Authors: Nancy Hopper
"Well, son; no. But are you sure the things he said aren't true?"
Tim put on his hat and kissed his mother on the head. "To tell you the truth, it wouldn't stop me if they were true. But I know very well in my heart, that slug has not had my woman in bed. Don't you believe it for a second." He admonished her with narrowed eyes. “She loves me, and nobody else. You'll know it too, when you've met her.”
Seeing her discomfort, Tim took his mother's hand and kissed it. "Mom, when you know her, you will understand. Please, just trust me. She's finer than I deserve, and she was totally shocked when Rick came on to her. That was no lover's embrace on her part, I can tell you. Don't let him paint pictures in your mind. Those things just didn't happen. She was a virgin when she married Gary Taylor, and she hasn’t had another man since Gary died. "That woman is mine, God promised her to me, and she's not giving what's mine to anybody else. So relax, and get ready for a wedding." He said with a grin.
When Tim and Dana were gone, Gloria just looked at Jerome, and visibly wilted.
Tim was glad to have the time alone with Dana. She seemed almost herself, as they drove into town. Tim smiled, and let her set the pace. He was pretty sure they still had a few things to talk about.
"All of this has been really hard on you, hasn't it?" she asked finally.
Tim gave her a sidelong look. "It's been about more than I could handle, actually." He admitted.
"Is she really as sexy and beautiful as the pictures make her seem?"
"She is." Tim answered evenly, keeping his eyes on the road. “The pictures don’t do her any justice. They only show the pretty shape, the outside. They didn’t show her inner beauty, her love, her sensitivity. She’s … Wonderful.”
"Tim, I'm sorry I've added to this for you. I had no idea that Rick would ever pull such a stunt."
"Me, either. Honey, it's just another day in the war. I’ve been going through this kind of hell ever since I first met Tasha. Don't give it another thought. We're all just living our lives the best way we can."
"Timmy, I ... I hope that I can be nice to her. I don't want anything to come between us. You and me, I mean. I love you so much." Dana said, with tears welling in her eyes.
Tim shot her a comforting look, and took her hand. "Dana, when you meet her, you aren't going to have any trouble erasing what the press has said, or what Rick said. She's as sweet as the day is long, and she doesn't have a treacherous bone in her body."
"She certainly
seemed
honest, and devoted to you, when she did that TV show."
"She is, Dana." He assured her. "Tell you what. Why don't you come on a little trip with me to Salt Lake, and meet her? Just the two of us."
Dana blanched. "Oh, Tim. I don't know. I think maybe I should lay low for awhile."
"And do what? Let the lies take hold? Nurse your wounds?" He gave her a long look. “You know that all that filth Rick spouted wasn’t just for me. He wanted to imprint your mind with pictures of him and Tasha, too. So that you’d hate her. So that he could continue to give us a bad time.”
"He’s good, I have to admit it. I sat up all night, with the pictures he painted, going through my head.”
Dana was silent, staring out the windows. Tim decided that bluntness was the only weapon he had.
“
Over and over again, I saw those pictures -- seeing him in bed with my woman. With his mouth on her. Defiling what’s mine. Even though I knew he was lying, his words wouldn’t leave me alone. I had to just sit there, and let the torment run its course, before I could get over it. He did the same thing to you. I know he did, and he did it on purpose. He made up every word.”
Tim let the silence work on her. Finally, she started to cry softly. "Timmy, I don't think I can do it. I mean, it's so soon."
He sighed. "I know. But Dana, I've been thinking. We ought to rip the root out of this thing, before it has a chance to take hold and fester. I don't think we ought to give Rick Snyder or any of the things he's done to come between us, the time of day. I think we ought to link arms and go right through, to the heart of things. Come to Salt Lake with me. If you have a hard time with it, you can always come home. Tasha and I can live in Salt Lake for awhile, if it really comes to that. But I'm as sure as I'm sitting here, that everything is going to be all right."
"You're going to marry her no matter what, aren't you?"
He gave her a tormented look. "Dana, I have to; for sanity's sake. I gave her my heart a long time ago, and it's getting harder and harder for me to be without her. Dana, I'm asking you to try. Don't make me choose between the two of you; not without even trying to make it work."
Dana looked at him with haunted eyes. "Oh, man. It really kind of comes down to that, doesn't it?"
Tim tipped his head. He chose his words carefully. "It very well could, if we aren't careful."
"All right. Tim, you've given enough, and waited enough. I'll come to Salt Lake." She agreed. “I’ll … try.”
Tim's eyes shone with relief and thanks. "Good! Thank you, Dana. You won't be sorry." He promised.
Their parents didn't take the news lightly, but Dana settled it quickly. "Now, stop it, you two." She insisted. "Tim and I have made a decision about how to handle this situation. You don't need to protect me, anymore. Tim has given, and waited and suffered through this mess, and I haven't helped it. Going to Salt Lake is the best way. It will keep my mind off Rick, and keep me away from him, for awhile. And it will help
all
of us, if I meet Tasha and develop a relationship with her. So, just relax. I can handle myself."
The parents looked a bit abashed, and Tim had to hide a grin, but it seemed to be settled.
"When are you going?" Gloria asked her son.
"Unless you have an objection, I'd like to go soon. I want to get Tasha up here to meet you. Things will be much better, when all these questions are answered."
"Well, Timothy, I have to agree that there are a whole lot of questions." Gloria snorted.
Tim just looked at her pensively. She seemed extremely upset. Dana laid a hand on her arm, and the two women went out to the kitchen.
Tim gave his father a look of bewilderment and regret, and shook his head. "I sure wish that just once, I could do something right." He sighed.
Jerome put an arm around Tim's shoulders. "Son, just do what you have to do." He urged quietly. "The only thing you can do, is press on through this. If this girl is that important to you, you don't have any choice. We'll be behind you, no matter what happens."
Tim sighed. "She is, dad. And I appreciate your support. I know it must be hard for you to trust this."
"We trust
you
. If she's the one, then, go and get her." Jerome urged him. "We won't stand in your way. You've obviously helped Dana work through things, so just move on to the next step.”
He put an arm around Tim's broad shoulders. "Forgive your mother for not understanding. She’ll accept the girl, if she’s as sweet as you say. I know that she’ll give her a chance. Bring her home, son."
Tim smiled his gratitude. "Thanks, Dad. I think I'll go up to Salt Lake ahead of time and pave the way, before I send for Dana."
"All right. And, Tim; don't worry about your mother. She'll be all right, when this all blows over. She loves you."
"Yeah. I know she does. I wish I could make it easier on her."
“
She hurts when one of you hurts." Jerome sighed. "We both do."
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
There was a knock on the front door of the Charles residence in Salt Lake City. It was a cold, icy winter afternoon. After answering the door, Lucinda rushed to the coat closet, and took out Tasha's red velvet cape, and her white rabbit fur hat and muff. She carried them up the stairs at a run, and burst in upon her mistress.
"Miss Tasha! Miss Tasha! Come quickly, you have a visitor. A very special visitor!"
"Lucinda, what is the matter with you?" Tasha laughed, shrugging into the cape Lucinda was shoving on her. As timing would have it, she still had on her white boots, having just come in a short while before. So, she looked like a princess by the time Lucinda had her ready to go.
She couldn't fathom what could be happening, as Lucinda hustled her down the stairs and to the front door. She went out onto the porch, and stopped cold.
Below her on the street stood a pair of white horses, as beautifully matched as they could be. Their big, black eyes, dished faces, delicate bones and perfect conformation made Tasha gasp with delight. Their manes were braided with red velvet ribbons, and their harness was black patent leather, with silver bells jingling. They were hitched to a lovely, antique cart, with a red and white striped surrey cover.
"Hello, Miss. Care to take a ride?" a masculine voice drawled.
She whirled and found herself looking up at a man with adoring blue eyes, and a bright smile. He looked too good for words, in his black Stetson and leather coat.
"Tim!" she cried, and threw her arms around him. "How could you just show up like this?"
"It seemed the romantic thing to do." He mused, as though pleased with himself. "And I'm definitely in the mood for romance."
She laughed. "Let's go for that ride, then."
Grinning, he escorted her down the walk, and lifted her up into the cart. He settled a warm Indian blanket over her legs, climbed in beside her, and clucked to the team.
Tasha found Tim to be an excellent driver. They drew a few looks from the people in the town, but it was a quiet afternoon.
"So; tell me about Dana." She asked gently.
Tim shrugged. "Things were pretty dire when I first got home, but they are definitely improving. She's doing pretty good, now. She's going to make it just fine. After a good cry, she seemed to snap out of it somewhat. I've urged her to keep busy, get a change of scenery, and move on."
"Sounds like good advice." Tasha mused.
"I’m very proud of her. And I don’t think she was as much in love as she thought she was. She was shocked and shaken at being so deceived, but she’s already on her way back to the land of the living. In fact, I thought it might be best if she met you." He suggested lightly. "You know, I think the less she wonders about you, the better off we will be."
"Oh." Tasha said softly. "Wow. Can she take it, Tim?"
"Yeah. Actually, I think she's pretty curious about you. And Honey, she is determined to like you. She doesn't want to come between us."
"Well; that's good." Tasha decided.
"Can I send for her? Maybe she could spend a week or so up here; and then we could all go to Jackson, together."
Tasha agreed. It all made her a bit nervous, but it had to be faced sometime. She thought perhaps it was wisdom, to keep things moving forward.
The air was crisp, and the pines were fragrant. Tim took her far back into the hills, on an old, abandoned service road where they would be very alone. When they were far away and it was completely silent, Tim stopped the horses, and smiled at Tasha.
"Ever since I met you, I've been wanting to bring you someplace like this." He admitted.
"Oh?" she asked lightly. She turned her face down, and wished there was a place to run away to.