Two Paths One Road To Weeping Rose.

"Lexie, Get out!" Samuel grabbed my arm squeezing like a vice, yanking me towards the front door.

"I'm not leaving without Kim!" I said, digging my heels into the ground, hot stinging tears trickled down my face.

"Like hell, she's mine now." His whisky breath wafted in my face, I pushed harder against his chest ,fighting to be free of his rough grip.

"Let me take Kim, she's only four." I pleaded, his brown eyes pierced me to the spot.

Cold shivers ran down my body, as he held me up against the white wooden door. His scarred face gave him the look of a madman.

"She's my child, you were nothing, but my wife's project." He snarled like a dog, his nose inches from my face.

I raised my knee, and kicked him with all the strength I had left, his screams shattered the air, as he hit the floor.

I lifted up my long pink faded skirt, and ran to Kim's bedroom. I grabbed Kim out of her crib.

Her blond ringlets bounced about her face as she sleepily wrapped her arms around my neck.

"We go," She whispered.

"Yes, Kim, we go." I told her, and gave Kim the princess Doll her mother had left her a few years ago.

I took the deepest breath of my life, and marched out of Kim's bedroom, past Samuel laying on the floor cursing under his drunken breath.

My hand landed on the silver door knob, and the door flew open.

"You'll pay Lexie!" He shouted, as the door banged closed behind me.

The cool air hit my face, I wiped away the tears falling off my nose.

"Shall we go on the train, Kim?" I hugged her close, and walked out of the hellhole, we called home on to the quiet road.

I looked up at the huge full moon following us to our new life.

The small train station's rusty black gate creaked in the wind, a few feet from me.

I could see a life for me and Kim beyond that gate, sweat beaded down my face. I was going to make it.

My hand wrapped around the cold metal gate.

"Kim, look a train." I pointed to the black easy expresses parked on the tracks, they stretched for miles.

"Train! Train! Train!" Kim's blue eyes twinkled with excitement.

I walked up to the ticket conductor, "Two tickets to London, sir." I handed him the last few coins I had, and took the two thin stapled orange tickets.

"Thank you, sir." I said, stepping on the train, and I looked for seat fourteen.

I walked up the aisle checking each booth for my seat , I could hear a pin drop, it seemed that quiet.

"Lex, look." giggled Kim, I followed, what her eyes was looking at, and there was seat fourteen.

"Well, done, Kim." I said, in my hyper, childish voice and we took our seat.

"Miss, You're in my seat." I jumped, looking up to a tall man all dressed in black right down to his shoes, towered over me.

"I think you're mistaken, Mr." I squared my shoulders, thrusting my ticket in his smug face. He looked it over slowly, and handed it back without a word.

He took the seat opposite me, and started getting his typewriter out of its bag.

"Mr, What are you doing?"

"My names Alexander, and I'm taking my seat." He winked like a fly had hit him in the eye.

"Who's this little cutie?" Alexander glanced over the top of his typewriter at us.

"Um she's, um my daughter." I felt my face go hot under his stare.

" How old are you?"

"Twenty three, if you must know." I said, lifting my chin a notch higher.

"What's your name?" He said, still staring between Kim and me.

"I'm Lexie."

"Charmed to know you, Lexie." He said, as the train came to a stop.

Charmed in deed, I thought. I hadn't noticed the train taking us on our journey.

"Everyone off." The conductor's voice boomed.

"Bye Lexie." He waved to Kim, like we were all friends.

I watched his retreating back disappear, before gathering Kim and heading towards the entrance.

"Have a nice stay, miss." The conductor said, as we stepped on to the platform.

The morning sun peeped through the clouds. Now what I thought to myself. Nowhere to go, no money.

I stood watching loved ones embrace one another, their delighted faces touched a lonely place in my heart.

The predicament I found myself in weighed heavily on my shoulders.

Where to now?

"Lexie there you are." Alexander came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.

"Excuse me, what are you doing?" I felt his hot breath on my cheek as he lowered his head and whispered in my ear.

"Will you be my wife?"

"You' re bonkers I whispered back, and shook his arm off my shoulder.

"Look I told my mother I had a wife, will you be mine?" His green eyes pleaded with me.

"I don't know you, It would be wrong." I protested, was he out of his mind?

"Just for one month, I'll give you anything." He pleaded, his pale complexion, and unshaven stubble gave him that rebel, handsome look.

"Why would you tell your Mother that?" I tapped my foot not wanting to be held up much longer.

"Lexie isn't it every mother's dream?" He said. As if that was the end of it.

"What require me to do?" I huffed.

"Wear this ring, and go along with whatever I say." He smiled.

"Um, only for one month?" I asked, while he slipped the plain gold band on my finger. Kim held her little pudgy arms out to him.

"I think she wants a cuddle ." He said, reaching for her.

"She's fine." I hugged her closer.

We walked out of the station together. Alexander told me a little of his travels. I listened as he touched on the lie he told his mother. It shocked me that he had lied about having children just to please her.

I still had the sense that he was still hiding something from me, as we turned the corner on to a bed and breakfast.

The black building stood tall, and black thick smoke blew out of the chimney.

Dead flowers lay draped over their window boxes.

A cold shiver ran up my spine, when Alexander grabbed my hand.

"No going back now." I heard him whisper.

"Son, you're home." An older woman with dark greying hair tangled about her face, yelled from the door.

"Mother!" His tense voice boomed, as we walked quickly up the gravel path.

It felt like we were walking to our doom.

"Um, nice to meet you." I held out my hand at the door.

She looked me up and down, her long nose flared.

"This is she?"

"Yes, mother." He pushed me forward like a child needing protection.

"Come in!" She waved her hand, shaking her head as she went.

I guessed in disapproval.

"Mother this is Kim." He smiled glancing over at her asleep in my arms.

"What a darling, didn't your letter say her name was Amy?" Her voice sounded as croaky as a box of frogs, she stared him down.

"We changed it." I said jumping to his rescue again.

"Tea will be on the table soon, why don't you freshen up." She ushered us towards the creaky wooden stairs.

"What was that all about?" I whispered as we walked.

"All in good time." Alexander said, his eyes as sad as a mistreated puppy.

I looked up at the dark landing, cobwebs hung from every corner and the purple doors faced each other.

Alexander swung open the first door and a light flicked on.

My eyes focused on the huge double bed that dominated the dreary decorated room. What have I walked into? I thought shifting a sleepy Kim to my other hip.

"Thank you, for everything." He closed the door behind us.

"What's going to happen to us?" I asked, new fear poured into my heart.

"No one will hurt you Lexie." He sat on the bed, fumbling about his pocket.

A shiny piece of metal rolled on to the floor. He snatched it up, and handed it to me. It was a badge in the shape of a gun.

It read....

Alexander, sheriff of Weeping Rose town.

"um, where am I?" I looked down at the words once more, had I taken the wrong train? Had I been tricked into going with this guy? My thoughts were a jumbled mess.

"Lexie, we have a whole month for answers, you're safe here." He moved closer wrapping his arms around me.

I knew I had to guard my secrets with my life.

He held us close, like our lost souls were seeking each other.

He couldn't do any worse to me than the evil waiting to make me pay.

I could tell this was only the beginning.

Alexander pried Kim out of my tightly woven hands and a shiver of loss came over me, as I watched him lay her on the huge bed and place loads of huge black cushions about her sleeping form.

"Come Lexie, mother will be waiting." He took my hand, and walked me from the room.

"Isn't Kim coming too?" I whispered, as he pulled the door closed.

I heard nothing, but the creaking of each step as he guided me further away from Kim. We walked hand in hand until my feet landed on the wooded floor.

My eyes fell on the huge table a few feet from where we stood, the black table cloth draped over each corner and deep purple light radiated up the centre of the table giving off a lavender smell. Alexander stood at an old black chair holding it out for me to sit on. I walked unsteadily to take my place, and his mother wandered in and placed a large black pot that banged against the middle of the table. I watched her take her seat opposite me. Her dark eyes stared me down.

"Son, so tell me about your wife." She said, as if I was no longer in the room. I picked at my food poking the fork in and out of the thick gravy.

"Mother, Lexie's wonderful we have had so many adventures together, with Kim, of course." I watched him, struggling to find the answers to her questions.

"Missy, what do you love about my son." Her voice echoed about the dining room. My fork clattered into my bowl, and my mind searched for the words to reassure his mother.

"Mother, Lexie doesn't have to answer that." I jumped at the sharpness of his voice.

"Son, not again." Her eyes looked sad, and she scraped her chair against the wooden floor.

The high pitched squeak made my head pound. His mother walked through another purple door.

"Lexie excuse me a minute." Alexander rose and left me alone at the table, I watched the door swing closed behind him. My mind wondered what his mother meant.

Had he picked up lonely women before?

Every floor board creaked under my weight, as I slipped open the door just enough to see Alexander's mother pacing the floor waving a huge carving knife in the air. I strained my ears to hear what their muffled voices were saying.

"Son, how could you lie to me." I heard, his mother say.

"Mother, I don't know what you mean." Alexander's, calm voice echoed.

"Son, return her before she breaks your heart, like the last one." I watched her wave her knife the cold silver gleamed as it missed his chin.

"Mother, stop this. Lexie is my wife, and you will respect her." He yelled, I shook at the sharpness of his voice, and I pushed the door back into place.

I tiptoed back towards the stairs and quietly made my way to the bedroom where Kim slept. The door swept open, I looked over at Kim sucking her thumb among the cushions. She looked so happy even in her sleep. I got into the huge bed beside her and wrapped my arms around her little sleeping form.

The bed was soft, and sleep overtook  my tired body........

I saw Samuel with Kim in his arms fading away from me. I screamed, "Give her back, Give her back."  Alexander ran after them and his mother held me back from going too. I heard her croaky voice say  " You can't leave now dear."  I fought his mother for my freedom, but she wouldn't release me........

"Lexie are you okay?" My eyes darted open, and I saw Kim's giggling face suspended in mid air, hovering over me. Alexander's huge hands held her in place.

"It was a nightmare that's all." I said, untangling myself from the sweat soaked covers.

"Hi Kim, you having fun up there."

"I am super Kim," said Alexander, flying Kim above me.

" More! More!" Kim screamed, and off she flew around the huge bed like a fairy dancing in a sea of stars, and Alexander sauntered around the room.

"Lexie, would you and Kim like to see where I work?" He said, still giving Kim her flying lesson, I nodded my agreement, and Alexander explained where the bathroom was and handed a hyper Kim back to me.

"I will be waiting downstairs ," said Alexander as he closed the door, I listened to his footsteps going down the stairs.

"Lex fly." Kim giggled, using her princess Doll to show me how to fly. I swung the door that led to the loos open, and black dust blew in mine and Kim's faces. We both coughed and I waved my hands to clear the black fog.

"Lex's look!"

"Whats that sweetheart ?" I took the dusty brown piece of paper from Kim's fingers. I looked down at the worn out writing. A feeling of Déjà vu came over me, and my fingers started to undo the piece of paper eager to read its contents.

"Lexie, are you coming?" Alexander's voice rang in my ears, and I slipped the piece of paper up my sleeve.

"Coming!!!" I answered, banging the loo door behind us, fleeing for the stairs with Kim in hand. I felt the piece of paper scratching my wrist, beckoning me to read it as we met Alexander standing on the bottom stair.

"We had best be off." Alexander said, clapping his hands together.

"Son, will you be having tea here tonight?" His mother asked, glaring in my direction. I recalled their conversation the previous night and my mind was plagued with unanswered questions.

"No! Mother we won't be back, till the late hours" He said, and ushered us out the door.

Alexander guided us to a pair of brown stallions, all saddled up for their riders to hop aboard. Kim looked excited at the tallest one that snorted when Alexander touched its main.

"I will not be riding one of those." I jumped, out the way earning myself an impatient nay from the other horse.

"You will be riding Freedom." Alexander patted the stallion on the head. "Horsey Kim, you and princess are riding Grumpy." He reached out for her.

"No!! We can't ride horses." I protested, feeling my cheeks get hot with rage. "Time you learnt Lexie." He said, his face full of boyish mirth, as he took Kim and saddled up. I stomped towards Freedom, how hard can it be, I thought climbing the huge horse.

"Nice boy." I coaxed, grabbing the rains.

"Lexie, pull off steadily. Freedom is a bit wild." He laughed and trotted off ahead. "Come on Freedom, let go." Freedom galloped off at an alarming speed,

I held on to his warm neck, and my brown hair flew in the breeze, as the dust kicked up behind us. All the long deep green grass became a blur and Alexander's laughter echoed about my head.

"Help!!!!" I screamed, and a whistle split the air, Freedom halted and Alexander came up beside me.

"You having trouble there, Lexie?" He questioned. I wanted to slap him silly for his little prank.

"This horse is broken." I said, dismounting, dragging the reins behind me, as I marched up the dirt road. Freedom snorted in protest and all I could hear was the tapping of Grumpy's hooves, tall green grass swayed in the breeze and a huge black windmill swished in the distance.

My eyes fell on the clearing to town, as we got closer the sky went as black as the town itself, each black or purple buildings loomed over me. I heard Alexander shout.

"Lexie, it's the building on the left." I halted, with freedom and stared at the huge sign that read... Sheriff town no criminals will go unpunished. Each word looked huge over the purple door.

"Lex! Lex! looook." Kim pointed at the building behind me, Alexander came to a stop in front of me. I watched Alexander dismount and he handed Kim to me. We followed him into the sheriffs office.

"Tada, Kim what do you think?" He said, sweeping his arms around his office the walls where a deep shade of grey, and papers littered each desk. Kim pointed to the wall behind a desk, my eyes followed what she pointed to, I came face to face with a fierce poster of Samuel I swallowed the vile that bubbled up my throat.

To be continued...

Katrina M Hart. 2012 CW1.

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