by Scott, Lisa
This time, as he climbed the stage, Rachel jumped out of her chair and ran to him. He took off his helmet, tossed it aside, and scooped her up, spinning her around. The audience gasped as her hair flew. Then they applauded, and William surprised her with a quick kiss on the lips. That received even more applause, along with a few hoots of approval. Rachel avoided looking at her mother as William carried her off stage.
“I thought you weren’t going to kiss me?” she whispered.
He kissed her again. “I couldn’t help it.”
“Hurry, we have to get back on stage.”
He squeezed her hand. “I need to see you later tonight.”
“My mother might be going out.”
“Excellent. I’ll come around nine o’clock? Should I knock on the door?”
“No. If she’s there and she answers, she’ll never let me see you again.” Rachel tapped her finger on her chin. “How about this? If she’s gone, I’ll leave the window to my bedroom open.”
He toyed with a strand of her hair. “Why don’t you leave a lock of hair hanging out so I know for sure?”
“Sounds like a plan. Now get out there before she gets suspicious.”
William led her back on stage holding her hand. Mother watched them, and she wasn’t smiling. Rachel tried her best to look disinterested, to focus all her attention on the people posing with them. After the last picture, William came up to her.
“Leave, and hopefully I’ll see you later,” she whispered, before ducking behind the curtain, trying to appear absolutely disinterested.
William walked away, and Mother joined her backstage to help her out of her dress.
“How do you think that went?” Rachel asked.
“It went three-hundred fifty dollars well. And you did a fabulous job acting like you’d really found your true love. What do you think of William?” Mother arched an eyebrow.
“William? Oh, he seems nice enough. Plays the role really well. It’s so kind of him to do this for free.”
“He’s handsome,” Mother said.
Rachel scrunched her eyebrows together. “You think so? Well, the women in the audience seem to like him.” She slid into her robe and headed for her room before Mother could trip her up with anymore questions. She sat on her bed, opened a book, and pretended to read while she wondered if William would be next to her in less than an hour.
Mother must not have suspected a thing. She brought Rachel dinner, put on lipstick, and fluffed her hair. “I’ll give you a full report tomorrow morning.”
“Have fun,” Rachel said, her book on her lap, still on the same page she’d first opened to.
Once Mother had been gone for ten minutes, Rachel slid open the window, raised the screen, and snaked out a long, hunk of hair that coiled onto the ground. She sat so that she could gaze out the window, waiting for William. At five past nine, she saw him heading toward the window holding a small, white bag. She smiled at him and he tugged on her hair. “Wanna open the door and let me in?”
“My mother locks it from the outside and takes the key.”
His jaw dropped. “She keeps you locked in here?”
“It’s more like she’s trying to keep people out.”
“What?”
“It’s a long story. She’s trying to protect me, really.” She knelt on the bed and pulled her hair back inside the room. “You should be able to climb in through the window.”
“I forgot my stepladder,” he joked.
She reached out a hand. “A brave knight like you should be able to figure it out.”
He grabbed her hand and gripped the windowsill with the other. She moved aside as William tumbled through the window onto the bed, laughing. Then she tucked her legs off to the side so there was no chance he’d find out about that “horrid thing.” It was still covered up by her boot.
“So this is where you live?” he asked, looking around the room.
She nodded.
“You’ve got some beautiful pictures.” He spotted her camera. “Did you take them?”
“Yes. Some from my window here. Some when we’re on the road. We’ll head south when the season ends.”
“You’re very talented. It’s a shame you can’t do more with it.”
She looked down. “Maybe someday.”
“How long have you been doing this Rapunzel bit?”
“Since I was twelve and my mom had to quit her show.”
“What was that?”
She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
“I see. How much longer do you want to do this?”
“I don’t want to do it anymore. But, what’s she going to do without me?”
He laughed. “She’s an adult. She’ll figure something out.” He opened the little bag that sat in his lap. “Enough talk about the show. Tell me what you think of this.” He pulled out a box of fudge.
Rachel clapped. “Oh, Mother never gets that for me. What flavor is it?”
“I got the sampler. What’s your favorite?”
“I don’t know.”
“Let’s find out.” William broke off a hunk of fudge and brought it to Rachel’s lips.
She closed her eyes and took a bite. She’d read about being fed by a lover. And here she was, doing just that. She let the sweet candy melt on her tongue and sighed. “Vanilla. Very nice.”
He brought another piece to her mouth. This time it was peanut butter. She opened her eyes and smiled. “It was wonderful of you to come here tonight.”
“I’ve been wanting to spend time with you since I first saw you.”
“You kind of caught my eye too.”
“It was the armor, wasn’t it?”
She giggled. “Yes, it was.”
He snapped his fingers. “Should’ve tried that years ago.”
“I’m sure you don’t need armor to meet women.”
“Apparently I do in order to meet women like you.” He cupped her cheek in his hand and brought her lips to his. This time, he kissed her harder. She grabbed his shoulders and kissed him back. He threaded his hands through her hair and leaned into her.
“You’re amazing,” he said.
What was she supposed to do now? Take off his shirt? Take off hers? It happened in so many different ways in all her books. “I want you to show me everything.”
He narrowed his eyes, confused. She popped up an eyebrow, making her intentions quite clear.
He held up a hand and leaned back. “Whoa. If this is your first time even kissing, we need to take things slow. I’m not going to take advantage of you.”
“But, it wouldn’t be taking advantage of me if I asked you to.”
He dragged his hand down his face. “Yes, it would. And I want to get to know you, Rachel. I didn’t just come here to kiss you. I want to know all about you.”
“There’s not much to know, really.”
“Tell me five things I don’t know about you,” he said.
“Okay, but you first,” she countered.
“All right, then. I’m a lousy cook. I’ve burned water. Seriously. If you forget it’s boiling, it all evaporates and burns the pan.”
She laughed.
“I have two younger brothers, I hate spiders, I love Indian food, and you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Her throat tightened. “Thank you.”
“Now your turn,” he said.
She thought for a moment. There was nothing interesting to tell. “Well, you already know about the photography.” She twisted her lips. “I’ve never had a pet. That’s one.” She frowned. “I never knew my father. Actually, my mother’s not sure who my father is. So, that’s another.”
William squeezed her hand. “That’s tough.”
She nodded. Should she tell him about the “horrid thing?” No. Mother said no man would want her if they knew. What would William say if he found out? “Number three, I’m sick of eating carnival food.” She laughed, trying to change the somber mood.
“Like I said, don’t ask me to cook. You’d hate that even more.”
She laughed again.
“Did you always live on the road?” he asked, crossing his long legs on top of her bed.
“No. We used to live in this little country town, Goose Valley. We rented a cute little house by a creek. I liked to pretend I was Laura Ingalls. So, I read a lot. I like to read—I think that’s five, now. Like I said, there’s not much to know.”
“Why did you leave?” he asked.
“I don’t want to talk about that,” Rachel said. “I want to do this again.” She leaned toward him and kissed him. He took her by the shoulders and kissed her back. His hands wandered down and cupped her breasts over her shirt.
She gasped.
“Should I stop?”
She shook her head, and he continued kissing and caressing, and her insides spun so that she couldn’t have formed words even if she wanted.
A while later, he pulled back. “I’d better leave. You shouldn’t have your entire introduction to romance unfold in one night.” He kissed her nose. “When can I come back again?”
“Mother doesn’t leave me alone often. Although she does run out to get me dinner each night. Maybe I can have her look for something difficult to find tomorrow so she’ll be gone for a while,” Rachel suggested.
“You really don’t think she’ll let you out?”
“No.”
“It’s not right, Rachel. Keeping you locked in here like this. You do know that, don’t you?”
She looked away.
“I’m sorry. I just think you deserve more than this. And I think we need to do some more practicing tomorrow.”
“Definitely more practicing.”
***
After the morning show, William practiced different ways to run onto the stage to take Rapunzel away, stealing a few kisses when Rachel’s mother wasn’t watching.
Rachel encouraged her mother to go out more often with Marlene. Mother was more than happy to celebrate their booming business, so Rachel and William had many nights together. He also snuck in through her window for the fifteen minutes or so Mother was out fetching dinner for Rachel. He brought a small stepladder he kept hidden beneath the RV.
But still, they did little more than kiss. Which left Rachel frustrated. But there was the matter of that “horrid thing.” Unless she kept her boots on when they made love for the first time, he’d see it.
***
One night, after a half-hour of kissing, he pulled away. “We need more than this, Rachel. You need more than this. Don’t you think your mom would let you walk around with me?”
Rachel shook her head. “She wants to keep me safe.”
“What does she think will happen to you?”
Rachel winced.
“What is it?”
“The reason we live like we do is to keep me safe. So he can’t find me.”
William’s face paled. “Who?”
“The Woodsman.”
William grabbed her hand and squeezed. “What happened?”
Rachel felt her shoulders curl forward. Her fingers trembled. “We had to leave town. Just packed up everything one night. My mother told me he was coming for me. We left so many things behind.” Tears dripped down her cheeks and she wiped them away with the back of her hand.
He put his arm around her. “How long ago?”
“Fourteen years. I was six.”
“And she’s still so worried about this guy she keeps you locked up at night?”
She rubbed a strand of hair between her fingers. “I’m different, William.”
“Hell, I know that. I told you that when I first met you.”
She shook her head and stared at the white leather boots she always wore around him. She had to find out if Mother was right. Would no man ever want her because of that “horrid thing?” Would William run? “I was born different, and my mother tries to protect me.” She slowly unlaced the boot on her right foot and slipped it off. “I was born without half my leg. I use a wooden leg.”
William reached out and hovered his hand over the fake limb. He ran his fingers down the wood. “This looks hand-carved.”
She nodded. “Mr. Gepetto back in Goose Valley made several for me over the years.”
“There are much more advanced prosthetics available these days, Rachel. Things that could be more comfortable for you.”
“But, isn’t this horrid? Doesn’t this make you want to run?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Not at all. You’re not the only one with an artificial limb. So many soldiers coming home from war have lost arms and legs. People are in accidents. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” He leaned over and kissed the shiny wood. Then he pressed her back against the bed and kissed her. His legs were tangled up with hers.
“But Mother said no man would want me with that.”
“There are a lot of things your mother doesn’t know. I want you, Rachel. I want you to come away with me. Your mother has taken so much of your life from you. It’s time for you to have more. This is no way to live.”
She knew she should protest that she could never leave her mother, but the words wouldn’t come out. Instead, she unbuttoned his shirt, and he pulled off hers.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked.
“If you want me even with this horrid thing, then I want you.”
“It’s not a horrid thing, Rachel. It helps you walk.” He sat back on his haunches then leaned down and kissed her wooden leg again. He unbuttoned his pants and let them slide to the floor. An hour later, lying in his arms, Rachel knew she had to leave her mother. She had to be with William now that he’d shown her the joy that could be hers every day.
***
William left her with kisses and promises to see her the next day. When her mother walked through the door a few moments later, Rachel grabbed a book and pretended to read.
“Rachel? You’re still up?”
Rachel looked up. “Guess I lost track of time. It’s a really good book.”
“What’s it about?”
“About a guy who loves a girl no matter what and wants to take her far away from her horrible home.”
Mother laughed. “Fiction. Pure fiction. A guy will promise that, but it’s just words. Just words to get you to believe them. That they’ll love you. And so then you give them…everything.” Mother closed her eyes and pressed her lips together. “It’s time to get to sleep, Rachel.”
Mother went to her bedroom, leaving Rachel awake most of the night, wondering if that’s what William had done to her. If he’d promised her the world so she’d give him everything.
But William seemed just as enamored with her the next morning during their show, lingering over their onstage kiss. When Mother left to fetch her lunch, he scrambled through the window onto her bed. “Have you thought more about what I said? You can leave with me today. You can stay in my apartment. I’ll take care of you.”
“So you weren’t just saying those things?”
“No. Why would you think that?”
“Mother said—”
He held up a hand. “I don’t want to hear anything else about your mother. What do you want? What do you believe?”
Rachel thought for a moment. She knew she didn’t want to be living this life anymore. And William knew her darkest secret and still wanted her. “I want to go with you.”
“Let’s leave tonight when your mother goes out.”
Rachel took in a long, shaky breath and nodded.
***
Rachel did her best to seem normal during the rest of the shows. She said little when Mother washed her hair, and quickly left William when their shows ended. But her insides were churning. Could she really go through with it? What would Mother do for a living? They’d been making so much money the past few weeks since William had joined them. Surely, she’d be okay for a while. Mother was a survivor. She’d figure something out.
After the last act of the day, Rachel pu
lled on her nightgown, but left her boots on. They took so long to lace up, and she wanted to be ready to leave when William arrived.
Mother came into her room. “Off to bed already?” Mother’s eyes narrowed and swept across Rachel’s body as she lay in bed.
“I’m tired. Don’t worry about hurrying home. I’ll be asleep.”
Mother stared at her. “Are you sure?”
Rachel nodded. “Have fun.”
Mother left, and Rachel waited a few minutes before hopping out of bed. She gathered her camera and clothes, and then realized she didn’t have a suitcase to pack them in.
William appeared at the window and tumbled inside. He grinned. “You ready?”
“I don’t have a bag for my things.”
“We’ll get you one. I’ll help you carry everything.”
Rachel’s bedroom door flew open. Mother stood in the doorway, nostrils flaring, as she took in the scene. “What’s going on here?”
Rachel froze, and William put his arm around her. “Rachel is coming with me.”
“Rachel doesn’t leave the RV. Didn’t you tell him?”
“You don’t understand, Mother. I don’t want to just leave for a little while. I want to leave for good. I don’t want to live like this anymore.”
Mother’s eyes bulged. “Absolutely not. It’s not safe for you. And what will I do without you?” Mother shook her head. “I forbid it.”
Rachel reached a hand out toward her mother. “You’ll figure something out. And so will I.”
“I doubt you know everything about Rachel. There are some things about her that would send you running. Have you seen her leg?”
William stepped forward. “I have. And it’s a shame she’d been saddled with a low quality wooden carving when so many advances have been made in prosthetics. I’m going to help her find something more comfortable. I love her.”
Rachel’s eyes pricked with tears and she smiled at him. “You do?”
“Since I first saw you.”
Rachel sighed. “I wondered if that only happened in romance novels.”
Mother’s sneer hardened into a smile. “Well, it looks like we have a few things to talk about. William, would you please give Rachel and me the evening to discuss this matter? If she still wants to go with you, you can leave in the morning.”