CHAPTER TWENTY
It’s been two days since Rose and Jack had arrived in LA and they were now official members of Ralph’s family. Rose is looking out the car window and holds on to Jack’s hand, enjoying his closness and the company of her family. She can’t help but wonder where they’re going. Both her father and Jack had refused to tell her. They just said it was a surprise.
"Jack please. Just a hint," Rose pleads.
"No Rose. It’s a surprise," Jack grins. "But I’ll promise this. You’ll love it when we get there."
Rose just sighs in disappointment and returns her attention to the window.
"The pier!" Cindy squeal with glee and Rose gasps when she sees the towering roller coaster in the distance. She suddenly remembers her and Jack’s conversation aboard the Olympic. He had promised to take her to the Santa Monica pier where he drew pictures for ten cents a piece. This must be why her father and Jack wouldn’t say where they were going. They wanted to surprise her.
"Oh Jack! Santa Monica!" Rose laughs in delight, hugging Jack tightly. "I had no idea you were going to take me here."
"Well I decided since we were already in California there really wasn’t anything stopping us," Jack grinned. "Now I can teach you to ride like a man."
Rose laughs at the memory.
"Come on everyone! Out of the car!" Ralph announces turning off the car once they’re parked. "I assume you’re taking my daughter off by yourselves," Ralph turns to Jack.
"Just for a little while sir. We’ll catch up. There’s just a couple of things I promised Rose we’d do here first."
"Ok. Come on kids. Let’s leave them two to themselves for a while," Ralph calls to his family.
"But daddy! We want to stay with Rose and Jack!" Cindy objects.
"They’re be with us in a couple of hours. There’s just a couple of things they have to do by themselves first. Now come on," Ralph drags his children away. Leaving Jack and Rose alone, staring after them.
"I think my little sister has a crush on my husband," Rose teases.
"Too bad. There only one Dewitt Bukater woman I have eyes for," Jack smiles, kissing his wife passionately.
"So where too first Jack?" Rose asked.
"Do you really have to ask?" Jack looks at her. "The roller coaster of course. I say it’s time you threw up your breakfast."
"You’re so romantic," Rose rolls her eyes.
The line is long but they’re to the front soon enough.
"Now just hold on tight and when the coaster goes down the hill hold your hands up," Jack directs sueezing her hand.
"I’m so nervous," Rose shakedly replies as the car begins moving.
"Don’t worry! It’ll be like flying!" Jack laughed as the car goes faster.
Rose holds on to the rail for deal life until the car reaches the top then plunges back down, then her hands flies up in the air and she screams like there’s no tomorrow. Three seconds later she’s back on solid ground on wobbly legs.
"Did you have fun?" Jack asked, coming up next to her and grabbing her arm.
"It was ok, but I don’t think I’ll be in a rush to do it again," Rose smiled.
Jack just laughed and takes her hand. "Come on."
They walk past a booth when someone calls Jack’s name. They turn to see what looks like a bearded lady.
"Why the artiste has returned to us at last," the bearded lady flirtatiously smiled at Jack. "Have you reconsidered my offer for that nude drawing?"
"Uh…Sorry Mabelle. But I’m out of the nude drawing business. I promised my wife I wouldn’t do it anymore," Jack nods to Rose, who was trying to stiffle a laugh, her eyes are wide with amusement.
"Oh I see," The bearded lady looks Rose up and down. "She’s too skinny if you ask me.’
"Well I like her just the way she is," Jack grins.
"Oh well. Too bad. You’ll never know what you’re missing."
"Oh I have a pretty good idea," Jack waves, suppressing a laugh of his own. "See ya around Mabelle."
"Bye Jack," She winks once more and moves on her way.
Rose bursts into laughter. "Why Jack I had no idea you liked bearded women!"
"Ha ha. Very funny," Jack smiled. "Come on Rose. We’re not finished."
He grabs her hand and they begin walking. They don’t stop until the reach the ocean and a man walking a beautiful black stallion.
"Hey Jack!" The man waves vigorously. "Long time no see! Where have ya been?!"
"Everywhere," Jack grinned. "I’d like ya to meet my wife Rose. Rose this is Sam Simpson."
"It’s a pleasure," Sam kisses Rose’s hand. "You got good taste in women Jack. But I must say big Mabelle will be disappointed. She’s had her eye on you for quite some time."
"Oh we already ran into her. I think she’s over it," Jack grinned. "But anyway, I was wondering if we can borrow your horse for a couple of minutes. I have to teach my lovely wife here how to ride like a man."
"Oh sure thing. And since it’s you, I’ll let ya have her on the house. What about that."
"Gee thanks Sam. Don’t worry. We won’t be long," Jack replies, taking the riens.
"Okay Jack. How do I do this," Rose asked.
"Just get up on the horse like you normally would Rose," Jack directs, taking her hand as she gets up on the horse. "Now instead of leaving both legs at the side, swing one leg over."
"Like this?" Rose asks, swinging her leg onto the horse’s other side.
"Perfect. Now just hold on," Jack smiled, getting up on the horse behind Rose. "Ready?"
Rose eagerly nods, enjoying his closeness. She was indeed ready to learn to ride like a man.
"Okay. Hold on," Jack taps the horse’s side, urging it into a steady gallop.
Rose enjoys the feel of the horse beneath her and Jack behind her. She had never felt so safe yet free in her whole life.
"Having fun Rose?" Jack whispers in her ear.
"Yes," Rose nods and
laughs as water sprays in her face as Jack directs the horse into
the crashing waves. "This is so invigorating! So free!"
Jack just laughs at the wonder in Rose’s voice. He closes
his eyes and breathes in her scent as her hair whips into his
face.
"I love you Jack!" Rose yells over the crashing waves.
"I love you too Rose!" He yells back.
Two hours later they had returned the horse and found Rose’s father and family. They were busy watching one of Mabelle’s show.
"Amazing. Who would have thought that there actually was a bearded woman," Ralph shakes his head in wonder, causing Rose to laugh some more when she thought about Mabelle flirting with Jack.
"Rose?" Sarah asked in concern.
"I’m fine," Rose stiffles her giggles.
"Jack! Can you draw me on that horse!" Cindy points out in the horizon where they can see Sam Simpson walking the stallion.
"Some other time Cindy. It’s time we start for home," Ralph turns around. "I have some important telephone calls I have to make that I had forgotten about."
"Oh ok," Cindy’s face falls.
"Hey I’ll draw you once we get back to the mansion," Jack offers. "Anywhere you want."
"The pool! With Rose!" Cindy’s little face lights up with glee.
"That’s fine then," Jack nods. I’ll draw three. One for you, one for your father, and one for Rose. That way all three of you will have one."
"Ok!" Cindy claps with joy.
Two days later it’s time for Rose and Jack to say good-bye. Rose hugs her father tightly as Jack helps the porter with their bags.
"Now don’t forget to write and send us pictures of that baby of yours," Ralph holds his daughter tightly, enjoying the scent of her red curls. A single tear escapes his eyes at the thought of saying good-bye once again.
"I won’t daddy," Rose smiled.
"And don’t forget, we’ll be down in a couple of months to visit. I’ll send a telegram before we leave," Ralph pulls away from his daughter to get a good look at her. He smiled with pride as he saw before him not the sad little girl he left at a boarding school, but a beautiful young woman with a family of her own. His wild Rose surely has grown up.
"I won’t forget daddy," Rose smiled. "Take care of yourself and Sarah and the children. Don’t forget to mail their letters to us. They promised to write."
"I won’t forget Rose," Ralph backs away from his daughter and turns to Jack, who returns to his wife’s side.
"You take good care of her Jack."
"Don’t worry sir. I will," Jack smiled, also hating to say good-bye.
"Well you two better get going. The train’s leaving in ten minutes and you’re going to want to get settled and everything."
"Bye daddy," Rose gives her father one last tight hug before allowing Jack to lead her back onto the train that will take them back to Chippewa Falls.
Ralph Dewitt Bukater stands and watches the train depart until it disappears into the horizon. Sighing deeply, he heads for home.