5
Back at the Dewitt Bukater mansion, the search for young Rose was in full swing. Ruth stared out the window, seething with anger. Rose was behaving like a child and it could ruin everything for the family. She just couldn’t understand why her daughter didn’t want this opportunity that other young women would kill for.
"Any word?" Ruth turned around to face her husband and Caledon Hockley.
"Nothing. But we may have gotten some help," her husband rubbed his hands together.
"This is my friend, Spicer Love Joy," Caledon waved a middle-aged man with silver hair and stern facial expression into the room. "He’s looking for someone who lives in those woods of yours. He may be able to find your daughter while he’s at it."
"Someone living in the wood? Why that’s preposturous! If someone was living in those woods, we would know about it," Ruth gasped.
"Not with this family I’m afraid. They’re a very secretive and dangerous bunch. The elder man’s name is Angus. Angus Dawson," Spicer explained. "If your daughter ran into those woods, she’s in very serious trouble I’m afraid."
"Barren," Ruth gasped, horrified. If anything happened to Rose, all their dreams of a better life would all go down the drain.
"Can you help us?" Barren asked, fear for his daughter’s well being creeping into his heart.
"In matter of fact, I can…for a price."
"Name your price Lovejoy. We’ll pay you anything. Just bring our daughter home."
"That’s right," Ruth
agreed, stepping up next to her husband. "Money is no
object."
"…It’s not money I want. It’s the woods. Give
me the deed to the woods at the edge of your property and
I’ll bring Rose home. Safe and sound."
Barren and Ruth looked at one another in hesitation. Her voice void of any emotion, Ruth answered. "Deed to the woods? My good man, there’s no such deed. We nor anyone else owns those woods."
Cal then stepped up to the desparate parents, his brown eyes dark with menace. "Now Ruth, we both know that your family do hold the deed to those woods. Now if you’re serious about getting Rose back, you’ll hand it over."
Again Ruth and Barren exchanged glances and then back at Lovejoy in resignation. "Very well then. I’ll call my lawyer and he’ll be over with the deed. Just you bring my daughter home in one piece."
Lovejoy just smiled with greed, his plans beginning to take shape. "Oh I will. You have my word."
Looking at one another one last time, the Dewitt Bukaters hoped that they weren’t making a mistake.
~*~
Morning had arrived at the Dawson cabin. Jack awoke from his dreams in a good mood. His dreams contained nothing but the fiery-haired, emerald eyed beauty that was now asleep downstairs. Making sure that Miles was still asleep, Jack quickly got dress and slipped down to the setting room, portfolio in hand. Jack found Rose sound asleep on the couch, reminding him of the angel statuettes he’s seen in several cemetaries. Beautiful and serene. Except Rose was made of flesh and blood, not of stone and granite.
"Rose," He whispered. "Hey Rose Dewitt Bukater. Wake up."
With a groan and a yawn, green eyes blinked open to stare into blue. "What is it?" She asked, a bit surprised to find Jack hovering over her. "What time is it?"
"Come with me," Jack held his hand out to her, his eyes pleading.
"What? Come with you? Why?" Rose of course was suspicious, but at the same time curious as well. These Dawson’s were refusing to let her go and she had no idea what they were planning to do to her, despite Mae and Jack’s kindness. Yet the young man before her enchanted her with his laughing blue eyes and mischievous smile. Looking into those eyes, she felt the stirrings of something that she had never felt before.
"I want to show you something. Hurry or we’ll miss it," Jack urged.
"Ok," Rose sighed. "But let me get some clothes on first."
"Oh. Of course," Jack blushed, stepping into the kitchen so Rose could dress in private.
Two minutes later, Rose was dressed and following Jack out of the cabin, both being as quiet a mice.
~*~
Rose looked up at the large stone cliff that Jack had led her to. She frowned, hoping that this wasn’t what he had wanted to show her.
"I call this the Eiffel tower. It’s not nearly as high as the one in France, but it’s very well near it."
"You’ve been to France?" Rose looked at Jack in disbelief, wondering where else he may have been.
"Yep. And I’ve been to Germany and Sweden too. You can say I’m a tumbleweed blowing in the wind," Jack grinned, gripping the ledges that stood out from the mass. "Come, follow me. You won’t want to miss this."
"Miss what?" Rose frowned as Jack began climbing. She hoped that he didn’t expect her to climb that thing. Why that was improper for a young lady of her station. Her mother would kill her if she found out.
"Well are you coming?" Jack looked back down at Rose, amusement shining I n his eyes. "Or are you chicken?"
Rose’s face turned red with indignation. He thought she was too afraid to climb after him! Well she’ll just have to show Mr. Jack Dawson who was scared of what! Determination burning in her eyes, Rose began to climb.
Soon they were at the top and Rose gasped in awe. Standing beside Jack, she witnessed the sun rising up over the woods, giving them a heavenly glow.
"It’s beautiful," She gasped.
"An artist’s dream. I’m wanting to sketch it someday," Jack smiled, happy to share this experience with Rose.
"You’re an artist?" Rose’s curiosity was peaked. What else will she find out about this handsome and mysterious young man.
"Yeah. You can say it’s my passion," Jack smiled, suddenly shy.
"Can I see your drawings?" Rose asked, afraid that she was being rude, but she simply had to find out more about Jack. Something was driving her to do so.
"Sure," Jack grinned, untying the portfolio from around his waist. Tentatively, he handed it to his new admirer.
Rose gasped in delight and awe. Jack had
a true talent. He had captured his subject’s so perfectly,
Rose could almost see into their souls. "Jack, this is
exquisite work…oh my," She gasped in shock when she
came across some nude sketches. "Well well well…were
these drawn from life?"
Jack laughed and nodded. "That’s the great thing about
Paris. A lot of girls are willing to take their clothes
off."
Rose simply smiled and giggled when she came across the same woman for the fifth time. "You liked this woman. You used her several times. I think you must have had a love affair with her."
Jack laughed when he saw the picture Rose was talking about. "No no no. Only with her hands. She was a one legged prostitute…see," Jack turned to a full figured picture of the same woman.
"Oh…," Rose blushed and then laughed along with Jack.
Jack reached over and turned the pages to a sad looking woman, who was dressed extravagantly, setting at a bar. "We called her Madame Bijoux. She would just set at this bar, wearing everything she owned, waiting for her long lost love. See how all her clothes are moth-eaten?"
Awed by his extraordinary talent, Rose nodded. "You have a gift Jack. You do. You see people."
"I see you," He stared at her intently, entranced by her beauty.
"And?"
"You want freedom. Freedom to be who you want to be, but
they won’t let you have it."
Rose looked at Jack, surprised. He really did see her. He was simply extraordinary.