Chapter 13

Rosalyn was almost too scared to even breath. For almost a month she had been gone now, and hadn't seen his face once… well, until the other day. "What'd you want?"

He smiled and what seemed like genuine love filed his eyes. It confused her. Had he changed? Did he realize his mistake? No… no Ross… That's what he wants you to think… "Baby, This past month has been the hardest of my life. I… I don't know what was goin' on with me. I never wanted to hurt you."

She tensed, deciding it would be okay to carry on the conversation as long as she was out in broad daylight. "So, why did you?" He rubbed his neck and acted as sorry as he could, and it was dangerously close to convincing her. "Dave… You did hurt me. Bad. I'm still getting over y- it." She didn't want him suspecting her attachment to him despite his sick actions. "I don't know what happened to you, but I can assure you I'll have no part of it again." She turned to unlock her door. She felt his hand on her shoulder. It had a comforting feeling to it, like he was consoling her. Her mind began to push away the foreboding air of the entire thing, and her heart's deep roots began to take hold again. She continued to open the door and, against her better judgment, allowed him to follow her inside.

"Thanks, Rosie." She shuddered. Last time he had called her that he succeeded it with a scarring event. Then again, six more times. "I know you're scared of me right now, and you have every right to be. But I changed, Rosie. I changed. I love you so much… I don't know how I let something so strange happen to me… but it won't happen again, sweetheart. I won't lose you again." She tried to keep in the mindset she knew was the right one, but his lingering power over her had come back… stronger than before.

She turned around to face him. He was dangerously handsome and charming. She let a small smile peek through, and he returned it with a big grin. She looked back from the ground and saw him grinning and leaning against the wall… Suddenly, she thought of Bo. Bo and his goofy grin… how he always leaned on the wall and kissed her forehead… protected her… been there for her… Could she really forget all of that? "David…" He came closer. "David… I need some time…"

"Time? You've had a month, baby! How much more time could you need?" She backed up, not scared… just weary. She felt slightly stronger now… hopefully she wouldn't have to use this newfound self-confidence to effectively.

She backed into the table and knocked her purse on the floor. Her wallet lay open on the floor. He bent down to pick it up and paused before looking up at her. It dawned on her… Bo… my picture of Bo… "Who's this man?" She couldn't speak. "Who's this guy, Rosie? Huh? Who is he?" She grabbed her wallet back and stuffed it in her purse. "Rosie-"

"His name is Bo Duke," she said in a powerful, fed up tone. "His name… is Bo Duke."

"Well whoever he is, he better not be some affair of yours."

"Affair? I think my runnin' from you in the middle of the night told you we were done, loud and clear, you hear?!" She went to the door and opened it. "Get out. Now."

He slammed the door shut. "Oh well I see how it is. You pretend to be all scared and innocent, then you come to some hick town and make love to the first farm boy that feels sorry for you?"

"NO! Bo is the man who put my soul back together. Who pick up my shattered mind and heart and made me feel like it was okay to be me again. He's the man that protected me. That loves me. He loves me, David. He's the man that will never take advantage of me." David was slightly stunned at this show of rebuttal. "And you know what? I love him, too. More than anything in this world. I thought I needed somebody protecting me every day but now I know that I don't! I'm not afraid of you. Get..out..of my..apartment." She opened the door again. He slammed it again. He grabbed her by both wrists and threw her on the ground.

Cooter pulled up outside and looked at Rosalyn's apartment. "Seems like she's okay…" Then he saw the door open, only to be slammed shut. "Guess I spoke too soon…" He grabbed the CB. "Lost sheep, this is Crazy Cooter… get down here to Ross's place as fast as you can… there's something not right and I don't think I can handle this guy alone…"

"Roger, Cooter, caught Daisy on the road comin' home. We're in Dixie and headed down there right now. Over and out." Cooter jumped out of the truck and ran to the front door.

"David… leave me alone! Please… just get away from me… Let me go!" He picked her up and kissed her intensely.

"Come on, Rosie. I love you. Can't you see that? I forgive you for tryin' to distract yourself with that farm boy. But I'm here now, it's all gonna be okay…"

"Not on my clock, it ain't!" A large phone book came raining down on David's head and he fell to the floor. He tried to stand up, but before he could regain control of his body a fist came into sharp contact with his jaw. David was out cold. Cooter tossed the phone book aside, and Rosalyn looked up to thank him. It was then that she realized the fist did not belong to the mechanic, but to the blond head of hair that had stolen her heart over the last month. She looked away, wanting to be anywhere but near him. She knew that if she let him, he'd bring down her defense. She needed to be alone.

"Ross…" Her eyes fluttered to his instinctively. Familiar blue eyes captivated hers, and she couldn't break away from them. She wanted to… she needed to. And so, she decided it was time to. She grabbed her keys and purse and slowly made her way to the door. Bo went to put his arms around her and she moved to the side. She looked up into his scared, puppy dog eyes. I'm sure gonna miss you, Bo Duke. She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek ever so lightly. She put her hand on Luke's shoulder and looked away. And with one final glance back at the three of them, she was gone.