Runaway Bride

by Hestand, Rita

  Weighing her words she nodded, and looked apologetically at her parents, both of them. "I'm sorry, for worrying you. But honestly, Chad and I had very little time to think or act. To be frank, I didn't know what to say to you or the congregation. I freaked out, and ran."

  "I know you didn't want a large wedding, like I planned it, but if I'd have known you were this upset, we could have talked about it. Planned it differently. I'm not unapproachable, you know."

  Savannah shook her head, "I'll admit, I didn't want a big wedding mother."

  "Chad has been so distraught. Oh...he's holding up well as can be expected, but he's definitely in such pain. It's hard to watch." Melanie continued. "How could you do this to him, Savannah?"

  John shifted his weight in his chair and looked at his wife, then his daughter, "Maybe we should let her explain."

  "She got cold feet, that's all," Melanie firmed her lips and looked at Savannah, "Alright, explain it, if you can."

  "Chad hasn't spoken with you?" Savannah asked innocently.

  "Only that you mutually agreed to call off the wedding," John inserted.

  Savannah nodded, "Well, that's about it."

  "But why...." Melanie burst out.

  Savannah couldn't explain. And she couldn't lie to her parents so she just sat there.

  "Are you really in love with some cowboy out here?" Melanie demanded to know.

  Savannah met her gaze, "I...I...yes..." she finally admitted to herself and the world.

  "And exactly how long have you known this young man, and who is he for goodness sake, and why on earth haven't you spoken up before about him?" Melanie probed.

  John touched his wife's arm, "Give her a minute, dear. You're attacking her. We've raised Savannah to know her own mind, to make her own decisions. We have to trust she knows what she's doing now."

  "And do you, Savannah?"

  "Can you give me some time? Please...." Savannah sounded desperate even to herself.

  "You can have all the time you need, honey, just come home. I've taken the liberty of speaking to Jordan Finch about your job; he's agreed to give you, your old job back when you return. We can even reset a date for the wedding, if that's what you want...I mean, if you re-consider."

  Savannah shook her head slowly, "I'm sorry you went to that trouble dad. I don't want my old job back. I didn't get that job on my own merit. It was practically handed to me. I never liked that job. I took it because it was easy, because I'm your daughter, not because I earned the position. I'm doing something now I enjoy..."

  "Doing something...what, for heaven's sake?" now it was her father's turn to be upset.

  "Photography," she sighed knowing how this was going to upset him, but knowing she had to be firm. "Yes, I wrote the magazine and sent them my work, they've accepted it. They've even given me an advance for more. I love doing it....I've always enjoyed doing it. You know that. I've spoken to you about it many times."

  "Of course you have, and it's a wonderful hobby, but you don't seriously think you can earn a living doing something like that, do you?" John was adamant.

  "Why not? Others do. I'd like to show you some of my work, dad...."

  "I won't tolerate you being so childish, Savannah. You have a good paying job, a home, everything...and now this? If you don't want to get married that's fine by me, but you have to be able to earn a living for yourself. Your mother and I won't always be around. And even though we've left you and your sisters and brother a generous sum, it won't take the place of a lifetime job."

  Savannah looked at her parents with tears in her eyes, "This is what I want to do, dad. What I'm going to do. What I'm actually good at doing."

  "Let's drop the job thing right now. I don't seriously think Savannah is contemplating this kind of life because of her photography. I think it's this young man she's involved with. I want to know more about him. Who is he?"

  She tried to turn the conversation away from Ben, but they were determined to know everything, as always.

  "Ben's a fine young man," Lucy quipped tightly.

  "Ben?"

  Savannah stood up, walked across the room, and then turned to look at them. "I don't expect you to understand me. I don't understand me. I only know I can't marry Chad. Chad has accepted it. Why can't you?"

  "Accepted it, why he's been so depressed and despondent since you've been gone how can you possibly think he can accept it?" Melanie cried aloud.

  "Because he isn't depressed or despondent about me. There are things you don't know, mother. Things I'm not at liberty to discuss. Things that are between me and Chad."

  John's brow shot upward, and again he reached for his wife's arm, "Maybe we should let this go for a while, Melanie. It's obvious there is something between them. Whether it's this Ben fella, or something or someone else, I don't know. But I do know our daughter and she wouldn't be this decided about it, if something weren't amiss."

  Melanie shot up from her chair and looked at them all, "Alright, we'll drop it for now, but I want to meet this Ben...whoever he is before I leave here. I want to know why one man can totally change our daughter's life." Her hand reached to control a wayward blonde curl, as her green eyes surveyed her daughter closely.

  Savannah closed her eyes, her head began to pound. How would she ever manage this.

  "Are you coming home with us, or not, Savannah?"

  "For a while, I need to get a few things in order."

  "Good, now, where is our car, I didn't see it parked outside?" John asked.

  "Oh, Ben has the car," Lucy blurted out.

  "Ben? Why would he have the car?" John and Melanie chimed.

  "Because he impounded it, he's the Sheriff," Lucy explained with a smile.

  "The Sheriff?" again they chimed.

  * * *

  Ben had been miserable ever since he stopped by to see Savannah. She practically admitted she'd been dating this Jimmy Walker. Not that it was his business, but she was playing games with him, and he knew it. She had no feelings for this Jimmy Walker, whoever he was. He'd bet his life on that.

  He felt suddenly like a caged tiger, contained and yet not contained. There was restlessness in him that he couldn't explain or deny.

  Why had she insisted on bringing Maria up, that night? He didn't want to talk about his ex. He didn't want to think about his ex. He had gotten over Maria so long ago; he wasn't sure when it happened. But the love was gone from that relationship almost before it got started. He'd learned a hard lesson in life. Maria taught him well. He didn't need marriage. Despite Savannah's sweetness, he felt he was right not offering her more.

  All he knew was that he was consumed with his feelings for Savannah. She was everything any man would want. And he wanted her...body and soul. So why couldn't he just let it happen? Maybe being hog tied to a woman like her wouldn't be so bad. Maybe he'd enjoy it.

  Ah, Savannah would never enjoy living in a little town like Junction, and he sure wasn't moving to the city. He was happy here. Content! At least until she hit town he was.

  That's when he decided to make the call. He had to put a few things straight in his mind. He had to know if Savannah was telling him the truth about her runaway marriage. So he called Chad. It took some time finding the number and even with the help of information. When he did it was late and he had obviously woken Chad.

  "Are you Chad Huntington II?" Ben asked angrily into the phone.

  "Yes, yes...who is this?" came the groggy voice.

  "The name's Ben Hogg, I'm Sheriff over in Junction."

  "I see, well, what has that to do with me, sir?" Chad asked obviously still not understanding who he was.

  "I'm trying to find out exactly why Savannah Kingsley ran out on you."

  There was a pause, a silence and Ben looked at the receiver as though it had two heads. Hadn't he heard him?

  "Well?"

  "I don't understand. Who are you?" Chad asked again.

  "Ben Hogg."

  "Never heard of you," Chad said about to
hang up.

  "I know that. And I'm sorry for bothering you at this hour, but I've got to know...it's important."

  "Obviously you know Savannah. Didn't she tell you?" Chad asked bleakly.

  "Tell me what?"

  "I guess...I thought she would have told everyone by now, hoped she would have...but well, the truth is..."

  "The truth is what....?"

  "I'm gay." Came the contrite voice over the phone. "There I've said it, and it feels wonderful being able to say it aloud."

  Ben looked at the receiver again. "Come again?"

  "I said she found out I was gay. That's why she ran out on me. Gee, it's not that hard to say aloud anymore. In fact, it's a relief being able to announce it to someone...anyone. Look, I don't know who you are or what you want, but thanks... you don't know how much you've helped me."

  And he hung up.

  Ben sat staring at the phone for a long time. Never in his life had he dreamed this kind of situation. But now his concern was for Savannah. Poor, sweet, unsuspecting Savannah had gotten herself into a situation that demanded she do something. Thank God she had the sense to run away from it.

  Deep down he had known there had to be a reasonable explanation for her doing such a thing. It almost made him feel guilty for calling Chad. But he was relieved to know the truth.

  Now he was faced with his own feelings for her and what he aimed to do about them.

  * * *

  The next morning, it was overcast. The weather man predicted heavy storms for the area. Ben grimaced. Checking the sky, he noted the black clouds accumulating and decided to put his rain slicker in his car.

  Then he saw a car coming down the gravel road, toward his house. He watched, it wasn't familiar. It looked like a rental.

  When a man and a woman got out and began walking towards him he stood very still and waited. Being a Sheriff had taught him to be cautious of anyone. The man looked determined, and in control, the woman looked angry. They were both dressed well, too well. They weren't from around here he sized them up quickly.

  Savannah got out of the backseat. She was wearing a beautiful spring dress that flowed as she walked. Her hair fell about her shoulders and that streak caught his eye again. Funny how something so small could catch a man's eye. She was so lovely, he couldn't help just standing there admiring her.

  "Are you Ben Hogg?" the man was asking as he approached him.

  "That's right," Ben answered, his eyes still on Savannah, his hand extending for a shake.

  "We're Savannah's parents," the woman said staunchly as she eyed him closely.

  "Yes, I'm John, and this is my wife, Melanie."

  "Oh, so you are here to pick up the car," Ben concluded giving them his attention now that Savannah had joined them.

  "And Savannah, of course," the woman informed him.

  "You're leaving?" Ben cast a quick glance in her direction.

  "Yes...." Savannah didn't look happy though. She looked miserable. Almost as miserable as he had been for the past few days.

  "Well, why don't you all come in, have a glass of tea before you head out," Ben encouraged. "I'll need you to sign a receipt that you picked the car up, anyway."

  "Alright, we'll take care of that now."

  "I think we should just go, John," Melanie ground out.

  "No, I think I'd like to get to know Mr. Hogg here a little better, after all, if it hadn't been for him, we wouldn't know where Savannah had gotten to. We have a lot to thank him for. Why, without your call, we might have had a search party out looking for her."

  "I'm not about to thank him...." his wife huffed as she followed them into the house.

  Ben ignored the lady, after all, she was emotional and emotional women didn't always make sense. "That's exactly why I contacted you," Ben assured him.

  Savannah was standing in back of them now and slowly entered the house.

  Ben played host to them, offering them fresh iced tea and then as they all sat in the living room, he eyed them carefully, while watching Savannah out of the corner of his eye.

  "I'm just glad everything turned out all right," Ben said.

  "I wouldn't say it turned out alright at all..." Melanie firmed her lips as she looked at Ben with daggers in her eyes.

  "Is there something wrong?" Ben asked innocently.

  "Are you, or are you not the man responsible for ruining my daughter's wedding?" she blurted out.

  "Ruining....her...wedding?" Ben's faced screwed up and he stared at Mrs. Kingsley from across the room. "I don't believe I follow you."

  Savannah stood up, "Mother, please..."

  "Of course you are, she's in love with you..."

  "She is...?" Ben's eyes suddenly pinned Savannah to the wall. "You are?"

  Savannah couldn't take it any longer. She didn't know what to say, how to correct it all. Too many lies, so many wrongs.

  She ran....

  * * *

  "Now see what's you've done, Melanie...." John was saying as he ran to the door to watch his daughter getting in his car once more and tearing off down the highway. The rain had started and it was lightning.

  "I want to know what you are going to do about this, young man." Melanie was in his face now but Ben wasn't concentrating on her. He was worried about what Savannah might do.

  "Well, right now, I'll put out a APB on your daughter and find out where she's headed. Then I'll bring her back here."

  "I'm not talking about that, I want to know who and what you are about. How long have you known my daughter? Exactly what are your intentions?"

  "Mrs. Kingsley, I have to admit I've been concerned about Savannah too. Nothing she did made any sense to me. But after a phone conversation last night I understand a lot more than I did. And I think there is something you should both know."

  Ben told them about his conversation with Chad on the phone and Melanie sat stone still, "I can't believe it."

  "It came directly from him. I wouldn't and couldn't invent such a story. I don't even know the man, personally." Ben said as he told Chad's story to them.

  "But, why...why couldn't she tell me?" Melanie objected. "I'm her mother, for goodness sakes."

  "She didn't know till her wedding day. And I suspect Savannah wasn't that upset finding out he was gay, as admitting she was that naive and didn't know. Her ego had been damaged. She didn't know what to do or where to turn. I myself wouldn't have known, if I hadn't taken it upon myself to find out. I'm a lawman, and I guess a little too snoopy for words."

  "She wasn't in love with Chad; she was in love with getting married. She so admired her sisters for making good families, that's all Savannah ever wanted." Mrs. Kingsley related, as though talking to herself.

  "I asked Savannah what had happened. She was reluctant to tell me anything. As a Sheriff I had to know something though. She had no ID. So I kept at her. She never told me he was gay. She said she had caught him with someone."

  "Good Lord," John touched his head, "She caught them....?"

  "That's what she said...I don't know much more than you about it, because she hasn't confessed anything to me. I took it upon myself to find out. I'm sorry I intruded, but then again, I'm not. Now I understand why she did so many things."

  "That still doesn't explain your relationship with my daughter."

  Ben nodded again, and glanced out the door. Where had she gone. Did he have time to catch her?

  Ben looked her father in the eye, "Alright, I think you deserve to know, I love her. Does that explain anything? I had no right to fall in love with her, knowing she had run from a planned wedding. But with Savannah, how could you help it? Now I'm sorry, but I've got to go after her. Excuse me..."

  * * *

  Savannah couldn't see the highway for the tears in her eyes. She'd never been so embarrassed in her life, except maybe when she caught Chad and Douglas together. Everything seemed to come crashing down on her now.

  It wasn't that she couldn't accept his life; it was that she couldn't accept hers
. Her plans for marriage and family had become an obsession.

  Stupid, that's what she was. Now everyone knew what a fool she had been. For almost marrying Chad, for falling in love with Ben...oh her life was a total mess. Even her work as a photographer didn't cheer her. Why should it, she reasoned, her father's disapproval made her sick. Why couldn't she ever do anything right?

  Thunder sounded above her, but she wasn't frightened. She was too humiliated to be anything but miserable.

  The rain began slowly at first, in big heavy drops, but before long it began to pour. She didn't know where she was going, didn't care.

  She also hadn't paid the least bit of attention to the gas tank or she would have known she was about to run out. When the engine started sputtering, she glanced at the dash and saw another big blunder. She'd passed high waters, paying little attention, she'd flooded the engine out.

  She pulled to the side of the road, beat the steering wheel several times, then dropped her head and bawled.

  She was berating herself when a knock on her window startled her.

  Slowly her head came up and she knew who she would see, it was him...Ben!

  She didn't wipe away the tears, nor roll the window down, she just sat there.

  He opened the door, and scooted her over.

  "I might have known," he bellowed.

  "Don't you dare say a word to me," she shouted.

  "You don't even know where you are at, do you?" He asked, his voice lowering some.

  "No, and I don't care."

  "No, well, you're not more than a hundred yards from the same place you had trouble before."

  "So what?" she cried, her tears still streaming down her face. "So what, how did you find me?"

  "I put an APB out on you as soon as you took off. My office rang me a minute later said they spotted the car, headed west."

  "So," he glanced out the window, "That gully you just passed is washed out. We're stuck again."

  "Stuck....but...." she glanced about her.

  She hadn't noticed the water covering the road, she hadn't noticed anything since she left Ben's house. She just wanted to die...alone.