by Denise Daisy
Falcon took a long draw, keeping his eyes locked on Ryan in a threatening gaze. “Do you wish to talk to this charlatan?”
“I have nothing to say to him.”
Falcon gave Ryan a satisfied grin as he replaced his dark glasses.
“Did your girlfriend tell you she is carrying my baby?”
Collective gasps sounded from the porch. Bronwyn’s pulse quickened. Her stomach became suddenly sick.
“You’re pregnant?” Bethany asked.
“No!” Bronwyn said. The word collided in mid-air with Ryan’s “Yes!”
“That bloody well explains the mood swings,” Trent said.
“And all the fainting,” Lillian added.
Bronwyn couldn‘t believe what she was hearing. “Come on guys, do I look six months pregnant to you?”
“Did you abort my child?” Ryan pressed the matter.
“I lost my child,” she said angrily.
The rain poured down. Bronwyn looked up at Travis, disheartened. He was the only person she had ever told about her pregnancy. Had he betrayed her confidence? What reason could he have in doing that, unless he had told Mavis, and Mavis, in hopes of getting rid of Bronwyn, had phoned Ryan? Bronwyn knew that would be impossible. Almost every woman on the planet wanted to call Ryan Reese. How would Mavis have discovered his private number?
“Who told you about the baby?” She demanded.
“I got a call,” Ryan answered smugly.
“Who called you?” She was nearly screaming her words.
“Wilbur.”
She glanced at Wilbur, who was watching everything unfold from the comfort of a rocking chair. His lower abdomen hung over the top of his thighs. He disgusted her.
“You shouldn’t leave your personal journal up on your computer,” Wilbur said in his thick voice. “It becomes publicly accessible for anyone who happens to pass by. I made the call to Ryan for your own good.”
Her head began to swim. All eyes were on her. Bethany looked somewhat wounded and insulted. Lillian appeared shocked and sympathetic.
“I want out of here.” she whispered to Falcon.
“Can we go someplace private?” Ryan asked. “I really need to talk to you.”
“You sure pick a fine time and place to talk. There’s no place private. It’s a small town; everyone will recognize you.”
“You can go to my cabin.”
Travis’ offer surprised her. He had descended the porch and was now standing directly behind Ryan.
“You can go there. You will have privacy.” He said, directing his words to Bronwyn only. “It’s up to you though; you do not have to go with him if you don’t want to.”
She looked at everyone watching her from the porch and sighed, defeated. “I’ll go. I think I need to.”
“That’s my girl.” Ryan said, eyeing Falcon. Falcon took a firm step forward. Ryan retreated to his rental car.
Bronwyn continued to stand in the pouring rain, her mind and stomach reeling. She could not believe this strange turn of events. Bethany shook her head in disgust and disappeared inside the inn, slamming the screen door behind her. Bronwyn wanted to climb on the back of Falcon’s bike and ride down the road until he’d taken her far away from everyone and everything. She even contemplated returning to the waterfalls and being sucked through the portal to avoid her present situation. Instead, she climbed in the rental car.
Falcon and Travis watched as the car left the driveway and disappeared down the highway toward Moonshine.
“Do you trust him?” Falcon asked.
“I never trust a man who would leave his lady,” Travis said. “However, the only threat he possesses at this point is convincing her into taking him back, and returning to California. If they reunite, she could leave, and soon forget about all she has learned.”
Falcon could hear the sorrow in Travis’s voice, and knew Travis’s concern was far deeper than he was showing.
“Then why did you offer your cabin? We could have gotten rid of him pretty easily.”
“You can protect her life, Falcon, but you cannot protect her heart. She must work through these matters. There will be many obstacles facing her if she chooses to write. This is very small in comparison to what lies ahead. She needs to draw upon her inner strength. Still, I wouldn’t be opposed if you kept a close eye.”
Falcon replaced his dark glasses and gave Travis his impish grin.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
The intense rain tapped hard on the blue tin roof. Ryan walked around the cabin, surveying it. Bronwyn took a seat on the sofa and curled her feet beneath her while waiting for him to turn his attention to her. He seemed so different from how she remembered him. He had definitely changed. Or something had changed him. On the other hand, maybe Travis had been right. Maybe she was finally seeing Ryan for who he really was, not who she had invented him to be.
He stood at the front door looking out over the lake. “This is a really nice place he has here.”
“Uh huh. I rode out the storm of a lifetime here.”
“Cool.” He answered dismissively.
“I’m not so sure it was cool. It was pretty scary to me.”
He continued to survey the lake. “Wonder what kind of fish they got in there.”
She sighed and waited. “Ryan? Why did you come all the way to Moonshine? I don’t think it was to check out the bass and trout in the lake.”
Ryan broke his gaze and closed the door behind him, taking a seat on the couch next to her.
“I came because I’ve been missing you, babe.” He paused for a moment, studying her face for impact.
“Life’s been, wow! You know. It’s totally insane. I’m constantly surrounded by people. I have my own security guards. It’s a wonder I got away to come here. There are so many people advising me, telling me what to do. All of them are trying to control my career and my personal life. It kind of bugs sometimes. I’m not sure I like all this attention. It’s great, don’t get me wrong, but everywhere I turn, there are cameras and screaming girls, like that kid at the inn. It’s so annoying. It gets old, you know? Most guys would love to have girls screaming after them, but not all of them are pretty.”
Bronwyn sat stoic, offering no sympathy.
“I miss you babe. I’ve been around all these sexy actresses with killer bodies and everything, but man, are they shallow! They are so into themselves. All they want to talk about is how thin they are or how they look. I haven’t had one decent conversation. I crave it.”
He scooted in a bit closer, “Remember, babe, how you and I could talk for hours, planning out stories, and characters and backgrounds? Together we came up with the best scenarios. I miss that.”
She smiled; she couldn’t help herself. Those were good times. Ryan relaxed, her smile putting him at ease. He continued his long-winded rambling.
“I miss you. I miss that amazing smile, those deep green eyes. I miss coming home to you and the way you made our place on the beach so nice and comfortable. I miss our relaxing evenings and dinners out on the deck, overlooking the ocean. I miss the way I feel when I am around you. I realize that I am still in love with you. Do you know what Saturday was?”
She knew but offered no answer.
“I was supposed to marry the most amazing woman in the world, and there I was, out at another publicity party, surrounded by flashing cameras and women throwing themselves at me. I was so tired. I wanted you so bad right then. Then I got the call from Wilbur, telling me about the baby. I thought, wow, how’s that for publicity. A baby, just what I need. A great excuse for me to settle down.”
“There is no baby, Ryan.” She spoke the words quietly. “I miscarried.”
Ryan moved in tighter until he practically sat on her lap, “No problem, babe. We can make another one, here, tonight. I love you. I never wanted to end things but it was like I had no choice, ya know? My agent kinda controls my life. He’s always looking for ways to keep me in the spotlight. Gabriella was his idea. He said if we
were in a relationship it would help promote the movie.”
The rain continued to tap on the roof overhead. Thunder rolled softly outside.
She sat, silent. Stunned. She had been waiting for so long to hear all the things that Ryan was saying. For those nights, she had longed for an opportunity to be with him, wanting him to desire her again. Now he was practically begging for her, offering himself to her, and she knew there was not a woman in the world that would not give everything they had to be where she was right now.
He surprised her by moving from the couch to the floor. Kneeling before her, he grabbed her hand and slipped an enormous diamond on her finger
“I love you babe. Take me back and marry me. This time it will be for real. I won’t let anything get in the way again. I promise. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, and I want the best. I need the best. I love you.”
It was his way of saying “I love you.” that made her mind up on the matter. Suddenly, her decision was right there, final. The last time she had heard those words, Travis uttered them in the garden. He was not confessing his love to her, only offering an example of what true love really was. She remembered his final words that night: “True love is sacrifice.”
She fumbled at the diamond on her finger. “You have no idea how many nights I have prayed and dreamed for this moment.”
Ryan moved in closer. “Me too, babe. Me too.”
“And now that it is actually happening, I realize it’s not what I want at all.” She turned the ring and pulled until it slipped off her finger.
“What?” He was shocked, taken aback by her rejection.
“You don’t love me, Ryan. Not really.”
“Babe!” He protested.
“It’s Bronwyn.”
He looked at her confused.
“My name is Bronwyn - not babe - Bronwyn.”
“Okay!” he said, flustered. “Bronwyn, Bronwyn, Bronwyn. I do love you. It took me awhile but I realize now that I need you.”
She shook her head. “Ryan, I have no desire to be needed by you or anyone. If you’re not a whole person without me, you will never be a whole person with me. Everything you said, all your reasons for loving me, were for you, based entirely upon your feelings.”
Her voice rose. “My God, you were even excited about the baby because it was an excuse for you to settle down--not because you loved it.”
“I would love a baby once it came. It’s just hard to love someone you don’t know.”
“Exactly. So how can you love me, when you don’t really know me? Me, not babe. Me.”
“God, Bronwyn, how many times do I have to say it? I do love you. I left all that Hollywood stuff to come back for you. My manager will be livid when he finds out what I’ve done. I’ve taken a huge risk. How can I prove it to you any more than that?” He practically yelled the words.
She smiled softly. “Then you’re willing to stay here with me?”
Pure surprise sprawled across his face. “Here, in this town?”
“Yes. I’m inspired here. I can write here and I want to write more than anything.”
He stood from his kneeling position, agitated, while running his fingers through his blond wavy hair. “Babe, I can’t stay here. I gotta get back. I’m on contract. We can visit here from time to time so you can do some writing, but my career has me there. You know that.”
“I thought you were leaving it all behind for me?”
“I would if I could. Contracts, babe.”
She remained silent.
His voice turned whiny. “Aw come on, this isn’t fair. I’m not leaving you behind this time. I’m offering to take you with me.”
“I don’t want to go,” she said quietly. “I was unfair to you, Ryan. I loved a man who never existed anywhere but in my own mind. I imagined you to be someone I wanted you to be, instead of seeing you for who you really were. And I’m sorry”
Her voice softened with compassion. “I can’t go with you, because I do not love you.”
He stopped his pacing and stared at her.
“Is it because of that bad ass on the motorcycle? Are you in love with him?”
She almost laughed at the thought. “No. I am not in love with him.”
Ryan didn’t say a word. He walked to the front door, and stepped onto the porch, his hands in his pockets, watching the rain. “What do I do now?”
“Find yourself. Know who you are and become a whole person, so when you do find that someone to spend the rest of your life with, it will be two whole people walking side by side, sharing their lives together.”
“You see, you’re so deep,” He said. “I miss that.”
She smiled. The summer rain continued soaking the earth, the sky doing what her soul longed to do. Cry and cleanse. She was sending Ryan away, and rejecting his love, and companionship. Yet, she felt peaceful.
“So this is what it feels like,” he said, pounding his heart with his fist. “Man, it hurts.”
“I know,” she whispered.
He leaned over, kissing her on the cheek. “I’m sorry. I really am.”
She watched as he headed to the car, and climb into the driver’s seat. He gave her a slight salute as he pulled away from the cabin. She watched until the car was out of view, and then sat on the porch swing, pushing off slowly with her feet, hypnotized by the falling rain. Only a few tears escaped her eyes.
She was not sure why, but she was not heartbroken. She was not in love with Ryan. Spending the past hour with him confirmed that. Spending the past week with Travis had given her a more certain picture of what she desired. A love she not only wanted to experience for herself, but what she longed to be able to give. Could she ever love someone so selflessly? Could she, as Travis said, send a person away, who she truly wanted and loved, never experiencing them, yet knowing they would experience all they ever dreamed?
She sat there for hours, swinging and thinking, never moving, just swinging, and thinking. She thought of how trite and superficial Ryan’s world appeared in contrast to the men with whom she had communed last night. They lived for a much nobler purpose. She thought of Barak and his final words to her. He had talked of the opportunities to return to a normal life, a comfortable life. However, he had warned her not to settle for good, when her destiny was to be great. True, she could have returned with Ryan and lived an amazing life. But now, she could follow her destiny and be a part of something profound. Barak had also warned her that there was much pain and suffering on the path to greatness.
Her mind dwelt on these things.
A warm steam rose from the lake, the golden sun showing its face for the first time in several hours. However, it appeared for only a few minutes before dipping behind the mountains, allowing the moon and stars to take over. She sat in the darkness, watching the fireflies as she listened to the crickets and croaking frogs. She inhaled the aroma of the wet earth, remembering her first night in this cabin, and how she was given a second chance at life. She remembered Travis’s response when she asked why he had braved the storm to rescue her, a person he had known less than twenty-four hours. He had simply said, “Because you were born to live, not to die.”
His words warmed her, touched her. He was right. There was a life to be lived, a purpose to fulfill, a destiny waiting.
She entered the dark cabin and knew what she must do. She’d made up her mind. She approached the antique desk sitting in the corner of the living room. Turning on a small lamp, she sat at the computer. She opened a new file, typing on the keyboard with speed and accuracy. Marcus would get his re-write. She didn’t care if it was her best work. She would not spend valuable time worrying over it. What would it matter in the whole scheme of things anyway? She would write only one more simple, sappy, love story for the troupe. She would not write herself as a character in this script. There would be no part for her to play. She intended instead to play a part in a much greater story. Perhaps one of the greatest stories ever written.
She wrot
e all night, finally finishing her work early the next morning. She stretched and yawned, exhausted but invigorated, and sent the document to the printer. Soon, she held a stack of warm papers in her hand. She laid them aside, picked up a pen and paper, and wrote a long letter. She placed it in an envelope, sealed it, and then headed into the bedroom to sleep.
Should she sleep in Travis’s bed? She hadn’t yet seen the bedroom. She turned on the lamp and looked around. It was simple, yet masculine. Beautiful scenic paintings adorned the walls; no animal heads or antlers hung over the fireplace. Bronwyn now understood why. In Eden, man and animals co-existed. They never considered the flesh of an animal as food, so there would be no reason to kill an animal and hang his head. Quite a barbaric act, once she thought about it. Furthermore, she had never seen meat on Travis’s plate at any of their meals. He ate only fruit, vegetables and nuts.
Exhausted from yet another emotion-filled day, she crawled onto the comfortable bed and tugged at a blanket that lay folded neatly at the foot, pulling it up over her. As she reached to extinguish the lamp, she accidentally knocked a small, beautifully hand-carved box off the table, spilling its contents onto the floor. Lazily, she crawled from the bed to retrieve the items lying scattered on the hard wood. She picked up the first item, a silver chain with a white stone pendant, identical to the one she had seen Travis and the rest of the council wearing. She draped it gently across her fingers, examining it. Turning the stone over, Bronwyn read the word Kenalycia carved into the back of the white stone. She gently laid it back onto the velvet lining of the box. The second item was a dark amber vial of some sort. She carefully pried off the lid. An amazing aroma rushed into her nostrils and filled the room. It was a distinct scent acting as a key, unlocking a deep memory, a feeling lost in the secret places of her mind. The aroma attempted to take her back to an amazing, joyful occasion. What was it? She sat on the floor, stunned. Of what did that opulent scent remind her? Where had she smelled it before? What wonderful buried memory was it attempting to unlock for her? She lifted the vial to her nose once more, and inhaled, accidentally touching the tip of her nose. A portion of the oily substance clung to the bottom tip of her nostril, keeping the scent alive. She replaced the lid slowly and put the vial back into the box, and then carefully placed it back on the table.