Chapter 14

From the Tales of Flynnagan Rider

The Ride of Your Life

The physician followed me back to the cottage although his horse could never keep up with Maximus. Even though he was retired, Max could still run with the best of them. He left Dr, Martin and Socrates in the dust so to speak, which is what the doctor was brushing off his clothes as he walked through the door.

"Which room, Rider?" Arthur asked, still brushing off his clothes with his hand. "Oh and can you please tell Farnsworth to get me a small hand broom?"

"Is that where the line comes from? You and the horse you rode in on?"

Dr. Martin looked up at my face. He didn't even crack a smile.

"Where is she, Rider? I came here to look at your mother."

"We've put her in her bedroom," I answered. "I'll show you exactly where,"

I was about to lead the good doctor to my mother's bedroom, when there was a knock on the front door.

I turned in surprise. Dr. Martin looked at me. "You expecting anyone?"

I shook my head. "Look, my mother's room is that way, off to the right. I'll be there shortly."

I ran to the door and opened it. There, at my doorstep, stood my mortal enemy, Danielle's intended, Ethan Carver,

"Ah, if it isn't Mr. Ethan Carver," I said, smiling. "And what can I do for you on this fine afternoon?"

Ethan smiled. "Don't give me that polite crap, Rider. You know we never liked one another."

I smiled. "So what brings you here on this fine afternoon, Carver? Or maybe I know already?"

Ethan smiled. "You might be right, Rider. I'm sure you know why I'm here?"

"It's Danielle, isn't it?" I looked him straight in the eye. "And you want to defend her honor, even if you don't really love her?"

Ethan stared. "I love her, Rider, a lot more than you'll ever know. And yes, pick a date and a weapon and let me know what time tomorrow morning. There we can get this over with." He held out his hand and I took it in my own.

I gave it a vigorous shake.

"May the best man win?" I said "Now if you'll excuse me, I have more pressing matters to attend to.

And I shut the door in his face.

XXXX

Eugene watched Greta and Rapunzel enter the guesthouse and closed the front door behind them. Eric was enjoying the warm night air and decided to take a walk in the garden alone. At least that's what it looked like.

He watched as Eric lowered his head and disappeared around the bend. He couldn't believe he was actually contemplating joining that man out there, but this had to get straightened out. He was still a bit shocked at what his mother had told the three of them before she fell asleep.

The three of them were clustered around the foot of Olivia's hospital bed. She had been moved to her own private room.

"Now that I've got the three of you here, I have many things to tell you. First of all, I have to thank Greta for saving my life and alerting the two of you of my change of plans."

We know those, don't we, Eugene had thought, but never said anything to her.

He remembered that she called Greta over first and explained that even though the investigation was still going on, she wanted her and Rapunzel to stay as long as they wanted. She had been wrong and she was coming over to tell her so. She was only abiding by her husband's wishes, which she had discovered in the safe that morning after she had let Greta go.

Rapunzel came next. She asked her stay on here, that there was a job already set up for her, if she accepted the position. Olivia mentioned that it was far less than what she was doing already, but there was a future in it. It was something that Linus had wanted for a long time, but never asked for.

And it had to do with her painting.

She called him next and what she said was something that he never expected her to say,

She pulled him aside after Rapunzel and Greta left the room. He sat down next to her on the bed.

"Eugene," she began, "I guess I haven't been paying attention too much to your wishes and dreams lately, have I?"

"I don't know what you mean, Mother?"

Olivia smiled. "Of course you do, Eugene. I can tell, believe me. I know how in love you are with Rapunzel. A mother can always tell. And so, I was thinking that if she stayed on here, you two can get married and the three of you…"

"Hold it mother," he had said, frowning. "You were pretty adamant about me marrying Donna."

Olivia smiled. "I know. You're father was against it sending her away. He thought that the two of you were always close and he believed that someday the two of you would marry.

She looked up at him. I guess I've been ignoring how you feelings for Rapunzel the last few days. You see, there's a reason that I pushed you and Donna together. I thought that she was better for you. I thought that she would calm you down and stabilize you, Eugene. You needed to get you act together."

"So what made you change your mind?" he asked her.

She smiled, "It happened the minute that you ran out of here, Eugene. There was a knock at the door and she ran to open it up. I guess she thought it was you because I heard her calling out your name. But it turned out to be Eric who had taken a cab from the airport. Donna had answered the door before I could get there, but when I did, I just couldn't believe my eyes. But I knew then and there that you two didn't belong together."

That's when the nurse had walked in and shooed him out of the room. His mother had been right, he never loved Donna, not once. He hadn't realized it before, but he knew now. He knew from the minute Rapunzel came back who he was in love with.

Eugene still stood at the open door. He had made up his mind. He was going to talk to Eric and straighten this whole thing out tonight no matter how long it took.