Chapter Two
Days passed by without much activity, Richard was quite tight lipped about himself and instead hung around the treehouse whilst the others were outside, he appeared to go out of his way to stay away from the others. They put it down to him merely being uncomfortable about being in a new place with new people. The only person he did speak to was Marguerite, and occasionally Malone. It was on the fourth day when Roxton, Challanger, Malone, Veronica and Richard were sitting at the table eating breakfast, at first in absolute silence that Richard actually started a conversation. Perhaps he decided that ignoring his new housemates was not going to get him anywhere, that they would only see him in a bad light.
"So who was that curious fellow who brought me here?"
Challanger looked up from his food to answer. "That would be Tribune."
Appearing genuinely interested Richard kept the conversation going with more questions. "And he's a dinosaur? I must say he isn't quite what I expected."
Out of all of them Challenger was the one, beside Marguerite, who seemed to really want to give Richard a chance. He knew treating him as an enemy or outcast wasn't exactly the way to go. "Tribune is more Lizard-man than dinosaur --."
"What do you mean he wasn't what you expected?" Roxton butted in.
Richard turned slightly red. "Excuse me?" he squirmed under the hunter's intense scrutiny, knowing the other man was trying to find fault with him.
"You said he wasn't what you expected...for a dinosaur. How would you know what to expect when you didn't know where you were?"
Veronica smirked. "That's a good question Roxton."
"Well...I guessed where I was after I heard Challenger's speech I...Shouldn't Marguerite be awake by now? It's rather late in the day to be sleeping" Richard clumsily changed the subject. He was rethinking his decision to strike up an early morning conversation.
"I'll go get her" Veronica offered and made to stand up.
"No need" a tired voice answered through a stifled yawn. Marguerite slowly walked towards them looking tired she sat down with the rest of the company.
"Coffee?" Roxton reached across the table for the pot and began pouring her a cup. He didn't need an answer to know what she wanted.
"Give me two –"she retorted through another yawn.
Richard pushed the pot away. "You don't drink that dreadful stuff, do you?"
"Try it, Malone got me hooked on the stuff --."
"I don't need to try it my dear, I must say you've picked up some dreadful habits...what would you do without me to keep you grounded" he laughed. The sound grated on everybody's nerves and they did nothing to conceal their distaste. He shook his head and tutted, the explorers looked to Marguerite expecting her to say something
"She's done fine so far" Roxton replied defensively.
"With your help no doubt" Richard's own jealousy rose to the surface.
"Stop it! Both of you...Try and get along" the two of them had been driving Marguerite up the wall. Arguing over her was rather flattering at first, now it just plain got on her nerves and she wasn't afraid to show it.
"Darling do calm down." Her husband instructed in the manner of an adult talking to a child.
"I will not calm down!" Both men watched Marguerite as she stood up, intending on getting as far away from them as possible.
"Where are you going?" Malone asked.
She ignored him until she got into the elevator. "I have no idea -- away from those two" she indicated Roxton and Richard. The elevator started to descend.
Malone shouted after her. Going outside just when the various carnivorous inhabitants were hunting for breakfast was not a good idea, especially as she was unarmed. "Marguerite wait!" He ran into her room and returned with her holster belt and gun. A bashful Roxton followed him to take it and go after Marguerite.
"I'll give it to her" Veronica interrupted sternly. "You two are the last people she wants to see right now."
Knowing Veronica was right but not liking it in the least, Roxton nodded. "Take a rifle."
Richard watched on silent anger.
Veronica ran after Marguerite as the older woman traipsed through the jungle. "Marguerite! Marguerite wait! Stop!" She grabbed Marguerite by the arm and stopped her
"I'm not going back until they've at least started to be civilized to each other!" Marguerite spoke before Veronica could get a word in.
"I know...Malone and I have been waiting for something like this to happen" she admitted.
Marguerite took hold of the rifle that Veronica handed her. "What you couldn't have warned me?"
"Where are you going?" Veronica asked curiously as Marguerite marched onwards.
"As far away from him as possible" she was only half serious.
"Him? Roxton or Richard?"
Marguerite paused. "...Richard, I'd forgot what it was like to live with him, he can be so infuriating! Expecting me to do as he says..."
"I can't imagine you being told what to do..."
Marguerite stopped and started to walk the other way -- back towards the treehouse.
Marguerite strode back into the living area with Veronica behind her She came to a stop, arms folded, in front of Richard.
"What did you say to her?" Malone whispered to Veronica.
"Nothing she just came back" she shrugged.
"Could you leave Richard and I alone please," Marguerite asked of them politely. Curiosity overcoming good sense they stayed rooted to the spot. "Now!"
"Oh yeah I got something to do anyway" Malone quickly excused himself.
He walked downstairs. "I'll help you" Veronica added and followed him.
Neither Marguerite Nor Richard noticed Roxton by the balcony; too intent were they on confronting one another and finally having the chance to talk in private. "You made a fool out of me" Richard accused.
"You did that yourself..." she scoffed. "I was so upset about losing you I'd forgot how annoying you were!
"Don't try and get the upper hand over me it won't work, you need me my dear," he warned icily.
"I have all I need right here...the only reason you married me is so I could be your own personal trophy the thing you order around."
He sighed. "I'm so very sorry darling -- I just don't like being humiliated, its my flaw...I love you, you know that...I don't know what came over me" he looked so sorry. Marguerite shifted back as he lifted her chin up. "You forgive me don't you?"
"You don't own me any more Richard."
He gazed at her, smirking before he walked away. Marguerite glanced down at the gun that she still held. "Don't do anything you'll regret" Roxton came towards her, away from the balcony where he had been standing, listening, feeling guilty over prying but glad that he had.
"What do you mean by that?" Marguerite laughed it off and threw the gun on the chair.
"If I were you I'd probably think of doing the same thing" he admitted.
"How long have you been listening?" Marguerite wanted to know; she was annoyed and showed it plainly. She wasn't falling for Roxton's cheeky little innocent act.
"Long enough" he replied softly.
"Whatever you heard; forget it" she headed in the opposite direction.
Roxton wasn't going to drop it that easily. He was fighting for her; he couldn't forget that. "I can't do that Marguerite." She backed away from him, tired then."I'm not Richard."
"That's what Richard said about my first husband and look at him now."