Part 6
Disclaimer: see part 1
Ric turned and smiled at Elizabeth and walked back to where she was sitting. He could see her shivering and knew she ha to be cold because she had been out here for a while. He stopped put down the blankets and thermos. He took off his scarf and slowly place it on Elizabeth she looked up a little startled. "It's looks better on you than it dose me," Ric said smiling. In reality he wanted to cry because it was breaking his heart to see her in so much pain. He took a blanket opened it and then carefully lays it over Elizabeth shoulders wrapping it around the front of her. He followed it with a second blanket. He was saddened by the fact that even though he was careful not to touch her she still flinched.
"Maybe I will sit here if you don't mind?" asked Ric as he continued to smile He was still standing waiting for her too decided.
"Ok", Elizabeth said in a very small voice almost a whisper. She looked up at Ric and gave him a little smile that never reached her eyes they were still so full of pain.
Ric sat on the floor of the boxcar about a foot in front of her not touching her but close enough to talk quietly. He took the thermos and poured 2 of the coffee. He carefully sat one in font of Elizabeth, moving slowly to keep things calm. "Light and sweet, Courtney said that's the way you like your coffee," Ric said "Go ahead. drink some it will help you warm up."
Elizabeth reached out to try to pick up the coffee. "Ouch!" she said as she stopped and reaches for the coffee with her other hand. "Thank you, I am a little cold she said as she shivered"
Ric could see that her wrist was already swollen and bruised and the thought of how Lucky had treated her maid him very angry but he hid it well. He took the time to take a sip of his coffee to compose himself and then he said," We might want to get your wrist looked at when you are ready to. I think it might be sprained."
'Ok. But not now please " Elizabeth said. She looked up to try to look Ric in the face but couldn't so she look into her coffee cup. "I am so embarrassed she said."
"Elizabeth," said Ric quietly. She looked up into his eyes and saw nothing but cares and concerns then she looked away.
He had seen the fear and uncertainty in her eyes just before she looked away. "Elizabeth would you tell me what happened? He asked. She still wouldn't face him. "Elizabeth Please Looked at me?" he asked as he reached out and move the stray strands of hair that ha fallen in her face. When she looked at him he said "Thank You!"
Ric took a deep breath and decided the easiest way to say what he wanted was to simply say it. He looked into her eyes and in a clam and gentle voice said, " If you want to talk to me I am here and want to listen. If you choose not to and you just want to sit here then we will sit. But you need to understand what ever you tell me it will not change what I think about you or how I am beginning to feel for you. Your past is yours its only important to me now because you are so hurt by it. Please tell me! Let me try to help." He wanted so badly to just pull her to him and wraps his arms around her it was so hard to keep his hands to himself but he didn't want to scare her.
Elizabeth had looked into his eyes the whole time he was speaking to her. She could see the caring and the pain and she new he was telling her the truth. He battled with herself for a few minutes but she new that she was safe telling Ric.
"Ok.I'll tell you," Elizabeth said taking a sip from the coffee and a deep breath.
"It was Valentine Day," Elizabeth said very quietly almost a whisper. "I was 16 innocent but not so sweet. I was actually hell on wheels when I first came to town," She said looking up at Ric with a small smile. He smiled back and shook his head yes letting her know it was all right to continue. On the surface he was fine but on the inside it was hell listening to her.
"I drank, smoked and cussed but with my perfect sister Sara and my wonderful older brother I had to do something to be different. I really wasn't a bad girl I just acted like it in fact it really was an act I was still a virgin. I wanted to count to be noticed to be more than just my parents extra kid, an after thought." She was looking down into her coffee cup and was quiet for a couple of minutes.
"Anyway!" she said Looking up at Ric again. "I had come to town and I had a HUGE crush on Lucky who of course had a crush on my perfect sister Sara. Lucky and I were supposed to go to the Valentines Day dance at the school. I know he only thought of us as friends but it was really important to me. I was so excited.. But at the Last minute Lucky ended up going with Sara. She stopped taking the last sip of her coffee.
Ric took the cup out of her hand and refilled it as she started speaking again.
I was so embarrassed.to embarrassed to go to the dance alone or to admit to my grandmother that Lucky ended up taking Sara . So I put on the red dress I had gotten for the dance and pretended I was going to the dance anyway. I actually went to the movies." She looked back up at Ric and smiled at him, "You Know what's funny?" she asked
"No. what?" Ric answered he reached out and touched her arm looking her in the eyes.
"I can never remember what movie it was.. As hard as I try I can never remember. I can remember everything else it's always there it never goes away but I can't remember then name of the movie," Elizabeth said. Ric could here the panic slipping back into her voice as she was speaking.
"Elizabeth you don't have to tell me anymore if you are not ready to." Ric said growing more concerned.
"I need to tell you.. I just hurts she said hugging herself.
" Come here," Ric said holding his arms open to her. "I wish I could make the pain go away, I can't but I can listen, I can also help you warm up please you must be freezing."
Elizabeth sat quietly for a couple of minutes and then she simply scouted over to Ric and ended up sitting in his lap wrapped in his arms. She knew she was shivering but she didn't know if it was fear or the cold. All she new was she desperately needed to feel safe and she knew she was safe with Ric.
Ric felt he just how small and cold she was. As she shook and shivered as he pulled her close he was amazed and honored that she trusted him enough to help her. He pushed her hair out of her face and pushed her chin up so he could look her in the eye. "Thank you!", he said with a smile.
She smile back, took a deep breath and then continued,"I was crossing through the park like I always did only this time it was different. I got tot the middle of the park and as I was walking by a clump of bushes a man reached out and grabbed me. He hit me and made me dizzy. He pulled me into the Bushes and pushed me on to the ground. His weight had me pinned down and he put his hand over my mouth so I couldn't scream.
She stopped talking and got that far away look in her eyes. "Anyway.He raped me and Left me laying in the bushes," she said that still quiet voice. " Lucky was walking through the park later that evening and found me and called Bobbie to help me. A few weeks later I reported what happened to Taggert But there was no evidence anymore. Much later I found out the man was Tom Baker. Taggert told me he had been realized.
Then I sent you the red dress as a gift, I am so sorry Elizabeth I didn't know," Ric said you could here the pain in his voice. "Its Ok Ric, Thank you for my gift but why did you send me a dress." She asked
"I over heard you and Courtney talking about dress for Carly club opening. I wanted to give you a dress. You look so beautiful in red so I thought it would be perfect," Ric said. "Will you still go with me to the opening. We can get you a different dress?" he asked.
"After all the trouble and embarrassment I caused today you really don't want me to go do you," She asked looking down at her hands.
"Elizabeth. Look at me Ric," said.
She looked up.
"I am sorry for what happened to you it was ugly and cruel but I knowing does not change how I see you. You are caring, sweet and very strong but most of all you are beautiful both on the inside and on the outside. Knowing what I know about your past does not change how I am beginning to feel about you. We all have things in our past that cause u s pain yours just showed up unexpected and got the best of you for a while. It is Ok," He said slowly in a steady clam voice. "I would be proud to have you with me Elizabeth at Carly's opening," He said with a big smile.
"Ok. I believe you. I will still go," she said smiling back.
"Good are you better now," he said with a teasing tone
"Yes, I am' she answered.
" Great.Can we leave here now? I know your cold because I have an ice cubed sitting in my lap." Ric said.
"I don't want to be alone.. OK. I'm still scared, I understand that it is Ok but I am still afraid," Elizabeth admitted.
"It's ok I won't leave you. We will go back to Kelly's so Bobbie can make sure your ok and let us Know if you need to have a doctor look at your wrist. Then we will get you into a hot tub and feed you some hot food. After that we will figure out what to do. Ok," Ric asked he really didn't want to let her go anyway.
"Yes!" Elizabeth said as she stood up on her legs was weak and it was hard to stand.
"Good," Ric said. "Let's go get up warmed up."
They walked to the end of the boxcar and then Ric hopped. H e picked up Elizabeth to carry her to his car.
Authors note: Ok I can end this here or continue it back at Kelly's what does you all think. I ended it here because it was getting long but I do have more. This has been one of the hardest things I have written I hope I gave this the justice it deserves.
Disclaimer: see part 1
Ric turned and smiled at Elizabeth and walked back to where she was sitting. He could see her shivering and knew she ha to be cold because she had been out here for a while. He stopped put down the blankets and thermos. He took off his scarf and slowly place it on Elizabeth she looked up a little startled. "It's looks better on you than it dose me," Ric said smiling. In reality he wanted to cry because it was breaking his heart to see her in so much pain. He took a blanket opened it and then carefully lays it over Elizabeth shoulders wrapping it around the front of her. He followed it with a second blanket. He was saddened by the fact that even though he was careful not to touch her she still flinched.
"Maybe I will sit here if you don't mind?" asked Ric as he continued to smile He was still standing waiting for her too decided.
"Ok", Elizabeth said in a very small voice almost a whisper. She looked up at Ric and gave him a little smile that never reached her eyes they were still so full of pain.
Ric sat on the floor of the boxcar about a foot in front of her not touching her but close enough to talk quietly. He took the thermos and poured 2 of the coffee. He carefully sat one in font of Elizabeth, moving slowly to keep things calm. "Light and sweet, Courtney said that's the way you like your coffee," Ric said "Go ahead. drink some it will help you warm up."
Elizabeth reached out to try to pick up the coffee. "Ouch!" she said as she stopped and reaches for the coffee with her other hand. "Thank you, I am a little cold she said as she shivered"
Ric could see that her wrist was already swollen and bruised and the thought of how Lucky had treated her maid him very angry but he hid it well. He took the time to take a sip of his coffee to compose himself and then he said," We might want to get your wrist looked at when you are ready to. I think it might be sprained."
'Ok. But not now please " Elizabeth said. She looked up to try to look Ric in the face but couldn't so she look into her coffee cup. "I am so embarrassed she said."
"Elizabeth," said Ric quietly. She looked up into his eyes and saw nothing but cares and concerns then she looked away.
He had seen the fear and uncertainty in her eyes just before she looked away. "Elizabeth would you tell me what happened? He asked. She still wouldn't face him. "Elizabeth Please Looked at me?" he asked as he reached out and move the stray strands of hair that ha fallen in her face. When she looked at him he said "Thank You!"
Ric took a deep breath and decided the easiest way to say what he wanted was to simply say it. He looked into her eyes and in a clam and gentle voice said, " If you want to talk to me I am here and want to listen. If you choose not to and you just want to sit here then we will sit. But you need to understand what ever you tell me it will not change what I think about you or how I am beginning to feel for you. Your past is yours its only important to me now because you are so hurt by it. Please tell me! Let me try to help." He wanted so badly to just pull her to him and wraps his arms around her it was so hard to keep his hands to himself but he didn't want to scare her.
Elizabeth had looked into his eyes the whole time he was speaking to her. She could see the caring and the pain and she new he was telling her the truth. He battled with herself for a few minutes but she new that she was safe telling Ric.
"Ok.I'll tell you," Elizabeth said taking a sip from the coffee and a deep breath.
"It was Valentine Day," Elizabeth said very quietly almost a whisper. "I was 16 innocent but not so sweet. I was actually hell on wheels when I first came to town," She said looking up at Ric with a small smile. He smiled back and shook his head yes letting her know it was all right to continue. On the surface he was fine but on the inside it was hell listening to her.
"I drank, smoked and cussed but with my perfect sister Sara and my wonderful older brother I had to do something to be different. I really wasn't a bad girl I just acted like it in fact it really was an act I was still a virgin. I wanted to count to be noticed to be more than just my parents extra kid, an after thought." She was looking down into her coffee cup and was quiet for a couple of minutes.
"Anyway!" she said Looking up at Ric again. "I had come to town and I had a HUGE crush on Lucky who of course had a crush on my perfect sister Sara. Lucky and I were supposed to go to the Valentines Day dance at the school. I know he only thought of us as friends but it was really important to me. I was so excited.. But at the Last minute Lucky ended up going with Sara. She stopped taking the last sip of her coffee.
Ric took the cup out of her hand and refilled it as she started speaking again.
I was so embarrassed.to embarrassed to go to the dance alone or to admit to my grandmother that Lucky ended up taking Sara . So I put on the red dress I had gotten for the dance and pretended I was going to the dance anyway. I actually went to the movies." She looked back up at Ric and smiled at him, "You Know what's funny?" she asked
"No. what?" Ric answered he reached out and touched her arm looking her in the eyes.
"I can never remember what movie it was.. As hard as I try I can never remember. I can remember everything else it's always there it never goes away but I can't remember then name of the movie," Elizabeth said. Ric could here the panic slipping back into her voice as she was speaking.
"Elizabeth you don't have to tell me anymore if you are not ready to." Ric said growing more concerned.
"I need to tell you.. I just hurts she said hugging herself.
" Come here," Ric said holding his arms open to her. "I wish I could make the pain go away, I can't but I can listen, I can also help you warm up please you must be freezing."
Elizabeth sat quietly for a couple of minutes and then she simply scouted over to Ric and ended up sitting in his lap wrapped in his arms. She knew she was shivering but she didn't know if it was fear or the cold. All she new was she desperately needed to feel safe and she knew she was safe with Ric.
Ric felt he just how small and cold she was. As she shook and shivered as he pulled her close he was amazed and honored that she trusted him enough to help her. He pushed her hair out of her face and pushed her chin up so he could look her in the eye. "Thank you!", he said with a smile.
She smile back, took a deep breath and then continued,"I was crossing through the park like I always did only this time it was different. I got tot the middle of the park and as I was walking by a clump of bushes a man reached out and grabbed me. He hit me and made me dizzy. He pulled me into the Bushes and pushed me on to the ground. His weight had me pinned down and he put his hand over my mouth so I couldn't scream.
She stopped talking and got that far away look in her eyes. "Anyway.He raped me and Left me laying in the bushes," she said that still quiet voice. " Lucky was walking through the park later that evening and found me and called Bobbie to help me. A few weeks later I reported what happened to Taggert But there was no evidence anymore. Much later I found out the man was Tom Baker. Taggert told me he had been realized.
Then I sent you the red dress as a gift, I am so sorry Elizabeth I didn't know," Ric said you could here the pain in his voice. "Its Ok Ric, Thank you for my gift but why did you send me a dress." She asked
"I over heard you and Courtney talking about dress for Carly club opening. I wanted to give you a dress. You look so beautiful in red so I thought it would be perfect," Ric said. "Will you still go with me to the opening. We can get you a different dress?" he asked.
"After all the trouble and embarrassment I caused today you really don't want me to go do you," She asked looking down at her hands.
"Elizabeth. Look at me Ric," said.
She looked up.
"I am sorry for what happened to you it was ugly and cruel but I knowing does not change how I see you. You are caring, sweet and very strong but most of all you are beautiful both on the inside and on the outside. Knowing what I know about your past does not change how I am beginning to feel about you. We all have things in our past that cause u s pain yours just showed up unexpected and got the best of you for a while. It is Ok," He said slowly in a steady clam voice. "I would be proud to have you with me Elizabeth at Carly's opening," He said with a big smile.
"Ok. I believe you. I will still go," she said smiling back.
"Good are you better now," he said with a teasing tone
"Yes, I am' she answered.
" Great.Can we leave here now? I know your cold because I have an ice cubed sitting in my lap." Ric said.
"I don't want to be alone.. OK. I'm still scared, I understand that it is Ok but I am still afraid," Elizabeth admitted.
"It's ok I won't leave you. We will go back to Kelly's so Bobbie can make sure your ok and let us Know if you need to have a doctor look at your wrist. Then we will get you into a hot tub and feed you some hot food. After that we will figure out what to do. Ok," Ric asked he really didn't want to let her go anyway.
"Yes!" Elizabeth said as she stood up on her legs was weak and it was hard to stand.
"Good," Ric said. "Let's go get up warmed up."
They walked to the end of the boxcar and then Ric hopped. H e picked up Elizabeth to carry her to his car.
Authors note: Ok I can end this here or continue it back at Kelly's what does you all think. I ended it here because it was getting long but I do have more. This has been one of the hardest things I have written I hope I gave this the justice it deserves.