"Jeremy I can't have you all over the place. Everyday people depend on you
for wisdom, advice and prayers. You need to focus," Eric chastised.
"I know and I'm sorry. My life has just been really stressful lately." Jeremy didn't want to fail professionally, especially since he seemed to fail with Lucy. Winning was not an ends; but a means. He couldn't fail Eric. He was more important than Lucy. If he were careful, then maybe Eric wouldn't suspect anything. He left to think, long and hard.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Four of my paintings sold, Ben!" Lucy had to tell someone. She had found Ben in the bakery.
"That's great Lucy!" He motioned for her to join him.
She and Ben ordered coffee and scones and went to sit at a table.
"Finally I've found success."
"You didn't have any before?"
"You wouldn't understand. This is the first independent thing I've done in a long time." Lucy sighed. She wouldn't be able to make Ben understand.
"Well since you don't think I know anything about being successful, what is it that you feel most?"
Lucy thought for a moment. "Safe."
"Safe? Well I sure wasn't expecting that. I was expecting proud, joyful, and invincible."
"It feels good to be free and safe. I can make my own decisions. How would you like it for someone to tell you what to do and when to do it every day of your life? All of your friends are chosen, even your boyfriend."
His expression told her she had said too much and she would regret it.
"You've been her for a month and that's all you've told me." Lucy could tell he wanted more. She should have known better than to get Ben started. Kevin respected her privacy, but Ben always wanted more.
"Here I am, I've been respectful and understanding. I've compromised with you. But I'm not getting anywhere with you." She had let the happiness of her success get the best of her. She shouldn't have said anything. Why did Ben have to ruin the moment?
She got up and began walking to the door. Ben jumped out of his chair and ran out the door after her. "Hey!"
She shrugged him off and started walking up the street. "I'm not looking for a boyfriend." He meant nothing to her. She kept walking.
His voice softened and his tone changed. "I'm sorry I brought it up. I just can't stop thinking about you."
She didn't like the change in him. He seemed honest and genuine. She turned up the road that led to the ranch. Once again he caught up with her and put his arm around her shoulder. "I'm easy. You don't have to play hard to get. Diamonds and all, I'll marry you."
The memory suddenly came back. The diamond ring, slipped from her finger into the velvet box. She pushed him away. "Don't say that Ben, ever. Not even if you're just joking. Now just leave me alone."
She began running up the road. Where did this fury come from and this overwhelming sense of panic? She couldn't stand the image of the ring on her finger. She didn't care how upset Ben was. He had swept away her confidence. No, not Ben. She did it herself. Every time she found happiness, safety, and comfort something changed. She worked to stop the trembling and didn't stop walking until she was at the corral.
Destiny must have been angry. She felt bad for Kevin when she saw him get thrown off and landed in the dirt. Slowly, he got up, and with his hand on his leg, he limped over to Destiny. He sure was determined. Lucy walked over to the fence. "Maybe you should leave him alone for the day."
He didn't look at her. "Nope. He would think he won. I'm going to get one and let him run. Open the gate please." Lucy opened it and Destiny ran out and across the meadow.
She sighed. Maybe something's just weren't meant to experience freedom. She began walking down to the house. She stopped at the stable and saw Kevin brushing Destiny's coat. She went over and stroked the horse's nose. "I'm sure I could-."
"No. Forget it Lucy."
Although Kevin spoke softly, Lucy raised her voice, "Why are you so stubborn?"
Kevin looked up at her, staring. "You're awfully persistent. But I'm never going to let you ride this horse. You saw what happened today. Just go, I'm busy."
She stalked out. She was mad. She got to her room and slammed the door. She fell on her bed and took a deep breath. She felt no relief.
Why was Kevin so impossible? Ben was too. He didn't come to dinner that night, which was strained enough anyway. If he came in at all that night it was after she fell asleep – though it was a long time before she could.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kevin sat alone in his room that night. He was waiting for Ben, but mostly thinking about Lucy. She had become angry and nearly yelled at him earlier. Why was she in Juniper Falls? She seemed so...needy.
But what was it she needed? Why should it matter to him? He felt responsible for her in someway. He guessed Ben and Lucy had an argument that day. That's why he left. Kevin dedicated his life to serving the Lord. What did the Lord want him to do? Who was Lucy Camden and what did she need? It wasn't his business. But if sure felt like it. Lord, show me your will he thought. His Savior was so bright in his life, but Lucy continued to shine through. He bowed his head and prayed, but his thoughts drifted back to Lucy.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lucy woke the next morning, just as angry and tired as yesterday. She put her hair in a ponytail and dressed in jeans and a collared tee. She left her room and found the house was quiet. It was Sunday, and Marta had the day off. She went into the kitchen and found Ben at the table.
He poured her a cup of coffee and gave it to her without speaking. She didn't want to talk about yesterday. Unfortunately, it was nearly impossible to sit in silence with Ben. "Where's Kevin?" "Church. He encourages everyone to go. Surprised you aren't there."
"I don't go. Why don't you go?"
"I never felt like I belonged, I guess."
"Well do you believe in God?"
"I suppose. Don't really know." Lucy heard Kevin's truck come up to the house. He got out of the truck, he looked confident and complete. He came inside. "Morning Ben. Morning Lucy." He drank a cup of coffee and the 3 sat in silence. Ben was the first to break the silence. "Lucy, why don't we take a hike?" She was amazed. How could he act like nothing had happened yesterday? Maybe nothing did. She overreacted. Again. When would this feeling of fear stop? She sure didn't want to be alone with Ben. "What about Kevin?" "It's Sunday, the day of rest, for Kevin." "No thanks." She rinsed out her cup and left. Surprisingly, Ben didn't stop her. Instead, he was waiting for her when she came down with her art supplies. "There's breathtaking scenery up in the national park." Resigned, she sighed. "Fine Ben, let's go hiking." They drove up to the entrance of the Rocky Mountain National Park. They began hiking on a trail and when they reached to top, Ben pointed out the town. "There's the town and to the left is Kevin's ranch."
"It's beautiful. How did Kevin get it?" "He and dad bought the place. Kevin built the place log by log. He's a real mountain man, just like the old days. But I live for the moment, like now." He reached for her hand, but she pulled away. "Ben." How could he make her uncomfortable when he was so charming? "What are you here for Lucy? You're here for a reason, and I think it's because you need me." "You're wrong. I don't need you or anyone." "You need me so that the real Lucy can break out. Something isn't letting her out." He took her hands and she tried to pull away. He resisted. She knew he was trying to help. Part of her knew she was acting crazy. Fear overcame her and she started to shake. "Please Ben, let's go." In her mind she saw the hawk. It cried and circled around her. Fear paralyzed her. "Please!" Ben released her hands and stood up to help her. "Calm down. It's okay, just relax." He was right. Why couldn't she control her own emotions? She just saw images. Wings.
The drive back to the ranch was silent. She went up to her room and laid on the bed. Who was the real Lucy? What did Ben want to see? Ben could tell there was more inside her. And there was. Enough pain and fear to shock him. Things she didn't want to face. She didn't have to. She ran away once, she could do it again.
A/N: Please read and review!
"I know and I'm sorry. My life has just been really stressful lately." Jeremy didn't want to fail professionally, especially since he seemed to fail with Lucy. Winning was not an ends; but a means. He couldn't fail Eric. He was more important than Lucy. If he were careful, then maybe Eric wouldn't suspect anything. He left to think, long and hard.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Four of my paintings sold, Ben!" Lucy had to tell someone. She had found Ben in the bakery.
"That's great Lucy!" He motioned for her to join him.
She and Ben ordered coffee and scones and went to sit at a table.
"Finally I've found success."
"You didn't have any before?"
"You wouldn't understand. This is the first independent thing I've done in a long time." Lucy sighed. She wouldn't be able to make Ben understand.
"Well since you don't think I know anything about being successful, what is it that you feel most?"
Lucy thought for a moment. "Safe."
"Safe? Well I sure wasn't expecting that. I was expecting proud, joyful, and invincible."
"It feels good to be free and safe. I can make my own decisions. How would you like it for someone to tell you what to do and when to do it every day of your life? All of your friends are chosen, even your boyfriend."
His expression told her she had said too much and she would regret it.
"You've been her for a month and that's all you've told me." Lucy could tell he wanted more. She should have known better than to get Ben started. Kevin respected her privacy, but Ben always wanted more.
"Here I am, I've been respectful and understanding. I've compromised with you. But I'm not getting anywhere with you." She had let the happiness of her success get the best of her. She shouldn't have said anything. Why did Ben have to ruin the moment?
She got up and began walking to the door. Ben jumped out of his chair and ran out the door after her. "Hey!"
She shrugged him off and started walking up the street. "I'm not looking for a boyfriend." He meant nothing to her. She kept walking.
His voice softened and his tone changed. "I'm sorry I brought it up. I just can't stop thinking about you."
She didn't like the change in him. He seemed honest and genuine. She turned up the road that led to the ranch. Once again he caught up with her and put his arm around her shoulder. "I'm easy. You don't have to play hard to get. Diamonds and all, I'll marry you."
The memory suddenly came back. The diamond ring, slipped from her finger into the velvet box. She pushed him away. "Don't say that Ben, ever. Not even if you're just joking. Now just leave me alone."
She began running up the road. Where did this fury come from and this overwhelming sense of panic? She couldn't stand the image of the ring on her finger. She didn't care how upset Ben was. He had swept away her confidence. No, not Ben. She did it herself. Every time she found happiness, safety, and comfort something changed. She worked to stop the trembling and didn't stop walking until she was at the corral.
Destiny must have been angry. She felt bad for Kevin when she saw him get thrown off and landed in the dirt. Slowly, he got up, and with his hand on his leg, he limped over to Destiny. He sure was determined. Lucy walked over to the fence. "Maybe you should leave him alone for the day."
He didn't look at her. "Nope. He would think he won. I'm going to get one and let him run. Open the gate please." Lucy opened it and Destiny ran out and across the meadow.
She sighed. Maybe something's just weren't meant to experience freedom. She began walking down to the house. She stopped at the stable and saw Kevin brushing Destiny's coat. She went over and stroked the horse's nose. "I'm sure I could-."
"No. Forget it Lucy."
Although Kevin spoke softly, Lucy raised her voice, "Why are you so stubborn?"
Kevin looked up at her, staring. "You're awfully persistent. But I'm never going to let you ride this horse. You saw what happened today. Just go, I'm busy."
She stalked out. She was mad. She got to her room and slammed the door. She fell on her bed and took a deep breath. She felt no relief.
Why was Kevin so impossible? Ben was too. He didn't come to dinner that night, which was strained enough anyway. If he came in at all that night it was after she fell asleep – though it was a long time before she could.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kevin sat alone in his room that night. He was waiting for Ben, but mostly thinking about Lucy. She had become angry and nearly yelled at him earlier. Why was she in Juniper Falls? She seemed so...needy.
But what was it she needed? Why should it matter to him? He felt responsible for her in someway. He guessed Ben and Lucy had an argument that day. That's why he left. Kevin dedicated his life to serving the Lord. What did the Lord want him to do? Who was Lucy Camden and what did she need? It wasn't his business. But if sure felt like it. Lord, show me your will he thought. His Savior was so bright in his life, but Lucy continued to shine through. He bowed his head and prayed, but his thoughts drifted back to Lucy.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lucy woke the next morning, just as angry and tired as yesterday. She put her hair in a ponytail and dressed in jeans and a collared tee. She left her room and found the house was quiet. It was Sunday, and Marta had the day off. She went into the kitchen and found Ben at the table.
He poured her a cup of coffee and gave it to her without speaking. She didn't want to talk about yesterday. Unfortunately, it was nearly impossible to sit in silence with Ben. "Where's Kevin?" "Church. He encourages everyone to go. Surprised you aren't there."
"I don't go. Why don't you go?"
"I never felt like I belonged, I guess."
"Well do you believe in God?"
"I suppose. Don't really know." Lucy heard Kevin's truck come up to the house. He got out of the truck, he looked confident and complete. He came inside. "Morning Ben. Morning Lucy." He drank a cup of coffee and the 3 sat in silence. Ben was the first to break the silence. "Lucy, why don't we take a hike?" She was amazed. How could he act like nothing had happened yesterday? Maybe nothing did. She overreacted. Again. When would this feeling of fear stop? She sure didn't want to be alone with Ben. "What about Kevin?" "It's Sunday, the day of rest, for Kevin." "No thanks." She rinsed out her cup and left. Surprisingly, Ben didn't stop her. Instead, he was waiting for her when she came down with her art supplies. "There's breathtaking scenery up in the national park." Resigned, she sighed. "Fine Ben, let's go hiking." They drove up to the entrance of the Rocky Mountain National Park. They began hiking on a trail and when they reached to top, Ben pointed out the town. "There's the town and to the left is Kevin's ranch."
"It's beautiful. How did Kevin get it?" "He and dad bought the place. Kevin built the place log by log. He's a real mountain man, just like the old days. But I live for the moment, like now." He reached for her hand, but she pulled away. "Ben." How could he make her uncomfortable when he was so charming? "What are you here for Lucy? You're here for a reason, and I think it's because you need me." "You're wrong. I don't need you or anyone." "You need me so that the real Lucy can break out. Something isn't letting her out." He took her hands and she tried to pull away. He resisted. She knew he was trying to help. Part of her knew she was acting crazy. Fear overcame her and she started to shake. "Please Ben, let's go." In her mind she saw the hawk. It cried and circled around her. Fear paralyzed her. "Please!" Ben released her hands and stood up to help her. "Calm down. It's okay, just relax." He was right. Why couldn't she control her own emotions? She just saw images. Wings.
The drive back to the ranch was silent. She went up to her room and laid on the bed. Who was the real Lucy? What did Ben want to see? Ben could tell there was more inside her. And there was. Enough pain and fear to shock him. Things she didn't want to face. She didn't have to. She ran away once, she could do it again.
A/N: Please read and review!