Chapter 6

Ronny was already wearing his own boots and coat, and he helped Mary Jane downstairs, and she put on her coat and slipped on her boots and they left the lodge and took a back trail.

"Care to talk about what was bothering you?" Ronny asked.

"I... well... I... well... it's all so ridiculous in a way."

Tell me about how ridiculous it is," Ronny suggested.

So she haltingly told him what she'd seen in Molly's room a few minutes earlier. "I suppose to a girl like yourself, reared gently, such a sight would be unnerving."

"It was terrifying."

"Did they attempt to harm you in any way?"

"Oh no! They never came near me. I suppose it was my own fault, in a way. I should have rushed right out of the room the moment I saw them. It was just that the sight was so ... well ... fascinating. I'd never seen anything like that close up before. '

"Up close? Do you mean you saw something like that from a distance?" Ronny asked as they walked through a small copse of tall Evergreen trees.

"Well ... I mean . ."

"Look, let's not start that again. You don't owe me any explanations and you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to say. Look, it's not quite ten-forty. Suppose I hire a horse and sleigh and we go for a short ride."

"Oh no! I have to be in the dining room by a quarter to twelve."

"I'll have you back in plenty of time. Besides, the fresh air is great for you. The color is coming back into your cheeks."

For the first time in her life, Mary Jane blushed. She actually felt shy and incapable of replying.

"It'll only be a short drive," Ronny assured her. "No one will ever know you were gone. Come on, you need a little fun to cheer you up."

Twenty four hours earlier, Mary Jane would have been shocked by the idea. Even now she had to think twice before finally agreeing.

The Padramor religion no longer had meaning to her. It preached things she, herself, could not come to accept. And if she could not accept part of it, she could not accept the rest of it. She wanted to feel happy. Seeing all the people at the lodge, watching the way they laughed and joked and enjoyed themselves had made her feel jealous. Why was it wrong to be happy? She wanted a little happiness. She had earned it, especially after seeing the horrible things going on between the members of her family, realizing what would happen to her if she refused to accept such a way of life.

They went to where Ronny could rent a horse and sleigh. Mary Jane remained out of sight while Ronny rented the sleigh, then, when he drove out and part of the way down the road, she stepped from behind a large pine tree and got into the sleigh.

"Tell me about the rest of the world," she said as he drove down the trail, away from everything and everyone.

And he told her about life where he had come from. He told her about the suburbs, and block after block of frame houses all looking alike, all with families where both the husband and wife had to go to work in order to make mortgage payments and pay off all the installment bills. Women who worked were too tired to cook when they came home at night. They wanted their husbands to take them out to a restaurant, and that was how he was able to make such a nice living. His restaurant, which was open six days a week, was always filled during the lunch and dinner hours.

To Mary it sounded wonderful. It was heaven compared to the life she knew she had to look forward to if she remained on Bell's Landing.

"It sounds like heaven," she murmured, when he was finished.

"Well it's hardly that," he laughed. "The hours are long, the work is hard, and though the money's good, it isn't great. It's a living."

"Does your wife work?" she asked.

"My wife?" he laughed. "I'll never have time to get married. If I had a wife she would have to help in the restaurant. She'd be working all day, right alongside me, except for when she was bringing up my kids. And even then, she'd be expected to come in when I needed her."

"I envy your wife," she told him, "Whoever she'll be."

"Hey, you're just a kid," he laughed. "Aren't you kinda young talking about marriage?"

"All girls dream of a good marriage, even young ones," she said, smiling.

He drove for a while longer, then finally had to turn the sleigh around and head back to the rental barn. Mary Jane got out and waited for him while he brought it back, then came trudging out to where she was waiting.

"Look," he told her, as they stepped into the copse of trees again, "I have to go back to my restaurant, tonight. My brother is watching it for me, but I can't expect him to run it indefinitely. But I think I'd like to pick up a few more recipes."

"I'll get them for you," Mary Jane replied, her heart sinking, knowing he was leaving.

"Not today," he smiled. "Suppose I come back next weekend and pick them up."

"That would be wonderful," she squealed.

And before either of them realized what they were doing, her arms were around his neck and she was kissing him. Their lips blended together as if they'd been molded for each other.

And then, just as abruptly, Mary Jane pulled away, feeling terribly embarrassed.

"Hey," he said, "I liked it, I really did. Don't feel so awful about it. I mean, I know I'm not that special, but I'm not really ugly, either."

T think you're ... very nice," she said, more than a little out of breath.

"Well, you're something pretty terrific too, even if you are only fifteen. Heck, I know fifty-year-old women who aren't as intelligent as you. Will you be here next week?"

"One way or another, I'll be here," she assured him.

"Okay. Ill see you then."

"Aren't you staying for luncheon?" she asked.

"Oh sure. I wouldn't miss that for anything."

"Good."

"Come on, now. It's eleven thirty. We'd better hurry back."

"I know you'll think me brazen, but would you kiss me once more?"

"Be as brazen as you like," he murmured, and this time pulled her to him and kissed her resoundingly on the mouth.

Her lips parted and felt the tip of his tongue tingle against her own. Electric sparks moved statically up and down her spin, making her writhe and press herself more tightly to him.

Yes, this was the way one should feel. This was good and clean and pure and right.

And then she felt something else. He hadn't meant for her to feel it, but she felt it. It was the growing hardness swelling from between his thighs; a normal reaction to the enjoyment of her kiss. It was his cock. In her mind she could picture it

No! she thought. She didn't want that. She didn't know if she could ever want that after having seen how abusive sex could be.

Pulling her lips from his, Mary Jane yanked herself away and began running toward the lodge. No, no, no, she mustn't let herself ever get carried away.

Unable to fathom the girl, Ronny Benson shook his head and smiled, then began trudging after her.

She was a sweet kid, a little kooky, but sweet. And he had to admit, despite her youth, he liked her more than he should..