The Sage After Rain A love story

by Jaclyn Hawkes

  The next half hour on her couch was so nice talking to her to get her back to where she thought she could sleep again, that he hoped she found another one in there before morning. He walked back to his cabin wondering how he was going to break it to his mother that he was in love with a Mormon.

  Back in his bed, he made the decision to get serious fast about checking into her church. He'd read the Book of Mormon she'd given him and believed it to be authentic and he'd felt better at her church and being taught by the missionaries than at any other church he'd been to. He wanted to become a real member, but he needed to make sure it was the actual teachings he felt strongly about, and not the beautiful girl who had shared it with him. He knew how much it all meant to her, and he had to be willing to take her beliefs seriously.

  His thoughts made him get back out of bed to pray once more, something she had helped him to be able to do again. Prayer had been the main impetus that had helped him keep on keeping on with the Herculean contract he had just finished. Right now, he needed to know for sure what God wanted him to do and believe in this situation.

  Somehow, even after searching his soul, he still fell asleep to dream of a girl in a Washington Wizards nightshirt standing on a red Jeep.

  On the way into his mother's kitchen for breakfast the next morning she planted a kiss on the top of Drew's head for his part in rescuing her in the night and Matt smiled at Drew’s blush. Sitting next to Matt, she reached for his hand under the table and gave it a squeeze as she leaned to kiss him and thank him as well. She smelled heavenly and he decided that mice were one of God's greatest gifts to the male of the species.

  They spent the morning on-line where she ordered several outfits from some local department stores and then in the early afternoon, he ran downtown to pick them up. That afternoon she modeled for him. He'd never been much of a shopper, but it was a great day simply helping her find clothing. He probably encouraged her to buy too many things, but she looked great in them all.

  Chapter 28

  Early the next morning they flew out for D.C. and she asked Drew if he would be a liaison of sorts between the FBI agents who would be watching out for her as she flew and was transferred to their hotel. Originally, they had arranged for two others, but on talking to the agents after checking in, that was beefed up to nine so there would be at least three other armed men with her around the clock. During the fundraiser and on the way to and from the courthouse there would be even more.

  Matt had known she would be at home with the glitzy, high rolling type of party this was going to be, but he was still a little overwhelmed with the beautiful, queenly woman who walked out of her hotel room at his knock that evening. Even in the security crush, she stepped into the sleek limousine that was waiting for them outside the lobby without batting an eye. He and Drew and the others with them got in beside her like it was all in the course of a day's work.

  Matt was her date, while the others were only there to protect her, but on the way into the building it felt good to be there for her and know the others had her back in case of a problem. Inside, Drew stayed close, but the others spread out a few yards and Taya talked and mingled like this was second nature to her.

  She absolutely sparkled with her crystal beads in the lamp light. Even her up-do had glittering pins woven through it, and he honestly felt like he was the prince and she was the princess at the ball. They got some of the elegant little canapés and finger sandwiches and a fluted glass of fruit juice at the long buffet tables, but Taya didn’t actually eat anything after she got it and eventually merely set it aside.

  After she mingled for a while and had had innumerable photos taken with the candidate whose night it was, she took Matt's hand and whispered, “Would you dance with me?” He gladly led her out onto the dance floor. Here they didn't have to talk to anyone they just danced. Even in her heels, she fit perfectly against his chest and he wrapped her in his arms and inhaled the smell of her perfume and wanted to stay like that forever. It was incredibly nice to hold her against him in the low lights. There on the dance floor it almost felt as if they were insulated from the rest of the party and socializing. It was only the two of them and the music and the night’s magic.

  They danced close and talked until finally she sadly whispered again, “Much as I hate to say it, we probably needed to take another turn around to face some more cameras. Are you game?”

  With one last spin, he whispered back, “Absolutely. Anything for you, Taye.” She smiled and stepped off the floor and he had to respect that she took the fact that she could sway this vote very seriously.

  He was a little flabbergasted a moment later when he realized just how seriously. She stopped at a table and took out a beautiful pen and a check and was in the process of writing it out when she was interrupted by a news reporter covering the event. He asked her if she would answer some questions on camera and when she agreed, he starting rolling.

  The first thing he did was introduce her as the former fiancé' of Congressman John Channing who had had him arrested for assault at his own major fundraiser and had then pressed the charges and testified at his trial. He went on to make a big deal of the fact that she was now here in support of the opposing candidate, James Livingston, and asked her if she had anything to say about that.

  Matt was totally proud of her when she replied, "I was engaged to Congressman Channing, but at the time I didn't know the kinds of things he was involved in and capable of. I'm afraid I had to find that out the hard way and am still paying for that." She indicated the brace on her left hand. "I can't say anything about what John is being tried for, but I can tell you I believe James Livingston is by far the more honorable candidate, and he is who I will be voting for on election day, and it is to his campaign that I am contributing."

  The camera zoomed in on the check she was writing and Matt was surprised when he realized she had just written a check for twenty three hundred dollars and handed it to the gentleman who was there to take it. Matt didn't even know it was legal to donate that much. She smiled one more time at the camera man and then calmly took Matt's elbow and they went on to mingle again.

  A little later she whispered to him, "Dance with me one more time, Prince Charming? Then can we go back to the hotel and order a pizza?"

  Slipping a hand around her waist he replied, "Absolutely, Princess Taya. I would be honored." He led her onto the floor once again and took her into his arms. Black tie parties would probably get old fast if you had to do them all the time, but once in a blue moon it was ridiculously fun to dress up and escort a princess. The chance to dance with her in all her finery was far more than merely fun. She looked like a beautiful, magical fairy princess tonight, and felt like heaven here against him. Even having to have his picture taken this many thousand times was worth it to hold her like this.

  The clock struck twelve and they told their host goodbye to another spate of cameras and then they and their entourage headed back out to the waiting car that security had already checked out. On the way back to the hotel, Matt was surprised to see that they had more intimidating black SUVs on both sides of them. Instead of reassuring him, it was more nerve racking. What was Taya up against here?

  At any rate, the pressure had to dissipate soon. The news reports had probably already started to air the footage of Taya and it wouldn't take long to fire up the spin doctors and political experts who would be all over this like a pack of wolves. Matt was sure the fact that this fundraiser was scheduled for the day before the trial wasn't coincidence. And with the election just over two weeks away, Taya's appearance here tonight could very well be devastating to John Channing's political career forever.

  Drew apparently didn’t think the escort was normal and he leaned to one of the agents and asked what was going on. Several of them looked at each other before the agent answered stoically, “During the security sweep at the venue, explosives were found under the limo.”

  Matt was horrified and turned to the agent and all but sn
apped, “And when were you going to mention this little detail to us?”

  The agent didn’t even flinch when he returned, “It’s under control, Maylon. We caught it, and telling her would only upset her.” He gave Matt a stony look and continued, “Which won’t help anything.”

  Taya put a manicured hand gently on Matt’s arm and he swallowed his desire to tear into the guy. This was all nearly unfathomable to him. He’d had no idea Taya had been in this much danger out in the desert.

  All of them were feeling the tension, as they disembarked from the limo and hurried through the hotel lobby to their section of rooms. Matt and Drew were together in a suite that adjoined Taya's with the others’ on both sides and across the hall from them. Even the hotel security was on alert and for the night tonight they would have a man in the hall constantly and the hotel itself would be watched closely as well until after Taya testified and flew out.

  Taya wanted a pizza, but in light of security, two of the guys went downstairs to the hotel restaurant and brought back food instead. Matt took Taya to her room, but he stopped her before she went into her bedroom to change. He hadn't had her to himself for one second all night and he wanted to kiss the princess before the night was out. He knew she was tired, and he held her to him gently as he bent to kiss her pretty neck where the long sparkling earrings barely brushed it. That was all he wanted, but he'd wanted to do it all night.

  "You were great tonight, Taya. I was proud of you. You made a difference when you had the chance. It took a lot of guts, but then that's always been your strong point.” He nuzzled her skin and kissed her again. His voice was husky when he finally said, “You look so beautiful tonight. It was fun to be with the princess. Thanks for bringing me."

  He kissed her again for a long, long moment and then let her go into her room to change back into the Taya he was used to and he went into his own room. He had gotten as far as taking off his tie, when she knocked on his door.

  Looking a little embarrassed as he opened it, she said, "I forgot I can't get out of this dress alone. I had Allie help me get into it when she did my hair, but in light of the security issues tonight, would you help me with the zipper?"

  "Of course." He smiled at her, remembering when she had gotten stuck in this same dress that night in the sheep trailer. She turned her back to him and he bent to find the pull. He had to lift up the hem of the jacket to find it, and when he did, his finger nail caught on something sharp in the beads. He lifted it to see what it was and was surprised to see that one of the beads was huge and clear instead of black like the rest and had metal prongs instead of simple stitching. He looked up at her in amazement, as he reached to pull her missing huge solitaire from the threads in the lining of her jacket and said, "I think we found your diamond."

  "What?" He pulled it free and put it into her hand and she looked up at him incredulously. "You're kidding! Where was it?"

  "You weren't joking about it being obscene. Did he really expect you to wear that thing?"

  She looked up at him with big eyes. "Oh my gosh! This dress has been through an ambulance ride, the hospital, flown to Colorado, and dragged all over the desert. It's been to the dry cleaners! And we danced all night in it. I can't even believe that thing wasn't lost somewhere!" She finally heard his question and she looked down at the brace on her left hand, and sighed. "I wanted a simple gold band, but it wasn't about symbolizing an unbroken circle of love. It was about status." This time when she looked up at him, her eyes were sad. "Now what do I do with it?"

  "I don't know."

  "I don't want it, but I don't want to give it back to him and help finance his campaign. Is it mine or is it his?"

  "You've got me. Maybe Drew would know. At any rate, put it somewhere really safe. I don't even want to guess how much that thing's worth."

  She sighed and then laughed. "Ah, what's money? I spent twenty three hundred dollars tonight to try to make a difference in an election. I can't even believe I did it. The only other time I've written a check that big, was when I bought a car."

  "I was beginning to wonder if writing checks like that was everyday stuff for you. I guess it was merely another Taya surprise. You'd think nothing would surprise me by now, but you still keep blowing me away."

  She patted his cheek. "You say that, but you always deal with whatever. You're my most durable friend ever, do you know that? Thank you."

  He grinned. "Yeah, but what you don't know is that you ought to charge me admission for all the interesting entertainment."

  "Then you should charge me for all the services rendered."

  "Like?"

  "Coming to camp by me. Helping me survive the fever from Hades. Rescuing me from mice, mountain lions, rattle snakes and slippery men. Saving my dog. Even like helping me unzip this dress. Twice now I would have been stranded in it without you."

  He laughed and unzipped it. "You do owe me, don't you? I'll have to think of a way you can repay me. Hurry and change and come eat with me. I’m starving."

  Chapter 29

  Security was uppermost in their minds on the drive into the courthouse and getting into the court room itself, even with the media everywhere, was almost anticlimactic after last nights’ bomb threat. The first day of the trial was a total waste of all of their time. John Channing wasn’t even there that day and it was a bunch of legal maneuvering and bologna. By that afternoon, nothing had been accomplished other than that they were all bored stiff except during the drive to and from, when they were all tense.

  Taya had been afraid her parents would be there, but they hadn't been either and she came back to the hotel much relieved. She knew she needed to go see them while she was in town, but it was going to be hard. Matt mentioning it had been a good thing. It had helped her to be more willing to face them, but she was half afraid to. Even after all these months, she still felt betrayed, and she knew they were going to be mad about her involvement with John's trials.

  The trial started on a Friday, so the week end was a bust because of security, but Taya decided she was going to her home singles ward to church Sunday even if it wasn't all that prudent and she dragged Matt and Drew and the others along with her. Who could tell? Maybe it would end up being a good missionary moment. At any rate, she needed to go to help her deal with the anxiousness she was feeling.

  She was already in the church building when she realized she hadn't thought about Relief Society and it being all women. She had to decide whether to kill an hour, or make the five of them wait outside the room for her, send them all to the elders’ quorum, or make them sit with her in a room full of women. She turned around to look at all their faces knowing it was up to her, because she was the only one who had a clue what was going on. She and Matt had always skipped the first hour to avoid being conspicuous.

  The elder's quorum president walking in the door behind them helped her decide. She took him aside and explained what was going on and asked him to take Matt and Drew and one of the others and show them to the elder's quorum and she would keep the other two with her for the first hour. That way, at least Matt and Drew would be spared from sitting through Relief Society and she would still have two men right with her. If there were to be a problem, the others would be right next door. Matt was comfortable with church because of the other times he'd been with her and he took this turn of events in stride with his usual unruffleability.

  The rest of church went relatively smoothly until after Sacrament meeting when they were on the way out. One of the local guys from her ward who had always had a thing for her, rushed up to her in the lobby and went to throw his arm around her shoulders. Almost instantly he was shoved up against a wall with the arm wrenched up behind his back and Taya had been literally surrounded by her entourage. Taya diffused the situation as quickly as she could, but not before the poor guy had been traumatized and her ward had had their moment of excitement for the year. As they quickly exited the building, she tried to laugh. At least if she ever came back to this ward that partic
ular guy would never bother her again.

  Back at the hotel they ate and then Taya settled onto the sofa in her sitting room to read the Book of Mormon. She was feeling like she was on this crazy amusement park ride that had her happy and then anxious and then smiling again. She hardly knew her own mind, and was hoping for some peace of mind and spiritual guidance.

  Within just a few minutes, Matt knocked on the adjoining door and came in to sit with her. "Whatcha doing?"

  "Studying the Book of Mormon. What are you up to this afternoon?"

  "I don't know for sure. I guess I just want to come and be with you. Do you mind?"

  "Of course not. Come in. What's Drew doing?"

  "Napping. He's a firm believer in Sunday being a day of rest. Later he'll want to watch football. What are you studying?"

  "Captain Moroni. He was one of the great leaders and prophets in the Americas hundreds of years ago."

  "Captain Moroni of the title of liberty?"

  She smiled. "Hey, how do you know that? You've been reading the copy I gave you."

  "You asked me to, and I said I would."

  Surprised at how he always took things in stride, she asked, "Have you already finished it?"

  "Yes and I'm going through it again. It's a seriously wild read. Some of those battles are outrageous."

  She nodded sadly, "You'd have thought they would learn, but they never seemed to for long. We're just like them today, I think. We don't seem to learn to stay on the right path for long either."

  "Some do, Tay. Some people are truly trying to do their best. Don't discount everyone."

  "You're right. I'm sorry, that was negative. You're good for me. You're always so wise."

  He took her hand and chuckled softly. "Not wise, just Matt. I was thinking about you when I said some people are trying to do their best."