I
Brianne was in the lavender garden tending to the newly planted flora when the sound of loud boots hitting gravel caught her attention. A young man was running in her direction. The look on his face was pure anguish. His white polo shirt was covered with brown stains and his khaki pants had a hole in the knee. She could tell he'd been crying from the blotchiness under his eyes. It made her heart ache to see someone in such distress. He looked up at her and stopped suddenly. His head turned as he searched for a place to hide. The young man then saw a path leading into the shrub garden. He began to run in that direction.
Brianne jumped to her feet and silently chased the young man. He stopped at a low bench and sat. His face rested in his hands and his head shook back and forth. The boy then stood again and made angry fists. He screamed, "I hate it all! It shouldn't have happened like this! It shouldn't have been so soon! Why didn't you let me be with them? Damn everything!"
Tears flooded to Brianne's eyes, but she managed to hold them back. In a small voice she finally spoke. "Excuse me, are you all right?"
"Who are you," he snapped at her. "Why are you following me? Did they send you?"
She stuttered, "I... my... my name is Brianne. I don't know who 'they' are. I saw your face and how sad you looked. I only wanted to see if I could help."
"Don't you even know who I am?!" he asked angrily. "You have to know who I am. You know what happened to me. You know what happened to them all."
"I'm sorry. I don't know who you are. I only recently moved here. I don't know anyone really." she answered.
"Well, I'm the Duke of Hudson. My father and mother were killed in a plane crash two days ago. Not that it should matter to a person like you. I'd like to be alone now so if you still want your job I suggest you leave and I won't tell your supervisor you disturbed me." He said cruelly.
"Oh, dear," she gasped. "I'm so very, very sorry. If you need anything..."
"I already told you to leave. That is all I need from you. Now go!" he shouted.
Brianne turned around and scampered away quickly. Tears swelled in her eyes. "What a sad boy," she sighed. Brianne walked back to the lavender garden and picked weeds out. She couldn't help but think of the miserable young man. His spiteful words hurt her to some degree, but she thought they only came from his sadness. She knew somewhat how he felt. She'd lost her own mother two years prior. Brianne couldn't imagine losing both parents at once though. Her father wasn't the most responsible man, but he always loved and cared for her the best he could.
II
Outside the wind howled and trees creaked. The breeze made the eaves on Brianne's roof shriek. The ancient tool shed swayed to and fro and finally collapsed with a loud crack. Inside the fire battled to spurt forth its warmth against the cold. Brianne sat on the couch curled up with a romance novel. "Philippe's long, strong hands reached out and grasped Nadia's waist. He pulled her towards him and said, 'Tonight will last forever, my love.' His lips pressed firmly against her cheek and slowly trailed down her neck. He reached her bosom and inhaled deeply. Philippe pushed Nadia's shirt down revealing her full breast and nipples. His mouth watered as he suckled on her round pink buttons. Nadia's gasped and then let out a low primal moan. She..."
Brianne suddenly heard a strange sound outside. It was like an animal in distress. She went to the window and looked out in her yard. On the ground under a tree was a tall figure writhing in pain. She opened the door and called out. "Hello. Who are you? Are you hurt?"
"Help... please help." The voice muttered.
"Oh dear. I'm coming. Hold on." Brianne answered. When Brianne reached the person she realized it was a tall, broad man. He was lying on the ground with a large branch near him. She stooped down and reached under his arms. Using all of her weight, she leaned back and pulled the man to his knees. "You're going to have to help me get you up. I'm not strong enough." The man used his feeble strength and pulled himself to his feet. "Lean on me and I'll guide you to the cottage." She said.
Once inside, Brianne sat the man by the fire. "You're going to need to take those wet clothes off. I'll get some towels." She walked to the bathroom and got a few towels. When she returned to the room, she looked down and found him sitting in his boxer underwear. His strong back was facing her as the muscles flexed when he breathed. There was something familiar about him she realized. He turned to her and she gasped. It was him! The young man she'd followed into the garden a few months back. His face had lost the sad look, but in its place was a look of anger and hate.
"What are you staring at? Are you going to give me the towels or not?" he snapped at her.
"Y-yes... here," she answered. "Do you remember me?"
"I don't make it my business to remember common people like yourself." he replied.
"Oh, well I remember you. You were in the gardens a few months ago. I followed you, but you were very upset. You told me to leave you alone." she said.
He looked at her for a few moments and stated, "Oh it's you, the snoop. Well, snoop, I'm thankful for you rescuing me, but I don't wish to stay in this dwelling any longer. Do you have a phone so I can call someone to come get me?"
"Yes, I have a phone, but the lines were knocked out in the storm. I'm afraid you'll be stuck here until the storm passes. Don't worry the television says it will pass in a few days." she said in a cheery voice.
"A few days?!" he whined. "I'm stuck here overnight? Well I at least hope you have some place for me to rest. And perhaps something to eat. Caviar and champagne maybe?"
"Well I was about to have some soup and cheese sandwiches. It's all I have really. Would you care to join me?" She asked.
He sighed and said, "I guess I have no other choice if it's all you have."
She smiled weakly at him and said, "Um oh it'll be ready in a bit. Maybe you'd like to shower? It will warm you. The bathroom's down that hall. First door on the left."
"Yes. A shower. I think I will." he replied. He stood up and walked down the hall. The door closed behind him with a thud. When Brianne heard the water start to run, she turned and walked to the kitchen. "What a miserable man." she said with a deep sigh.
Soon the water turned off and the man entered the room once again. Brianne was busy putting bread and butte on the table. "The food will be out in a few minutes. Please come sit down," she said. The man sat and looked around the room while saying nothing. Finally Brianne set down a bowl in front of him. "Here you go," she said.
"Ugh," the man let out.
Brianne ignored his disappointment and tried to start a conversation. "How did you end up out there," she asked.
"I was out in the woods alone. I was taking a walk down a path I often follow. As I traveled along I saw a strange animal out off the path. I decided to follow it and left the path. I walked and walked and then realized I was lost. Then it started to rain... hard. I just kept walking until I saw the light from your home. As I was making my way to the door, a big branch fell from one of the trees and tripped me. I was dazed for a few minutes, then I started yelling out for help. Finally you came to the door and saw me. It sure took you long enough, you know. I could have died out there. I must have been in that rain for at least two hours." he explained.
"Well you're safe now. We'll just have to make sure you don't get sick from being in that cold for so long." she said as cheerfully as possible.
"Yeah I guess," he answered. The two finished their paltry meal in silence. Brianne finally got up and started to clear the dishes from the table. She washed and dried them and then sigh as if to say "All done."
After dinner, Brianne led Daniel to her bedroom. "You may sleep here if you'd like. I know you hurt yourself out there. The bed will be good for you. I'll sleep on the couch." He looked around the room and gave a grunt of approval. He stepped in the room, turned around to her, and closed the door in her face. "If he wasn't so cute I might just give him a piece of my mind." she thought and giggled.
III
In the middle of the night Brianne awoke to the feeling of a full bladder. She walked to the bathroom and relieved herself. "I think I'll check on him." she thought. She walked into her bedroom and whispered, "Hello. Are you awake?" The man did not answer, but she heard fast panting coming from the bed. She walked over and touched his face. It was burning with fever. "Oh no!" she yelled. "Wake up! Please wake up!" He did not wake, but from the way he was breathing, Brianne knew he was in trouble.
She managed to drag him out of the bed and into the bathroom. She pulled his body into the tub and removed the layers of clothing on him. His strong muscled chest was revealed and Brianne was stuck in a daze for a few seconds. She snapped out of it, got down to his boxers and said, "Now's no time for modesty. She striped the underwear off and turn the cold water on full blast.
She started to cry when she looked at his face and saw it grimace. She fell to the ground and started to shake him. "Please open your eyes!" she shouted, "Please!" His eyes jerked open suddenly and he looked up into her eyes. There was a moment when the both of them felt something strange flow through their bodies. The pain immediately disappeared from his face and he reached out and grabbed her into his strong muscled hug. "Thank you! Thank you!" she cried.
They stayed in the embrace for a few minutes before she began to shake as the cold water chilled her. He released her when he realized she was cold.
"I'm sorry." he said.
"It's okay," she replied. "I'm just glad you're all right."
She helped him out of the tub and handed him a towel. "You're naked," she said as her face flushed into a crimson color.
