Saving Scarlett (TCS-1) ON HOLD

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

10th June, 1877
Denver, America.

Excuse, an explanation designed to avoid or alleviate guilt or negative judgement.

Scarlett clearly remembered reading that in a book while sitting in her Uncle's family library months ago but as she was sitting by the window in a inn room rented by Mr. Walter till he was back from wherever he went, she couldn't keep herself from remembering the meaning of Excuse.

It had been an hour since they were back from their search trip for Scarlett's Aunt and they still hadn't talked about the incident that had happened an hour ago. Upon reaching an inn, he rented a room for her and left her assuring he'd be back soon.

And that was how Scarlett found herself sitting by the window in the inn room, her mind full of excuses. She had been thinking of different excuses that would suit the situation and get her out of it without letting Mr. Walter know of her true reason to be here.

Scarlett knew he wasn't a cruel man, he wouldn't judge her but she knew that when he would find out that she was a runaway woman from an aristocrat family back in England, he might just send her home without any rational thought.

After all, he seemed to be a man of honour. He could think of her action -a foolish act to venture out of her home and Scarlett couldn't let that happen. She didn't know why but now she could have just about anyone think of her any way they want but not Mr. Walter. She couldn't have him think of her in any way but good way.

So here she sat, thinking of many excuses but they all resulted useless to her. She couldn't fool him but she couldn't tell him either.

What will she do when he gets back?

And that was what she kept thinking about, till the knock on the door shook her to reality.

Scarlett readied herself, straightened her back and stood up, approached the door with an unclear mind and opened it. She met the narrowing eyes of the sandy haired man who was making her look at man in a different perspective. Well, not just any man, just him. She stepped back letting him come inside and close the door behind him.

None of them gave it a second thought toward how they let themselves into a scandalous situation. It totally escaped their minds with the many things occupying their mind.

Jasper kept quiet but the thick tension in the room was evident and the question that had been keeping his mind on run, was all over his face. Scarlett took a shaky breath and started for her number one excuse but she didn't go far as to even complete a word.

The man in front of her raised his strong hand. "Don't. Don't even try. I've had enough of your lies." She tried to intervene but failed. "No, just stop. From the moment I found you on the road, you awakened many questions inside me Miss. Brown and I've had just about enough of you making a fool of me."

Scarlett never felt this much shame in her life but was it wrong of her to runaway? Would he understand? He did save her life and he wholeheartedly deserved the truth for it. With a renewed plan, she opened her mouth. "Will you understand? Will you believe me?"

He stood there pondering over her words then raised his blue eyes to look at her, his expression softening on her. "Depends. Now, who are you? Who are you really, Miss. Brown? If that is even your true name."

Scarlett turned her back toward him, walked to the window and took a seat on the chair beside it. She gestured her hand toward the other chair for him to sit and he sat. As she opened her mouth yet again to tell him the truth about everything, she never stopped and he never intervened so the words just kept flowing from her mouth all while, her face void of any emotions.