I\u2019ve met all kinds of fathers in my time. Some aren\u2019t worthy of the name, either because they don\u2019t pay attention to their children, or pay too much bad attention to them. Some wave shotguns at anyone who looks at their daughters, others don\u2019t care, and some are really scary. Some fathers never utter a single threatening word, and yet let you know they are completely willing to do whatever is necessary to anyone who makes their little girl cry.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A dim red star shone brighter than the other stars in the night sky. Streetlights and storefronts blazed light onto the downtown streets. Men and women filed down the sidewalks, some in suits coming from work or late New Years parties and others in plain civilian clothes. Some on bikes or boards flew down the street, and larger vehicles floated by overhead, sometimes coming down to land in front of a store with constant beeps warning of their approach. Landing City never slept according to everything he\u2019d heard, and this night proved those stories true.<\/p>\n
Jack walked down the sidewalk, his arm crooked out with Samantha\u2019s slid through it. It felt good to just be walking with her. They walked by a store playing a song and Jack recognized it. His mind went back to the beach and bonfire and singing voices for a moment and he began to hum the tune.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love<\/em> that song,\u201d Samantha murmured, her head against his shoulder pulling him back to the present.<\/p>\n Jack let his humming fade away and pulled in a long breath. \u201cMe too.\u201d He swallowed. \u201cWe used to sing it on the beach back home all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha leaned closer to him and he felt her breath on his neck. \u201cAre you a fan of T&J?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack chuckled and spread his free arm out wide in a grand gesture. \u201cMy Dear, I am a charter<\/em> member of the T&J fan club!\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha hugged his arms tighter. \u201cMe too,\u201d she whispered. He looked down at her in disbelief. \u201cReally,\u201d she said in response with a wry smile. \u201cI have their pre-production vids. From before they got signed. I\u2019ve been watching them since before they had a career. They\u2019ve got talent.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack smiled and watched those vids in the perfect clarity of eidetic memories that he was pretty certain went back further in time than her fandom. He just nodded though. \u201cYes, they do.\u201d<\/p>\n She shook her head. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she whispered. \u201cI wish we could go see them. I had tickets for their concert but\u2026\u201d she shrugged. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to go alone so I gave them to a girlfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack looked at her and wondered if he was ready for this. \u201cYou want to see them in concert?\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha sighed and shook her head. \u201cOf course, but they\u2019ve been sold out for months!\u201d<\/p>\n Jack nodded his head and reconsidered once more. It had been a long time since he\u2019d seen them sing. Maybe it was time for that to change. \u201cI guess we\u2019ll just have to do something about that then. Betty, could you ask about backstage tickets for me, plus one, at one of the T&J concerts, please?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, Jack,\u201d her voice answered for both to hear.<\/p>\n Samantha gave him a confused voice. \u201cJack, they\u2019re sold out<\/em>! And they don\u2019t just give backstage tickets to anybody who asks.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shrugged and gave her a sly smile. \u201cTrue. But I think I can get us something.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha gave him a sad shake of her head and patted his arm. \u201cJack, I\u2019m sorry but they just don\u2019t have anything. Trust me. I\u2019ve tried, and I know all the tricks to get them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou wanna bet?\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha\u2019s eyes narrowed, she cocked her head to the side, and pursed her lips in suspicion. \u201cI don\u2019t know. What do you<\/em> wanna bet?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack chuckled. \u201cOh, nothing you wouldn\u2019t approve of,\u201d he said with a wink.<\/p>\n She grasped his hand in a firm grip. \u201cYou can narrow it down a little more than that,\u201d she said in a sweet tone.<\/p>\n Jack sighed and pulled in a deep breath. \u201cAlways trying to rush me,\u201d he said with a shake of his head. \u201cHow about another swim on the beach?\u201d he asked with a mischievous smile.<\/p>\n Samantha rolled her eyes and slapped his arm. \u201cMen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am,\u201d he answered without hesitation.<\/p>\n She laughed and slapped his arm again. \u201cVery well. If you win\u2026if you lose\u2026\u201d she trailed off and cocked her head to the side in thought. \u201cIf you lose, you<\/em> escort me<\/em> to a dance<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack chuckled. \u201cSounds like a win-win to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha snorted. \u201cYou haven\u2019t been<\/em> to one of them yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack aimed a charming smile at her. \u201cAh, but on your<\/em> arm, any<\/em> party would be better.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha patted his arm. \u201cFlatterer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am,\u201d he answered without hesitation.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, Mister Flatterer, would you like to walk me home?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack looked at the busy street going through the center of downtown around them with a thoughtful gaze. \u201cEither you live really close or you like long walks.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha smiled. \u201cDidn\u2019t we already establish that I like long walks?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, but that<\/em> was because we took so many breaks down on the beach.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue. So which would you prefer? Live close or long walk?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack gave her a mischievous smile. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n She bumped her hip against him. \u201cWell, if you like it that way, I can just let you find out when we arrive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, if I felt like taking advantage of your ignorance, I could just walk in circles to lengthen the walk.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack smiled. \u201cAnd maybe I would let<\/em> you take advantage of me.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha slapped him again. \u201cYou\u2019re impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack chuckled. \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am.\u201d He smiled at her and shifted the arm she held. \u201cWould my lady accept an escort home?\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha sighed and leaned her head against his chest. \u201cOf course, she would.\u201d<\/p>\n He pulled in a deep breath in pleasure. He would give her an eternity to stop that.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It turned out to be a long walk, and he enjoyed every second of it, right up until they came to a stop at a large gate in the middle of the oldest neighborhood on all of New Earth. Not counting the Chinese colony of course.<\/p>\n Jack looked up at the gate in awe and scratched his chin with his free hand, deep in thought. \u201cThis is McEntyre House,\u201d he finally whispered. Any fan of music had at least heard<\/em> of McEntyre House. McEntyre Studios published some of the best musicians on the market, and he was standing at the front gate of the owners<\/em> of McEntyre Studios.<\/p>\n Samantha smiled. \u201cYes it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack studied her for several seconds. \u201cYou live<\/em> in McEntyre House?\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha straightened her frame and ran her free hand down her blouse as if she were straightening it. \u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack studied her for several more seconds. \u201cWho are<\/em> you?\u201d he finally asked.<\/p>\n She let out a long breath and her smiled softened, but he could see worry in her eyes. \u201cI\u2019m Sam.\u201d Her grip tightened on his arm and he realized she didn\u2019t want him to ask again.<\/p>\n Jack cocked his head to the side, and chewed his lip. If she was related to the McEntyres, she probably had experience with people who just cared about that connection, not her. He smiled and patted her hand. \u201cSam. It\u2019s a good name,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n Samantha sighed and leaned her head against his chest. He let out a long breath of his own and would have given her an eternity to stop that. Eternity as it happened was far too short. The gate opened and Samantha laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Daddy saw us.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack blinked. \u201cDaddy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I think he wants to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n A shiver ran down his spine. \u201cYea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,\u201d he quoted.<\/p>\n Samantha slapped his arm. \u201cStop that. He\u2019s not that bad, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack aimed an upraised eyebrow at her. \u201cDaddies are never<\/em> that bad to their little girls. The young punk who thinks he\u2019s worthy of dating her, though? Daddies eat them<\/em> for lunch<\/em>. And they tend to start the mixing process with shotgun shells at full rack.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha laughed at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? You think that\u2019s funny? If I told you a tithe<\/em> of my Daddy stories you would know why every boyfriend who has met you at the bottom of your stairs has been quaking in his boots. I\u2019ll give you a hint. It\u2019s not just<\/em> because you look beautiful in that dress.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha studied him for several seconds, brow furrowed. \u201cWhat makes you think I\u2019ve ever been through that?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack smiled back and shrugged. \u201cCall it a hunch.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha shook her head and pulled him through the gate. They walked down the brick driveway, under trees that arched overhead and filtered the starry sky. Jack\u2019s eyes adjusted to the lightless gloom and they traveled the length of the driveway without difficultly.<\/p>\n They walked out of the line of trees and Jack got his first clear look at the house. The mansion. It was a huge, Victorian-style genuine wood-built house, painted a bright white. Jack whistled and Samantha guided him to the front entrance. They walked up the stairs and Jack\u2019s cowboy boots echoed on the wood planking of the porch.<\/p>\n The heavy wood door opened as they approached, and Jack followed her into the house, pulling his cowboy hat off his head in reflex. His boots echoed on the hard wood flooring and he looked at the main entry hall in amazement. He could feel the acoustics, and this room would be amazing with a few musicians welcoming guests. He could hear the music bouncing off the walls of his imagination and smiled.<\/p>\n Jack looked over at the stairs leading up to a balcony high above them. \u201cSo this is where your quaking boyfriends waited as you walked down the stairs?\u201d he asked with a mischievous smile.<\/p>\n She stopped in her tracks and just looked at him, conflicting emotions running over her face. \u201cJack?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d he asked with a smile.<\/p>\n Samantha whipped out of his arm, grabbed his scarf, and pulled him down to kiss him full on the lips. An electric shock ran through him and he stood still, rooted to the spot. She pulled away, slipped her arm back inside his, and bumped him with her hip.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack licked his lips and stepped forward with her, feeling invincible. \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha guided them past the stairs and into a small hall at the end of the main entry. She opened a door on the side and the soothing smell of fire and true paper books wafted out into the hall. She pulled him in and his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting without a pause. He scanned the room, taking in the dark wood walls and the crackling fireplace. Books filled one of the walls from floor to ceiling and wall to wall. The painting of a ship dominated another wall, and a beautiful rug covered the center of the hard wood flooring.<\/p>\n What dominated the room itself, though, was the red leather chair in front of the fire, and the man who sat in it. A confident smile covered the man\u2019s face, and a black suit and crossed legs showed that this man had power. This was his domain, and this man was king of it, with no worries that some upstart was going to take it from him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou must be Jack,\u201d the man said, waving one of the hands draped over the chair arms.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Jack said with a half bow.<\/p>\n The man shifted in his chair, head cocking back and forth with a wry smile on it. \u201cWhich makes you<\/em> the one hanging around my daughter lately.\u201d It wasn\u2019t a question.<\/p>\n Jack cleared his throat. \u201cSir, I think it more accurate to say that she<\/em> chooses to spend time with me<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha\u2019s father chuckled and waved his hand towards a pair of chairs under the ship painting. \u201cYou can sit down if you\u2019d like.\u201d While the man was courteous enough to speak softly, Jack recognized the command that he would like<\/em> to sit down.<\/p>\n Jack stepped over and sat down in one of the very comfortable chairs while Samantha took the other. He hung his cowboy hat off one chair arm and held her father\u2019s gaze, keeping his back straight to show he respected the man. \u201cThank you, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father waved his hand and turned his head to the side as if it was nothing. \u201cTell me, Son, do you know how many young men try to court my daughter because they want a piece of this?\u201d he asked, waving his hand around the room.<\/p>\n Jack pulled in a deep breath and considered his words for a moment. And then he dove in with a smile. \u201cSir, I\u2019d wager that a lot of boys<\/em> have stood at the bottom of that staircase out there, quaking in their boots because you put the fear of God in them.\u201d<\/p>\n The father\u2019s smile turned proud. \u201cYou would be right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d also wager that none<\/em> of them have measured up to what either you or her demand and deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father chuckled and reached for a drink on the table next to him. \u201cYou do have a silver tongue, Jack,\u201d he said and took a sip of the drink.<\/p>\n Jack spread his arms out wide. \u201cI\u2019ve always found it better to talk nice, Sir. It\u2019s saved me from getting shot more than once.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father laughed in between sips. \u201cYou, Jack, are a scoundrel.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack smiled. \u201cYes, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha\u2019s father placed the drink down and rubbed his jaw before giving Jack a speculative look. \u201cI was quite the scoundrel in my youth. I had a lot of fun with the girls. Tell me, Jack, have you<\/em> had a lot of fun?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack recognized the minefield being laid before him and decided to jump right over it. \u201cSir, life would not be worth living if it wasn\u2019t fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father scratched his chin with one thumb and aimed a shrewd look at Jack. \u201cMy daughter\u2019s very attractive, isn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Jack answered with a nod.<\/p>\n Her father leaned forward in his chair and stared at Jack. \u201cDo you know how many guys latch onto her just because they want to get in her pants?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy,\u201d Samantha growled through pursed lips. Her father ignored her attempt to derail him and continued to stare at Jack.<\/p>\n Jack raised one finger. \u201cProbably many, Sir. Though I\u2019d like to note for the record that she wears skirts.\u201d Her father\u2019s eyes flashed and Jack figured he should hurry up with the second point. \u201cBut I can assure you that my ultimate goal is not<\/em> to get inside her skirts.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha shifted in her chair, and he knew she was staring at him. Her father simply cocked his head to the side and raised a disbelieving eyebrow at Jack. \u201cSo\u2026what? I\u2019m supposed to believe you\u2019re a harmless poofter?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDaddy!\u201d Samantha shouted in a far more aggrieved tone.<\/p>\n Jack just cleared his throat though. \u201cNo, Sir. I\u2019d never expect you to be that foolish.\u201d Her father aimed a measuring look at him and waved for him to continue.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t answer him, Jack!\u201d Samantha shouted at him<\/p>\n Jack looked at her and smiled. \u201cWhat I mean to say is, I don\u2019t do casual affairs anymore,\u201d he whispered, and her eyes opened wide. \u201cThey always end badly, with a lot of pain spread around. And pain\u2019s the last thing I want for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha\u2019s breath escaped and she leaned back in her chair again, a soft smile appearing on her face.<\/p>\n But when Jack turned to her father, the man\u2019s eyes were narrowed. \u201cYou would not be the first young man to come in saying that.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack smiled. \u201cBut I bet I\u2019m the first who really meant<\/em> it, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what make you think that some other boy never did?\u201d her father said.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I\u2019m here, and he\u2019s not,\u201d Jack said, raising his palms to the man to show that he was being utterly truthful.<\/p>\n Her father leaned back in his chair and considered Jack for a long time. \u201cOkay,\u201d he finally said in a gruff tone. \u201cWhat do<\/em> you think of my daughter?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack smiled and sucked in a deep breath. It was time to impress the man. \u201cSir, you raised a lively and intelligent young lady. She\u2019s got a wit that is fun to spar with. She knows she\u2019s amazing and that she\u2019s worth a good man. She\u2019s not going to take the first young punk off the street, which I suppose is why I\u2019m here right now. She\u2019s smart enough to know what she wants, she\u2019s proud enough to demand it, she\u2019s strong enough to grab it, and she\u2019s stubborn enough not to let go.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father nodded slowly. \u201cHow do you feel<\/em> towards my daughter?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack sighed. \u201cWell, Sir, I like her. I enjoy spending time with her, and love<\/em> the feel of her arm in mine.\u201d He chewed his lip and looked away for a moment before looking her father in the eyes again.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got an amazing<\/em> daughter, and I want to know her favorite color, the name of the first boy she kissed, her favorite teacher. I don\u2019t want to be there for this,\u201d he said, waving his hand at the library. \u201cI want her to want to spend time with<\/em> me rather than without<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father leaned back in his chair again and rubbed his jaw. \u201cYou are not what I expected.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shifted to the side with a smile. \u201cI get that a lot, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father\u2019s eyes narrowed and he grabbed his drink again. \u201cSo what should I do with you?\u201d he asked and took another sip.<\/p>\n Jack looked at Samantha and saw her smirking at him. He remembered his answer to a very similar question from her. He doubted the same answer would work with her father. He smiled back at her father.<\/p>\n \u201cSir, you have raised a very smart and lively young woman. I think that you should trust her and respect her enough to give your blessing to her choice of men to spend time with.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father pursed his lips, flicked his eyes over to Samantha for a moment, and turned back to Jack with a grunt. \u201cAnd what should I do if she turns out to be wrong about this young upstart? What if he\u2019s just a really good liar with a silver tongue that is really good at getting what he wants before he leaves town?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack let out a long breath and spread both arms out again. \u201cThat\u2019s a risk we all take, Sir, when we seek to enjoy the time of another. Are they who they seem to be? Most of us make ourselves better than we are to attract someone, and then when we don\u2019t need to anymore, we drop that mask and show them who we really are. It is often not the person we claimed to be. How many marriages have you seen break up because of this, Sir?\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha\u2019s father chewed on that for a few seconds. \u201cToo many,\u201d he finally said and looked at her again. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t want to see her hurt like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack looked him full in the eye and smiled. \u201cNeither do I, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father pursed his lips and frowned at Jack. \u201cTell me, what would you do if I told you to leave and never come back and to never see my daughter again?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack let out another long breath, and judged that now was not the time to stop telling the full truth. \u201cWell, Sir, I would leave your home, your property, and I would never come back. And I would see your daughter whenever and wherever she wanted to see me outside<\/em> your property.\u201d He looked at the man and smiled. \u201cI will respect your property and your wishes, Sir. And I will respect her<\/em>, and her<\/em> wishes.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father mulled that over in his mind for a few seconds before answering. \u201cHave you ever regretted treating a father\u2019s wishes like that?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack sighed and shook his head. \u201cNo, Sir. Oh, it\u2019s not always ended well, and I have the scars to prove it.\u201d Jack cleared his throat and his face darkened. \u201cBut there was one case. There was this girl who was\u2026fantastic<\/em>.\u201d He chewed his lip and shook his head. \u201cShe had so much talent it was scary. First time she saw me, I was plucking away at some stupid tune on my guitar that I just couldn\u2019t make sound the way I meant it to. I could hear the note in my head but I couldn\u2019t make<\/em> it. She grabbed the guitar out of my hands and played the tune the way it sounded in here,\u201d he said with a tap of a finger against his temple. \u201cShe had a natural talent that blew my mind, and her father wouldn\u2019t let her use it.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shook his head again. \u201cWe played during every study period, and she snuck out at night to see me, and at least once he waved a shotgun in my face when he caught me with her. We got\u2026close\u2026and one day she trusted me enough to show me why she always wore long sleeve shirts and jeans.\u201d Jack pulled in a deep breath and tried to keep the flash of anger from taking over. He breathed in and breathed out, felt it fade, and the present snapped back into focus.<\/p>\n Her father leaned back and rubbed his jaw. He glanced at Samantha for a moment. \u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack sighed and shook his head. \u201cThat\u2019s not the end, Sir. We skipped school the next day while he was at work and I helped her move out and drove her to her aunt\u2019s house. She was free to sing with her cousin there, and soon she started wearing short-sleeved shirts and shorts, sundresses, or whatever else she wanted. She came alive in ways that were wonderful to behold.\u201d Jack released a long breath before continuing. \u201cShe was\u2026away\u2026when Yosemite fell and killed everyone in International Falls.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shook his head and returned his gaze to Samantha\u2019s father. \u201cIf I\u2019d let her father chase me away, I never would have seen the bruises under her shirt, she would probably be dead today, and nobody but me and a few others would even remember that she ever lived.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha\u2019s farther nodded with an impressed look on his face. \u201cSo you saved her life,\u201d he said, and Jack knew he had the man. It wasn\u2019t done. It would never really be done, but the man knew at least a bit of what to expect now, and was willing to live with it.<\/p>\n Jack smiled at him. \u201cNo, Sir. She saved her own<\/em> life.\u201d The father frowned and Jack smiled. \u201cShe knew what she was doing when she let me see those bruises. She wasn\u2019t looking for someone to save her. She knew what needed doing. She just needed someone else to say<\/em> it. Like I said, Sir, she was\u2026fantastic<\/em>. And because of her, I will never, ever<\/em>, regret the fact that I have ignored fathers\u2019 wishes when it comes to their daughters.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha\u2019s father shook his head slowly and glanced at her for a moment. \u201cYou stood by this girl when it counted.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack glanced at Samantha to see her looking at him in calm acceptance. He turned back to her father with a smile. \u201cAnd I always will, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father chuckled and extended his hand. \u201cI never thought I\u2019d be approving of a man who just told me to my face that he would ignore me if I told him to never see my daughter again.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack took his hand and smiled back. \u201cWe live in strange worlds, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat we do.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father shook his head once and released it. \u201cYou know, Son, I have this whole song and dance speech about what I\u2019m going to do if you hurt her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father furrowed his brow. \u201cI have a feeling you\u2019ve heard it all before,\u201d he said and took another sip of his drink.<\/p>\n Jack smiled. \u201cPossibly, Sir. There\u2019s lots of versions of the speech, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father grunted. \u201cWell, I\u2019m not going to bother with the speech, Son. If you live up to your speech, I\u2019ll be real happy. If you don\u2019t\u2026\u201d he trailed off with a wicked smile and placed the drink on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got a shotgun, Sir,\u201d Jack filled in.<\/p>\n Her father laughed and reached behind his chair. \u201cBetter than that, Son,\u201d he said and pulled out a drum-fed shotgun for Jack to see. \u201cI\u2019ve got an automatic<\/em> shotgun, with full recoil suppression so I can use<\/em> it at full auto.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack whistled. \u201cThat\u2019s a beautiful<\/em> machine, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Yes it is, Son,\u201d he said and slipped it back out of sight. \u201cBeats a double-barreled shotgun any day of the week.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack chuckled. \u201cAbsolutely, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Her father nodded towards Samantha. \u201cNow you two go and have fun.\u201d He raised one finger in the air. \u201cJust not too<\/em> much fun, you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike crystal, Sir,\u201d Jack said with a smile.<\/p>\n Samantha sprang out of her chair and tackled her father with a hug, her previous anger obviously shelved for the moment. Jack watched, thoroughly enjoying the sight of her stretching out to hug her father. She was\u2026fantastic<\/em>. \u201cThanks, Daddy,\u201d she whispered into his neck.<\/p>\n \u201cAlways, Peaches,\u201d her father whispered back.<\/p>\n She pushed herself off him, stepped over to Jack\u2019s chair, and pulled his hat off it. She gave it a mischievous smile, passed it back and forth between both hands for a few seconds, and then placed it on his head. Then she grabbed the scarf by both ends and pulled.<\/p>\n He came to his feet and she nodded in approval. \u201cLet\u2019s go, Cowboy,\u201d she murmured and turned to pull him towards the door.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am,\u201d he answered and let her guide him out of the library.<\/p>\n She aimed a sly smile at him. \u201cWould you like a tour of the house, Jack?\u201d<\/p>\n He pulled in a deep breath and smiled back. \u201cI would love<\/em> a tour, Ma\u2019am.\u201d He stepped up beside her and crooked his arm out for her.<\/p>\n She looked down at the arm, slipped her arm in it, and gave it a gentle pat. \u201cThe first thing you\u2019ll see here is\u2026\u201d she began, guiding him through the house. He paid rapt attention to her the whole time, but his mind wandered far afield. It was a beautiful house, one of the first built on New Earth when the British came. It was all a blur though, indistinct images and words fading behind the fantastic young lady he walked with.<\/p>\n The pool he loved though. It was a great big Olympic-sized pool with slides and diving boards dominating one end. They had a great deal of fun using that for its intended purpose, and he would forever remember that in vivid, living color.<\/p>\n He also enjoyed the music room. A piano dominated it. He couldn\u2019t play that, but a pair of guitars hung from one wall as well. He strummed some of T&J\u2019s songs on one of them and watched Samantha dry her hair. That was one of the best parts of the night.<\/p>\n When she was done drying, she graciously allowed him to escort her up the stairs. They reached what he assumed was her bedroom door and she pulled her arm from his to open it. She stepped in, turned, and reached up to hold the scarf with both hands. Electricity filled the air and he felt an attraction pulling him forward onto the balls of his feet. He wondered if she was going to pull him in. He wondered what he would do if she did. The moment the answer crystallized in his mind, she smiled and patted his chest, pushing him back on his heels.<\/p>\n \u201cGreen,\u201d she said in a mischievous tone.<\/p>\n He blinked in confusion, trying and utterly failing to figure out what that single word meant. \u201cWhat?\u201d he finally asked.<\/p>\n Samantha laughed and patted him again. \u201cMy favorite color. Green. Emerald actually, but I know you guys are handicapped with sixteen color vision.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack sucked in a deep breath, enjoying the feel of her hand burning his chest. He\u2019d give her an eternity to stop doing that. \u201cI see,\u201d he said with a wry a smile. \u201cYellow. Bright, sunshine, yellow.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha gave him a knowing smile and nodded. \u201cGood night, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood night, Sam.\u201d<\/p>\n Her smile grew softer and she pulled him down by the scarf so she could kiss him again. She stepped back an eternity later with a smirk and gently shut the door. He leaned his forehead against the door, trying to get his breath back, and trying to slow the beating of his heart.<\/p>\n After a very long time, a throat cleared behind him. He straightened up tall and turned to see her father examining him with a lopsided smile covering his face. \u201cYou know, Son, it\u2019s normally customary for a suitor to escort the young lady to her house\u2019s<\/em> door, not her bedroom<\/em> door?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack cleared his throat to gain control of his vocal cords. \u201cSir, there is nothing<\/em> customary about your daughter,\u201d he croaked out.<\/p>\n Her father laughed. \u201cVery true.\u201d He pulled in a deep breath and finally held a hand out. \u201cMy friends call me Bruce. You<\/em> can call me Mr. McEntyre,\u201d he finished with a wicked gleam in his eyes.<\/p>\n Jack smiled and took the man\u2019s hand, even as confirmation of just who she was settled into his mind. And it didn\u2019t make a single difference to him. \u201cNice to meet you, Mr. McEntyre.\u201d They shook and released. \u201cMy friends call me Jester, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. McEntyre chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. \u201cI believe it.\u201d Then he paused for a moment and gave Jack a very pointed look. \u201cYou never said the name of the girl you helped.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t kiss and tell, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. McEntyre nodded slowly. \u201cThat\u2019s good. But you need to know something. I\u2019ve heard that story from the other end. She and her cousin don\u2019t share names either, but I put some people on it a while back. I know who you are, and I know how it ended,\u201d he said in a hard tone.<\/p>\n Jack\u2019s mouth went dry because he knew how it ended too. In pain.<\/p>\n \u201cWas that one of your casual affairs?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Sir,\u201d Jack answered without hesitation. \u201cThey were\u2026the most\u2026real<\/em>\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He shrugged to show that he didn\u2019t know how to explain them. They\u2019d been his best friends. And then they\u2019d left. And he\u2019d played with every girl he could find hoping to fill the hole they left in him. But they left a real big hole to fill.<\/p>\n Mr. McEntyre smiled at him. \u201cThey\u2019re here you know. On New Earth. Right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Jack answered the unspoken question. He knew exactly where they were. He always did.<\/p>\n Samantha\u2019s father aimed a long and searching look at him. \u201cAnd you\u2019re here. In my house.\u201d He glanced at his daughter\u2019s bedroom door. \u201cWith my daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir,\u201d Jack said as if there was nowhere else he would rather be. And maybe, just maybe, there really wasn\u2019t. For the first time in years, maybe this really was what he wanted.<\/p>\n The older man just stared at Jack for nearly a minute, and Jack met his gaze. It was hard. It was real hard. But Jack understood. The man was looking out for his daughter, and Jack would like to think that he would be just as protective if he had one.<\/p>\n \u201cGood night, Jack,\u201d he finally said and turned away.<\/p>\n \u201cGood night, Mr. McEntyre,\u201d Jack said as her father left him alone, in front of her door. Jack swallowed as that sunk into his already addled mind. The man trusted him. Damn. That made everything harder. Jack took a deep breath, and stepped away from the door. It was a real hard step, but at the same time real easy. He didn\u2019t want to go. That made it hard. But he would see her later, and her father would not try to chase him off with a shotgun. That<\/em> made it easy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019ve met all kinds of fathers in my time. Some aren\u2019t worthy of the name, either because they don\u2019t pay attention to their children, or pay too much bad attention to them. Some wave shotguns at anyone who looks at[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5538","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2304-forge-of-war-earc","uentry","postonpage-1","odd","post-author-medron-pryde"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5538","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5538"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5538\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5539,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5538\/revisions\/5539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5538"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5538"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}