185 Hearts and Flowers
Chapter One
This is an interesting tale of three men who believed they were very strong until they find love with a beautiful, passionate woman. The have hardened their hearts, locked them behind a tall wall of steel, kept it hidden from any woman who may have tried to scale the wall. Each man thought he would be free and remain that way all of their life, or until they were forced to marry some woman to deliver an heir to continue on with the family line.
Believed they would be free from the hassles love would suddenly bring their way. Upset the highway each of them had planned to take, a loan path, with occasional fun; a dalliance or two to make sensual love to some woman of like mind to them without their heart becoming involved.
Planned to take all the smooth roads but they'd soon find there would be many bumpy stretches along the path to their future dreams; many pot holes worn so deep and wide like the waves of an ocean where they would have to battle their way to the surface. To stand together so they would not be pulled in different directions.
Uneven paths will merge to place temptation along the way to distract each of them, to tug them in a different direction and change the path to a unplanned future.
Each of the three men will be beaten from their chosen path to travel along the path of love. Fate has entered their life with the helping hand of the mothers of the women who would change their future. Whispers on the wind sent arrows of love in their direction. Love would conquer more than the threats of the mothers of Simon, Carson and Fredrick.
Simon and Fredrick were seated at a table in a bar which they rarely would be seen in unless on the prowl for some action. They are waiting for their other partner-in-crime, Carson, to arrive. The men are in a bind. All of them being the eldest son of each of their family they are expected to find a woman, take her to be a wife and produce a succession of heirs to carry on the family name.
Because of past family experiences and some of their own the men are not wanting to give their heart to any woman to be trampled over. They are at the bar to make plans to find a wife whom they would marry but their hearts would not become involved.
Simon and Fredrick are sipping on their drinks while they wait for Carson to arrive. He had rang them and asked them to meet them at the bar. He had plans but had not told them what he had in mind for them to do that night. The only thing he had told was they were not to dress as they usually did. Each of them were to dress down. Not to wear the expensive clothes that they usually wore every day. They were to go out to find clothes which didn't “shout” wealth by looking at the men. Simon and Fredrick were dress as they hoped they should have been. The unusual clothes felt uncomfortable on their body.
Carson entered the door to the bar in well worn clothes, his hair not combed in his usual neat style. A smile of mischief shone from his eyes. He was dressed to do battle for his family.
Shock crossed the face of both Simon and Fredrick. Never in their life had they seen Carson look so down on his luck. He made his way through the crowd to their table. He came to a sudden stop. Carson was eager to begin their adventure.
'Ready for action to do our duty to our family?'
'I would not have recognized you in a crowd. Where did you find your new – style?' Simon stared at his friend.
'I think it suits you,' Fredrick told Carson. 'Who was your tailor? Have you found a new hair stylist?'
'I have a friend in the know. He helped me when I explained the look I wanted. He works in the theater.'
'Are the clothes from the theater?' asked Simon. 'Or a pile ready to be used as rags?' Simon looked down at the holes in the knees of the jeans Carson wore.
'Not at all!' Shocked at the reaction of his friends. 'These are my friend's Sunday best. Told me to take care of them.'
'Where are we going?' Fredrick cut in on the conversation before his friends could begin an argument. 'To a fancy dress ball?'
'No. We're going to an auction. A very special on. Let's go.' Carson looked down at his watch. 'Damn! I forgot to take off my watch.'
Simon and Fredrick finished their drink. They stood to follow Carson through the crowd and out the door of the bar to the street.
'This way guys.'
The three of the men walked up the street to where Carson had parked his car. Behind his car was an older looking car. Carson came to a halt beside the old model car that looked as though the body needed a lot of work done to it. The car looked as though it had a bad case of chicken pox because of all the rust spots on the surface of the body work;a few dents which added character. A man stepped from the car when the men stopped walking.
'This is Tim,' Carson introduced him. 'He'll fix your hair for you.'
Tim surveyed both Simon and Fredrick to see what he would be able to do to them to change their look. He shook his head. He had his work cut out for him, he thought. Tim leaned into the car to pull out a small case, which he placed on the roof of the car. He turned to size up his new subjects once again. 'Who is first?'
'First for what?' Fredrick wanted to know.
'For your make over,' answered Carson.
'Make over!' Shocked looks passed between Fredrick and Simon.
'You two didn't do too well,' Carson told them, not liking the job of disguise they had tried. 'Tim is here to make a few adjustments. You both still smell – money.
Tim grabbed Simon and pulled him forward to sit on the front seat of the car. He set to work to change the hair of Simon and clothes. A couple of slits were cut in his pants near the knees.
'You can't do that!' shrieked Simon when Tim began to cut with the scissors. 'These were my best home clothes.'
'Now they are you best going courting clothes,' joked Tim. 'You do want a bride, do you not?'
'No! I just need to be married,' complained Simon.
Tim shook his head with a sad smile on his face. 'No wonder you're not married.'
'What's that suppose to mean?' Simon snapped.
Tim hit his clenched fist to the middle of his chest over his heart. 'No heart! No feeling! You're a lost cause.'
'Next! Called Tim as he turned toward Fredrick.
Simon stood from where he had been sitting to move out of the way.
Fredrick sighed as he took the seat, wondering what he would look like once Tim had finished his make over. 'I hope these women are worth all this trouble. This is going to cost my family dearly.'
'You should do anything for ones family,' chastised Tim. 'They are important.'
'But I like my freedom,' complained Fredrick. 'The thrill of the chase but not being caught.'
'Our families have taken a stand,' cursed Carson, 'We have been given six months to find our own bride.'
'Or we have to marry one of the women the family have chosen,' said a disgusted Simon.
'I have seen the ones my family have in mind for me,' shivered Fredrick. 'No thank you! I may as well shoot myself now.'
'Your mamas would not know you now.' Tim surveyed his fancy work. 'Let me know how you fare.' Tim packed his tools of trade away in the case. He put his hand in the pocket of his pants and pulled out a set of car keys, which he handed to Carson. 'Enjoy your night, Gentlemen.'
Carson handed over his car keys to Tim. He smiled at the thought of what Tim had planned to use his car for. 'Hope you have some luck.'
'My lady and I will enjoy the comfort of your car.' Tim smiled at the look he would receive from his lady. 'Hope the bar is stocked.'
'With all you did order,' replied Carson.
Tim hopped into the car belonging to Carson and drove away.
'Time to roll guys,' said a happy Carson, ready for action. 'Don't want to be late for the auction. Our steed awaits for us.' He waved his arm in the direction of Tim's car.
'We're going in THAT!' bellowed Simon.
'Shoot me, now!' grumbled Fredrick.
'Come on, guys,' wanting to put the show on the road. 'Where's your sense of adventure?'
Simon and Fredrick grumbled as they made their way into the car. 'This is the last time we listen to you,' both of them complained, as Carson started the car to drive away.
Carson brought the car to a stop outside an old hotel. Simon looked at the building with disappointment.
'Is this your surprise? What're we doing here?' complained Simon.
'How did you find this place?' Fredrick wanted to know.
Carson reached a hand into his pocket to pull out a piece of paper 'I found this flier in with my mail. There's to be an auction here.'
Simon sighed. 'I'm sick of auctions. What's for sale?'
'An auction for women.' Carson was very pleased with his idea to come to the auction.
'What are the women selling? I don't want any more stuff to clutter up my home.' Fredrick could see he would have to part with some money for junk to please Carson.
'Not even a beautiful woman.' Carson smiled at the reaction of disbelief his friend showed on their faces.
'As in slave auction!' they yelled together. 'Isn't that illegal?'
Carson laughed at the shocked looks they cast his way. 'This is a charity auction to raise money for some sick child.'
'Why didn't you tell us to bring our cheque books,' moaned Simon.
'I only brought some small change. Maybe I can have my man bring some extra money over.' Fredrick brightened at the thought.
Carson shook his head at the suggestion. 'This is a low scale show. You can always make a bigger donation later. Keep your bids low so we don't attract too much attention. We're not wealthy tonight, remember.'
'Ohh!' echoed Simon and Fredrick.
'Let's go rumble,' encouraged Carson. 'Find us a wife to satisfy our family.'
As Simon. Fredrick and Carson leave the car to go into the hotel three pairs of eyes from the first floor of the hotel were watching them walk to the entrance. Eyes that were watching and wishing their meddling would pay dividends.
Chapter Two.
In a couple of the rooms of the hotel the women are preparing to present themselves to be sold for a number of days to do a job for some male. The money is to raise money. Not to be sold into slavery for ever. Then again, if the mothers of the daughter have their way, their daughters will be picked by the man to be their soon-to-be-son-in-law.
Julie Parker began to fidget with the cow girl clothes she had to wear for the auction. She is used to wearing expensive fashionable clothes not something, which she thought of as sack cloth.
'Couldn't we have had silk outfits?' winged Julie. She held up the hat the three of them were suppose to wear. 'Get a look at the head wear. My hair will never be the same.'
'Quit your complaining!' snapped Helen Raines. 'You want a husband, don't you?'
'I don't know how I let myself be talked into doing this stupid event,' Jessica Dawson cut in to stop an all out argument. 'Couldn't we have had an event at one of our clubs? Think of all the beautiful clothes we would have worn.' Her eyes shone with the thought of the lovely dress she could have talked her mother into buying.
'I hope I don't have to house clean for someone,' moaned Julie, turning up her pert little nose at the thought of the dirt she would have to remove. She shuddered at the thought of any dirt touching her hands.
'You clean house!' Helen couldn't remember ever seeing Julie with dirt on her clothes. 'That'll be worth paying for to watch you work.'
'Funny! I can see you looking after a tribe of dirty, squealing kids.'said Julie, trying to better Helen's comment.
'I love children.' Helen laughed at the face Julie pulled. 'Why do you think I'm looking for a husband?'
'I hope all the drunks have spent their money before we have to step out on the stage.' She gave a wistful sigh. 'Maybe some wealthy guy has come slumming, tonight.'
'Where's all your charity?' Helen asked her friends. 'We can afford to keep a husband if we should find the love of our life.'
Jessica lifted the edge of her wig to scratch her head. 'Why did we have to wear these stupid wigs? I'll be ready for a straight jacket by the end of the week.'
'Stop complaining!' Helen told Jessica. 'Think of this as a new experience. A holiday with an uncertain destination. We're here to make life better for one or more sick children,' Helen finished with her best reason for being there at the auction.
'I'd like to get my hands on the person who came up with this idea.' Julie stamped her foot to emphasis what she would like to do to that person.
'Your mother,' Helen and Jessica said at the same time.
'What?' Julie was shocked to hear her mother would have a hand in such a mad scheme.
A knock came to the door of their room. The lady helping with the auction had come to the door to tell them time had come for them to go out on to the stage. 'You're up. The rest of the girls have been snapped up.'
'You're first,' declared Helen and Jessica, as they stared at Julie.
'Why me?' complained Julie. 'I don't want to be the first.'
'I don't care who goes first,' the lady told them. 'The crowd will thrash the place if you don't hurry.'
Shouts along with boots stamping on the floor and the banging of glasses on the tables reached the the girls.
Helen and Jessica pushed Julie ahead of them out of the room and down the passage way to the stage.
The woman helper looked through a crack in the curtain to give a signal to the auctioneer that the last three candidates were ready for the auction.
Jerry, the auctioneer yelled in the microphone to try to quieten the crowd. He waited for the people in the room to settle before he could begin the auction. 'Shut up!' Waited a while longer until the room became nearly pin drop quiet. 'Now, gentlemen. We have the last three fillies for the night.
Helen, Julie and Jessica cringed when Jerry classed them as fillies. They had been called many names over the years but, never before, had they been called fillies.
'These three purr-ty fillies were late entries,' Jerry encouraged the crowd to let them know these were not to be mistreated. 'They have beaut-ty-ful bodies. So open your wallets to let the moths escape. These are first class fillies and don't forget this is for charity.'
'Come on, Jerry,' heckled one man from the audience. 'Open the gate and let the fillies out.'
'Maybe Jerry wants them for himself,' called another.
'Calm yourselves,' Jerry said, holding back to try to bring more interest to the betting, Ah! - bidding. 'You don't want a skittish filly to take home.'
'Uncouth,' groaned Helen. 'This is a nightmare.'
'I'll kill myself,' Jessica decided, praying no one was in the audience who knew her. 'Then I won't have to face that lot.'
Julie moved toward the curtain to open it a crack to peep out at the audience. 'Mother,' she groaned. 'You will pay dearly for this humiliation.'
While Julie was taking in the audience, Helen and Jessica had crept up behind her, then pushed her through the curtain and on to the stage.
'Ahh! Here comes the first filly ... I mean lady,' Jerry changed his hard sell. 'As I said, gentlemen. This filly ... Ahh! ... lady is from good stock Well breed! What'm I being offered for this ... lady? Who will start the bidding?'
'One hundred dollars,' called Fredrick.
Jerry was surprised by such a high bid at the start of the bidding. 'Do I have an advance on one hundred?'
'One-o-five,' called someone in the audience.
Two hundred dollars,' Fredrick bid, to try to stop anyone else from making a bid.
'Are you mad?' Simon hissed at Fredrick.
'We're suppose to be keeping a low profile,' Carson looked daggers at Fredrick.
'Sorry, guys. She looks like a good brood mare to me,' Fredrick smiled at his own joke. 'Look at those hips.' He moved his hands as though he moved them over her hips. 'She will suit mama. Mama will have her grandchildren.' Fredrick was pleased with his hopeful, prize.
'Do I have any advance on two hundred?' Waited to see if someone else would up the bid. 'No?
At least one gentleman knows well bred stock. Sold to the gentleman at the back. Come forward and claim your prize.'
Fredrick walked away from his friends smiling. He paid his money to the cashier and walked to the steps to wait for Julie to walk down the steps.
On shaking legs Julie walked down the steps to be claimed by the winner.
Jessica crossed her fingers behind her back and silently prayed as Helen shoved her through the curtain.
'How much ...' Jerry began his speech to move the bidding along.
Two fifty,' called Carson, not wanting to wait.
'What do you see in her?' Simon asked Carson.
'A good milker.' Carson smiled the the stunned look on the face of Simon.
'What has happened to my friends?' complained Simon.
'Do I have a higher bid?' Jerry looked over the crowd to see if there was any more bidders. 'Come on, gentlemen. Think of the sick child.'
'Sorry, Jerry,' came a wail from the crowd. 'The bid is too rich for me.'
'Why didn't you offer these earlier?' came from another direction.
'As I said these were late entries.' Jerry look toward Carson. 'The lady is yours, Sir. Come on down to collect her.'
Jerry turned to face the rest of the audience once he knew Carson was on his way. 'We've come to the last chance of the night.'
Helen stepped through the curtain. Her eyes surveyed over the crowd. Her eyes locked with the eyes of Simon. She felt as though she had seen those eyes some where before but couldn't put a name to the person.
Simon stared back at Helen. His eyes ran up and down her body. Of their own volition, the feet of Simon began to move toward the stage. He grabbed a wad of notes from his wallet, which he dumped on the cashier's table, then he mounted the steps to the stage where Helen stood. Simon picked her up in his arms.
'Hey, Mister,' yelled a flabbergasted Jerry. 'You can't do that! She hasn't ...'
'She's sold,” Simon told Jerry as he turned in his direction. 'I've paid more than you would have received at auction. I bid you adieu, Sir.'
Helen began to wriggle to be put down. 'Unhand me, Sir! You can't do this,' complained Helen.
'You watch me! Now sit still!' Simon stalked to the back of the stage.
'I'll scream!'
'Go right ahead.' Simon smiled at the disgruntled look on her face.
Helen opened her mouth, took a deep breath ready to let out a scream, which never had a chance to pass her lips.
Simon stopped walking. He brought his lips down to lock with Helen's mouth. As the kiss went on her arms crept up to join at the back of the neck of Simon. They both forgot they were still on the stage with a full audience watching them. Helen and Simon were brought back to where they were when the whistles and applause drew their lips apart. Helen blushed at what had happened in front of so many people. Simon move Helen to slip her over his shoulder to help hide her blushes. He carried through the curtain and disappeared.
Jerry sighed. 'There goes one happy customer. That closes the auction. Thank you for your support. Good night.' Jerry walked from the stage through the curtain with a secret smile on his face. A poem he had recently ran through his memory as he had though of the last couple who had walked off of the stage.
Burning flames of passionate love
Singed a blazed trail to my soul,
I cried for my lost soul mate.
Where has though departed to?
I have searched and searched every where
But no one knew where ye bound.
Come home! Come to me, my love!
The light has faded from my sphere,
Moon and stars shine no more,
Warmth from the sun does not
Warm my body as your flesh did.
My bed grows cold as frost
To build a wall of ice around my heart.
Return to me! Return my love!
Light a raging fire! Melt my frozen wall!
A river of tears will flow,
Heal the cracked heart. Our love will grow.
Together we'll grow old
Until the snow is on our head.
The fire will roar in the fire place
We'll hold each other for ever more.
Helen realized she was on the outside of the building when the cool night air sent chills down her legs. She struggled harder to be put down. With clenched fists she thumped on the back of Simon. 'Put me down this minute, you creep! If you don't, I'll scream!'
'Go right ahead. No one will take any notice of you.' Simon was pleased with his actions. He didn't think anyone would come to her rescue in this part of town. Simon stopped walking, looked around as though he had been looking for his car. 'Damn! Why did I listen to Carson?'
'Please tell me a policeman is coming in our direction,' pleaded Helen, with hope of being rescued. 'You'll be in big trouble now.'
The laugh which escaped from Simon told Helen there would be no hope of her being saved.'Sorry to disappoint you, my dear. Someone has taken our ... wheels.' He looked around for another way to leave the area. He smiled when he spied a taxi. He moved to the edge of the street and waved for the taxi to stop. 'Taxi!'
The taxi driver pulled to the curve of the street. 'Where to, Mister?'
'To the police station,' mumbled Helen.
'Don't listen to her.' He winked a secret signal to the taxi driver. 'You married?'
'Yeah!' He let a long, drawn out sigh with heart felt sympathy.
'Well you know how cranky a woman becomes if she doesn't have her own way.'
The driver sighed louder at some of the bad arguments he had to listen to when he arrived home from work. 'Tell me about it. Yabber, yabber! Then they begin to cry. Complain you don't love them any more.'
'The world would be a better place if we could do without them,' Simon agreed.
'Are the two of you finished bashing the female race?' Helen spoke up, reminding them she was still dangling over the shoulder of Simon. 'I would like to go home out of this cold.'
'Where are you headed, mate?' asked, sizing up Simon and Helen.
'You wouldn't happen to know of a cozy, quiet place to eat? I have to straighten out this ... argument ... before we go home. I don't want to be sleeping on the couch.'
The taxi driver as he thought of a place which would suit them. 'I know just the place. Hop in. She'll be putty in your hands before you go home.'
Simon opened the back door of the taxi and dumped Helen on to the seat. He climbed in beside her, put his arm around her to keep her close so she would not try to escape while they were being driven through the streets.
The driver brought the taxi to a stop out side of the restaurant. 'Best of luck!' He encourage Simon, who paid the fare.
What's your name?' A huffy Helen asked the driver.
'Why?' the driver want to know.
'So I can tell all of my female friend not to go with you if they ever need help.' Helen sent him a scathing look.
The taxi driver looked more closely at Helen. Came to a decision. 'Not to worry, lady. I don't work in the high society section of town.' He drove away laughing.
Simon now looked at Helen with suspicion in his eyes. Something was very wrong with the picture. He needed to find out some answers. 'Would you mind explaining why that guy thinks your – wealthy?'
Helen completely forgot she was in disguise. 'Because he knows quality when he sees it.'
'He does?' Simon couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had a closer look at the restaurant where the taxi driver had dropped them. 'He sure does. Mind telling me which part of this city you do live.'
Helen stiffened at the tone of the voice of Simon. 'What's with the inquisition? If you must know I live in Kepple Hill.'
Simon drew in a deep breath of shock. 'Do you happen to know the Westward family?'
'Which one? I've heard the name.' Helen looked strangely at Simon.
'Marj Westward,' Simon gave her the name of his mother.
'Does she have anything to do with raising money for cancer?'
'Why do you ask?'
'My mother ...' began before she was cut of mid sentence.
'... works for the same charity.' He grabbed Helen's arm to walk toward the restaurant. 'We have a problem. We need to form a plan of action.'
Helen rushed along beside Simon to try to keep up with his longer stride. 'What has gotten up your nose?'
'Our mothers!' came a sarcastic reply from Simon.
'What?' Helen was puzzled by the remark. 'What have our mothers done?'
Simon stopped abruptly.
Helen ran into the back of him. She was puffed from all the rushing to try to keep up.
'Did you know those two women who were auctioned before you?'
'Yes. We're friends. Why?'
'I presume their mothers know mine as well.'
Helen wondered to where all the questions were leading. 'Why?'
'Tonight has been a set-up.'
'What do you mean?'
Simon took the mobile from his pocket, pressed a button, waited for the call to be answered.
'Carson. We've been set-up. Let Fredrick know. Bring the girls to the Blue Dragon. We need to go into damage control,' Simon spat the words into the phone when it was answered.
'How did you find out?' Carson was interested to know.
'I'll explain when you arrive.' He slammed the phone shut and put it back into his pocket. 'Let's go find a table for six.'
Simon and Helen walked through the door way to the Blue Dragon to do battle.
Chapter Three.
Carson, Fredrick, Julie and Jessica all arrived at the Blue Dragon at the same time. They walked through the door way. Carson spotted Simon. He led the way to the table where Simon and Helen were seated sipping their drinks. They were speaking because Simon would not tell her what he knew. All four of the arrivals took a chair at the table. The women sat together and so did the men. Even though they liked their choice at the moment they could not trust the women. The women looked at the men with puzzled stares.
Carson turned to Simon. 'Mind explaining the urgent message.'
'What is so important we need to pow-wow?' Fredrick looked for answers to what was happening.
'In a nut shell! Our mothers!' Simon showed his disgust he had for his meddling parent at the moment.
'What has our mothers to do with tonight?' Carson wondered.
'Everything,' cursed Simon. 'Our scheming, planning mothers ... sucked us all in.' He looked at all the people at the table as he spoke. Simon watched all the different degrees of disbelief pass over each face. 'Everyone of our mothers work for the same charity.'
Helen's head had become unbearably itchy so she pulled the wig from her head. Ran her fingers through her flat hair.
Simon gasped with recognition as Helen did so. 'I've seen ... I had a feeling we had met in passing. The eyes were the first part I recognized.' He turned to look at Jessica and Julie.
'You have wigs as well?'
Jessica and Julie reached up to remove the wigs from their head. They ran their fingers through their flat hair. Carson and Fredrick couldn't believe who appeared from beneath the wigs.
'How did you become aware of the plot?' Fredrick asked Simon.
'The cabbie!' Simon smiled because he had been the one to foil the plot.
'The cabbie!' Fredrick, Carson, Helen, Jessica and Julie couldn't believe the cabbie knew something of their mothers plan.
'How did he know?' Jessica asked.. 'Was he part of the scheme?'
Helen looked questioningly at Simon. She could remember all the driver had said. 'I don't think so.' Looked daggers at Simon. 'Then again, I couldn't be sure. I wasn't the right way up at the time'
Julie looked at Helen's blushed cheeks. 'How come you were ... What were you two ...'
Carson looked from Helen to Simon with suspicion. 'Yes, buddy. Tell us why she was the wrong way up.'
Helen cast a mischievous smile at Simon, one which told him to try to explain to their friends why she was upside down. She prayed they would rubbish him for his actions.
Instead of explaining he way out he blushed prettily instead to distract them from asking any more answers. 'Not what you're thinking. Helen tried to convince the taxi driver to take us to the police station. He didn't oblige her.'
'Why?' Jessica looked puzzled. 'You could have been kidnapping her.'
'He listened to the lies of Simon,' huffed Helen, because the men had stuck together. The driver didn't even question her to find out who would tell him the truth.
'Simon doesn't lie.' He felt offended on the behalf of Simon.
'He may stretch the truth occasionally,' chimed in Fredrick.
'I would like to know why Helen was the wrong way up,' persisted Jessica.
'The brute ...' Helen stared at Simon thinking to make trouble for him. '... didn't wait to give anyone a chance to bid on me. He stalked through the crowd. Dropped money on the table on his way to the stage. He kissed me. Everyone whistled and clapped. He threw me over his shoulder. Then he strode through the curtain and out on to the street.' Helen huffed to a stop.
Everyone at the table couldn't hide their laughter when Helen had huffed to a stop.
'Very well! You may laugh. But I was the one hanging like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder.'
'You can't put all the blame on Simon,' Fredrick stuck up for his friend.
'Why not?'
'We are all at fault because all our mothers conspired against us,' Fredrick pointed out the obvious.
A devious smile lit up the face of Carson as a plan began to form to teach their meddling parents not to interfere in their lives in the future. 'What say we teach our parents a lesson?'
'But our fathers didn't ...' Jessica didn't think her father would be part of her mother's scheme.
'How do we know they didn't help?' Simon could see their mothers would have needed help.
'They had to have someone to help them carry out their plans,' suggested Fredrick.
Who better than their husbands?' Julie knew her mother would badger her father until he had agreed to help. 'No way would they say no if they wanted a peaceful existence.'
'Whose idea was it you should dress the way you did?' He asked the women.
'Our mothers!' all the three answered at the same time. Disgusted with their mothers for suggesting they should wear such clothes.
Simon turned his attention to Carson. 'How did ...'
'The flyer was in my mail.'
'Did the flyer explain what to wear?'
'In explicit details,' explained Carson, with a feeling who had written the flyer. 'My father once lived ...'
'... in a commune,' finished Simon and Fredrick.
'How did you know?' Carson was surprised that anyone out side of the family knew his father had spent some time in a commune when he had wanted to hide out from his family. 'I thought that was suppose to be a secret.'
'Didn't you ever ears drop when you were bored?' Fredrick asked, with a smile as he remembered some of the stories he had listened to.
'Ahh! I see.' He had his own set of other people's tales of woe. 'Maybe we should have been listening lately.'
'I'm disgusted with my father,' Jessica damned her father for interfering in her life. 'How could he do this to me? He usually keeps his hands clean.'
'Abstinence!' Simon made the obvious answer.
'Abstinence!' Helen wondered what that had to do with what they were discussing. 'What has that to do...'
'Everything,' Carson told her. 'You do as I say or else ...'
'... no sex until you do..' Fredrick finished the thought.
'Oh!' The women said together. They had forgotten their parents still did that – thing.
'Time for payback,' said Simon, breaking into the Silence. 'Out do them at their own game.'
All of them put their thinking together on ways of what they could do to their parents to pay them back for interfering with the fates. To let the parents they were all old enough to manage their own love life when they chose to act on their final decision on who to spend the rest of their life.
Chapter Four.
Oh. mother! Oh, mother!
What have you done?
You have sold your daughter
Into the hands of a tyrant.
You have forsaken her
To many years of slavery.
You did not think your plans through
Didn't see what her future would be,
You should have left well enough alone
She may have chosen a different course.
Your meddling may bring sorrow
May cause pain when her heart is broken.
You had better pray, pray for salvation,
Fate will chart her a happier future.
The next morning Rose and Hugh Raines were seated at the breakfast table eating. Rose had a worried look on her face. She had kept looking toward the door. Hugh sat reading his paper. The room was unusually quiet. Most times Rose had a lot of gossip to impart to who ever would listen to her. Hugh looked at his wife to see if she was sick.
'Are you not well, dear?' Hugh waited for an answer but none came. 'Are you going out to a meeting today?' He persisted but still no reply. He began to become worried. 'Is there a problem, dear? Did the cook not cook your eggs the way you like them?'
Rose looked down at the uneaten breakfast on her plate. She had just been moving the food into a different place and mashed it in her agitation. 'Helen should be down by now. She's never late.'
'Maybe she had a late night,' Hugh suggested. 'She may have stayed with Jessica or Julie.'
'She always rings when she won't be home. Helen knows I'll worry if she doesn't ring,' complained Rose.
'Have you looked in her room? She might have forgotten to set her alarm.'
'Helen never forgets to set her alarm,' persisted Rose. 'I hope nothing has happened to her. I'll go check on her.' Rose went to push her chair back from the table.
'Sit down, Rose.' She dropped back down on her chair. 'Worried your scheming didn't work? The auction was last night, wasn't it?'
'Yes.' Rose wrung her hand on her lap.
Hugh was about to ask some more question but his mobile rang. He looked at the number but didn't tell Rose who had called him. 'What can I do ...'
'Have you seen Helen this morning?' Jason sounded as though he was whispering so he would not be heard on his end of the phone.
'Not yet. Why?'
'I'd check the room if I were you,' Jason suggested.
Hugh stood. He walked out of the breakfast room while he listened to Jason. 'Why? What do you know?'
'We found a letter on Julie's bed,' continued Jason. 'Seems as though she eloped last night.'
'What?' yelled Hugh in shock. 'Hold on!' Hugh ran the rest of the way up the stairs to Helen's bedroom. He opened the door to the room without knocking. In the middle of the pillows at the top of the bed was placed an envelope. Hugh sat on the bed as his legs would not hold him. He ripped open the envelope and read the short note which had been inside.
'Damn!' He picked up his mobile to speak to Jason. 'You were right! I found the letter. What are we going to do?'
'Not a thing at the moment,' advised Jason. 'Let our wives sweat. Teach them to meddle. I would advise you to escape while you can. Betty and Anna are headed to you house.'
'Thanks for the warning. Meet me at the golf course.' Hugh closed his phone and put it in his pocket. Hugh smiled as he planned how he was to escape the house. He went down the stairs to give his wife the good news.
'Did you find Helen?' asked Hugh as soon as he walked into the breakfast room.
'You don't have to worry about Helen,' Hugh casually told his wife. He smiled as he told her,'You plan worked. She's away on her honeymoon.'
'What?' Rose paled as she took in the news. 'How do you know?'
Hugh dropped the letter on the table near Rose. 'You should be happy. Helen does now have a husband.' After delivering the news, Hugh turned to leave the breakfast room.
'Where do you think you are going?' snapped Rose.
'To golf,' was his reply.
'That would be right! Every time there's a crisis you head for the golf course.'
'You made this mess. You – and your co-conspirators – can rectify the mess. I'm out of here before the mothers of the husbands arrive.' Hugh walked away whistling “Here Comes The Bride”. He had just reached the hallway when the door bell began to chime.
'I'll get it!' he called. Hugh opened the door to find Betty and Anna on the doorstep.
Both women were surprised to see Hugh still at home. He hadn't as yet left for the hill like the other two cowards. 'You're still here!' Betty stared at Hugh.
'At least one of the fathers is worried about his daughter,' praised Anna.
'Sorry to disappoint you, ladies.' Hugh smiled brilliantly at their shocked faces. 'But I'm on my way out.'
'Like the rest of the rats you're deserting us in our time of need,' sniffed Betty.
'You're not worried where your daughter might be?' criticized Anna.
'No ladies,' Hugh congratulated them. 'I believe you would have chosen the right husband for my daughter. I hope the six of you will come to a friendly arrangement.'
'Six?' queried Anna, not realizing who he meant. 'There's six daughters missing?'
'No. Didn't you count of the mothers of the husbands coming to this hen's gathering?'
'Well I never ... ' spluttered Betty.
'... been insulted before,' finished Anna with more shock, her face going even more white.
'Looks as though today will be full of surprises. Happy hunting ladies. You'll find Rose in the breakfast room.'
Hugh walked out of the front door of the house to find his car to leave the house before the angry mothers of the groom arrived. He'd left the door open for the other mothers to walk in when they arrived.
Betty and Anna stormed through the house to the breakfast room.
'Hugh was very rude to us,' Anna complained to Rose.
'Hugh's never rude,' Rose defended her husband.
'He was this morning,' sulked Anna. 'Didn't he sleep well?'
'Possibly is the shock,' hedged Rose. 'He was the one who found Helen's letter. I presume you both received letters.'
'Yes,' replied Betty and Anna.
'I didn't think my Jessica would elope,' sniffed Anna, as she pulled a handkerchief from her purse to pat her eyes. 'This day will be a black mark on our family history. No one in my family has ever eloped.' She collapsed on to the nearest chair.
Betty pulled out a chair to sit. 'I expected to plan a lovely wedding for my Julie. She didn't give a thought to her family when she eloped. Didn't think how upset we would be.'
'How do you think the rest of us feel?' Marj Westward announced from the doorway to the breakfast room.
'We missed seeing our son married,' Faye Hillard complained, as she pushed past Marj.
'Do we know which of your girls married our sons,' Mary Rhodes demanded. No one answered her question. 'Did any one go to the auction?'
'Not to the auction,' said a hesitant Rose, watching the angry sparkle in the eyes of Mary Hillard. We watched the boys arrive from a window from the first floor.'
'We took the girls to where the auction was to be held,' added Betty.
'We couldn't find Jerry after the auction to know who each of the girls left with,' put in Anna.
'Did the girls say who they eloped with?' demanded Marj.
Rose, Betty and Anna shook their head.
'Does anyone know how to find this Jerry fellow? He may can enlighten us on who left with whom,' Marj looked hopefully from one woman to the other.
'Why don't we have some refreshments then set out to look for our children?' suggested Anna, in the hope of adverting blood shed.
'Good suggestion!' agreed Rose. 'I'll go to the kitchen to order some refreshments. This may be a long day.' Rose escaped to the kitchen while the others settle down to wait.
Chapter Five.
Life is but a river
you follow through to the end
watch for boulders
Hugh, Jason and Wayne arrived at the golf course. Each waited in the car park for the other so they could make their way to the club house together. They were happy that they had escaped the clutches of their wives before they could be enlisted to help them search.
Do we head for the course?' Hugh asked. 'Or stay in the club?'
'Out on the course!' Jason was emphatic about the decision. 'Everyone turn you mobile off.'
'I need mine on,' said Wayne. 'I'm expecting a business call.'
'No phone!' Both Jason and Hugh told Wayne.
'Business will still be there tomorrow,' gave a persuading look.
'Do you want Anna ringing every few minutes?' added Hugh.
'No!' Wayne shivered, remembering the tongue lashing he had received before he had left home. 'Blessed silence is what I need. My ears are still ringing from her yelling this morning.'
'Does anyone know who the groom are?' Hoped one of his friends would know,
'No,' replied Jason and Wayne.
'I wonder if their fathers play golf.' Hugh sighed. He hoped the men would be hiding out like they were, not out hunting for blood.
'Why?' Wayne searched the car park.
'We'll have to keep our eyes peeled for three other hen-pecked husbands.' Hugh laughed at the expression on the face of his friends.
'That'll wont be easy,' complained Jason. 'There'll be heaps out there. We just have to find the right ones.'
Hugh, Jason and Wayne were laughing as the made their way into the club. They walked through to where they stored their clubs then made their way out to the course to hit off. Each of them eyes the other players to see if they could the fathers of their daughters husbands. Each of them still couldn't believe their daughters would do such a thing as elope. This last interference must have driven them to finally go over the edge. Their wives had a guilty hand in what had happened during the night.
With all my heart
For the most wonderful experience
Best I have ever known
I traveled to a land of wonderful dreams
During our hours spent together those nights.
Chapter Six.
Tim had been out with his lady friend until sunrise. He had come home to bed as the streets came to life as the new day dawned. When Tim arrived home he pulled down all the blinds to shut out the sun, make the room as dark as night so he could catch up on some of the sleep he had missed out on during the night. He set the alarm so it would wake him in time to be ready to go to work at the theater to make the actors ready to play their parts in the play. Tim didn't want to be in trouble for being late now he had decide to make some changes in his life.
He had been asleep for a few hours when the phone beside began to ring. Tim pulled his arm from beneath the covers to reach out to shut of the alarm think it was time for him to go to work. But the sound kept vibrating like an annoying bee buzzing around in his head. Grumbling, Tim reached over to pick up the phone.
'How much is your life worth to wake me this time of day?' grumbled Tim, in the hope the caller would drop the phone in fright and would not keep him awake for too long trying to sell him something he didn't want.
'How many months do we have to wait to see if there'll be a Tim junior?' Came a reply in the ear of Carson.
'Don't need to worry, buddy,' chuckled Tim. 'My fair lady has agreed to marry me. What trouble found you?'
'Big trouble.' announced Carson.
Tim became worried because of the tone of voice of Carson. He sat up in his bed wide awake to hear what trouble Carson and his friend had found during the night. 'You didn't trash my baby, did you? Tell me it is still in good condition,' Tim prayed, thinking of all the damage that could have been done to his car, his pride and joy.
'We didn't wreck your baby.' Carson tried to calm Tim's ruffled feathers. 'So you can relax.'
'So what trouble could you three find?' Tim could hear other people talking in the background at the other end of the phone. 'You did make your way home?'
'Nope! We're all in hiding, We need ...' Carson was cut short by Tim in a panic.
'You're not in jail? I don't have the money to bail you three out.'
Carson laughed at the panic and concern his friend was showing for his welfare. 'Nothing so drastic. Do you happen to have a friend who does photography?
Tim wondered why his friend would want him to find him a photographer. Something was not as it should be. 'Yes, I do. When and where do you want him?'
'After you finish at the theater,' Carson told Tim.
'Ask about wedding clothes,' Helen said to Carson, reminding him what they would need, 'for male and female.'
'Whose being married?' Tim was suspicious now, wondering what he was letting himself for. He cut in on the conversation at the other end of the phone.
'We need three women to act as brides; also three grooms. Plus we need twelve bride and groom outfits. The older the better will suit our purpose,' Carson finished off his list.
'This will cost you,' Tim reminded Carson.
'We'll split the cost six ways.'
'Six ways?' Tim's shocked voice echoed down the phone. 'How come there are six?'
Fredrick lent in close to the phone Carson held. 'We have our future brides with us.'
'You're invited to our weddings,' Simon had his turn to talk to Tim. He didn't want to be left of of the planning because he had been to one to find out they had been scammed by their mothers.
'Oh, no!' Tim cried in shock. He could see all the money he would have to fork out for presents. 'I'm trying to save for my own wedding. Where do you want to hold your show?'
'Somewhere our parents won't find us,' Carson insisted. 'A secret place they would not think of to look for us.'
'Ask him to bring us a change of clothes,' interjected Jessica. 'We can't stay in these.'
'No way! Ah, ha! Find someone else to face your mothers. I want to keep my scalp.'
'Don't stress!' Fredrick wanted to keep Tim calm for him to be able to do the rest of the list they had given him. 'We'll find someone to face the lionesses. What time will you have everything in place?'
Tim yawned, thinking of all the work he would have to do now and all the sleep he was going to miss. 'Eleven. Looks as though I won't have time for any more sleep. Don't forget you six are paying for my wedding – and honeymoon.' Tim quickly slammed down the phone before anyone could complain at his charge for all the work he would have to do for them, And all the sleep he would be missing out on that day.
Love is to be nurtured and cherished,
Love is not all sex and passion,
Love is giving of yourself to another,
Love is not taking control
Giving nothing but your body.
Love is a beautiful experience.
To be shared. To grow as one.
Love is being part of a team,
Where everyone works together
With the same dedication.
Love is not a take over
To be ruled by one of the team.
Chapter Seven.
Golf can be considered a marriage
you have to dodge water holes
traps as well.
Hugh, Jason and Wayne slowly made their way around the golf course. They closely watched to see if there were three other players who looked worried. Or if they were hiding out on the course away from their family, or business worries.
'Have you been watching those three coming up fast behind us,' Jason pointed them out to Hugh and Wayne. 'The way they are slogging that ball ...'
'They don't seem to be enjoying their game.' suggested Wayne.
'I would say they are taking their frustration out on the ball,' announced Hugh, had been watching them for some time.
'They may have mother-in-law trouble, or business worries,' concluded Wayne. 'Or their wives have been meddling.'
'Want to wait to find out if our problem is the same as theirs?; asked Hugh. 'The six of us may come up with a plan to out smart the females.'
'Sure,' agreed Wayne. 'We can't do anymore damage then the debacle the women have.'
'Wonder if the mothers of the boys have arrived at you house,' commented Jason, with a broad smile on his face. He was thinking of all the skin and hair that could be flying at the moment. 'I would love to be a fly on the wall to listen to them argue about whose fault the plan didn't work their way.'
Hugh reach down and pulled his mobile from his pocket. He intended to try to find out what was happening.
'What do you think you are doing?' Wayne asked, shocked at the use of the phone.
'Being the fly,' laughed Hugh. 'Cross your fingers guys that Rose doesn't answer.' Hugh waited for someone to answer the call.
A softly spoken voice answered the phone. 'Raines residence. How may I ...' began Suzzie the maid.
'Suzzie,' Hugh cut in on Suzzie's practiced speech. 'Mister Raines here. Is Mrs Raines still at home?''
'Missy Raines not here. She gone out.'
'How were things before Missy Raines left? Was there much yelling? How many women arrived this morning?'
'Not much yelling. The six of them left. Don't know where they go. They eat then leave.'
'Thanks Suzzie. If Missy Raines asks if you've heard from me tell her no.'
'Sure, Mister Raines. I no see you.'
Hugh folded his phone and put it in his pocket with a smile. 'No blood letting at my place. A little yelling but the six of them left the house together.'
'I wonder where they went?' Wayne tried to think of all the places where they might start. 'Would Helen have rung home?'
'Not if she's mad with her mother.' Hugh knew how stubborn Helen could be if someone had backed her into a corner.
Jason decided to try the same trick Hugh did and rang his home. 'Parker family,' came a grumpy reply, 'no home. You have to ...'
'Maudy,' Jason began, to stop her grumbling. 'This is Mister Parker. Has there been any calls for me? Any message from Julie?'
'No messages, Mister Jason. Only Ramona came from next door. She say Miss Julie left some clothes in a bag for her to collect.'
'Is Ramona still there?'
'She upstairs in Miss Julie's room.'
'Be a dear and call Ramona to the phone, Maudy.'
'Yes, Mister Jason.' Maudy put the phone down on the table. She walked to the stairs to call up to Ramona. 'Ramona! Ramona!'
Ramona came rushing to the top of the stairs to see what Maudy wanted. 'Yes, Maudy. I'm nearly finished.'
'Mister Jason want you on phone.'
Ramona ran down the stairs wondering why he wanted to speak to her. 'Hello. This is Ramona. What's your problem, Mister Raines?'
By the tone of Ramona's voice he had a feeling Julie had been in touch with her. 'Did Julie tell you what to do when she called you? Where do you have to take the clothes?' Jason persisted with his questions.
'I haven't spoken to Julie for a few days. She told me I could borrow some clothes for a dress-up party we're having at school. She told me which ones I could take.' Ramona told him, side stepping, not giving him a straight answer.
'You sure you haven't spoken to Julie today? She has disappeared,' he added, to make Ramona spill what she knew.
Ramona knew Mister Raines was trying to make her tell him what she had promised Julie she would not tell. 'What happened to Julie? Where was she when she disappeared? Can I help look for her?'
Jason chuckled because he knew she had given herself away. 'You're a good friend. Take all the clothes Julie has asked you to collect. Tell her her dad loves her. Don't let Mrs Raines catch on to what you're doing.'
'How did you know....' came whispered reply, she hadn't meant to give their game away.
'Fathers have their secret ways. Best of luck with your secret mission.' Jason quickly disconnected the call so Ramona could finish packing and escape the clutches of his wife.
'I smell a rat, gentlemen. The ladies are having their own game used against them.' Jason was pleased to know the girls were safe.
'How can you be sure,' Wayne was interested to know.
'The women will not be pleased.' Hugh shook his head in disbelief. 'How do you know what the girls are doing?'
'Julie has a teenager from next door collecting some clothes for her. Someone who we wouldn't think of to ask questions if we were asking any.'
James, William and Cedric had caught up with Hugh, Jason and Wayne while they had been standing beside the course playing detective. He was surprised to see the three of them standing there talking instead of playing the game.
'Are you guys hiding out?' James shouted at them. 'Or is your game off today?'
'Right first guess,' Hugh called back. 'You don't happen to have missing sons?'
'How did you know?' William surprised a stranger knew what was troubling them.
'Seems fate has stepped into our paths.' Jason replied.
'You wouldn't have missing daughters?' Cedric asked.
'Woken to an “I have eloped” letter?' came from James, making sure they had the right men.
'Bingo!' exploded from Hugh, Jason and Wayne.
'Can we hide out with you?' asked William 'I wonder if the club does picnic lunches.'
All the other fathers laughed at his comment.
'We're safe for the moment,' advised Wayne. 'All the wives are out searching for their children But I would say their search would be fruitless.'
'Why do you say that?' Cedric looked at him with interest for an answer to where his son was. 'What information do you have we don't'
'My daughter is using a teenager to collect clothes for her as we speak. If the others are doing the same no one will have to leave their hiding place until they feel safe to move,' Jason enthralled the newcomers with what they knew.
William laughed at the though that someone had brains to out smart his wife. 'And their mothers think they were clever. About time someone out smarted them at their own game.
'Any one for finishing this game?' asked Hugh. 'Or are you ready to hid out in the club house?'
'We may as well finished the round,' declared James.
'Not at the pace you were traveling to reach here,' joked Wayne.
'We were in the dark before,' moaned Cedric. 'I've run out of steam. The rest of the way to the club house will be a stroll in the park.'
'I don't have to pretend the ball is my wife's head,' chimed in William.
Everyone laughed at joke by William. The men began to tee of to continue on with the round. They slowly made their way to club house, put their clubs away and decided to have a few rounds of drinks before they went home to face the mess their wives had created. Each man took a pledge to keep out of the trouble, sit back and watch the fireworks, to find out which side would win.