myself. I never thought
you'd just run out...that takes a lot of guts. So what's your
plans?"
"Plans? I don't have
any–now!"
"Well of course. You can't just let
this slide. You need to take action. Go for that hunk of a Sheriff,
honey."
"Go for him? I'm not the least bit
interested, and neither is he! Look Janet, I just ran from one man,
do you honestly think I'm going to run into the arms of another?
Besides, Ben Hogg made it very clear, he's not interested in
marriage…and frankly, that's all I want."
"Oh come on, girlie, that's exactly
what you did. And...unless you want some other lady to have him,
yes. And look, we all know that you and Chad cared for each other,
but no one, I mean no one ever believed you were in love with
him."
Savannah's mouth opened but nothing
came out. How could everyone know, when she hadn't? Up until a few
days ago she had planned to spend the rest of her life making Chad
a good wife.
"How could you know that about me? I didn't!"
"Honey, you were in love with getting
married. Anyone that knew you could see that. You just didn't know
that you have to shop around before you find the right fellow for
the job. Of course something must have kicked in, because you
followed your own heart...here."
Savannah stared at her friend in
disbelief. Had getting married been her top priority?
"Did he ask you out?"
Janet began storming her with
questions. How could she answer? What could she say? How could she
lie her way out of this one?
She was in too deep to admit there was
nothing going on. Besides, a short fictional romance with Ben could
afford Chad time to come out with the truth.
"Oh Janet, when he kisses
me...."
"I'm so happy for you."
Savannah rolled her eyes and
groaned.
"Well honey, you have to get back up on
a horse when they throw you. Just because you and Chad didn't tie
the knot, doesn't mean there isn't hope out there for you. And you
sound pretty smitten with this Sheriff."
She'd have to put up with Janet's
conniving for another week. Would this little adventure solve her
problems at home, for Janet was sure to tell everyone. Janet just
couldn't keep a secret.
It was simple, her mind clicked. She'd
pretend she had regular dates in town with Ben and go watch a movie
in the next town away from Junction. What could a little lie hurt?
No one would know. Janet would never know, and she'd be rid of this
albatross around her neck. She could finally pick up with her own
life... maybe even find a life. After all, if Chad wasn't going to
explain things any time soon, she had to come up with something
plausible that everyone would believe.
"So when you gonna see him
again?"
"Tomorrow night." she lied
perfectly.
"Oh this is exciting. I love it. A
Sheriff. What a story. Your mom won't believe it. She'll have a fit
at first, and then she'll just be so happy for you. By the way,
your boss called. You've been fired."
Savannah hung her head. She expected
it, but what was she going to do with the rest of her life? Up
until a few days ago she had happily lived with her parents, had a
decent job and what looked like a great future.
A month ago, she'd been so happy,
planning the wedding, working all hours so she could have a
honeymoon. Now, she had no husband, no job, and it seriously looked
like no future.
Listening to Janet going on and on
about Sheriff Ben Hogg as though he were already in the family. Yet
keeping up the guise could get tedious. Janet continued plotting
how she should act around him, what she should wear, asking her
personal questions she didn't want to answer. But one summer and
this would all be over. Eventually, she'd go home, when Chad
straightened this mess up. She'd stay a week or two here at the
Dude Ranch, pretending to date the Sheriff, then meet her Aunt.
Then maybe she'd plan what to do with the rest of her
life.
But the first sign of trouble showed up
when the Sheriff didn't.
"He's not picking you up?" Janet
asked.
"No, he's working late and wanted me to
meet
you'd just run out...that takes a lot of guts. So what's your
plans?"
"Plans? I don't have
any–now!"
"Well of course. You can't just let
this slide. You need to take action. Go for that hunk of a Sheriff,
honey."
"Go for him? I'm not the least bit
interested, and neither is he! Look Janet, I just ran from one man,
do you honestly think I'm going to run into the arms of another?
Besides, Ben Hogg made it very clear, he's not interested in
marriage…and frankly, that's all I want."
"Oh come on, girlie, that's exactly
what you did. And...unless you want some other lady to have him,
yes. And look, we all know that you and Chad cared for each other,
but no one, I mean no one ever believed you were in love with
him."
Savannah's mouth opened but nothing
came out. How could everyone know, when she hadn't? Up until a few
days ago she had planned to spend the rest of her life making Chad
a good wife.
"How could you know that about me? I didn't!"
"Honey, you were in love with getting
married. Anyone that knew you could see that. You just didn't know
that you have to shop around before you find the right fellow for
the job. Of course something must have kicked in, because you
followed your own heart...here."
Savannah stared at her friend in
disbelief. Had getting married been her top priority?
"Did he ask you out?"
Janet began storming her with
questions. How could she answer? What could she say? How could she
lie her way out of this one?
She was in too deep to admit there was
nothing going on. Besides, a short fictional romance with Ben could
afford Chad time to come out with the truth.
"Oh Janet, when he kisses
me...."
"I'm so happy for you."
Savannah rolled her eyes and
groaned.
"Well honey, you have to get back up on
a horse when they throw you. Just because you and Chad didn't tie
the knot, doesn't mean there isn't hope out there for you. And you
sound pretty smitten with this Sheriff."
She'd have to put up with Janet's
conniving for another week. Would this little adventure solve her
problems at home, for Janet was sure to tell everyone. Janet just
couldn't keep a secret.
It was simple, her mind clicked. She'd
pretend she had regular dates in town with Ben and go watch a movie
in the next town away from Junction. What could a little lie hurt?
No one would know. Janet would never know, and she'd be rid of this
albatross around her neck. She could finally pick up with her own
life... maybe even find a life. After all, if Chad wasn't going to
explain things any time soon, she had to come up with something
plausible that everyone would believe.
"So when you gonna see him
again?"
"Tomorrow night." she lied
perfectly.
"Oh this is exciting. I love it. A
Sheriff. What a story. Your mom won't believe it. She'll have a fit
at first, and then she'll just be so happy for you. By the way,
your boss called. You've been fired."
Savannah hung her head. She expected
it, but what was she going to do with the rest of her life? Up
until a few days ago she had happily lived with her parents, had a
decent job and what looked like a great future.
A month ago, she'd been so happy,
planning the wedding, working all hours so she could have a
honeymoon. Now, she had no husband, no job, and it seriously looked
like no future.
Listening to Janet going on and on
about Sheriff Ben Hogg as though he were already in the family. Yet
keeping up the guise could get tedious. Janet continued plotting
how she should act around him, what she should wear, asking her
personal questions she didn't want to answer. But one summer and
this would all be over. Eventually, she'd go home, when Chad
straightened this mess up. She'd stay a week or two here at the
Dude Ranch, pretending to date the Sheriff, then meet her Aunt.
Then maybe she'd plan what to do with the rest of her
life.
But the first sign of trouble showed up
when the Sheriff didn't.
"He's not picking you up?" Janet
asked.
"No, he's working late and wanted me to
meet
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