Hunted

My Discomfort For Her Fun

Jessie was right, and it made me mad what she was right about.
She didn't say it directly, but I was being a coward.
I was hiding in the corners, licking my wounds, hoping the problems would solve themselves and I wouldn't have to get hurt in the process. I heard Jessie and Lucy cleaning up after dinner that night and Kent was out in the barn checking on a pregnant heifer. I quietly walked into Jessie's room and, locking the door behind me, pulled my phone out of my pocket. I stared down at it nervously. I hadn't used it for more than three weeks, since I'd gotten to the farm. I hadn't bothered to call my friends, keep up with razian news,or even let any of my friends know I was alive. They probably all thought I was dead since I normally, secretly, let them know I was alive at least once a month.
They were probably going to kill me.
All well.
I was the prince of Ranez. It was time to get back to work.
I carefully dialed the memorized number and sat on Jessie's bed, listening to it ring. After a few rings he picked up.
"Hello?" A suspicious voice answered. He didn't know it was me. I had gotten a new phone and number since the last time I called.
I swallowed. "Duke, it's me."
I heard a quick commotion, the slamming of a door, and a pounding that sounded like running feet. After a moment the line was basically silent.
"Hunter?" Disbelief was laced in Duke's voice. "What the hell, man? You haven't called any of us in weeks. We thought you were dead!"
I chuckled weakly. "I'm still very much alive." I informed him. "I'm still in America, but I was found in Chicago, so now I'm in Minnesota with my little side kick." I added the last part humorously.
"A side kick?" Duke asked. "And who would that unfortunate soul be?"
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "A girl from Chicago managed to get in the razian line of fire at one point, so now she's traveling with me."
"You let a little girl tag along with you." Duke sounded like he wanted to strangle me. "Dude, what is wrong with you? That's way too dangerous."
"She's not that little." I defended her. "I mean," I paused. "She is roughly the size of a midget, but she's eighteen and knows how to take care of herself and hasn't caused much trouble."
"She's eighteen?" Duke chuckled. "Is she hot? Do I ever get to meet her?"
"Uh," I stuttered. "I guess she's hot, I don't know. I don't want to talk about it." I snapped. "What's the monster of a father up to?" I changed the subject.
Duke was silent for a moment and the black hole in my stomach started spinning faster.
"Duke." I prompted after a minute of silence. "I'm done hiding. I need to know."
Duke sighed. "Not good, Hunter." He finally answered. "He's gotten out of control."
I bit my lip. "How many?" I asked him quietly. "How many deaths?"
Duke hesitated. "Nine women and three men this week." He told me sincerely. "Last week was worse."
The world around me spun and I felt myself slip of the side of the bed, landing in a crouched position, holding my head in my hands. I felt sick. Those were my people and my country my dad was destroying. I was breathing fast and I vaguely heard Duke asking me if I was okay.
"No, I'm not okay." I snapped into the phone. "I'm supposed to be protecting these people, not hiding in a country half way across the world. This is my fault."
"Glad you feel that way." Duke's response took me by surprise. "It's not your fault, but we need you back. You're eighteen now. You can take the throne. Challenge him. Everyone is afraid of him. He's got everyone important on his side or terrified of him. We only need one person to do that and we might have a revolution."
I hesitated. "What am I supposed to do."
"I don't know." I could picture Duke shrugging. "Don't you have Princy powers that direct you what to do and if it's right or not? Just use those."
I sighed. "Duke-" I began. There was a knock on the door and I froze.
"Hunter?" Jessie uncertainly called through the door. "Are you in there?"
I covered the phone with my hand. "Um, yeah."
"Okay, well, are you okay?" Jessie sounded concerned. "Why is the door locked?"
"Oh it's locked?" I asked her. "Didn't realize that. One second."
I turned back to my phone. "That's Shortca-I mean Jessie. I need to go. I don't wanna worry her. I'll get back to you."
"Shortcake? What do you mean you don't want to-"
I hung up quickly and cleared the floor, opening to the door to find Jessie standing in the doorway. She looked suspicious.
"Hey." I leaned against the doorway casually. "What's up?"
Jessie narrowed her eyes. "What's going on Hunter?" She asked me slowly.
I feigned innocence. "Nothing." I wasn't willing to let her know what was happening until I knew the next step.
I knew Jessie didn't buy it but she dropped the subject. "Lucy said we're going square dancing." She informed me. "And she said you don't really have a choice. You have to come. And she said clean yourself up"
I groaned as she turned on her heel and walked away.
***
An hour later I had showered, shaved, and was in a clean outfit Kent had lent to me. I was wearing a flannel, jeans, boots, belt with a buckle and a western style hat. I stared at myself in the mirror in the bathroom under the rim of my hat. I looked different.
"Well, my oh my," I heard Jessie drawl in an exaggerated western tone. She was leaning against the doorframe. "Don't you look like a cowboy." She teased.
I glanced at her and tilted my hat to her. "Cowgirl." I muttered.
She colored slightly, looking away and muttering something about Lucy forcing her. She was wearing an outfit similar to mine except she wore a jean skirt instead of plain jeans and her hair had been braided into two braids. She looked exceptionally cute.
I smiled at her warmly when I passed her and she latched her arm unto mine when I offered it to her. I led her through the house to where Kent and Lucy were in the kitchen, on their way out the door. Lucy was chatting excitedly while Kent looked kind of pained.
I remember vaguely that Kent didn't particularly enjoy trips to town and loved avoiding them.
I dis attached myself from Jessie and quickly caught up with Kent, who was quite a few paces ahead of Lucy. "Why don't you just tell her you don't want to go?" I asked him in a low voice. "You're the man of the house and you obviously aren't going to enjoy yourself."
Kent chuckled. "You have a lot to learn about love, Hunter." He told me quietly.
I raised an eyebrow, ready for him to inform me of all the secrets of love.
Kent smiled. "I'm willing to sacrifice a little bit of my comfort so Lucy can have fun." He told me. "Maybe I won't enjoy myself very much, but she will, plus I'll be spending time with my wife. It's a bonus." He patted me on the back. "I may be the man of the house," he told me seriously. "but being the man of the house or any type of relationship means you gotta make sacrifices for people you love."
We stopped at the truck and when the girls approached us, Kent kindly opened the passenger door for Lucy. A meaningful glance from Kent made me open the back door for Jessie. She mumbled a thank-you to me as she climbed in and I followed her. She didn't coo anything like Lucy was treating Kent up in the front. And I was perfectly fine with that.
***
I was amazed when we got to town. It was set up kind of like the olden days, with a main street and small shops and apartments on the side and a meeting hall at the end of the road. We made our way to the meeting hall, where a couple hundred other people were also making their way. Apparently square dancing is a pretty big event around here.
"It's like all the Cowboys and their wives and kids from the old days are coming." Jessie whispered to me. She was following everyone else's example and allowing herself to be escorted by me. She didn't seem exactly thrilled when Lucy told her to do so.
I smirked down at her. "If I'm a cowboy, what does that make you?" I teased her.
Jessie smiled sardonically. "Problem." She told me dryly. "Clothes don't make you a cowboy." She smirked up at me. "Sorry, you're still a lowly prince in my eyes."
We were in the meeting hall by now and I placed a hand over my heart dramatically. "Is that all I am to you?" I asked her mockingly. "I thought we were closer than that."
Jessie shrugged. "You had to find out one way or another." She teased.
A booming voice interrupted our conversation. "Find your partners and join a square!" The man bellowed. I glanced awkwardly at Jessie. I had no idea what I was doing. She was smiling and looked excited. She quickly grabbed my hands, saying something about dancing being fun and pulled me through the crowd. A minute later I found myself in a square with three other young couples. The booming man broke through my thoughts again and began bellowing instructions to us.
So we began dancing, in our little awkward square.
And I had no idea what I was doing. And I was awkward. And I was uncomfortable.
But Jessie was having fun.
And that was what mattered.