Authors: Pamela Carron
Cranford uttered a profane word and sheepishly apologized remembering Dwight was a minister. He was shaking his head when he asked,
“But why, what good will that do anyone? As far as I know he did not know anything solid that could incriminate anyone…or did he?”
His question directed to Dwight, who answered thoughtfully.
“I am sure Asa is behind it for whatever reasons and it may be that he thinks if Jacks does not remember anything leading to what happened on the rooftop that night then he has another chance of converting him over. The question I have is why is it so important to him? Why not choose an easier mark?”
Frank, listening with great attention, felt a twitching in his jaw and anger reflected in his eyes as he said with sarcasm,
“I think I know, but I need to talk with Jacks before I am sure.”
Dwight was concerned about Jacks but he wanted to go check on Honey. He
had been told
that she sustained much worse injuries than Jacks had and needed to be there for her until her crisis was over.
He excused himself from the other two men and asked if they would let him know when Jacks woke up. Cranford told him,
“I stopped and talked to the nurse on the way in and she said she was under heavy medication but was in and out. You go on. We will be here for Jacks. There is a guard coming to watch this room at least through the night, just in case.”
After Dwight left, the two detectives discussed more in detail the facts of the day. Some they were not ready to share with him. It was Frank’s turn to ask,
“Would you mind if I went off on my own for a bit? I do not think our man here will be waking before morning and there are a few errands I need to get done.”
“Sure, go on. Charlie will be here soon for the night and after I go see Honey and talk to Dw
ight
a bit more, I am out of here too. See you tomorrow.”
Frank nodded and walked out of the room. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper, opened it up gazing at the contents, he whispered softly,
“Oh yeah, one errand in particular, that just can’t wait.”
13
H
idey went downstairs but after dinner was over and the dishes done, he made his excuses for an early night. Once in bed, he pulled out the novel and before he fell asleep at almost dawn, he had finished the book. It was not his usual kind of book to read but it was an interesting and intriguing book. At least it cleared up the mystery of why Jean was such
an
enigma to him.
The reason he felt the connection with her was that he had seen this picture of her when he used the book to fix the wobbling leg of his bed frame. Now, maybe he could put her out of his mind and concentrate again on his work. In addition, he reminded himself not to forget to return the book to
Romona’s
collection.
If only it was as simple as forgetting Jean, for the next day the object of his distraction appeared at their front door with all her hiking gear on and wanted to know if he would like to show her the special hiking trails she had not found yet. With
Romona
in the background smiling in her big way, he accepted the invitation and ran upstairs to throw on his own gear, ignoring the big screen of his computer where his work was waiting. After all, he had told her he would show her the better trails around and he liked to think he was a man of his word.
After tromping through woods, climbing up hills and wading across streams, Hidey came to the conclusion that the woman was in great shape, for on several occasions it was he who suggested a ‘catch your breath’ sort of rest. He was happy when they climbed to the destination he had in mind for Jean to know he was not exaggerating when he told her he could show her more beauty than she had seen yet in the Poconos.
She dropped the pack from her shoulders and he knew he had succeeded when she exclaimed with great passion, drinking in the beauty, which surrounded them,
“It is beautiful! It is just beautiful!”
Hidey responded by rolling a log over to a spot and gestured for her to sit while she enjoyed the view. As much as he tried to hurry when he packed his gear, he had taken the time to stuff
Romona’s
favorite picnic utensils and some of the fried chicken they had left over from the night before. When Jean saw him unpacking, she reached for and opened her own bag, producing what she had brought.
Combined, it made for a nice meal and they munched down as they enjoyed the perfection before them and the quiet comradeship they shared.
After they had eaten and kicked back, conversation flowed easily, surprising them both, as neither was very talkative. At one point, speaking of family, Hidey shared the story of how his parents died in the crash he survived. Of course, Jean had noticed the limp but was too polite to ask about it. She was touched that he felt comfortable enough with her to discuss it.
Jean was a realistic, more serious than not, sort of person. She never thought about playing the games some women played starting at a young age, with boys and never understood it when her friends did. She was not one to have false pride. If you liked her, you had to like her as she was.
Just plain Jean.
Sometimes she wore makeup, but it was the exception, not the rule with her. She would never be a slave to fashion but she was an ever-loyal person and any one she claimed for a friend considered that they were lucky. By the end of this day spent with Hidey, she considered him a friend. She neither wanted nor expected anything beyond that friendship.
With Hidey, it was different. He dated several girls but Jillian was the only serious girlfriend he ever had and his feelings were those of young passion and lust. What he found himself feeling for the serious minded Jean was beyond anything he was used to feeling. He almost felt he would stop breathing when the day ended and she left him standing at his front door. She declined
Romona’s
offer to stay for dinner, citing that she had to put in at least two thousand words before bed.
Romona
went about feeling very confident.
The days went by and Hidey was obviously disturbed. Time was fast approaching for when Jean was due to leave.
Sensing this and not being the sort to sit around and wait for things to just happen,
Romona
took matters into her own hands. She went to visit Jean.
She was not getting any younger and she was sure this was the one.
Since she could tell that Jean was such a guileless sort of person, she wasted no time getting to the point as soon as she was sitting across from the younger woman with a cup of hot tea.
“Hidey says that you two had a great day hiking the other day.”
“We did, it was a wonderful place to hike. I am thrilled that he chose to share it with me.”
“Good, then you know how special you are to him.”
“Special?”
“Yes dear, from the very first time he spotted you in the woods that day until now. Why, I believe he loves you.”
“You think he loves me?”
“No dear heart. I said I believe he does. There is a difference.”
“Miss
Romona
that is…that is not even possible! We hardly know each other. You are mistaken.”
For a minute,
Romona
, feeling threatened by doubt, rebuked herself. God promised her and God kept His promises and besides, had not Hidey found her in the woods? She knew from the very instance, he came in talking about the woman with hair like copper, that she was the one.
“Hmmm, well I suppose we should talk about faith. How do you feel about God?”
Jean was trying to keep a straight face but it was hard, even for such a serious person such as she was. The woman was a dear and she was sure she had nothing but good intentions.
“I like Him. I mean I love Him. I’m sorry
Romona
, but what does God have to do with this.”
She gestured with her hands, not real sure how to proceed.
“You know the story of Ruth?”
When Jean nodded, she went on.
“Well, you know I am
Hidey’s
grandmother and getting on up in the years. I was praying one day and God sent me a dream. In my dream, He told me that He was going to send me my Ruth and I would see my Hidey with a good woman before I die. And although He did not mention it in my dream, I thought maybe I could get a great grand or two thrown in….wait!”
Jean had opened her mouth to protest but changed her mind, allowing
Romona
to finish.
“Before you say it is not you, let me finish. Just hold on for one minute and I will be right back.”
Going over to a table in the living area, she came back with a book….noting the dent she wondered but it was one of Jean’s books and
Romona
handed it to her. Jean looked confused and
Romona
explained.
“You know I told you I had read your first book, here. Well you should know something else. Velma, and
me, she
is my best friend, were at the drugstore one day and I was drawn to the book section. I love to read but already had several books stacked up I had not read yet, so I was not really looking for a book mind you, when I spotted that one about the shadows. I picked it up and something just told me to buy it, so I did.
When I finally got around to reading it, I kept on looking at the picture on the back. The one of the author…that would be you of course and I know this is hard for anyone to believe, but I just knew it was you in my dream and ever since then I have waited for you to get here. I was so happy that day Hidey came in asking me about you!”
It was a long speech and when she finished she gulped down her tea, which had cooled down. Jean was just sitting still not saying anything for she had no idea what to say in response to
Romona’s
claim. Did such things even happen like that she wondered and she was gently reminded of
Carol.
People thought that she was weird too, but those who knew Carol also knew that the Lord used her.
“But,
Romona
…what you are saying makes no sense because I have never wanted to share my life with a man.”
When she heard these words,
Romona
panicked.
“Oh, dear Lord, don’t tell me you like women?”
Horrified, Jean protested.
“Not like that! I like all people.”
She briefly thought of the tall dark haired and dark eyed Al.
“I have never really been romantically involved with anyone. I can’t even imagine feeling that way.”
She shut her eyes, seeing a face with a grin so big it covered most of it. Was it because of the guilt she felt with Al dying?
Romona
breathed a breath of relief. For a moment, she thought she might be wrong. She scoffed at Jean’s words.
“Is that all? Why, that is a good thing! Darling, just trust me, before long you will feel completely different.
Not even sure, this conversation really was taking place, Jean just nodded her head, while
Romona
cheerfully smiled and made her departure. Jean gave a half wave and shutting the door, leaned against it trying to think of the word which best described her feelings at that moment. If she were writing on her novel and had a character experiencing a similar situation what word would she use?
Perplexed?
Mystified, confounded, or maybe baffled. All would pretty much describe how she was feeling at that moment.
Yet, there was a stirring deep in her that both intrigued her and frightened her. One she was sure she had never felt before.