3
The next day Rose sat at the table for lunch. Both of her parents looked at her as if they knew something she didn’t know. Finally having enough, she put her fork down and glared at them both.
"Yes. What is it?"
Ruth and Barren Dewitt Bukater looked at each other and then back at Rose before answering. "Your father had just received a phone call from Caledon Hockley," Ruth was bursting with excitement. "He’s coming to see you."
Rose frowned. She didn’t like the sound of this so far. "Daddy? What is she talking about? Why would Caledon Hockley come see me?"
"Rose dear, you remember what Rachel said about Mr. Hockley’s search for a bride don’t you? Well darling, you’ve been chosen. Out of all the eligible young women in Treegap, he chose you!" Ruth laughed with glee.
"Me? Why me?"
"Because my dear daughter, you are the best," Her mother replied. "Which means, the Dewitt-Bukater are the best."
"But mother! I don’t want to see him! I don’t even want to be married!"
"Oh pish posh Rose. All girls want to meet him and they all want to get married as well. You’re just being difficult like always. It’s time you began acting like a lady instead of a child."
"Daddy?" Rose turned to her father, her green eyes begging for interference. The kind of interference he usually provided when her mother tried to mold her into something she wasn’t. She frowned, thinking of how that fatherly intervention was happening less and less over the last year. But hopefully he will come through for her this one last time. He didn’t.
"Your mother is right Rose. It’s time that you grow up and become the well-bred lady that society expects you to be. Caledon Hockley is also a fine business associate. A union between our family and the Hockley’s will ensure our survival."
"B-but daddy…I’m not ready for marriage. I want to go to collage…become an actress…"
Ruth gasped in horror at the revelation of Rose’s lifelong dream. She couldn’t believe that her well-bred daughter wanted to be something as vulgar as a actress. Thank providence for Caledon Hockley! He will make sure that such a dream will never become a reality. "Rose, you will be seeing Mr. Hockley. You will conduct yourself properly and you will make him a decent, well brought up wife. Do you understand me? You will forget about this vulgar ambition of yours and do what’s best for this family. Do you understand me Rose?"
Hot tears of outrage filled Rose’s eyes. They didn’t even care that she didn’t want this. That life with Caledon Hockley would be a life of despair for her. All they cared about was the precious family name. Trembling with emotion, Rose got to her feet. "I will not marry him! I won’t even meet him!" Rose glared at both her parents, her blood boiling with rebellion and betrayal, especially when she looked at her father. He was supposed to defend her against her mother’s unreasonable plan; but instead he had sided with Ruth. Putting riches and prestige ahead of their own daughter’s happiness.
"Rose, sit down this instant! You will meet with Mr. Hockley and stop this childish tantrum," Ruth hissed.
"Leave me alone!" Rose ran. She ran from the room, out of the house, and into the woods that have been forbidden to her ever since she learned to walk, ignoring the startled calls of her parents.
~*~
Jack knelt at the stream that was the cause of his family’s secret, the very reason he was out in the woods today. It was ordered by his father to guard the spring from strangers. Take care of any stranger that may enter their domain and stumble upon the spring. How his father meant that, Jack didn’t know. But he would do his best to follow orders. As long as those orders meant not hurting anyone.
Dipping his hand into the cool water, he took a long thirst drink. It was a hot day and standing guard was hot thirsty work.
~*~
After what seemed like hours, Rose stopped running. Out of breath, she looked at her surroundings and instantly knew she was lost. She didn’t even know the way back to her house, which was just fine with her. She intended never to return to the Dewitt Bukater mansion. This was her last chance at freedom and she wasn’t going to waste it. Thirsty, she followed the sound of running water, just to come upon a boy with the blondest hair she’s ever seen in her life. He was knelt at a spring drinking as if water was going out of style.
She just stood there and stared at him. If a man could be beautiful, that’d be how she’d describe him. She couldn’t help but to soundlessly stare, wondering who he was.
At last he stood to his full height. Feeling someone’s eyes on him. He turned to see a lovely red head girl staring at him, her green eyes were wide with curiosity. He was struck speechless by her beauty.
"Uh…hello," He decided to break the silence.
"Hello," was all Rose could get out, noticing just how blue Jack’s eyes were. Blue and bright with energy she couldn’t describe.
"What are you doing here?" Jack asked.
"…I’m lost."
"Well…what’s your name? Maybe I can help you find your way back."
"It’s Rose Dewitt Bukater and I’m not going back."
"Oh, a Dewitt Bukater huh? My name’s Jack. Jack Dawson. So Rose…tell me, why aren’t you going back?"
Avoiding the question, Rose looked at the spring Jack had drunk from, suddenly feeling dehydrated. "I’m thirsty," She lifted her head in a dignified manner, a gesture she’s seen her mother do a number of times. "I’ll take a drink from that spring and then I will answer your rather rude question." She headed for the spring just to find her way blocked by Jack.
"No! You can’t drink from that!" Jack stood in the pathway, not letting her pass.
"And pray tell why not?" Rose was indignant. Her family owned these woods and here was this strange boy telling her that she couldn’t drink from a spring that by all rights belonged to her anyway.
"It’s poison," Jack quickly replied. "See, I’m feeling sick already."
"Well you look fine to me," Rose looked at him skeptically. "I don’t believe you," Rose walked pass Jack and to the spring anyway.
"No wait! You can’t drink from that!" Jack grabbed Rose a bit roughly then he intended to.
Angry, Rose jerked out of his grasp. "How dare you grab me like that! My father owns these woods and he’ll have you thrown in jail for treating me in such a manner!" Rose ran away from Jack and right into the arms of another man who was two years older then Jack, but had the same piercing blue eyes.
"You’re not going anywhere," The man held her tightly.
"Miles no! Let her go!" Jack glared at his brother.
"You know what Angus said about strangers Jack!"
"B-but she’s a Dewitt Bukater."
"No exceptions! That was the rule."
"Let me go!" Rose yelled. "This is kidnapping! I’ll have you arrested for this!"
"You still want to let her go?" Miles stared at Jack after hearing Rose’s threat.
Realizing that threats did more harm then good in her situation, Rose backtracked. They would kill her if she didn’t think of something and fast. They’d kill her and leave her body for her parents to find, rotten and decaying. All sighs of life gone. "Listen, I’m sorry. I won’t tell. I promise. No one will even know you’re here. Just let me go home. Please."
"You hear? She’s not going to tell anyone about us. She promised. You can let her go."
"Jack, stop being so naive! She’s lying! If we let her go, she’ll run home to her mommy and daddy and tell them about the bad men in the woods. Since she’s a Dewitt Bukater, they’ll be out here and will be relentless in their search for us!"
"Well…let’s take her back to the cabin then. Let Angus and Mae decide what to do!"
"Ok. Fine," Miles nodded. "Get the rope out of my sack there and tie her hands. I’ll blindfold her," Miles directed.
Quickly Rose was tied and blindfolded. With a warning to behave, Rose was led deeper into the woods with no idea of what awaited her.