Part Three
Joxer watched as Jace, Arose and Ricky approached. He slowly stood up and walked
over to Ricky. "We need to talk. Please come with me."
Arose started to say something, but Ricky shook his head. "No, Arose. I'll talk
with your brother."
Arose turned and looked at Jace, who smiled. "Come on, let's go eat. I'm sure it
will be fine."
Arose frowned. "I think I should be here."
Joxer looked at her and placed his hand on her chin, lifting it up to gaze into
her eyes. "I just want to talk with him, no more, and if you want to listen you
can, but only listen."
"Joxer, I'm older than..."
"No, Arose. You're only sixteen and that's not older." He said nothing else but
kissed her gently on her forehead before he turned to Ricky. "Okay. Let's go
talk." Arose nodded and moved away to stand by Jace, knowing she had to trust
her brother about this.
They were about to leave when Gabrielle came out. "Joxer, where're you going?"
"I need to talk to Ricky here. Want to join us?"
Gabrielle thought for a moment then shook her head. "No. I'm a little tired
right now so I'm going to lie down for a while. Joxer, please don't be too
late." She covered a yawn with the back of her hand.
Joxer walked over and gave Gabrielle a kiss. "I won't be. I promise."
Gabrielle returned the kiss and then went back inside. Arose watched as Joxer
and Ricky disappeared around the corner. She looked up at Jace. "I wonder what
he's going to say to him?"
Jace placed his arm around her. "Whatever he says to Ricky will be from his
heart, Arose, nothing else. And he did say you could listen. Go on - you should
be there."
Arose hugged Jace and ran to catch up with them. Joxer and Ricky, hearing her
footsteps, stopped and waited for her. Ricky took Arose's hand and Joxer watched
them silently. "Sir, would you like to have dinner with my family?"
Joxer looked at Ricky, his brown eyes beginning to twinkle. "Yeah. That would be
nice. I didn't have supper yet - and the name is Joxer, not sir."
Arose looked from her brother to Ricky then back to Joxer again. "Joxer, he was
just showing you respect!"
"I know and I was just letting him know it was okay to call me Joxer."
Arose started to say something but the understanding smile in Joxer's eyes
stopped her. "You have nothing against me and Ricky being together. Do you?"
Joxer shook his head. "I have nothing against you two being together. All I'm
asking is that you shouldn't jump into anything. Make sure."
"Si... Joxer, I know that I love Arose more than life itself. I'd swim the
deepest sea for her, climb the highest mountain for her, even die for her..."
"I understand exactly what you mean," Joxer nodded then turned to Arose. "Does
he know?"
Arose looked at Joxer. "You mean about my past?" Joxer nodded. Arose sadly
turned away. "I'm afraid to tell him," she admitted.
"Arose, I love you. Nothing you can say will change that."
Arose felt tears stinging her eyes. "This might. Oh Ricky, I died many years ago
and I was set free by Joxer." She told him everything about how Joxer freed her
and Gabrielle from the Amazon Underworld. She waited for his reaction nervously
when she finished her story.
Ricky stared at Joxer. Joxer only watched him and said nothing. Ricky was
stunned by Arose's story. It was not what he expected Arose to say, but he
didn't care. He loved her. "Then I'm a lucky man to have the Gods give you life
again," he told her with a smile.
Arose flew into Ricky's arms. "I love you, Ricky!"
Joxer placed his hand on Ricky's shoulder. "Welcome to the family, Ricky. Wait
until you meet Jett. Now let's get something to eat. I'm starving!" They laughed
and went to Ricky and his parents' wagon where Maria was just finishing up with
fixing supper. Joxer sniffed the air and the wonderful aroma of whatever she was
making made his nose twitch. "MMMM! That smells so good. What are you cooking?"
Maria looked up and then started to fuss, making Joxer sit down and started
putting all kinds of food on his plate. "You are too skinny! Just look at you -
nothing but bones. This will fatten you up."
Joxer watched as different types of food were placed before him. Ricky sat down
next to him and told him what each dish was called. There was spiced roast goat
with vegetables, cheeses, a saffron rice dish that had prawns, chicken and
shellfish mixed in it, warm bread, a delicious red wine, and fruits for dessert.
Joxer ate until he felt like he was going to burst at the seams. Everything
smelled so wonderful and was spiced so perfectly that he simply couldn't help
himself. After supper, Joxer followed Mario outside. Mario looked up into the
sky. "I think Arose is a fine young lady for my son. She's bright and will make
a good mother and give me many grandchildren." He gazed at Joxer. "You must be
very proud of your younger sister."
Joxer nodded in agreement. "Yes, I'm very proud of her. She's a great sister."
After a while, it was time to return home. Joxer said goodnight and then turned
to Arose. "Arose, don't stay out too late, okay?"
Arose went over and gave Joxer a kiss. "I won't, little brother! Thanks." She
laughed at the face he made before he hugged her goodnight and waved as he
walked back towards the tavern. When he walked into the bedroom, Gabrielle
looked like she was asleep, so he quietly took off his clothes, climbed into bed
and placed his arm around her.
"So, how is everything?" Gabrielle asked sleepily.
Joxer looked at Gabrielle, surprised. "At the moment, everything's fine,
Gabrielle."
"Good," she mumbled as she settled down in his arms and fell back to sleep.