I'm so glad that people are liking this story, especially since it's my
first one
Downstairs, Kevin went into the office. He glanced up and noticed Ben leaning on the door. "Not your typical mountain mama" Ben said. "Nope" "Don't pretend your impervious. I heard the rates you stammered. You gave her the deal of a lifetime. You even gave her meals." "I include meals for those that don't have kitchens," although he normally added extra on for them. Lucy looked like she needed a place to stay. Desperately. He didn't rent rooms in the main house to unmarried women because it was also his home. He ran a Christian operation, and reputation was important. "Well, I saw her first, so keep out of my way" Ben said. "Don't worry, I don't date guests" Kevin firmly replied. "Good thing I don't have your reservations."
Ben always saw possibilities, but Kevin sensed something brittle in Lucy Camden. She wasn't looking for excitement.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - After showering, Lucy dressed in shorts and a sleeveless cream shirt. She wanted to see the town now that she knew she would be staying. She went downstairs to give Kevin the money, but was stopped by Ben in the living room. "Where are you going?"
A quiver of fear came over her. It wasn't him. It was inside her. What was dangerous, what wasn't? When would it end? "To look at the town." "Want a ride?" "No thanks" she quickly replied. Ben got up and crossed to the door, "Why not?" Lucy paused for a moment. "All right." Fear surged up her spine in an instant, but she resisted it. They got into Ben's red corvette and he showed her around Juniper Falls. It had been a long day and Lucy had gotten a headache. Ben took her back to the ranch and she went to take a nap.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lucy's headache disappeared after a nap and several glasses of water. But she was hungry. Thankfully she discovered dinner was about to be served. She started down to dinner. A man already sat at the table and after quick introductions she discovered he was a visiting professor. Kevin took the chair at the head of the long pine table, and Lucy sat on his left across from the professor. Ben followed Marta, the cook, from the kitchen. They carried steaming platters with them. "You can't say that Marta. I once dated a girl whose worst nightmare was not getting into heaven – she was that nice. She dreamed she was in line behind Mother Teresa. Her list of good deeds made me sick." "There's nothing wrong with wanting to help others." Marta left again for the kitchen. "Don't I know. Just gotta have fun when you're doing it" Ben winked at Lucy and sat down. After all the platters had been laid out, Lucy laid her napkin in her lap and reached for the bread, then stopped fingers extended as Kevin bowed his head and said, "I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly." She stared. She couldn't help it. She never thought he would be a praying man. "For this food we are deeply grateful. Bless it for our use in your service, O Lord. Amen." Amens surrounded her. She dropped her gaze after she got Ben's attention. After everyone started eating the professor began talking to Lucy. "While you lack the obvious accent, your diction betrays you. Visiting from New York?" She gave him a slight nod and smile, but her heart raced. She used her real name. They could easily trace her back to... But why would they? She'd done nothing wrong. Thankfully the conversation turned to other topics, not involving her. After everyone was finished eating, Ben got Lucy's attention. "There's a band playing at the Roaring Bear tonight. Wanna go?"
"No thanks." "It's a good band and it'll be fun" he coaxed. She shook her head. "Not tonight." Not ever. She excused herself and left the table. Ben saw her reading nature books in the living room. "You can't tell me those are more exciting than a night on the town." She turned, "I would like to learn about the flowers while I am here." "We'd have a good time." She knew he would. She wasn't there to have fun. "No thank you Ben." This time he shrugged and left. He coaxed, but didn't force the issue. She released a long, slow breathe. After changing for bed, she read until her eyes wouldn't remain open. She turned out the lamp and curled under the covers. Without warning, a shadow surrounded her. She heard the beating of wings. Her whole body trembled, she crouched, pulling the grass down over her. Helpless. She grasped at the blades of grass. Then despairingly, she turned her face up to face the cruel beak and talons.
A/N: I know it may not all make sense now but it will in later chapters
Downstairs, Kevin went into the office. He glanced up and noticed Ben leaning on the door. "Not your typical mountain mama" Ben said. "Nope" "Don't pretend your impervious. I heard the rates you stammered. You gave her the deal of a lifetime. You even gave her meals." "I include meals for those that don't have kitchens," although he normally added extra on for them. Lucy looked like she needed a place to stay. Desperately. He didn't rent rooms in the main house to unmarried women because it was also his home. He ran a Christian operation, and reputation was important. "Well, I saw her first, so keep out of my way" Ben said. "Don't worry, I don't date guests" Kevin firmly replied. "Good thing I don't have your reservations."
Ben always saw possibilities, but Kevin sensed something brittle in Lucy Camden. She wasn't looking for excitement.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - After showering, Lucy dressed in shorts and a sleeveless cream shirt. She wanted to see the town now that she knew she would be staying. She went downstairs to give Kevin the money, but was stopped by Ben in the living room. "Where are you going?"
A quiver of fear came over her. It wasn't him. It was inside her. What was dangerous, what wasn't? When would it end? "To look at the town." "Want a ride?" "No thanks" she quickly replied. Ben got up and crossed to the door, "Why not?" Lucy paused for a moment. "All right." Fear surged up her spine in an instant, but she resisted it. They got into Ben's red corvette and he showed her around Juniper Falls. It had been a long day and Lucy had gotten a headache. Ben took her back to the ranch and she went to take a nap.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lucy's headache disappeared after a nap and several glasses of water. But she was hungry. Thankfully she discovered dinner was about to be served. She started down to dinner. A man already sat at the table and after quick introductions she discovered he was a visiting professor. Kevin took the chair at the head of the long pine table, and Lucy sat on his left across from the professor. Ben followed Marta, the cook, from the kitchen. They carried steaming platters with them. "You can't say that Marta. I once dated a girl whose worst nightmare was not getting into heaven – she was that nice. She dreamed she was in line behind Mother Teresa. Her list of good deeds made me sick." "There's nothing wrong with wanting to help others." Marta left again for the kitchen. "Don't I know. Just gotta have fun when you're doing it" Ben winked at Lucy and sat down. After all the platters had been laid out, Lucy laid her napkin in her lap and reached for the bread, then stopped fingers extended as Kevin bowed his head and said, "I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly." She stared. She couldn't help it. She never thought he would be a praying man. "For this food we are deeply grateful. Bless it for our use in your service, O Lord. Amen." Amens surrounded her. She dropped her gaze after she got Ben's attention. After everyone started eating the professor began talking to Lucy. "While you lack the obvious accent, your diction betrays you. Visiting from New York?" She gave him a slight nod and smile, but her heart raced. She used her real name. They could easily trace her back to... But why would they? She'd done nothing wrong. Thankfully the conversation turned to other topics, not involving her. After everyone was finished eating, Ben got Lucy's attention. "There's a band playing at the Roaring Bear tonight. Wanna go?"
"No thanks." "It's a good band and it'll be fun" he coaxed. She shook her head. "Not tonight." Not ever. She excused herself and left the table. Ben saw her reading nature books in the living room. "You can't tell me those are more exciting than a night on the town." She turned, "I would like to learn about the flowers while I am here." "We'd have a good time." She knew he would. She wasn't there to have fun. "No thank you Ben." This time he shrugged and left. He coaxed, but didn't force the issue. She released a long, slow breathe. After changing for bed, she read until her eyes wouldn't remain open. She turned out the lamp and curled under the covers. Without warning, a shadow surrounded her. She heard the beating of wings. Her whole body trembled, she crouched, pulling the grass down over her. Helpless. She grasped at the blades of grass. Then despairingly, she turned her face up to face the cruel beak and talons.
A/N: I know it may not all make sense now but it will in later chapters