The Senator's Choice

by Combs, Sasha

  In a hushed voice, Pamela said...

  “William...what is going on between you two?”

  “Nothing...not really. I’ve just been thinking about our conversation.”

  Pamela frowned because she didn’t know which conversation he was alluding to. And presently she wanted to hear his voice. She wanted to hear him say the words, explaining his meaning.

  William looked at his daughter, before addressing everyone in the room.

  “Frederick...have you been in contact with Miguel this morning?”

  Frederick stood, from his packing. He looked mildly confused but he answered him anyway.

  “Yes,... They are packing up to leave just like we are.”

  “Then call him back and tell him to come here instead. Miguel will lead you and Michael back to Barn Wood Hudson, while my driver, Glen stays at the second cabin with me. The cabin is stocked with more than enough to provide for our basic needs. This cabin is just like the other hunter’s cabins and as an experienced hiker and equally capable camper; Pamela shouldn’t have any problems remaining at this cabin.”

  While William laid out his plan as he saw it, not once did he pay particular attention to the other men. His eyes had been carefully watching Morgan. It had not dawned on her what he was doing. Not even Pamela realized his plan, until he mentioned her camping skills. Not long after he’d finished talking, Frederick was the first to ask his question.

  “William...am I to understand that you plan to stay up here on the mountain in the other cabin on Beckards Point? And you intend for Pamela to stay here at this cabin?”

  William felt the pressure of what he was embarking on but he knew there were few options in this matter. He had witnessed his daughters behavior firsthand. He was ready to surge forward and he was willing to deal with the consequences if need be but he wasn’t willing to involve Frederick or Michael.

  Looking at Pamela, William watched as she perceived his meaning. He saw the same smile on her face; the same crafty smirk moments earlier he’d given Morgan when she stood outdoors unwilling to bend. By her expression, William was convinced that Pamela fully understood, it was then that he replied.

  “That’s right...and we will return to the main house days before our supplies run out.”

  At this point, Michael fully understood and he made his annoyance known.

  “Over my dead body. I don’t give a damn if you think that a marriage certificate is going to keep my mouth shut. You are out of your mind if you think I’m going back to live in the lap of luxury while my pregnant daughter is up here on this mountain, roughing it all alone in this cabin. I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing but you won’t play it with my flesh and blood.”

  William didn’t have time to debate the finer points, yet he knew he needed to say something to Michael. They weren’t playing a game but this would be an experiment of sorts. An idea with a set purpose. They weren’t licensed counselors and this would be an untried way to get his daughter to see reason. A test to breakdown his daughters resolve.

  “Michael...Pamela won’t be alone.”

  He didn’t need her help, but Pamela came to William’s aid, when she blurted out.

  “Daddy...I’ll be here with Morgan. So you see...I won’t be alone.”

  Michael looked at the demon spawn child, he’d once believed was an angelic creature.

  “The hell you are. Like I said...over my dead body. I don’t care how comfortable you feel in these mountains. Pamela, it just isn’t safe.”

  Michael whirled around to face William again. He was brimming over with disgust.

  “I cannot believe you man. After everything that you’ve forced me to accept...now you want me to truck down this mountain and leave my daughter up her in the middle of nowhere with a child who has verbally said that she hates her. Have you lost your ever loving mind? Have you completely gone stark raving mad?”

  William was completely sane and he knew this for a fact but he didn’t know how to express this in so little time. He needed to put his plan into motion, if Miguel and the drivers were to make it to Beckards Point with enough time to hike down the mountain.

  “Michael...Pamela and I have talked about his.” He said. He looked to her because he needed help if he ever were to explain this. In the literal sense of the word, they had not discussed this idea fully. There were unconnected dots, dangling concerns listings pros and cons. What is more important, William had not discussed the inherent dangers involved once there was no turning back. These minor details silenced his tongue, forbidding him to reveal the conundrum. This plan wasn’t perfect and he couldn’t ignore that. Still, he noticed how confident Pam sounded when she spoke and he could gain no credit for that. Somewhere within her, she found what she needed to forge forward.

  “Daddy...don’t worry. We will be completely safe. I promise you.” Pamela said.

  “People...” Morgan said in a high pitched voice.

  “I wish you all would stop acting like I’m not in the room. Did anyone ever take the time to consider one important fact. I have not consented to stay here at this cabin with Pamela.”

  William saw this as a minor glitch. Easily solved, and easily dealt with.

  When he directed his attention back on his daughter and away from everyone else, William plainly stated...

  “Morgan, you have one choice...and only one choice. You will stay here with Pamela. You will work out your differences and you will not return to Barn Wood Hudson until you have done so.”

  “But daddy...” she said in a rush, ready to protest with all her might.

  “No buts and no arguments. I’ve said all that I’m going to say on the matter. Now...if I were you, I would eat the breakfast that Michael has prepared. Once Miguel arrives, I’ll be moving my things from this cabin to the other cabin here on Beckards Points. There’s no reason to fret because I’m no more than half an hours walk away from you. Also, Pamela has a cellular phone with a solar battery. We can stay in touch if something goes wrong.”

  “Daddy, if you think I’m staying here with her...”

  Again, William cut her off, refusing to allow her to rant as she’d done from the moment he told her about his marriage to Pamela.

  “I’ve heard all that I’m willing to hear. Now it’s time for you to listen. You will stay here with Pamela and you will not leave. If you leave this place to hike back down to Barn Wood Hudson, there will be hell to pay and you won’t like the consequences.”

  Morgan wanted to challenge her father’s ultimatum. His demand sounded unreasonable to her. Yet, the emphasis placed on certain words still rang in her ears like warning bells. As a parent, William rarely doled out punishments because there had never been a need; his clearly stated consequences had always been reason enough to avoid temptation. In short, her father was known for never issuing empty threats. Even though his words were as solid as granite, his steadfastness had not been routinely called on because Morgan had not tested her limits. She had never forced his hand nor had she dealt with hefty consequences. Yet currently his wrath was falling heavy on her. She clearly believed that her father wasn’t making false threats.

  Morgan wanted to dash to the ladder, leading back up to the loft, but her stubborn streak told her now was not the time to squirrel away.

  After everyones shock had eased and nerves were less frayed; now was the time for action. Decisions needed to be voiced and calls needed to be made. It was clear that the current mood in the room held Morgan’s consideration as the primary focus. Even so, a vein of unrest settled over the room. A fog creeping in obscuring clarity, where sharp minds were clearly needed.

  Pamela went to the oven, and pulled the warm plate from the rack. When she lay the food on the table, Morgan stared at it as if it was a foreign object. Her stomach growled in protest due to the aroma that teased her nostrils. In all her wisdom, it didn’t make any sense, but the food smelled good to her and the presentation wasn’t all that bad either. All the same, Morgan
faked her mock disgust. She turned up her noise then walked towards the ladder. Before she climbed the stairs, she turned to look at her father. Morgan felt feelings that overwhelmed her senses. She loved her father but she couldn’t find it within her to give in as he wanted her to. She didn’t smile or show any signs that she would soon give in, because Morgan didn’t know what she would do. Right now, the loft was her only refuge.

  ______________________

  Pamela had gone back inside of the cabin to take note of the supplies and all of its content. There was more than enough in food and oil to satisfy their needs. Wood would be the only thing that would require daily foraging and she felt up to the task.

  As she made her way around the cabin, William, Frederick and Michael waited outdoors for Miguel and the drivers to come. From the moment William had shared his plan, Frederick had been attempting to persuade him otherwise. He was currently listing the noticeable flaws in his idea.

  “William, this is crazy. You should not be staying up here without the aid of your staff.”

  “Frederick, this isn’t Washington and it isn’t as if I haven’t stayed up here alone before. These mountains are as much my home as any of my other properties. I know the terrain and I’m in no danger for those very reason.”

  “William...you are a United States Senator. You can hardly afford being careless with your safety and what you’re proposing is beyond careless.”

  “I must agree William.” Michael finally said. He had been silent until now and he wasn’t willing to be one of William’s chess pieces in this game.

  “Instead of your driver...Frederick and I should remain here with you. I’m not saying this because I’m concerned for you. It’s LaShawn that I’m concerned for. I won’t returned to Barn Wood Hudson without your wife and my daughter.”

  William couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. Michael referred to his daughter as being William’s wife and this was more than he ever would have expected to gain from this trip. After all he’d irresponsibly done, in truth he didn’t wholly expect Michael to come around as quickly as he did. When his eyes fell from one man to the other, it was then that William began to be truthful to himself. This is actually what he’d wanted; to have Frederick and Michael remaining behind with him. Without meaning to, Fred had become more of a friend than just an employee and he did respect his advice and the polls that he insisted were essential to him being reelected.

  “Frederick...” he said using a cautious voice. “Michael has been brutally honest...now I want to hear from you.”

  Frederick thought for a moment because he didn’t want to say something that he didn’t really believe in.

  “William...I still say that you have less than a week to resolve this problem if you hope to keep your voters.”

  “Frederick...the voters aren’t my concern right now.”

  “I understand that William but if I stay, then my concern isn’t strictly about your personal problems. As your campaign manager, my first obligation is to ensure that you are reelected. If you believe that the answer to all your problems is to leave Morgan and Pamela in a secluded cabin, then I’m on board with that. I will support this...at least for the next few days. We can reassess the situation after seeing their progress. After that I won’t have much choice. So, I guess your fate rides on Pamela and what she can achieve with your daughter.”

  “I don’t think that’s fair.” Michael said, and William noted his concern but Frederick quickly retorted, not allowing any time to pass before he swiftly answered.

  “Right or wrong...in this instance it doesn’t really matter. Presently, a thirteen year old girl holds William’s fate in her hands and it’s up to Pamela to make the difference in this circumstance.”

  There it was in a nutshell. William found himself agreeing with their counsel. He looked at Frederick and nodded, then he said...

  “Call Miguel and tell him to continue on to Barn Wood Hudson. Tell him that...we will be in touch moreover, tell him to be on hand just in case we might need emergency assistance or additional supplies.”

  Frederick understood and surprisingly he agreed. He fished his special cellular from his inner coat pocket and William noticed that the phone wasn’t the one assigned to him by Miguel. Which is the reason he didn’t think the phone would work, but he saw no need to remind him of this. Frederick pressed one bottom, dialing a number that he’d programed into his phone, then within a few seconds a connection had been made. When he stepped away from the other men to talk to Miguel, he didn’t see William’s stymied expression and he didn’t hear the words exchanged between William and Michael...primarily because Frederick didn’t want to hear them. Their words had nothing to do with William or his campaign. And their conversation wouldn’t affect Miguel or his parties trek back down the mountain to Barn Wood Hudson.

  “Is this a part of your plan...or does this have anything to do with Pamela’s wild thinking?” Michael asked.

  William stared back in the direction of the cabin that held the two women he loved most in this world. When his eyes drifted back to Michael, he finally spoke.

  “Does it matter who thought of the idea?”

  “Don’t play games with me William. You have no idea the strain that your marriage to my daughter has placed on our relationship. Give me a straight answer.”

  “It was Pamela’s idea but I’m incline to agree with her. Morgan won’t change unless she’s given the opportunity to express her feelings alone with Pamela. Believe me Michael...I know the dangers involved in doing this but I love them both and I’m not willing to lose either of them.”

  William felt a slight flutter in that special part of his heart that burned with passion. For an entire year, he had longed with a desire to have a family that consisted of Pamela and Morgan but not once had he dared to admit this. Yet now, with the opportunity staring him in the face, William was ready to throw caution to the wind. He had done all he knew to do and still his daughter had not responded as he’d hoped she would.

  For the first time in months, Michael looked at William through renewed eyes. No longer did he see the guy that had been his roommate at Harvard and had accepted him, along with his faults and all of his shortcomings. Now, when he looked at the man that had married his daughter, he tried to see all that had trapped Pamela. Michael wasn’t a pawn for the taking. After years of practicing law, the profession had jaded him. He no longer held within him an enthusiasm rich with wanting for the upholding of the law. Michael had been ripped from that place sooner than he would have liked. Where he currently stood, he wanted to protect the people closest to him. He wasn’t willing to allow William’s missteps to draw his daughter into Morgan’s deadly web. This charade where he was readily agreeing to participate in this plan; his performance had been for Frederick’s sake, not William’s. There were some things that should remain between friends...or a person he once would have trusted with his life. But things weren’t black and white anymore. He couldn’t even detect a subtle shading of grey to explain all that he’d witnessed. The events that had been uncovered over the past three days had rattled their friendship from its very core and Michael would not allow his best friend to destroy the people that he loved most and held dear.

  With a sadness in his heart, Michael tried to admit this true feeling as best he could, without relying on lies. Hurting William wasn’t something that he wanted to do but once upon a time, truth had been a part of their relationship and he wondered when and where along the path of life, William had ceased to remember these essential keys that bind most friendships.

  “You have created one big mess my friend....and I cannot believe you’ve dragged us all into this cesspool, when clearly you had more than one choice as a way out.”

  Michael leaned heavily on what he knew was real, being sure to steer clear of falsehoods. He wouldn’t build his argument on information that he couldn’t verify but he had seen enough to help him fill in the missing gaps, telling him all that he needed to kno
w. Still, he was quite certain that he’d only nipped the top of the iceberg.

  Michael had always been the outspoken one, yet William had not expected his plainspoken honesty, especially after he’d appeared to have resigned himself to participate in his plan. Now like the lift of a switch, his behavior was completely opposite to what it had been. Yet, William wasn’t totally surprised by this. So when he spoke, his voice held a tone of earnest admiration. Even after being lashed by Michael’s honesty, he didn’t feel the need to strike back in his own defense. William genuinely treasured their friendship and he would do nearly anything to repair the damage.

  “Michael, I would never place Pamela in any danger and this protection extends to my daughter Morgan.”

  At present Michael didn’t know what to believe. He wanted certain assurances that William couldn’t give, yet he wasn’t opposed to asking him because as Pamela’s father, he had a right to know.

  “Tell me William...why are you so willing to leave my daughter at this cabin alone with Morgan? You say that they will be safe, but I don’t trust this situation and nothing you’ve said so far convinces me that you feel any different.”

  William hated the fact that Michael knew him so well.

  He tried his best to make a persuasive argument at least something suited for the moment.

  “When the thought was first discussed, at the time I wan’t keen on giving the idea serious consideration....but after thinking about it further, I had to admit some of the points were sound. The second that I saw no other way to resolve this standoff, I recalled something that Pamela had mentioned and it was her words that caused me to think. All the while, I told myself that only I could heal my daughter’s broken heart, but now I know I was wrong. Pamela had tried to enlightened me on this last night while we were talking. My daughter is directing her anger at Pamela...not at me. If there is ever to be any peace between them, Morgan and Pamela will need to be left alone to figure this out for themselves. Apart from me and the rest of the family. That includes you and LaShawn....which is the reason I think Pamela’s plan just might work.”