Wildflower

by Prudence MacLeod

  “Yes ma’am, a one way ticket to St. John’s coming right up.”

  “Newfoundland?”

  “Yes ma’am, you did say the first flight.”

  “Yes I did, and that will be just fine.” It was time to start trusting her luck a bit and to throw caution to the winds.

  Hazel

  The tall slim teenager ran easily along the woods road and then up the winding trail toward the cliffs. At nearly five foot eleven, Hazel Fillmore was the tallest person, male or female in the whole school.

  “Why won’t you ever go to the dances?” pestered her girlfriends at school.

  “Because I don’t want to,” replied Hazel each and every time.

  “Why won’t you play on the school basketball team?” she was badgered constantly by her classmates.

  “Because I don’t want to,” Hazel would always reply. “I just like to run for the fun of it.

  She was running today and enjoying it to the limit. Kilometer after kilometer had disappeared beneath her feet and still she was not struggling. Up, up the trail she ran until she came to a secluded spot near the cliffs. Hazel smiled broadly as she coasted to a stop and sank to her knees on a grassy mound. Gently, carefully, she cupped her hands around a small delicate wildflower.

  “Ah my little beauty,” smiled Hazel warmly as she stretched out on her belly in the sun to admire the small yet hardy flower, “when I find someone like you, someone as delicate and beautiful, yet hardy and strong, growing and flourishing in some long forgotten wind blown place, then I will take her dancing for I will have found the one I want to love.”

  “Will I do in the meantime?” asked a deep male voice.

  Startled, Hazel rolled quickly onto her back and tried to crawl away. It was her uncle Avery again. Ever since he’d walked in on her in the bath tub the year she’d turned twelve he’d been trying to put his hands on her. “Stay away from me,” warned Hazel.

  “Oh no my girl,” he grinned toothlessly as he advanced on her, “not this time. This time you have no where to go and no where to hide. I’ll enjoy the sweetness of you this time, now get those short off.” He started to unbuckle his belt as he continued to advance toward her.

  With tears in her eyes, Hazel had dug her fingers into the soil as he spoke, gathering as much dirt into her hand as she could. “Get ‘em off I said,” he snarled as he reached for her.

  Screaming her defiance, Hazel ripped the dirt from the rock and hurled it toward his eyes. He managed to block the dirt, but her long leg lashed out and her foot struck him on the knee. He screamed in pain as his knee snapped and she rolled away out of his reach. Without a single backward glance Hazel Fillmore fled back down the trail toward the village far below.

  As she ran, she tried to brush the remaining dirt from her fingers. In doing so she noticed the small delicate flower still caught in her school ring. Tears filled her eyes again as she reached home and pressed it carefully between the pages of her diary.

  It was nearly ten o’clock that night when the phone rang and her father answered. He spoke for a moment then called Hazel down from her room. “Hazel, you were running up by the cliffs again today weren’t you?”

  “Yes,” she replied warily as she descended the stairs. “Why?”

  “They found Avery up near the top of Fox Point,” he said looking directly into her eyes. “His leg was broken; would you know anything about that?”

  “Why should I?” she asked warily.

  “Walton, what are you on about?” asked Hazel’s mother Lilly as she entered the room from the kitchen.

  “Speak the truth Hazel,” her father said gently. “I promise I won’t punish you if you tell me the truth.” Walton Fillmore was a hard man, but his one pride was the power of his word. Hazel knew she was safe in the truth.

  “I broke it,” she replied softly as she dropped her gaze. “I was up near the top of the Point, resting in the sun, when he came up behind me. He tried to rape me again.”

  “Liar,” spat her mother, “I’ll get the truth from you.” She tried to slap Hazel across the mouth, but Walton caught his wife’s hand and restrained her.

  “I gave Hazel my word, Lilly,” he said coldly; the woman dropped her eyes and turned away.

  “He’s been trying to put his hands on me ever since I was twelve years old and today he caught me alone,” Hazel went on meeting her father’s eyes squarely. “He told me to get my shorts off and he came at me. I threw some dirt at his face and when he tried to protect his eyes I kicked him. I was trying to hit his balls, but I missed and broke his leg. I’ve told you over and over what he was trying to do; why won’t you ever believe me?”

  Walton looked deeply into his daughter’s eyes for a long moment before speaking. “Go to bed now, Hazel,” he said softly. “I’ll call you at first light. I want you to show me where this happened.”

  Hazel gulped and retreated swiftly to her bedroom where she wrote down everything that had happened that day in her diary. “Dad’s the best hunter and tracker in Cumberland County,” she wrote. “By tomorrow he will know the truth and I will be safe from Uncle Avery.”

  Five a.m. found Hazel already awake and dressed. At her father’s soft whistle she hurried silently down the stairs and followed him out the door to the car. He drove to the spot where the trail left the road then followed Hazel up into the woods. Neither spoke a singe word until they arrived at the place where she’d had the close call. “Right over there,” she said pointing at the grassy spot at the edge of the cliff. “I was lying there admiring a small wildflower when he sneaked up behind me.”

  “Stay right there,” said her father as he dropped to a crouch and began to inspect the ground closely. Several minutes of inspection later he rose and faced Hazel again. “I’m deeply sorry, daughter. You’ve been looking to me for help and protection for a long time and I have ignored you because I didn’t want to believe what you were saying. The marks on the ground speak the same words you have spoken; I cannot deny the truth of your complaint any longer. Forgive me, Hazel, I’ve been a fool.”

  “I’ve never done anything to make him do this,” she whispered softly meeting his eyes.

  “I know child,” he sighed deeply as he huge shoulders sagged. “I know you prefer girls.”

  “What????”

  “You’re not as smart as you think you are, Hazel. I’ve seen your head turn a hundred times when a likely lass walks by, but never for a man. No girl, this was Avery’s doing. Relax, Hazel, I have not spoken a word to anyone, nor will I. All I ask is that you wait until you are away from home before you give in to your desires.”

  “I can do it,” replied Hazel fiercely as she met his eyes squarely. “I have one more year of school to go then I’m gone. Can you keep Uncle Avery off me ‘til then?”

  “Avery Spicer will not lay a hand on you in this lifetime,” replied Walton Fillmore heavily. “Just guard your true feelings well.”

  “Dad, why??”

  “Why have I not spoken to you before? Why am I not punishing you now for this? Because it is your nature, Hazel. Should I punish the horse for being a horse? Should I beat the cow for being a cow? No girl, this is your nature, as it was my own when I was young. I will not speak of this again, nor will you.”

  “You Dad? Why tell me?”

  “One dread secret for another, Hazel,” he sighed deeply. “I’ll keep yours and you will keep mine. Fear not for Avery Spicer, your mother’s brother will trouble you no more. Hurry home now girl, you have to get to school. I’ll walk back; I need time to think.” With a nod, she turned and fled toward the car and home.

  Avery Spicer sat glaring at the television and nursing another beer when there was a loud knock on his door. The huge cast on his leg and the crutches he had to use prevented him from getting up. “Come on in,” he bawled, “I can’t open it for you.”

  “There’s no need Avery,” said a cold steely voice behind him, “I am quite capable of opening a door myself.” Walton Fillmore was
a huge man possessing terrifying strength and a temper to match. The one thing every man in the county tried to avoid was incurring his wrath. Avery knew by the tone of that voice that he was doomed.

  “Walt,” he whined as he struggled to his feet, “I don’t know what the child told you, but...”

  “She told me the truth, Avery, as she has been doing for years. This morning she took me up to the point where I read the truth of it for myself. The tracks on the ground never lie, Avery, only men do.”

  “Walt, please...”

  “I imagine she asked the same thing of you, Avery,” replied Walton as he advanced on his quarry. “I expect you didn’t listen either. Now then, I am about to give you a sample of what you can expect, if I ever hear of you being within a mile of my daughter again.” Avery Spicer tried to scream, but he had no chance.

  Walton Fillmore carried his unconscious brother-in-law into the infirmary as easily as a woman carries a child. “Avery didn’t make it all the way up the stairs,” he said softly as he laid the man’s battered body on the stretcher. “I will leave him here with you, as I have work to attend to.”

  Hazel returned home from school to learn that her uncle had slipped with his crutches and fallen down the stairs. He now had several bad bruises and cracked ribs to go along with his broken leg. Hazel noted the bruising on her father’s knuckles, but she said nothing.

  In the weeks to follow, Hazel started to go to the school dances; she even joined the basketball team. It was driving her crazy, but she was determined to stay hidden until she could get out into the world. One night she took a wild chance and allowed Tommy Reid to walk her home from the dance. All the way along the road he behaved himself perfectly and he didn’t even try to kiss her goodnight. When he asked her out the next day, she agreed to go.

  Hazel had truly enjoyed the movie and Tommy had behaved himself completely the whole time. She got a bit nervous when he turned off the main road on the way home and parked where there was a great view of the Bay of Fundy. She sat very still as he put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her awkwardly. When he tried again, she pushed him away. “Tommy, don’t...”

  “So it’s true then,” sighed the slim red haired boy as he turned back to the view, and withdrawing his arm, relaxed back into his seat.

  “What’s true?” she asked as she squirmed over tight to her door and gripped the handle fiercely.

  “You’re a lezzie,”

  “Screw you, Tommy Reid, you bastard,” she spat as she struck at his face again and again. Tommy did nothing to stop her; he just protected his face so she was punching his open palms. Hazel continued to flail and swear at him with tears flowing down her cheeks. Finally she ran out of gas and just lay against the seat of the old car crying softly.

  “It’s Ok, Hazel,” he said softly as he gently patted her hand, “I was really hoping you were.”

  “What??? Tommy Reid, are you completely nuts?”

  “Completely gay,”

  “Excuse me? Did I get that right?”

  “You heard it right, Hazel.”

  “So why the hell did you ask me out then?”

  “Because I need you, Hazel, and you need me.”

  “Oh yeah? What do I need you for?”

  “Listen Hazel,” he said gently as he turned back to face her again, “I know what things are like for me, and I suspect they are much the same for you. You know how folks are around here. If you haven’t gotten at least one girl pregnant by grade nine, you’re suspect, and the whole gang is on your case to perform.”

  “Keep going,” she said softly, relaxing a bit at last, “I’m listening.”

  “Well, I thought if I had a girlfriend and you had a boyfriend, they would get off our backs. We only have this last year to go then we can get the hell out of here and lead a real life somewhere. I just though this would make it easier for the both of us.”

  “You’d better not be playing with me, Tommy,” she said severely. “If you’re messing with me I’ll tell my dad you raped me.”

  Tommy blanched at that. “Jesus Hazel, don’t ever kid about a thing like that,” he exclaimed hastily, shrinking back a bit from her. Walton Fillmore’s reputation was formidable indeed.

  “I’m not kidding,” she replied as she gazed deeply into his eyes. “Mess with me on this and I promise, that’s the price you pay.”

  “I’m not messing with you, Hazel. I need you to help me here.”

  “Ok, then I guess you’re my boyfriend for the rest of the year. Just tell me one thing, why did you kiss me?”

  “I wanted to see if it would really taste as bad as I imagined,” he grinned.

  “Screw you, Tommy Reid,” she exclaimed as she punched him hard on the arm. He winced as she hit him again, but she was giggling this time. “Brat,” she growled as she slid over and nestled against his shoulder. “Do you really think this will work, Tommy?”

  “It will if we try,” he replied as he put his arm around her shoulders and lightly kissed the top of her head. “It’s just got to work, Hazel; I don’t think I can make it if it doesn’t.”

  “You’ve got to make it, Tommy, you’re the only friend I’ve got and I want you to last. You’d better give me your school ring too.”

  “My ring?”

  “All the girls wear their guy’s ring. No one will believe a word of it unless I have the evidence.”

  “Yes dear,” he grinned as he removed the ring from his hand and gave it to her.

  “I’ll give it back after grad,” she whispered softly.

  “Thanks honey.”

  “Tommy, I know that kissing me is pretty tough on you,” giggled Hazel as they pulled into her driveway, “but we’ll have to do it once in a while just for show.”

  “Tell the truth,” he grinned, “you liked it.”

  “Jerk,” she muttered as she punched his shoulder again. “Night sweetheart.”

  “Night lover,” he laughed gently. “See you at school tomorrow?”

  “Come for me, we’ll walk together.”

  Somehow they made it work. Everybody accepted the charade at face value, everybody except Walton Fillmore and he kept his peace on the subject. Tommy came often for dinner and to study, and Hazel was often in the Reid home as well. They exchanged gifts at Christmas and even took dancing lessons together as well. The local folk often spoke of what a handsome couple they made and wanted to know when they would marry.

  It was the most peaceful year of school Hazel had ever had. She and Tommy were like brother and sister and her uncle had taken work in Alberta as soon as he was out of hospital. It was with great hope for the future that Hazel Fillmore packed her bags to take the train to Toronto. She had been accepted into U of T and she had her student loan money in hand. She and Tommy had said their goodbyes as he headed out for Vancouver and now it was Hazel’s turn.

  “You’ve got a chance now, girl;” said Walton Fillmore gently as he stood on the platform waiting to put his only daughter on the train, “don’t waste it. Make sure it is right for you.”

  “I will, Daddy,” she smiled softly, “I promise.”

  “Send me a picture when you find what you’re looking for.”

  “I will,” she promised. Suddenly she hurled herself into his arms and hugged him fiercely. “Thank you for understanding.” With that she stepped away from him and boarded the train. Two days later Hazel Fillmore arrived in an alien world.

  On The Rock

  It was a clear day and Abby was actually enjoying the view of the city as the plane circled St. John’s, waiting for its turn to land. The three of days rest in the hotel had done her a world of good and had given her time to think. Abby’s entire life plan, complete with career ambitions as well as the good marriage had just been blown apart. “Sometimes life wants you to go in another direction Abby,” her grandmother had said many times. “Life is what happens while you’re making other plans.” Abby couldn’t argue with that so she was now planning to cruise a bit and wait for
life to point her in the right direction.

  Abby smiled in spite of herself as the plane descended through a clear blue sky and came to a smooth gentle stop. She made her way through the airport, found a cart for her baggage, and retrieved it from the carousel. Pushing the cart through the doors, she hailed a cab and the driver quickly installed the baggage in the trunk and Abby in the back seat. “Where to Miss?” he asked, obviously awed by the rather dazzling blonde.

  Abby sighed and thought for a moment. “I need a descent hotel near shopping, banks, and car dealers,” she replied in those sweet rich tones. “Where do you recommend?”

  “Well ma’am, that’s a tall order,” he replied respectfully, “but there is one place we could try. It’s not a hotel, but it is a B&B and it does have all the other requirements.”

  “And it’s run by your mother?”

  “My nan actually,” he blushed. “How did you know?”

  “I’ve lived in San Francisco for a time,” she grinned. “Every cabbie there has a brother or uncle who has exactly what you need.”

  “I wasn’t ragging you Miss,” he said sheepishly. “Nan’s is a nice place; it’s just not in a good tourist location. It is close to the university, the mall, and a couple of banks as well as a few car lots. It’s an easy walk to everything for you and she’s quite reasonable.”

  “All right I’ll check it out,” laughed Abby, “but if you’re lying to me I’ll put the hex on you.”

  “No ma’am, not a word of a lie, I swear it. I’ll just call her to let her know we’re coming.” He whipped out his cell phone and dialed quickly. “Hi Nan, it’s Billy. I’ve got a customer for you. We’re on our way over right now.” He popped the car into gear and pulled out of the parking lot, chatting easily about the weather as he headed across town to his grandmother’s B&B.

  Abby absentmindedly listened to his chatter and gazed out the window as the city passed by her view. True to his word, Abby could see the mall, with bank and car lot right nearby. The cab pulled up to a well kept older home with a grey haired woman waiting at the door. “This is my Nan Parsons,” said the cabbie by way of introduction as he held the car door open for Abby.