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Vows (12/27/08 WC 855) Q


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Vows

"I can't do it" never yet accomplished anything: "I will try" has accomplished wonders.

-- George P. Burnham

When Despina and Mickey return to Ye Olde Watering Hole, Brad's table is occupied by strangers, and Paul Peter is back in his accustomed spot against the far wall. Seeing no other vacancy, Despina and Mickey head over to join him. As is his custom, the sheriff sits with his back to the wall, Despina beside him. He resumes his introduction to the area's major personalities begun on the drive back.

Not long after they arrive, the tall Indian re-enteres. Despina stares at him intently. Feeling Mickey's gaze upon her, she quickly flicks her eyes back to him momentarily.

"There's one of the 'dynamic duo' now... legendary magnates for females wherever they go..."

As the sheriff watches Despina's reactions intently, his frown telegraphs to her how used he is to this instant attraction, but also how disconcerted he is.

His entire life, he's probably seen them earn their reputations as 'legendary magnets for females' wherever he goes. He probably expected more from me after my reaction to Tex.

"Who's he?" she asks as she feels her ear tips burn at being so thoroughly understood.

"All night long, you've been assuming that the most unlikely people were him, and now, when he finally DOES show up, you don't recognize him."

"He's my BOSS?" Her eyes widen. "Quick, tell me all his obnoxious habits." She reaches over, touches her fingertips to the sheriff's hand as it rests around the water glass, then rapidly looks down to avoid his flashing eyes.

I've made him angry.

Swallowing rapidly twice, the sheriff tries to rise to the occasion. "Well, he's always 'on call' to solve problems, so he's pretty busy."

"But surely that's because of a tribal responsibility, true of all leaders, not a real failing. Can't you think of something more, well, personal?" she begs.

"He's a rotten hunter."

"Hunter? That's all? I don't need someone to be a good hunter! This is terrible! That's the worst you can think of? Whatever am I going to do?"

"About what?"

"I can't work for this man."

"What nonsense. I didn't tell you anything bad enough to make you decide that!"

"You don't understand. I was already half in love with the man who wrote to me, just from the sensitive, caring things he put in his letters. His tremendous intelligence showed through his eloquent words. And now, just LOOK at him! That kind of beauty ought to be illegal. With his first touch, I was TOAST!"

"Touch? When did he TOUCH you?"

"During the 'range war', before Paul Peter so rudely interrupted."

"If you were 'toast', I think I approve of his actions. I can't believe this. He never comes to town. He vowed..."

"What? A vow? What kind of a vow?"

"That's not my story to tell. Don't take it so hard. You're really overreacting. You won't see that much of him."

"Are you trying to tell me the connection I feel to him is a figment of my imagination?"

"Yes. Of course it is. You're building this up all out of proportion. You can't fall in love with a guy through his letters, for Pete's sake!"

Rattled, Despina cries overly loudly, "Oh, how do you know about Pete? Are you psychic? I didn't even tell my MOTHER about him!"

"Shhhuuush. You're involving too many people in this. Nobody named Pete has a connection to you that I know anything about. That's just an expression..." Rolling his eyes, he pauses, then gets back on track. "What attracted you to the letters?" he asks, leaning forward, piercing her with his gaze.

"Well, at first, when they were in English,..."

"Cu wrote to you in English?"

"Why does that sound so incredible to you? You act as if you don't believe it."

"Cu's vow..." The sheriff cuts off abruptly. He regards her quietly, then continues, "Cu's letters were in English?"

"The first few were. Then he said I would have to promise to use only Spanish, not English. That letter was in Spanish, as were all the rest that followed."

"Didn't you notice a difference?"

"Sure. English and Spanish are related, but not identical..."

"The hand-writing?"

Her eyes widen, "Not all from him?"

"Just the English ones weren't..."

"The ones I started to fall in love with. What do I do now?"

"You teach. You owe it to him to go to work Monday morning. He can't replace you now. School's already started for the older kids. Those youngsters need to be in school, too."

"Then he's not bi-lingual?"

"That's not a topic I care to tackle."

"You sure make that vow sound mysterious."


The Indian, who had been standing in the doorway scanning each part of the dark room in minute detail, has spotted her and been working his way toward her through the press of people stopping him to chat.

None of them are White, she notes silently.

Suddenly, he looms impossibly large before her.

"Es tiempo. Vamos a ir a la reservación, con su permiso."

He almost looks jealous.


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Last updated 12/27/08 Removed Uh.and "Oh 12/26/08 - changed “the tips of her fingers” to her fingertips; 12/3/08 - Removed Well; removed even though to end of sentence; removed with embarrassment; 8/19/06. (...'dynamic duo'...; ... ear tips burn with embarrassment...; doorway scanning (remove comma); ...finally DOES show up,...; She reaches over, touches the tips of her fingers to the sheriff's hand as it rests around the water glass, then rapidly looks down to avoid his flashing eyes. ; jealous, even though he's the one who's "taking me home", so to speak.) -- 9/13/04 -- Updated URL's; ...being so (remove extra space).... --9/12/04.)


Word Count: 855

Friday, September 21st, 2001 2:50 pm (pandemo)
http://pandemo.livejournal.com/10610.html
http://pandemo.livejournal.com/33010.html
http://summercircles.livejournal.com/5584.html