Rock Hard Seal: A Navy Seal & A Virgin Romance

by Rye Hart

  The night before the wedding, Silla decided to take a walk in town to calm her nerves. Suddenly, shots rang out and three men on horseback tore out from the alley, striking her as they galloped past. A group of people in the saloon heard the commotion and came running outside to see what all the clamor was about. The barkeep, Bill, spotted Silla’s still form on the ground, blood pooling beneath her head. He gently lifted her and carried her to Dr. Novak’s office while word was sent to Lance on the ranch that his fiancé was gravely injured.

  Silla lay unconscious for several four hours with a nasty gash on her head. When she came to, she felt someone by her side.

  “Ellie? Ellie is that you?” she asked thickly, her tongue feeling like it was coated in syrup.

  “Yes Miss Silla it’s me.”

  “Ellie please turn a light on. It’s so dark in here.”

  Ellie looked at Dr. Novak and the man moved closer to Silla.

  “Miss Montgomery, I’m Dr. Novak. Can you see me?”

  “I’m sure I will be able to as soon as you turn a light on,” she repeated..”

  He looked at Ellie with some concern and excused himself. He walked out to the waiting area, where Lance and Ben were waiting

  “How is she doc?” Lance asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

  “She has no broken bones and a deep gash on her head which I’ve sewn up. At this point, my biggest concern is that she is unable to see.”

  “She can’t see?” Lance whispered.

  “It appears so, yes,” Dr. Novak said apologetically.”

  “Well isn’t there something you can do?” he pleaded.

  “Right now all we can do is wait. There is a chance that it could be temporary.”

  It was Ellie who held Silla’s hand when Dr. Novak told her she couldn’t see.

  “Now Miss Montgomery this doesn’t mean it’s permanent. You took a hard blow to the head and you might just need time to heal,” he offered.

  “Tell me honestly doctor, do you really believe this is just temporary, or am I truly blind?” she asked quietly

  “Honestly Miss Montgomery, there is just no way of knowing,” Dr. Novak admitted.

  Silla sat in stunned silence as Jake came in with Lance. Jake rushed to his sister and threw his arms around her.

  “Silla it’s me Jake,” he said.

  Silla smiled, trying not to let Jake see her fear. “I know Jake, I heard you coming in. You’re wearing the spurs Ben gave you.”

  She put her hand on his cheek and felt a slight wetness.

  “What’s this? Now we aren’t crying are we? This is just a temporary thing and when this is all over you’ll be ready to show me how well you ride. You’re still practicing aren’t you?”

  “Yes Silla.”

  Lance knew what she was doing, taking the boy’s worry on herself and letting him concentrate on something else. Ellie took Jake’s hand and led him to the waiting area.

  “Come on Jake let’s let Lance sit a bit with Silla.”

  Ellie and Jake made their way out of the room as Lance noted the tears rolling down Silla’s cheeks. He moved closer to her and took her hand.

  “Silla, you know you’re going to see again,” he tried to reassure her.

  “That’s kind of you to say so Lance, but there is no guarantee.” Silla shook her head and began to cry harder. “And now all of our plans are ruined,” she sobbed.

  “What do you mean, ruined?” Lance asked, squeezing her hand in his.

  “You can’t marry me Lance, not now. You can’t take care of me and the ranch, it’s just too much. I’m so sorry,” she sniffled.

  Lance thought for a moment before speaking. What if she was right?

  “Let’s not think about that right now Silla,” he said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “We will postpone the wedding for a month or two until you are feeling better,” he offered.

  She removed her hand from his and shook her head.

  “That is very sweet if you Lance but what if I never recover? No, you should move on and try to find someone else,” she said.

  Lance looked at her as tears continued to roll down her cheeks. How he wanted to tell her that in the short time they had been together he had come to grow very fond of her. If he was honest with himself, he was falling in love with her. He didn’t care about the ranch or his grandfather’s stupid clause anymore. He only cared about Silla and wanted to make her his wife. But what if she didn’t feel the same?

  “Well I’m gonna let you rest a bit. I’ll be back in a while,” he said softly as he leaned down and kissed her forehead.

  “Now don’t you go run off with some no account cowboy while I’m gone,” he said, trying to elicit a smile.

  Silla offered a weak laugh and turned away from Lance a he left the room.

  Once in the waiting area, Lance looked at Dr. Novak.

  “You have to help her doc,” he said thickly.

  “Lance, I wish I could, but there is nothing we can do but wait.”

  “Well who can help her, and how can we get him here?” Lance demanded.

  Doctor Novak understood Lance’s concern and telling him to wait a few weeks would be of no comfort to him today. It was clear that Lance was deeply in love with Silla and would do anything to help her.

  “I can make some inquiries.”

  “I don’t about the expense you just get them here,” Lance ordered.

  With that, Lance turned on his heel and stalked out of the doctor’s office.

  At Lance’s insistence Jake and Ellie were taken to the ranch and Ben was ordered to drive them into town whenever they wanted to see Silla. Ben did not mind the charge as he had become quite fond of the three. Each day he would take Ellie and Jake in to see Silla, and each evening Lance would come in to stay with her until dark. He would spend long hours with her on the porch just outside her room upstairs of the doctor’s office. It is on one of those evenings that Silla begins to realize that though her sight was still gone, she was beginning to develop her other senses. It is also on one of those evenings that she finally admitted to herself that she was in love with Lance. As they sat on the balcony one evening, she could hear music from the Silver Slipper on the other end of town.

  “The music is so lovely Lance. Almost makes me want to get up and dance,” she said.

  She turned her head in his direction and Lance saw the smile on her lips. It was the first time in weeks that he had seen her smile.

  “Then, would you care to dance?” he asked.

  The smile vanished from her lips and she began to play with the cuff of her sleeve.

  “I’m afraid I’d do nothing but trip over myself and step all over your feet,” she said softly.

  Lance stood up and took her hands in his, gently lifting her from the chair.

  “You can dance, and I’m gonna show you that you can.”

  “Lance, what on earth-”

  He pulled her close to him and held her in his arms gently swaying to the music.

  “See, nice and easy. You’re a wonderful dancer you’ll be dancing at our wedding in a few months.”

  He twirled her around and her smiled returned. Silla gave herself over to the music and to Lance’s lead, feeling that as long as she was in his arms, she was safe. She attempted to step away from him a bit and felt herself falter. Lance grabbed her and pulled her closer to him.

  “Hold on to me Silla. Don’t think of anything else but holding on to me. Can you feel my arm around your waist? Know that I am holding you and I’m never letting you go,” he whispered.

  “Lance-”

  “Shhh Silla, I will never let you go,” he repeated.

  The music stopped and Lance still held her in his arms. The feel of her heart beating next to his was something he wanted to feel forever. He took her hand and put it on his heart.

  “Can you feel that? That’s my heart Silla. It’s professing my love for you.”

  Silla placed her head on his chest and smiled, “It beats t
he same as mine,” she said.

  Lance led her back to her chair and helped her to sit.

  “Thank you for the dance, my lady,” he said.

  “The pleasure was mine, good sir,” she answered, smiling.

  As Lance made his way back home that evening he knew that he would keep his promise to Silla and he would never let her go.

  The next day, Doctor Novak had some news for Lance. He rode out to the ranch to tell Lance that a fine doctor from Denver had offered to come to Cheyenne to see Silla.

  “You’ve heard of this doctor?” Lance asked, feeling hopeful.

  “He’s excellent in this field and eager to meet Silla,” the doctor said.

  Lance gave the go ahead to fund the specialist’s trip and made arrangements to get him to Cheyenne as soon as possible. That night as he knelt at the side of his bed, he prayed that this doctor would be albe to give Silla the most perfect wedding gift.

  Chapter Six

  It was only three days later that the specialist, Dr. Hunter, arrived in Cheyenne and was greeted at the train station by Doctor Novak. After a brief conversation to bring Dr. Hunter up to speed on Silla’s condition, Dr. Hunter asked to see the patient.

  The two doctors walked into Silla’s room, where Ellie was sitting describing the happenings on the street below to Silla. “ Ellie, this Dr. Hunter. He’s a specialist and he’d like to examine Silla. So if you don’t mind we need you to leave the room,” he said.

  “Oh of course no problem doctor,” Ellie squeezed Silla’s hand and promised to be right outside the door.

  After Dr. Hunter completed his examination and conferred once more with Dr. Novak, he presented Silla with her options as he saw them. “Well Miss Montgomery, there are two choices. I can perform a rather new operation to try and relieve the swelling from your skull that is impairing your vision, or you can wait for a few more weeks and see if the injury heals itself.”

  Silla asked the doctor a few questions about this new operation and its risks. When she was satisfied with his answers, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

  “Doctors, if you will give me some time to think this over, I’d appreciate it. Also can I please have my family come in, I’d like to tell them my decision.”

  “Of course Silla,” Dr. Novak said. “I’ll send your brother and Ellie in.”

  Before ushering Jake and Ellie into Silla’s room, Dr. Novak introduced Dr. Hunter to the family.

  “Dr. Hunter these are Miss Montgomery’s Brother Jacob, her friend Ellie, her fiancé Lance Boardman, and Ben Jones.”

  “Pleased to meet you all,” Dr. Hunter said.

  “Dr. Hunter, do you think Silla will see again?” Lance asked eagerly.

  “I do Mr. Boardman. I gave her two choices; one was to have me preform an operation that would relieve the swelling from her skull, or wait a few more weeks and to see if it comes back on its own,” He explained.

  “Has Silla made her decision?” Ellie asked.

  “She asked to speak with her family and I think she’s waiting for you to go in.”

  Lance stayed behind as Jake, Ben, and Ellie went in to see Silla.

  “Dr. Hunter, that woman in there is to be my wife and I don’t want any mistakes here,” he said to the doctor.

  “I understand Mr. Boardman and I assure you that I am an excellent surgeon if that is the route she wishes to take,” Ellie and the others stepped out of Silla’s room and Ellie nodded to Lance. “She wants to talk to you Lance.”

  Lance entered the room and walked over to Silla, placing a kiss on her forehead.

  “Lance,” she started. “The doctor spoke to me and told me of my options and I told him I would tell him of my decision after I spoke to all of you.”

  “Well what have you decided?” he asked.

  “I have decided to have the operation Lance. I don’t want to wait another two or three weeks before I can see your face again.”

  “So you want to see my face again, eh?” he said lightly.

  “I most certainly do. I want to see your face when I say those vows that will make us forever man and wife.”

  Lance picked her up from the chair and held her in his arms.

  “You know I’m going to hold you to it now Miss Montgomery,” he said.

  Three weeks had passed since Silla’s operation, and much to her joy, her vision began to return a little each day. At first, she could only distinguish light from dark, and then gradually shapes and colors began to reappear. One morning, as she walked carefully to the kitchen, she saw her brother clearly.

  “Jake? Oh Jake I can see you,” she cried.

  Jake enveloped Silla in a hug as she continued to look around the room.

  “Ellie! Oh Ellie it’s so good to see you too,” she exclaimed.

  Her gaze fell on Lance who sat in the corner just waiting for her to find him.

  “And you, Mr. Boardman, you are as handsome as ever,” she said, beaming her brightest smile.

  Lance rose from his chair and swept Silla off of her feet. I love you Silla,” he said as he placed a kiss on her lips.

  “I love you too Lance.”

  Chapter Seven

  As her wedding day arrived Silla was absolutely radiant. She was going marry the man she loved. The sun was shining and everyone in town had shown up to celebrate. As Ellie was helping Silla get ready, she began talking about Ben and how close they had gotten.

  “You and Ben? Oh Ellie I think it’s wonderful! Ben is a wonderful man and I know he cares a great deal about you.”

  “He is so kind. I knew you’d be happy for us Miss Silla.”

  There was knock on the door and Travis Boardman entered the room.

  “Since this is a special day, I have something special for you. It was my great grandmothers and every bride after her wore it for her wedding,” he said, as he took a beautiful necklace out of its box. Travis held up a tear dropped shaped fire opal surrounded by rows of diamonds so bright it glowed.

  “Oh Mr. Boardman it’s beautiful,” Silla gushed. “And on you Silla, it looks like it always belonged.”

  The sound of the music cued that the ceremony was about to begin. Outside in the yard the guests waited for the bride, and Ben took her hand to walk her down the aisle toward her happily ever after.

  The End

  Mary

  Chapter One

  Life was perfect. At least for a while. There wasn’t much to do in the small town of Grace, North Carolina, but that was okay. I’d always been a small town girl, though I had gone into Charlotte with my father on a few occasions. I remember riding in the wagon, clinging to his arm as I watched the hustle and bustle of the city with wide eyes, hardly able to contain my excitement about the whole thing. It made my heart pound, but it also made me miss home. It made me miss the quiet of the farm.

  Those trips to the city were nice. They broadened my world view, but they also served to cement it in my mind that I belonged here, in the country and among the fields and animals. It was where I was born and it’s where I wanted to live out my days and raise a family. I could only hope that was the case. I loved my life on the farm and I loved my family.

  Grace was the type of town where everyone knew their neighbors and waved when they saw them on the street. People gossiped, but never with cruel intentions. We built homes together, raised barns, and went to church every Sunday. It was a town where people didn’t leave because they were happy there.

  Few families left and even fewer moved in. The industrial revolution was in full swing and many people moved to the big cities in order to work in factories. It was a time of change where women could get jobs and work alongside men. Many of the women in town, especially the older ones, seemed appalled by this idea. They didn’t want their daughters sweating and working until their fingers bled.

  I always stayed quiet about it, but I didn’t think the idea of women working was that bad. I liked working on the farm, though I did enjoy the more traditional feminine work as w
ell. I liked needle point and sewing, but I liked building things as well. My mom always told me I was a rare bird because of my diverse interests. She never said it with disappointment, though. Unlike many of the other mothers, mine didn’t want me to rely on a man to care for me. She wanted me to get married and raise a family like any other mother, but she also wanted me to be able to take care of myself just in case I was left alone.

  Times were changing quickly and men were running off with mistresses, leaving their wives behind to suffer with the children. They would go away to the cities and work and only come back a few days out of the month. My mother didn’t want me to end up like the dead-eyed women who wandered through town, tearfully begging for their husbands to return home and help the care for the children.

  I didn’t want to end up like that either so I took the opportunity I was given. I learned to milk cows, slaughter pigs, and build a basic barn. I learned everything I could from anyone who would teach me. The older women in town would chastise my mother, saying no man would want to marry a woman with callouses on her hands. My mother ignored them and encouraged me to do what I wanted. I have always been grateful to her for that.

  As I got older and began attending school a few times a week, I met a young boy named Richard. He was a handsome, gangly boy with a soft face and kind eyes. He would eventually grow into his height and not look gangly at all. He was strong with a broad chest and even broader shoulders. He was built like an ox, but the kind smile he wore took the edge off of his imposing appearance.

  Richard and I became good friends. We laughed and played together in the summer, ignoring the way people shook their heads back and forth at us. We were breaking many of the unspoken rules by being friends. Girls were expected to befriend girls and boys were meant to roughhouse with other boys, but we didn’t care. We loved spending time together and those days we spent together in our youth only made us closer.

  As we approached marrying age I caught Richard looking at me strangely. He would stare at me, head cocked to the side as he took me in, his eyes full of a strange wonder. When our eyes met he would turn away, cheeks pink. It was adorable, but I didn’t put two and two together for a long time. We continued going on adventures, though our adventures took an exciting turn.