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ou don't seriously think you can earn a living doing something like that, do you?" John was adamant.
"Why not? Others do. I'd like to show you some of my work, dad...."
"I won't tolerate you being so childish, Savannah. You have a good paying job, a home, everything...and now this? If you don't want to get married that's fine by me, but you have to be able to earn a living for yourself. Your mother and I won't always be around. And even though we've left you and your sisters and brother a generous sum, it won't take the place of a lifetime job."
Savannah looked at her parents with tears in her eyes, "This is what I want to do, dad. What I'm going to do. What I'm actually good at doing."
"Let's drop the job thing right now. I don't seriously think Savannah is contemplating this kind of life because of her photography. I think it's this young man she's involved with. I want to know more about him. Who is he?"
She tried to turn the conversation away from Ben, but they were determined to know everything, as always.
"Ben's a fine young man," Lucy quipped tightly.
"Ben?"
Savannah stood up, walked across the room, and then turned to look at them. "I don't expect you to understand me. I don't understand me. I only know I can't marry Chad. Chad has accepted it. Why can't you?"
"Accepted it, why he's been so depressed and despondent since you've been gone how can you possibly think he can accept it?" Melanie cried aloud.
"Because he isn't depressed or despondent about me. There are things you don't know, mother. Things I'm not at liberty to discuss. Things that are between me and Chad."
John's brow shot upward, and again he reached for his wife's arm, "Maybe we should let this go for a while, Melanie. It's obvious there is something between them. Whether it's this Ben fella, or something or someone else, I don't know. But I do know our daughter and she wouldn't be this decided about it, if something weren't amiss."
Melanie shot up from her chair and looked at them all, "Alright, we'll drop it for now, but I want to meet this Ben...whoever he is before I leave here. I want to know why one man can totally change our daughter's life." Her hand reached to control a wayward blonde curl, as her green eyes surveyed her daughter closely.
Savannah closed her eyes, her head began to pound. How would she ever manage this.
"Are you coming home with us, or not, Savannah?"
"For a while, I need to get a few things in order."
"Good, now, where is our car, I didn't see it parked outside?" John asked.
"Oh, Ben has the car," Lucy blurted out.
"Ben? Why would he have the car?" John and Melanie chimed.
"Because he impounded it, he's the Sheriff," Lucy explained with a smile.
"The Sheriff?" again they chimed.
* * *
Ben had been miserable ever since he stopped by to see Savannah. She practically admitted she'd been dating this Jimmy Walker. Not that it was his business, but she was playing games with him, and he knew it. She had no feelings for this Jimmy Walker, whoever he was. He'd bet his life on that.
He felt suddenly like a caged tiger, contained and yet not contained. There was restlessness in him that he couldn't explain or deny.
Why had she insisted on bringing Maria up, that night? He didn't want to talk about his ex. He didn't want to think about his ex. He had gotten over Maria so long ago; he wasn't sure when it happened. But the love was gone from that relationship almost before it got started. He'd learned a hard lesson in life. Maria taught him well. He didn't need marriage. Despite Savannah's sweetness, he felt he was right not offering her more.
All he knew was that he was consumed with his feelings for Savannah. She was everything any man would want. And he wanted her...body and soul. So why couldn't he just let it happen? Maybe being hog tied to a woman like her wouldn't be so bad. Maybe he'd enjoy it.
Ah, Savannah would never enjoy living in a little town like Junction, and he sure wasn't moving to the city. He was happy here. Content! At least until she hit town he was.
That's when he decided to make the call. He had to put a few things straight in his mind. He had to know if Savannah was telling him the truth about her runaway marriage. So he called Chad. It took some time finding the number and even with the help of information. When he did it was late and he had obviously woken Chad.
"Are you Chad Huntington II?" Ben asked angrily into the phone.
"Yes, yes...who is this?" came the groggy voice.
