Cinderella in the Cameras

Chapter 16- Castle in the Clearing

(I'm very sorry this took so long to update I hate fillers! Unsuspected drama in next chapter so sorry for this uneventful one :/ )

After a long and heated discussion with the FBI team I finally won. As usual, I got my way. I was very happy to call Nennet the next night and tell her I will be joining her and Betsy at the farm. Nennet warned me she would send me back home if I didn't help with the storm preparations. I laughed and agreed to the terms. 

The day Nennet planned to pick us up and drive River and I to the house we were sitting outside on the trailers steps. As we waited for her old black chevy pick-up to arrive I looked over our dried up garden. I sighed as another dead leave deteriorated between my fingers. I remember the days when I would water and weed with Nennet out here, and that all went to waste. The only things alive were the large Hydrangea bushes that were about half as tall as our temporary house, and the large magnolia tree growing outside my bedroom window. Back when we first got the trailer my mom had to get a lot of the weeds out and the people she hired also cut down that beautiful Magnolia tree. It was just a stump surrounded by the remains of other dead plants. Slowly, I watched it grow back and become bigger with each sunrise and sunset. It taught me a lesson of persistence and hope. 

River awoke me from my flashback with a kiss on the cheek that instantly brought the blood to my cheeks. "Time to go. She just pulled up." He informed me and struggled to carry all his and my bags to the car. I watched in amusement as he barely managed to get all our bags in Nennet's Chevy in one trick. Nennet was still laughing when I hopped in the passenger seat.

"Oh, you two are just too funny. Just made for each other too." She said with a dreamy sigh. I giggled, which made River chuckle from my stupid sounding giggle. 

"Thanks I think. So how is Betsy now? Any babies?" I questioned.

"No, still no babies coming out alive. Four miscarriages since you left. She is still as stubborn as you remember her." She answered solemnly.

"Oh geez, that's horrible. Poor Betsy, how are she and Gavin holding up?"

"Well, Gavin is still a workaholic so she works the ranch. She's not too depressed for someone who has lost six babies."

"Six?!" River interrupted from the backseat. His butt was on the edge of the old fabric seats and his elbows were putting weight on his knees.

I miserably nodded, "Don't mention it to her, please." River nodded in response and looked down at his shoes in sympathy.

"Oh! And she's got horses now!" Nennet told me.

I widened my eyes and smiled as the conversation turned brightly, "Wow! How many?"

"Around four! I told her she shouldn't take on all that with a baby possibly on the way but she scoffed." Nennet shook her head with amusement and I could see the gleam of love in her eyes with the memory.

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We finally made it. Nennet navigated her way down a long dirt road and River had a death grip on the door handle. I smiled, the opposite of his expression, as we passed under the tall pine trees. The canape was very, very high up. The birds and squirrels were dancing from branch to branch with joy at their endless forest. The sun was starting to set and the sky was turning a rainbow of colors behind the green and brown forest. We drove longer and the path started have different turn offs. As we got farther without turning the path had more growth on it and got rougher. River looked like he was not enjoying our nature ride.

"Were here!" Nennet announced with joy as we pulled into a field. She slowed as we made our way to the house sitting in the large clearing. It was far enough away from the forest not to have the danger of falling trees, and the new two story brick house looked sturdy and home-y. River audibly sighed as the car halted to the right of Betsy's home. When the engine cut a skinnier and taller version of Nennet jogged up in excitement from the house. 

"Oh my lord you made it! I told Gavin to go cut down the grass on that road, but he said he is the ony one to drive it and he is fine. I'm so happy to have you here again!" Betsy spoke quickly and hugged us all. She seemed to always be happy, and that brought joy to me and Nennet. 

"You look so healthy! I heard you got horses too! Thank you for letting us stay here in the storm!" I thanked her and she hugged me again with a laugh.

"Oh dear, it's my absolute pleasure! Oh yes, the horses are a trouble; but I'm certainly happy to help out the beautiful creatures. I hope you don't mind the dogs inside when the storm comes." Nennet babbled as we entered. Her large home had tall ceilings and such a farm house interior. I loved the two rocking chairs sitting by the fire with bookcases on either side, it looked like a set from a movie. 

Betsy practically skipped up the steps to a long wooden-floored hallway. She opened a door at the end and smiled at us, "River and Ella you can stay here, Mom you know where you usually stay." 

I opened my mouth to ask for separate rooms but River interrupted, "Thanks so much, Ms. Betsy. It's a pleasure to be a such a nice home where we will be safe!" He smirked and led us into the room as the two other women walked away chatting. His muscles flexed as he put down the bags by the bottom of the bed. I could not help but stare at his toned V as he reached both his hands up to stretch.

"Thanks." I mumbled and grabbed some pajamas from the bag.

He smirked, "So, same bed tonight, huh?"

I rolled my eyes and smiled back, "You perv."

"Hey, don't roll your eyes at me!" He jokingly scolded and started to lunge at me. At the last second I shut the ensuite bathroom door in his face. "Your only safe for now!" I could hear him say from the other side of the door. Sadly, that made me think of why we were together in the first place.

Your only safe for now.