Chapter 13
From the Tales of Flynnagan Rider
The Things We Do For Love (cont'd)
Danielle and I rode around the grounds of her estate and I brought her back the house, but she begged me not to leave her alone. So I waited with her most of the night until her parents returned from my father's funeral.
They were so distraught at finding me keeping her company that they sent me from the house all the while scolding Danielle on how she was engaged to be married and how it wasn't proper to be seeing a man, especially a man of reputation and stature, all the while forgetting that I was also betrothed.
And so the future looked rather bleak as Max and I galloped towards home, even though my heart wasn't in it. I would have to accept my rather dismal fate and was prepared for anything to come my way.
After securing Maximus in his stall, I ran into the house to find Greta bending over my mother. I asked what was wrong and Greta explained that my mother had felt ill rather suddenly and had to send everyone home. She asked me to go into the village and fetch the doctor. Greta also informed me that Delia had suddenly disappeared as well. My mother went looking for her, thinking that the two of us went for walk in the gardens. When Greta hadn't seen her, she searched everywhere and found her face down in the grass by the bushes. She brought her back to the house and tried to revive her with little success.
It was assumed the Mother hadn't taken my father's death well.
And so I went back to the stables and rushed into Corona village in search of a doctor.
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Eugene and Rapunzel rushed to get back to the mansion. Greta and Eric were making conversation when he saw Eugene and Rapunzel enter the guest house together.
Greta got up from the table. "Where have the two of you been?" She looked at Rapunzel and then at Eugene. "Your mother was worried sick. She's called here half a dozen times looking for you."
Eugene looked into Rapunzel's eyes longingly. He didn't want to leave, he wanted to know what spooked her at the King's estate this afternoon. He couldn't imagine what would suddenly set her off.
"Mrs. Gothel, please," Eugene said, as Eric stood up. "I just need a few minutes alone with Rapunzel. She's obviously…"
"I can handle that, Fitzherbert," Eric said, his brown eyes gazing angrily into Eugene's. "Thanks all the same. We're engaged you know."
Eugene stared back. "I know all about it, Carver. And let me tell you something. If you hurt her in any way, shape or form, you'll live to regret it."
And with a last look into Rapunzel's pleading eyes, he turned and marched angrily out the door with the three of them looking on.
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"All right," Eric said, as he walked out into the gardens with Rapunzel. It was almost nightfall, that time between dusk and darkness. "What was that all about? And why weren't you there to pick me up from the airport?"
Rapunzel stopped walking and stared at him. "I was there, Eric. Eugene came to get me when they posted that your flight was delayed. I was waiting for your call and never got it." She shrugged. "I suppose we just lost track of time. She crossed her arms. "I also heard someone else picked you up. Someone called Donna King, the woman engaged to Eugene?"
Eric stared back at her. "The first person I saw was Donna. She told me that she came with you, but that you just disappeared with Eugene and …"
Rapunzel frowned. "That's a big lie, Eric Carver. I went there alone, by bus. I don't have a clue why Donna was there, she must have followed me or Eugene to the airport." She looked into his eyes. "You've been acting really strange lately, Eric. And I'll tell you the truth. I've heard rumors that you've been cheating on me. That you just can't keep your grubby little hands of yours off the ladies and that includes Donna King. Is it true? Have I done something wrong to make you act this way?"
Eric eyes shifted away from hers, "Rapunzel, listen I…" His voice trailed off and then he looked down at his feet. It was as if he was afraid to look at her.
"Well," she demanded. "Is it true or isn't it?"
She waited several seconds, but no answer came. They just stared at one another.
"Alright," Rapunzel said, a little quieter this time. "If it's true, which I think it is, why in the world did you ask me to marry you and why in the world didn't I see this coming in the first place?"
It was then that Greta came storming out of the guest house. "Rapunzel," she called out to the two of them. "Come quickly, it's Barbara Fitzherbert. She needs our help."
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Eugene called the doctor after Greta had revived her with CPR. Eugene ferried all six of them over to the hospital in his parent's new Mercedes. No one knew what was wrong; Eugene had found her that way when he walked in the house.
Now they all stood in the waiting room of the ER waiting to hear the diagnosis.
Greta hadn't wanted to go, but Eugene insisted that he wanted a friendly face there. She hadn't told any of them that she had been let go or about the pending investigation that was going on. Only her mother had known that and she wasn't about to let on. Not yet anyway. Maybe Olivia would respond positively to this small act of kindness and let her stay a bit longer. She was still sure that everything would be fine, that there was nothing more to worry about.
And so Greta kept her eyes on the door to the emergency room waiting nervously for the doctor to arrive and fill them in on what exactly what was wrong.
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Donna and Eugene stood quietly off to one side while Rapunzel and Eric stood on the other. Both couples were silent with Eugene constantly glancing in Rapunzel's direction every once in a while. Eric and Donna also cast glances at each other, knowing that something was wrong.
"Rapunzel," Eric said, but she shook her head.
"Not now, Eric. We'll talk about this later." She stood up. "I'm getting a bottle of water from the machine over there. Do you want some? I suddenly got very thirsty.."
It was then that the ER doors swung open to reveal the young doctor. He gestured to Greta, Eugene and Rapunzel to come over as he had been directed to do by Olivia Fitzherbert.
.