CHAPTER 6: Courage and Love

Bobby closed the door behind him.

He went downstairs and he went in the living room when Christopher was waiting for him.

Christopher got up when he came in the room.

'Dad!' he said, walking over him, 'What happened to Ann?'.

'Harris Ryland, her ex-husband, tried to abuse her but she pushed him away and he slapped her' Bobby said with a sad-angry tone.

'What?'. Christopher couldn't believe what Bobby said to him. 'How is Ann now?'.

'She's fine, just shocked' Bobby responded to him, 'But she said that she was used to it, he hurt her again in the past' Bobby said.

'He has to pay for that. What are you gonna do?' Christopher said.

'I don't know. I promised to her that I won't do anything stupid against him' Bobby said with an insecure tone.

'But you have to. I know you're thinking about what to do' Christopher said, 'If you need some help, you just have to tell me'.

'Thank you, son' Bobby touched Christopher's shoulder.

'I can see how much you care about her' Christopher said.

'I really do care about her' Bobby said with a smile.

'Apparently she stole your heart' Christopher said with a funny tone.

'Oh, damn, she did' Bobby responded to him.

'I'm so happy for you, daddy. You deserve it' he said.

'Thanks, son' Bobby smiled.

Christopher's phone started ring so he went out.

Bobby went to his office, trying to find a way to punish Harris.

He sat at his desk.

*I have to find a way, for Ann. But what?*

Ann trusted him, he had to help her.

No matter what.

Few hours later.

Ann got up in Bobby's bedroom. She was surprised that she got some sleep.

Her lip wasn't too swollen and it didn't hurt anymore.

Someone knocked at door.

'Come in' Ann said.

'I'm sorry, Ma'am, but someone wants to see you' Carmen said with a quite tone.

'Thank you. I'll be downstairs in a minute' Ann said.

She got up and she saw that her bags were near to the bed.

Ann combed her hairs and she went downstairs.

She couldn't believe that.

Not again.

Harris was near the kitchen table.

*How did he find me? What the hell he wants?*

'Hi Ann' Harris said.

'How did you find me? What do you want again?' she said out loud.

Bobby heard her and he was coming in the kitchen. He was next to her.

'Harris Ryland. What are you doing in my home?' Bobby asked.

'And you call this a "Welcome"?' Harris said with a funny tone. 'By the way, I'm here for Ann, not for you'.

'What do you want from her?'. The anger was growing in Bobby, she could see it.

Ann was scared, Bobby and Harris in the same room, in front of each other.

'She's my ex-wife and I have every right to talk to her' Harris said.

'Not anymore' Ann said out loud.

She wanted to cry, but she had to be strong.

'I invite you to leave this house before someone gets hurt, Harris' Bobby said with a serious tone.

Harris started laugh. Ann knew that laugh, he didn't want to give up on her.

'What do you wanna do? Shot me?' Harris said, laughing.

'GO, Harris. Leave this house and don't ever come back' Ann said to her ex-husband.

*How could I marry a man like this? Such a piece of work*.

'I just want to talk with you, Ann' Harris said with a false sad tone.

Harris took a step closer to her.

'Leave!' Bobby said out loud putting himself ahead of Ann, between her and Harris.

'This is not you're business, Ewing man' Harris said, trying to provoke him.

'Oh, it is. You're in my house and you came here just to hurt Ann' Bobby responded to him.

Ann was so scared. Something bad was going to happen, but she didn't know what to do.

'I got it now. You're in love with Ann' Harris said, 'Take it as an advice, don't trust her, she's a slut'.

Bobby punched him as soon as Harris said that word.

Ann came in front of Bobby and she said 'No, Bobby. This is what he wants, makes you the guilty one'.

She tried to convince him.

Ann didn't notice that Harris came behind her.

He punched Bobby.

Bobby fell at the ground.

'NO!' Ann screamed, she reached him. 'Bobby, are you okay?'

'I'm fine' he said, touching her face.

She knew Harris was still there, watching at them.

'Oh look at this. What a beautiful picture' Harris said with a sarcastic tone, 'I'm about to cry'.

It was too much. Ann couldn't bear it.

She got up and she turned to Harris.

'Listen to me, Harris!' she said with an harsh tone, 'leave this home, NOW! Leave me alone, for good'.

Ann was surprised, she had never felt so strong in her life.

'Harris, you have to move on. Stay with you sociopathic mother and stay out of my life' she continued.

In the meantime, Bobby got up.

'Oh com'on Annie' Harris said to her, 'You can't do this to me'.

Harris touched her shoulder.

Not again.

Ann slapped him, so thigh.

Harris was watching her, surprised.

'Leave!' she said out loud.

He didn't expect it.

'NOW!' Ann screamed.

Harris watched Bobby and he left the house.

Bobby couldn't believe it.

Ann slapped Harris.

'Annie' he said, reaching her.

She turned to him.

'Are you okay?' Bobby asked.

'I couldn't be happier. I finally found the strength to face him and I beat him' Ann said, smiling.

'You did. I'm so happy for you, honey' Bobby said to her, 'You can be happy again from now'.

'I want to be happy with you, Bobby' she said, wrapping her hands around his neck.

'I love you, Annie' he said.

'I love you too, Bobby'.

They kissed.

Someone opened the sliding door behind them.

Bobby and Ann turned to it.

Christopher.

'I just saw Harris, leaving Southfork' he said, 'Is everything all right?'.

'Ann just slapped him and he walked away' Bobby said

Christopher watched Ann, surprised.

'It's true' Ann said and a beautiful smile appeared on her face.

'That's great. You rock, Ann' he said.

Ann smiled to him.

'Oh I almost forgot it' he said, 'Welcome home, Ann'.

'Thank you, Christopher' she said.

Bobby was so pleased that his son liked Ann, it meant a lot for him.

'Christopher, can I talk to you for a minute in my office?' Bobby asked to his son.

'Sure, dad' he responded to him.

Bobby turned to Ann, 'Honey, I'll be right back, okay?'.

'Sure, I'll take a look at the house in the meantime' Ann said.

'Make yourself at home' Bobby said, smiling at her.

She smiled back.

Bobby and Christopher went in the office.

Bobby sat on his desk and Christopher was in front of him.

'Christopher, I know you said that you want me to be happy and I'm very happy Ann' Bobby didn't know how to go on.

'I really meant that and I really like Ann' Christopher said.

'So if I will ask to Ann to marry me, and if she will accept..' Bobby tried to finish the sentence.

'It'd be a honor for me to be your groomsman' Christopher said, smiling.

Bobby couldn't help but smile.

'Thank you, son'.

They hugged.

Bobby went back of his desk, he took off the picture on the wall and he opened the safe.

It was there, in that little blue box.

Bobby took it and closed the safe. He turned to Christopher.

'I have to go now, son. I have something to do' Bobby said to him.

'See you later, dad' he responded to him.

Bobby went out of his office and he went in the kitchen.

He was looking for Ann.

She was sitting on the couch. She got up when she saw him.

'Annie, come with me. I have to show you something' Bobby said to her, reaching her.

'Where are we going?' she asked with a surprised tone.

Bobby hold her hand and they started walk out of the house.

'It's a surprise' Bobby said, smiling.

They went to the car.

Bobby opened her the door, as always, then he got in too.

He started to drive.

Ann hadn't idea where Bobby was going.

They were in a woods, not too far from the house.

He stopped the car in front of a big oak.

They went out of the car.

Bobby hold her hand and they went near to the oak.

'What is this, Bobby?' she asked.

There were carved a lot of names.

Ann read "Bobby + Pam".

*Pam is Bobby's first wife. He mentioned her during their first date, in Southfork* she thought.

'This is a special oak, Annie. There are my parents, Jock and Miss Ellie. JR and Sue Ellen. Christopher and Carmen's daughter, Elena..' Bobby said.

'You and Pamela..' Ann said it first.

'She is the past, you are my present' Bobby said, watching her.

He knelt down.

Ann couldn't believe it.

'And I'd love to have you in my future!' Bobby said, smiling.

Bobby took a little box from his pocket and he opened it.

'Ann Smith, will you marry me?' Bobby asked.

'My God, Bobby!'. Ann was so surprised and incredibly happy. 'I will. I will marry you, Bobby'.

He took her hand and he put that beautiful ring on her finger.

She couldn't be happier.

Bobby got up and kissed her so romantically.

It was a never ending kiss.

Ann loved the feelings that she was feelings.

'I love you, Bobby' she said, hugging him.

'I love you too, Annie' Bobby said to her. 'Wait a minute'.

Bobby went to the car.

Ann was staring that beautiful ring on her finger, when Bobby came back with a knife.

'It's time to put our names on this oak' Bobby said, starting to carve their names.

"BOBBY + ANN" he carved on a vertical way.

*Bobby's so cute and lovely* she thought.

Bobby turned to her.

'So, what do you think?' he asked.

'It's perfect' she said, wrapping her hands around his neck. 'I love you, Bobby'.

Everything was just perfect, Bobby, the proposal and then the oak.

'I love you, future Mrs Ewing' Bobby said, laughing.

They kissed.

'We just have to decide the day' Bobby said.

Ann couldn't wait for so long.

They were holding each other's hands.

'As soon as we can' she said, 'I can't wait to be your wife'. She smiled

He smiled back.

'Why don't we go abroad for the wedding?' Bobby suggested.

Ann watched Bobby surprised.

'Like where?' she asked.

'What do you think about Hawaii? Just me, you, Christopher and Sue Ellen' he said.

'Oh Bobby, you're so romantic' she kissed him. 'I would love to marry you on the beach'.

He smiled to her.

'I have some business to take care of before leave Dallas' Bobby said, 'What do you think? Seven days from today?' Bobby suggested.

'Can't wait, Bobby' she said with a big smile on her face.

They kissed, romantically.