DAWSON EVERLASTING
Chapter Two
Rose sat in the parlor, listening
to the women’s boring gossip. She stifled a yawn, thinking of how she would
much rather be outside exploring the woods beyond the mansion, and beyond the
woods…the world. She wanted adventure in the great, wide open. Not a day of
listening to Rachel Rothes talk about the evils of new money.
"Rose!" Ruth’s voice
again cut into her thoughts. Why couldn’t Ruth leave Rose alone to her
daydreams? Didn’t she know that they were the only freedom she had? Every other
aspect of her life was strictly controlled by her parents. "Are you
listening? Caledon Hockley is in town, looking for a suitable bride. I suggest
you make yourself presentable."
"Mother, I’m too young to
marry." Rose sighed and shook her head.
"Too young! Why, Rose, I was
your age when I met Harold!" Rachel laughed. "You’d better start now.
You’re not getting any younger."
"Indeed." Ruth nodded
in agreement. "And with the lack of suitable young men here in Treegap,
Mr. Hockley’s arrival is right on time."
Rose rolled her eyes. Her mother
would never understand that marriage was at the bottom of her list of
priorities.
"Don’t roll your eyes at me,
Rose Elizabeth DeWitt Bukater. I know what I’m talking about." Ruth sipped
her tea, glaring sternly at her daughter. "You’re at that age now when
young ladies in your position receive suitors and their parents pick out the
rich husband."
"Ruth, I have Mr. Hockley’s
office number right here. Call and make an appointment for Rose."
"Mother, what does Daddy say
about all of this?" Rose crossed her arms. She knew that he wouldn’t
approve. Rose was her father’s little girl. He would never allow Rose to marry
at the young age of seventeen.
"I haven’t talked to your
father yet. But I’m sure he’ll agree once I tell him about Mr. Hockley."
Ruth turned to Rachel. "Above all, my husband is a businessman, and he
well knows that a union with the Hockley name is good for business."
"May I please be
excused?" Rose forced a smile, tired of the subject of marriage and
Caledon Hockley.
Ruth stared at her suspiciously.
"You’re not going back outside, are you? Honestly, Rose, I wish you’d stay
out of the sun. It’s making your skin freckle."
"I was going to my room,
Mother. I want to practice my French."
"Very well, then. We can’t
have you neglecting your lessons."
"Thank you." Rose stood
and, as slowly as she could, walked up to her room. Once she was in the safety
of her room, she fell back onto the bed and continued her daydreams of
adventure and fun that she was in the middle of before Ruth had interrupted.
*****
The Dawson cabin sat deep in the
woods, away from the town of Treegap. Away from the rush of everyday life. It
was a home frozen in time, yet full of love and warmth. Inside, most of the
Dawsons were full of good cheer. Mae and Angus sat back and clapped as Jack
showed them a funny picture in the portfolio Mae had given him as a birthday
present. Everyone was happy to be together again…everyone except Miles, who sat
away from his parents and brother, frowning darkly.
His brother was behaving as if
nothing had happened, as if they hadn’t seen the tall, mysterious man following
them. But Miles wasn’t foolish enough to forget. He had agreed to return to
Treegap for one reason only…to warn Mae and Angus of impending danger.
"Someone knows." He
interrupted his mother’s laughter. "Someone’s found out about us."
All laughter stopped. A heavy
silence descended on the tiny cabin, giving it an oppressive air.
"What did you say?" Mae
grabbed hold of Jack as they got to their feet.
"Shut up, Miles. You’re
ruining everything." Jack glared at his brother. He hadn’t wanted to add
to his parents’ burden. He wanted to make this a normal visit.
"No, you shut up, Jack. They
need to know this." Miles looked back at his father, who now wore a
worried frown. "Someone was following us in Paris."
"Oh, God, Angus." Mae
held tight to her husband. Her greatest fear had just been realized. "Who
can it be?"
"We don’t know. Jack and I
saw his silhouette as we hopped the train back here. He’s tall. That’s all I can
tell you."
"Angus, what are we going to
do?" Mae gasped.
"Batten down the hatches.
That’s what. No one goes back into town until further notice. Any strangers we
come across in the woods…you know what to do with them." Angus’s voice was
dark with foreboding. "No exceptions."
"Angus!"
"We have no choice, Mae.
It’s either that, or be discovered."
"This is crazy." Jack
sat back in the chair, glaring at his brother unhappily.
"Shut up, Jack." Miles
disappeared up to his room.
The remaining three Dawsons looked
at each other, their previous good mood gone as they wondered who the stranger
was and what they wanted.