Here's the next chapter of Runaway.
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"Marianne…"
The New York native was vaguely aware of a Southern voice calling her name. A hand gently patted her shoulder.
"Mm, what time is it?" Marianne sighed as she reached her hands to rub her eyes.
"A little after seven." The voice replied.
"Morning or evening?" Marianne frowned, propping herself on her elbows. Heath was standing beside her bed.
"Morning. Jack's gone into town." He replied.
"I can't believe I slept for so long." Marianne shook her head.
"You probably needed the rest. I didn't want to wake you, but I was worried." He looked concerned.
"It's just a sprain." She shrugged.
"It was my fault." The redhead frowned.
"I told you, it's fine. I forgive you." Marianne sighed, throwing back the covers.
"Where are you going?" Heath asked her.
"I need to use the bathroom." She replied.
"Oh, right." He nodded.
"I am a little hungry though." Marianne added.
"I'll make us some breakfast." Heath said, giving a warm smile.
"That sounds good." The brunette nodded.
It was a source of frustration to Marianne that she had still not managed to work out the redheaded man. Every time she thought she had him worked out, he suddenly changed and all her ideas about him were thrown out again. The New York native couldn't hide her curiosity about the couple at the Inn, or some of the things he had said to her. Jack and Mickie were not going to reveal the answers any time soon.
After a quick wash and a change of clothes, the New York native followed the delightful smells that were coming from the kitchen. Heath stood in front of the stove, stirring a steaming pan. Marianne walked into the room and took a seat at the dining table, watching as the redhead took the pan off the heat and ladled the contents into two bowls that were already sitting on the counter.
"This should keep you going." Heath told her as he placed a bowl down in front of her.
"What is it?" she asked, eyeing the plain looking mixture.
"Oats." Heath replied.
"Smells good." She nodded, waiting for the oats to cool before she tasted some.
"My mom used to make it all the time." He told her.
"Do you have family here? I just wondered, because you live here with Jack…" the New York native shrugged her shoulders.
"They live nearby. We had a disagreement." Heath replied, avoiding eye contact.
"Sorry." She turned her head away, aware that she was prying again.
"That's fine. I'd be curious too." He sighed.
Marianne took a spoonful of the oats and turned her attention back to Heath.
"I need to tell you what happened with Paul and Barbara…" The redhead began.
"It's none of my business." Marianne shook her head as she stirred the oats.
"I think it's only fair that you know why I reacted like I did." Heath sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Go on…" the brunette nodded, raising her eyes to meet his.
"Barbara was my fiancée. We were together from a young age, and marriage was always on the cards. I proposed on her eighteenth birthday. Everyone in town was so excited about the wedding…" Heath paused to compose himself.
"You don't have to do this." Marianne reminded him. He shook his head, no.
"It was such a beautiful day, the sun was shining. Everyone in town was either in or outside of the church that day. I stood there in my suit with my best friend, Paul Lloyd by my side as my best man." He shook his head.
"What happened?" asked Marianne.
"Barbara entered the church, looking beautiful as always. I knew I'd never forget how she looked that day, like an angel in white. The preacher started the ceremony and he asked if anybody knew of any reason why we should not be wed… Imagine my confusion when Paul speaks up and begs my fiancée not to go through with it." Heath stopped to let out a heavy sigh.
"Oh Heath…" the New York native bit down on her bottom lip.
"Turns out that Barbara wasn't an angel. She was having an affair with my best friend for six months before our wedding. Paul stands there and tells her that she'd never be happy with me. I wanted to believe that it was all a dream… The preacher asked if the wedding was to continue, and Barbara started crying. She jilted me and everyone was there to witness it." Heath let a single tear roll down his cheek.
"That's awful." Marianne shook her head slowly.
"Barbara started saying that she needed someone who could provide for her. She said that I was no good to anybody and I'd always be a simple farm boy. Paul said that if I had been treating her well, then she would never have turned to him. If I could find the power to move or speak I would have acted on those words, but I was frozen to the spot with heartbreak and humiliation." The redhead looked at Marianne.
"I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine how that would feel." She reached out to touch his hand.
"Now they're all around town like the perfect couple, while everyone still looks at me and remembers the guy who got jilted for his best friend on his wedding day."
"I'm sure they don't all think that…" Marianne assured him as she heard Jack's truck pull up outside.
"I have to go." Heath sighed as he stood up and rushed out of the kitchen.
"Heath, wait!" she sighed as he disappeared.
A few seconds later Jack walked in, closely followed by Rex.
"Where's he going?" the older man asked.
"I don't know." Marianne frowned as Heath's truck roared into life outside.
"He'll be back." Jack nodded as the truck sped off out of the yard.
In fact, Heath still hadn't returned by the time Jack and Marianne were locking up the house. The New York native was anxious about the redhead's well being, but she told herself that Jack knew him better, and he seemed to be calm about the situation. In a typical fashion that very much-reminded Marianne of her father, Jack said that if Heath could not return home before he locked up, then he would be locked out of the house until morning.
"Night Rex." The brunette petted the dog as he curled up on the rug beside her bed, as he had done since her fall. The dog seemed to want to protect her, which was a comfort to the New York native.
Comfortable in her bed once more, Marianne could not help but let her thoughts drift to her father and Phillip. She trusted her father completely, although she could not shake off the feeling that this whole situation could be very dangerous for her father, all alone back in New York. As much as she was settling in to life in West Virginia, the brunette still held hope of returning home and being free of Phillip completely.
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