Post by melindajo2000 on Dec 29, 2011 15:10:23 GMT -6
Viki had been hurt, and she had had enough. She had promised herself that she would never fall in love again. Why should she? She was a woman with means, she had brother that had returned with an impossible story that needed her, another brother who had been killed, an entire family who adored her, and more money than she knew what to do with. Not to mention the fact that she was now in charge of her ex-husband, who was in a heap of trouble himself. Her hands were full, that was for sure.
She had loved Charlie and had been devestated when he had cheated. Why he did, Viki never knew. She was a good woman and a good wife, and it was his shortcoming, not hers. So she had no choice but to kick him to the curve. Love had been a little late in finding her, even though she'd had her lion's share of it throughout her life. She'd never gone without-she'd considered herself blessed. But now she was at a stage where she was content with who she was with and where she was at. Everyone was had a lot in life, and hers was to be friend, mother, grandmother, confidante. Apparantly wife was not to be.
She had had another frustrating day with Todd. He had been running his mouth like he always did, assuming she would bail him out of his latest predictiment. There was a limit to her love, whether he accepted it or not. Clint was living with her due to the conditions of his bond, and she was not expecting to see him when she sat down for some tea.
"Long day?" he smiled as he sat down across from her.
"You have no idea. Brothers can be so...so...demanding."
Clint laughed. "Look who you're talking to. I'm a Buchanan. My brothers are notorious for being demanding, among other things. I'd tell you what I really thought of them but it's not nice to repeat in front of mixed company."
"Clint!"
"You know I kid. I wouldn't trade my family for anything. That includes you you know."
Viki smiled. "I suppose I do have to accept you are still part of my family. We will always be connected."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"I didn't mean it like that, Clint. You know how much I care for you. It's just sometimes I get a little tired of caring for others...sometimes it would be nice to be cared for myself. But you know, that's what my role is in life, and I've learned to accept it."
"You know, Viki, there are those who would love to care for you, if you would only let them."
"What are you talking about?"
He smiled. "You know how I feel about you. I've never stopped loving you. I've blown it before but I've always sworn that if I had another chance I would make things right. You and I belong together, Viki. I promised my Pa before he passed on that I would straighten up, and that included how I treated you. I know it might be a little too late, but I really don't think so. Even old codgers like ourselves deserve a second chance in life."
"Did you just call me old, Clint Buchanan?"
He laughed. "You know I didn't mean that. I meant we're two of a kind. We've been around the block. We've shared the same experiences. You don't have to tell me to hike up my pants- God I hate that. I can't tell the difference between an Ipod and an Ipad, and I'm perfectly fine with that. And I think you're okay with that. You've always accepted me for who I am. You've always pushed me-you've never settled with me being anything less than my best- but that's why I love you Viki."
The truth of his statement hit them both as it took her a few minutes to process what he had just said.
"Surely you don't mean it. You're just feeling sorry for yourself and feeling a little sentimental..." she settled on saying.
"No... I mean it. You've been the best thing to happen to me in a long time. You drive me crazy and after all these years you're about the only thing I can depend on. Say you still love me, Viki. If you look me in the eyes and tell me you don't, well, I'll accept it and we'll never speak of it again. But if you do tell me that you do..well then, I'll do my best to make you happier than you've ever been," Clint took her hand and looked her in the eye and waited.
Viki finally smiled. "Clint, you may be a little uncouth, a little rough around the edges, and as each passing year comes around you remind me just a little more like Asa, more than I'd care to see, but I do know a good man when I see one- I ought to know, I married enough of them."
They both laughed.
"Does this mean you share my feelings?" Clint asked.
Viki nodded. "It's still early, I won't make any promises, and I do expect a lot out of you...but let's give our families something to talk about."
They embraced, both looking forward to rekindling a flame that had never completely gone away. The fire was still there, even after all those years. Their families would talk; let them. They were both two grown, mature adults who knew how to make their own decisions. This time the feelings were there and the time was right. There was no mistake- love was better the second, third, forth (and more) time around.
The end
She had loved Charlie and had been devestated when he had cheated. Why he did, Viki never knew. She was a good woman and a good wife, and it was his shortcoming, not hers. So she had no choice but to kick him to the curve. Love had been a little late in finding her, even though she'd had her lion's share of it throughout her life. She'd never gone without-she'd considered herself blessed. But now she was at a stage where she was content with who she was with and where she was at. Everyone was had a lot in life, and hers was to be friend, mother, grandmother, confidante. Apparantly wife was not to be.
She had had another frustrating day with Todd. He had been running his mouth like he always did, assuming she would bail him out of his latest predictiment. There was a limit to her love, whether he accepted it or not. Clint was living with her due to the conditions of his bond, and she was not expecting to see him when she sat down for some tea.
"Long day?" he smiled as he sat down across from her.
"You have no idea. Brothers can be so...so...demanding."
Clint laughed. "Look who you're talking to. I'm a Buchanan. My brothers are notorious for being demanding, among other things. I'd tell you what I really thought of them but it's not nice to repeat in front of mixed company."
"Clint!"
"You know I kid. I wouldn't trade my family for anything. That includes you you know."
Viki smiled. "I suppose I do have to accept you are still part of my family. We will always be connected."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"I didn't mean it like that, Clint. You know how much I care for you. It's just sometimes I get a little tired of caring for others...sometimes it would be nice to be cared for myself. But you know, that's what my role is in life, and I've learned to accept it."
"You know, Viki, there are those who would love to care for you, if you would only let them."
"What are you talking about?"
He smiled. "You know how I feel about you. I've never stopped loving you. I've blown it before but I've always sworn that if I had another chance I would make things right. You and I belong together, Viki. I promised my Pa before he passed on that I would straighten up, and that included how I treated you. I know it might be a little too late, but I really don't think so. Even old codgers like ourselves deserve a second chance in life."
"Did you just call me old, Clint Buchanan?"
He laughed. "You know I didn't mean that. I meant we're two of a kind. We've been around the block. We've shared the same experiences. You don't have to tell me to hike up my pants- God I hate that. I can't tell the difference between an Ipod and an Ipad, and I'm perfectly fine with that. And I think you're okay with that. You've always accepted me for who I am. You've always pushed me-you've never settled with me being anything less than my best- but that's why I love you Viki."
The truth of his statement hit them both as it took her a few minutes to process what he had just said.
"Surely you don't mean it. You're just feeling sorry for yourself and feeling a little sentimental..." she settled on saying.
"No... I mean it. You've been the best thing to happen to me in a long time. You drive me crazy and after all these years you're about the only thing I can depend on. Say you still love me, Viki. If you look me in the eyes and tell me you don't, well, I'll accept it and we'll never speak of it again. But if you do tell me that you do..well then, I'll do my best to make you happier than you've ever been," Clint took her hand and looked her in the eye and waited.
Viki finally smiled. "Clint, you may be a little uncouth, a little rough around the edges, and as each passing year comes around you remind me just a little more like Asa, more than I'd care to see, but I do know a good man when I see one- I ought to know, I married enough of them."
They both laughed.
"Does this mean you share my feelings?" Clint asked.
Viki nodded. "It's still early, I won't make any promises, and I do expect a lot out of you...but let's give our families something to talk about."
They embraced, both looking forward to rekindling a flame that had never completely gone away. The fire was still there, even after all those years. Their families would talk; let them. They were both two grown, mature adults who knew how to make their own decisions. This time the feelings were there and the time was right. There was no mistake- love was better the second, third, forth (and more) time around.
The end
I perfer Clint Ritchie's version of Clint. 
