sobs at first. Daphne pulled him to her, holding him as he cried. "I asked dad why, but no reason was ever given why she left."
"I remember she came back. Freddie, she did come back." She kept holding him, letting him tell his story between sobs.
"Yes, she came back," Fred gently pushed himself away, out of her arms, "Sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"It's alright to cry, Freddie. Real men do cry once in a while. I thought I'd made a mistake bringing you here to cowboy country where men are taught not to cry. Such a stupid idea."
"Mom did come back," he repeated, "After a whole year! She and dad have never said why she left, where she went, nothing! I asked several times with no answers, I finally stopped asking."
"And buried your feelings so deep you forgot about it, till they've surfaced as nightmares. Freddie, I'd like you to let me help you work through these feelings. I hear a lot of anger and resentment in your voice. Maybe together we can do something now."
"Together," He kissed her lips, gently, "Maybe we should be getting back." His eyes sparkled in an invitation, "the scenic route?"
"I know what 'scenic route' you want to take," she returned his kisses, "but you are not getting me to go skinny dipping in that cold water! We do need to take our time, Shaggy and Velma might be busy."
-Xxxxxx
When Daphne closed the door, Velma turned to her shaggy haired lover kissing him awake. "Fred's gone. Daph has gone to look for him. She wants a fire and coffee when they get back."
He rubbed his eyes, trying to become awake enough to understand what she was saying. "No problem, the fire just needs a little kindling and a log. Shame we have to waste all this time alone." He nuzzled her neck evoking a low moan.
Later, Shaggy had a warm fire going and Velma was putting on the coffee. "I'm going to bring in a few more logs. That coffee sure smells good already." Shag stood in front of her, tilting her head up with a finger on her chin. "Don't worry, Vel. They'll be okay."
"Did Fred say anything to you about going out so early?"
"Not a word, Vel. I'm sure he had a good reason, whatever it was." Their lips lightly touched.
"Go get those extra logs, Shaggy, or you'll have another fire to tend to...for the second time this morning."
-Xxxxxx
"Vel, coffee ready?" Shag asked, dropping several logs in the woodbasket.
"Ready. Why the grin and what are you holding behind your back?" She placed two cups on the table.
"I owe you an apology." Shag sat opposite her, taking a sip of coffee. "I thought you were reaching, saying the missing book and playing card were related. You were right." He placed a worn copy of "Riders of the Purple Sage" in front of her; sticking out as a bookmark was the missing Joker.
"That's okay, Shag. I was beginning to think I was wrong." She took the book opening it to the Joker bookmark. "Page 302, last chapter. Shaggy, this is a clue alright but I'm worried more than ever."
"Why, Vel?"
"Fred, Daphne and Scooby are still out there. Alone."