Runaway Bride

  * * *

  The next morning, it was overcast. The weather man predicted heavy storms for the area. Ben grimaced. Checking the sky, he noted the black clouds accumulating and decided to put his rain slicker in his car.

  Then he saw a car coming down the gravel road, toward his house. He watched, it wasn't familiar. It looked like a rental.

  When a man and a woman got out and began walking toward him he stood very still and waited. Being a Sheriff had taught him to be cautious of anyone. The man looked determined, and in control, the woman looked angry. They were both dressed well, too well. They weren't from around here he sized them up quickly.

  Savannah got out of the backseat. She was wearing a beautiful spring dress that flowed as she walked. Her hair fell about her shoulders and that streak caught his eye again. Funny how something so small could catch a man's eye. She was so lovely, he couldn't help just standing there admiring her.

  "Are you Ben Hogg?" the man was asking as he approached him.

  "That's right," Ben answered, his eyes still on Savannah, his hand extending for a shake.

  "We're Savannah's parents," the woman said staunchly as she eyed him closely.

  "Yes, I'm John, and this is my wife, Melanie."

  "Oh, so you are here to pick up the car," Ben concluded giving them his attention now that Savannah had joined them.

  "And Savannah, of course," the woman informed him.

  "You're leaving?" Ben cast a quick glance in her direction.

  "Yes...." Savannah didn't look happy though. She looked miserable. Almost as miserable as he had been for the past few days.

  "Well, why don't you all come in, have a glass of tea before you head out," Ben encouraged. "I'll need you to sign a receipt that you picked the car up, anyway."

  "Alright, we'll take care of that now."

  "I think we should just go, John," Melanie ground out.

  "No, I think I'd like to get to know Mr. Hogg here a little better, after all, if it hadn't been for him, we wouldn't know where Savannah had gotten to. We have a lot to thank him for. Why, without your call, we might have had a search party out looking for her."

  "I'm not about to thank him...." his wife huffed as she followed them into the house.

  Ben ignored the lady, after all, she was emotional and emotional women didn't always make sense. "That's exactly why I contacted you," Ben assured him.

  Savannah was standing in back of them now and slowly entered the house.

  Ben played host to them, offering them fresh iced tea and then as they all sat in the living room, he eyed them carefully, while watching Savannah out of the corner of his eye.

  "I'm just glad everything turned out all right," Ben said.

  "I wouldn't say it turned out alright at all..." Melanie firmed her lips as she looked at Ben with daggers in her eyes.

  "Is there something wrong?" Ben asked innocently.

  "Are you, or are you not the man responsible for ruining my daughter's wedding?" she blurted out.

  "Ruining....her...wedding?" Ben's faced screwed up and he stared at Mrs. Kingsley from across the room. "I don't believe I follow you."

  Savannah stood up, "Mother, please..."

  "Of course you are, she's in love with you..."

  "She is...?" Ben's eyes suddenly pinned Savannah to the wall. "You are?"

  Savannah couldn't take it any longer. She didn't know what to say, how to correct it all. Too many lies, so many wrongs.

  She ran....