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"I'm not sure. I want to photograph wild life, for one thing, and the Dude Ranch I'd been staying at provided a wealth of that for me. I thought I'd try to land a magazine layout with the pictures I've taken. Would you like to see them?"
"Of course I would, I love animals. Come sit beside me and show me what you have."
They spent well into the night, looking at the photographs and Savannah thought how wonderful it was to have someone appreciate her work. And someone she could confide in, too.
Chapter Eight
Two weeks passed and Savannah had enjoyed being with her aunt. Lucy had taught her many things, and Savannah was a fast pupil. She learned to clean a house, cook a meal, and relax. And out of it all, relaxing was the hardest. It seemed odd that she had so much in common with someone she barely knew. But what Ben had said stayed with her, "it isn't how long, but how well you know someone." They spent a lot of time together.
Then one afternoon Ben stopped by.
"Good evening ladies." He began, eyeing Savannah.
Savannah tried to control that melting feeling she got when she looked at Ben, but it just didn't work. He was the only man in her life that made her feel this physical reaction, with just a look.
"Well now, what brings you all the way out here, Ben?" Aunt Lucy chuckled.
"Thought I'd check on you Lucy and see how you've been. Enjoy your vacation?"
"As a matter of fact I did, but I'm even happier being back home. Savannah is just what I needed."
Ben nodded with a smile, "That's good. How long is she staying?"
Savannah put her hands on her hips and firmed her lips, "I'm not in the other room, you can ask me yourself, Ben Hogg."
He smiled, "Okay, how long you planning on staying?"
"A while, yet. Why?"
"Would you walk with me, Savannah, I've got something I need to ask."
Savannah was surprised but nodded, her aunt smiling at the two of them.
Ben walked faster than she did and she found it hard to keep up. She poked her hands in the pockets of her overalls and practically ran to keep up with Ben. She didn't know where they were walking, but Ben seemed familiar with the property. Exasperated that he wouldn't slow down, Savannah finally shouted at him, "What is it?"
He stopped and slowly turned around. "You remember that kid that came in the Sheriff's office when you first came? When I…locked you up?"
"I remember."
"Well....her mother got married."
"So, what has that got to do with me?" Had he married the woman? But why bother telling her? Why bother coming all the way out here, a good twenty miles to tell her something like this? She was nothing to him, still the thought of Ben being suddenly married made her almost ill.
Ben stopped and looked at her again, "I thought you being around, and the fact that I wasn't seeing her every Saturday night might scare her off. Make her think twice about asking me to supper. I mean, the woman just wants a built in father, that's all."
Savannah really didn't want the details of their relationship, but from the sounds of it, it wasn't serious, anyway.
"So..."
"Well, I guess it worked. Strangely enough, she got married!" Ben burst out.
"Married?" Savannah seemed to hold her breath for more information. "You mean you married her?"
This made no sense.
"No," he frowned at her, "Not to me. You know how I feel about marriage."
"Y-yes, I do." Savannah said still not understanding what the matter was. "If she's married, I guess you don't have a problem. That is...unless you want to continue seeing her."
