That night the jungle was ripe with energy from the large crowd gathered around the base of the treehouse to welcome Roxton home. The villagers had been happy to hear of his return and stories of the past . . . a rescue he performed here or his bravery there . . . were circulating around the various groups. Roxton himself couldn't recognize half the stories he overheard and laughed at the superhuman feats attributed to him by the master storytellers. He had moved away from the bulk of the people for a few moments of quiet reflection. He saw something move out of the corner of his eye and thought, Oh God, not again! This is what got me into this mess in the first place.
But this time the person continued to move closer to him and he turned to greet whatever trouble had come looking for him. And it was trouble indeed, he thought with an inward smile, looking Marguerite up and down before his eyes rested on her serene face.
"Is everything okay, Roxton? Why did you leave the party? Are you feeling well?"
"Why Marguerite," he said with a slow grin, "I didn't know you cared."
"I don't, " she said quickly, "Veronica sent me." She almost laughed when she saw the smugness drop from his face.
"You've been very solely missed, John," she said in order to change the subject before he could realize that she had truly been worried about him.
"Have you missed me Marguerite?" he asked in a husky voice, his arms aching to pull her close and just enjoy being with her.
"Everyone has missed you," she said to avoid the underlying question. "Since you seem to be okay, I'll be heading back."
"Don't. Please."
Marguerite looked at him like he had just sprouted another head.
"I want to talk to you, sweetheart," he said while trying to send her a reassuring smile.
She sighed loudly and sat down on a nearby tree stump, "About what?"
"What did the witch doctor say?" he asked nonchalantly, as if he was commenting on the weather.
"Who told you about that?" she said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
"Did you really give up all your jewels in the hope of finding me Marguerite?" Roxton asked carefully.
Her eyes glazed over and he could tell she was reliving the nightmare her life had been at the time. Softly she said, "That was most painful time in my life, Roxton. I would have done anything to have you back with me."
She shuddered as if a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She had never told him that she loved him and had regretted it every moment of every day since he had walked into the dark jungle and had never walked back out. She knew that she wouldn't be finished until she told him now. She owed him that much.
A single tear ran down her face. "I loved you with all my heart John. I was just too proud and scared to tell you. I was afraid of myself and I was afraid of losing you . . . and I did."
Roxton ran a hand through his thick hair and said, "You haven't lost me Marguerite. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere ever again. I love you."
He started to move towards her but she held her hand up to stop him. "Let me finish, Roxton."
"I waited for you to come back, I didn't give up hope. I knew you were still alive. But eventually I realized that fate was just playing a trick on me. You were gone and I didn't even get to tell you how I felt. I wanted to die Roxton!"
She took a steadying breath and looked at the pained expression on his face, "I'm so sorry Marguerite."
"I know you are but there's no reason to be. I went to the witch doctor and he told me that you were right here with me. I almost exploded then and there. He took the jewels and walked away. He had been my last hope. From that point on I didn't care what happened to me. Then shortly after that, Byron became trapped here, another victim of the plateau. He reminded me so much of you. There were times when I wondered if you had sent him to me from Heaven to help me get over you . . . " she paused a moment while she studied his expression, "I thought he had Roxton. I knew it would never be like it was with you, but somehow it was enough to get me through. I was actually looking forward to becoming a wife and a mother and doing all the things with him that I was robbed of doing with you."
Roxton closed his eyes against the image of her pregnant with Byron's child. He didn't know how much more of this he could take. What is she trying to get at? Does she love me or is she trying to pull away from me?
"Oh, John, what am I going to do?" she cried as she jumped up to try to get away. But he was quickly by her side and holding her as she silently tried to find a solution.
"Ahem," Byron quietly cleared his throat to alert them to his presence.
Marguerite pulled away from Roxton and looked painfully from one man to the next. She loved them both so much. How ironic, she thought, I go through most of my life never loving or being loved by anyone and now I have exactly what I wished for and I'm miserable!
"I can't do this to either of you," she said softly and then turned and ran away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This party just won't end! Ned looked around for Veronica and still couldn't pick her fair hair out of the crowd. Something is wrong, I just know it!
His feeling of unease had been building over the hours and he wanted Veronica by his side when all hell broke loose. The fact that the guest of honor and Marguerite had disappeared, closely followed by Byron, did not make him feel any better.
He didn't envy either men at the moment. Marguerite was a hard person to get close to under normal circumstances and on this plateau it was close to impossible. But both of them had managed it.
Malone shook his head as he tried to picture coming back after a long absence and finding Veronica in love with another man. He would probably have gone berserk within an hour and he marveled again at Roxton's restraint and strength. Then he tried to imagine how he would feel if he was so close to being bound to Veronica forever and some past love came into the picture and threatened his happiness. He knew Byron was hurting and yet he still managed to behave civil towards Roxton. This whole situation would be a lot easier if one of them was a bad person but both were honorable and highly likable people.
Finally, the crowd shifted and he spot Veronica. He made his way towards her and was annoyed to find her completely surrounded by young, handsome, and extremely interested men.
"Veronica, can I steal you away from your admirers for a minute?"
An amused smile brightened her face at the jealous tone of Ned's voice. "Please excuse me," she said to the group as she made her way to Ned. "Is everything alright?"
"I don't know. Something just doesn't feel right. Have you noticed anything strange tonight?"
A fierce look crossed her face. She hadn't observed anything to be worried about but she had learned to trust Ned's instinct. After Roxton vanished, he had quickly filled the role of protector and he had saved their lives on many occasions. "No, I haven't noticed anything."
"Well, keep your eyes open and stay close to me. I have a very bad feeling."
"Maybe we should gather everyone together then. I noticed Roxton wander off and I haven't seen Marguerite or Byron for the last couple of minutes."
Ned frowned, "They're all together. They'll be safe as long as Marguerite doesn't get fed up with the whole thing and tear into both of them."
"I would rather see her angry and fighting then pale and withdrawn," Veronica said.
"That's only because you wouldn't be the target of her attack!" he laughed.
"Is this a private conversation or can an old friend join in?" Roxton asked as he joined them by the fire.
"Friends are always welcome but I wouldn't classify you as old!" Veronica said with a smile.
"No, that title belongs to me I'm afraid," Challenger said as he made his way slowly towards their semi-circle.
"Roxton, have you seen Marguerite or Byron?" Malone was certain something was going to happen tonight and he wanted everyone close until he figured out just what it was.
Roxton looked uncomfortable and said, "We all had a little talk and she ran off. Byron went after her. I decided three was a crowd and came back to join the party."
Right as he finished speaking, Marguerite ran up and grabbed Malone. "They took him!" She took a deep breath and forced herself to finish, "They snuck up on me and then Byron showed up and fought them off. I tried to help him but he told me to run and get you! We have to help him!!"
"Calm down Marguerite," Roxton said in a soothing voice while he put a reassuring arm around her shoulders, "who took him and what direction did they go?" His eyes already scanning the area around them for signs of more trouble.
"It was Ksad. They were heading back towards their village."
At the blank look on Roxton's face, Malone explained, " He's a particularly nasty chief who seems to think Marguerite stole his tribe's sacred mask from their burial grounds. He has made himself a constant annoyance for a while now."
"Marguerite, did you take his mask?" Roxton asked as he reached for his rifle and saw Malone doing the same.
"I hardly see what that has to do with saving Byron!" she complained.
"It'll do us little good to save your fiancé if Ksad is just going to continue terrorizing the treehouse . . . better to give him what he wants now and be done with it!"
"I didn't steal it! It wasn't his to begin with! I just showed it's rightful owners where to find it."
"So where is it now?" Roxton said in a voice that showed he had little patience for her explanations.
"I don't know," her frustration apparent in every word, "It doesn't matter. All that matters is that we save Byron."
"Fine, I'll save your love," he said in a harsh voice, "but then you're going to take me to mask and we're going to return it!!"
"Okay," breathless with gratitude she added, "But we have to hurry!"
But this time the person continued to move closer to him and he turned to greet whatever trouble had come looking for him. And it was trouble indeed, he thought with an inward smile, looking Marguerite up and down before his eyes rested on her serene face.
"Is everything okay, Roxton? Why did you leave the party? Are you feeling well?"
"Why Marguerite," he said with a slow grin, "I didn't know you cared."
"I don't, " she said quickly, "Veronica sent me." She almost laughed when she saw the smugness drop from his face.
"You've been very solely missed, John," she said in order to change the subject before he could realize that she had truly been worried about him.
"Have you missed me Marguerite?" he asked in a husky voice, his arms aching to pull her close and just enjoy being with her.
"Everyone has missed you," she said to avoid the underlying question. "Since you seem to be okay, I'll be heading back."
"Don't. Please."
Marguerite looked at him like he had just sprouted another head.
"I want to talk to you, sweetheart," he said while trying to send her a reassuring smile.
She sighed loudly and sat down on a nearby tree stump, "About what?"
"What did the witch doctor say?" he asked nonchalantly, as if he was commenting on the weather.
"Who told you about that?" she said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
"Did you really give up all your jewels in the hope of finding me Marguerite?" Roxton asked carefully.
Her eyes glazed over and he could tell she was reliving the nightmare her life had been at the time. Softly she said, "That was most painful time in my life, Roxton. I would have done anything to have you back with me."
She shuddered as if a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She had never told him that she loved him and had regretted it every moment of every day since he had walked into the dark jungle and had never walked back out. She knew that she wouldn't be finished until she told him now. She owed him that much.
A single tear ran down her face. "I loved you with all my heart John. I was just too proud and scared to tell you. I was afraid of myself and I was afraid of losing you . . . and I did."
Roxton ran a hand through his thick hair and said, "You haven't lost me Marguerite. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere ever again. I love you."
He started to move towards her but she held her hand up to stop him. "Let me finish, Roxton."
"I waited for you to come back, I didn't give up hope. I knew you were still alive. But eventually I realized that fate was just playing a trick on me. You were gone and I didn't even get to tell you how I felt. I wanted to die Roxton!"
She took a steadying breath and looked at the pained expression on his face, "I'm so sorry Marguerite."
"I know you are but there's no reason to be. I went to the witch doctor and he told me that you were right here with me. I almost exploded then and there. He took the jewels and walked away. He had been my last hope. From that point on I didn't care what happened to me. Then shortly after that, Byron became trapped here, another victim of the plateau. He reminded me so much of you. There were times when I wondered if you had sent him to me from Heaven to help me get over you . . . " she paused a moment while she studied his expression, "I thought he had Roxton. I knew it would never be like it was with you, but somehow it was enough to get me through. I was actually looking forward to becoming a wife and a mother and doing all the things with him that I was robbed of doing with you."
Roxton closed his eyes against the image of her pregnant with Byron's child. He didn't know how much more of this he could take. What is she trying to get at? Does she love me or is she trying to pull away from me?
"Oh, John, what am I going to do?" she cried as she jumped up to try to get away. But he was quickly by her side and holding her as she silently tried to find a solution.
"Ahem," Byron quietly cleared his throat to alert them to his presence.
Marguerite pulled away from Roxton and looked painfully from one man to the next. She loved them both so much. How ironic, she thought, I go through most of my life never loving or being loved by anyone and now I have exactly what I wished for and I'm miserable!
"I can't do this to either of you," she said softly and then turned and ran away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This party just won't end! Ned looked around for Veronica and still couldn't pick her fair hair out of the crowd. Something is wrong, I just know it!
His feeling of unease had been building over the hours and he wanted Veronica by his side when all hell broke loose. The fact that the guest of honor and Marguerite had disappeared, closely followed by Byron, did not make him feel any better.
He didn't envy either men at the moment. Marguerite was a hard person to get close to under normal circumstances and on this plateau it was close to impossible. But both of them had managed it.
Malone shook his head as he tried to picture coming back after a long absence and finding Veronica in love with another man. He would probably have gone berserk within an hour and he marveled again at Roxton's restraint and strength. Then he tried to imagine how he would feel if he was so close to being bound to Veronica forever and some past love came into the picture and threatened his happiness. He knew Byron was hurting and yet he still managed to behave civil towards Roxton. This whole situation would be a lot easier if one of them was a bad person but both were honorable and highly likable people.
Finally, the crowd shifted and he spot Veronica. He made his way towards her and was annoyed to find her completely surrounded by young, handsome, and extremely interested men.
"Veronica, can I steal you away from your admirers for a minute?"
An amused smile brightened her face at the jealous tone of Ned's voice. "Please excuse me," she said to the group as she made her way to Ned. "Is everything alright?"
"I don't know. Something just doesn't feel right. Have you noticed anything strange tonight?"
A fierce look crossed her face. She hadn't observed anything to be worried about but she had learned to trust Ned's instinct. After Roxton vanished, he had quickly filled the role of protector and he had saved their lives on many occasions. "No, I haven't noticed anything."
"Well, keep your eyes open and stay close to me. I have a very bad feeling."
"Maybe we should gather everyone together then. I noticed Roxton wander off and I haven't seen Marguerite or Byron for the last couple of minutes."
Ned frowned, "They're all together. They'll be safe as long as Marguerite doesn't get fed up with the whole thing and tear into both of them."
"I would rather see her angry and fighting then pale and withdrawn," Veronica said.
"That's only because you wouldn't be the target of her attack!" he laughed.
"Is this a private conversation or can an old friend join in?" Roxton asked as he joined them by the fire.
"Friends are always welcome but I wouldn't classify you as old!" Veronica said with a smile.
"No, that title belongs to me I'm afraid," Challenger said as he made his way slowly towards their semi-circle.
"Roxton, have you seen Marguerite or Byron?" Malone was certain something was going to happen tonight and he wanted everyone close until he figured out just what it was.
Roxton looked uncomfortable and said, "We all had a little talk and she ran off. Byron went after her. I decided three was a crowd and came back to join the party."
Right as he finished speaking, Marguerite ran up and grabbed Malone. "They took him!" She took a deep breath and forced herself to finish, "They snuck up on me and then Byron showed up and fought them off. I tried to help him but he told me to run and get you! We have to help him!!"
"Calm down Marguerite," Roxton said in a soothing voice while he put a reassuring arm around her shoulders, "who took him and what direction did they go?" His eyes already scanning the area around them for signs of more trouble.
"It was Ksad. They were heading back towards their village."
At the blank look on Roxton's face, Malone explained, " He's a particularly nasty chief who seems to think Marguerite stole his tribe's sacred mask from their burial grounds. He has made himself a constant annoyance for a while now."
"Marguerite, did you take his mask?" Roxton asked as he reached for his rifle and saw Malone doing the same.
"I hardly see what that has to do with saving Byron!" she complained.
"It'll do us little good to save your fiancé if Ksad is just going to continue terrorizing the treehouse . . . better to give him what he wants now and be done with it!"
"I didn't steal it! It wasn't his to begin with! I just showed it's rightful owners where to find it."
"So where is it now?" Roxton said in a voice that showed he had little patience for her explanations.
"I don't know," her frustration apparent in every word, "It doesn't matter. All that matters is that we save Byron."
"Fine, I'll save your love," he said in a harsh voice, "but then you're going to take me to mask and we're going to return it!!"
"Okay," breathless with gratitude she added, "But we have to hurry!"