sobbing uncontrollably at the loss of her mate. No. He would have no part of that. Ryan convinced himself that he was destined to travel the world untethered. Love would be nothing more than an anchor around his neck. Romance was a physical act of foreplay to heighten the desire and then to cut and run in the afterglow.
Ryan thought about it all and kept going back to the same conclusion that he had come to lately. He had purposefully withdrawn from society to avoid having to maintain relationships that ultimately ended up with someone getting hurt. He had started to notice the price he paid. His friend had taken his own life two years ago and he didn’t even know about it. Beyond the sad news she brought him about Kurt, Lexi’s arrival had shaken his firm resolution to remain distant from all people. He was still trying to figure out if it was her that had suddenly made him yearn for companionship and love or if he was just that lonely.
The large Newfoundland dog next to him placed his giant slobbery head to rest on his lap. He ran his fingers through the thick soft fur and scratched by his ears. “Sorry Buddy. I didn’t want you to jump all over our first house guest, and I don’t want you getting all attached to her either. I doubt we’ll see anymore of her after this job is done.”
Buddy, like most Newfoundland dogs was an accomplished swimmer and diver. He loved the surf and could even leap into the water from a low hovering helicopter. More than once Buddy had waited patiently by a hidden boat for Ryan to return from a mission. There were a few times when he had to help rescue a person by dragging the life jacket though the water with his powerful swim. Buddy’s greatest accomplishment was the time he saved two young children from a swollen river at the nearby fishing village a year ago. Ever since that day, he had become a welcome guest in the village at any time of day or night. On those visits, he would be treated like royalty and he was always provided plenty of cleaned fish to eat and bones to gnaw on. On a mission like today Buddy spent the day lounging under a tree or laying in his own personal hard plastic wading pool.
Ryan thought about where he was. The ocean before him was the gateway to the world. It was an accident he supposed that he was what he was, not to mention where he was. All of his younger years he was a daydreamer full of the curiosity that gnawed at him relentlessly. Perhaps it was finally time to move on once again.
Joining the Navy wasn’t some patriotic act for him. He recalled a warm summer afternoon on the porch of his grandfather’s farmhouse. His great Uncle had stopped by for a visit. He was transfixed as he listened to his Uncle tell tales of journeys to the South Pacific before WWII. With his stories, he painted exotic places that the young boy could picture as if he were looking through ancient copies of National Geographic. He knew right then he would become a chivalrous explorer of places, people, and things. This is how he saw himself and how he justified staying aloof from any and all relationships.
Lexi again came to mind. He needed to know how much danger would be coming their way. There was also another possibility concerning Kurt’s death, that he hadn’t told Lexi. There was no way to know yet how any of this could play out. His main concern was to know if he could trust her first. Mistrust of people was not just some character trait of his. It was a survival trait.
Still, he was intrigued by the possibility that Lexi was for real. He would give it some time while he looked for any clues that this was some sort of trap. He got up and went inside with Buddy. “Sleeping on the couch tonight Buddy. Stay out of the bedroom.” He nodded at the closed door.
Chapter Four
Ryan was happily busy in the kitchen. The smell of fresh coffee, oranges, bananas, and mangos brought the little bungalow to life like it never had before. In the spirit of the morning
Ryan thought about it all and kept going back to the same conclusion that he had come to lately. He had purposefully withdrawn from society to avoid having to maintain relationships that ultimately ended up with someone getting hurt. He had started to notice the price he paid. His friend had taken his own life two years ago and he didn’t even know about it. Beyond the sad news she brought him about Kurt, Lexi’s arrival had shaken his firm resolution to remain distant from all people. He was still trying to figure out if it was her that had suddenly made him yearn for companionship and love or if he was just that lonely.
The large Newfoundland dog next to him placed his giant slobbery head to rest on his lap. He ran his fingers through the thick soft fur and scratched by his ears. “Sorry Buddy. I didn’t want you to jump all over our first house guest, and I don’t want you getting all attached to her either. I doubt we’ll see anymore of her after this job is done.”
Buddy, like most Newfoundland dogs was an accomplished swimmer and diver. He loved the surf and could even leap into the water from a low hovering helicopter. More than once Buddy had waited patiently by a hidden boat for Ryan to return from a mission. There were a few times when he had to help rescue a person by dragging the life jacket though the water with his powerful swim. Buddy’s greatest accomplishment was the time he saved two young children from a swollen river at the nearby fishing village a year ago. Ever since that day, he had become a welcome guest in the village at any time of day or night. On those visits, he would be treated like royalty and he was always provided plenty of cleaned fish to eat and bones to gnaw on. On a mission like today Buddy spent the day lounging under a tree or laying in his own personal hard plastic wading pool.
Ryan thought about where he was. The ocean before him was the gateway to the world. It was an accident he supposed that he was what he was, not to mention where he was. All of his younger years he was a daydreamer full of the curiosity that gnawed at him relentlessly. Perhaps it was finally time to move on once again.
Joining the Navy wasn’t some patriotic act for him. He recalled a warm summer afternoon on the porch of his grandfather’s farmhouse. His great Uncle had stopped by for a visit. He was transfixed as he listened to his Uncle tell tales of journeys to the South Pacific before WWII. With his stories, he painted exotic places that the young boy could picture as if he were looking through ancient copies of National Geographic. He knew right then he would become a chivalrous explorer of places, people, and things. This is how he saw himself and how he justified staying aloof from any and all relationships.
Lexi again came to mind. He needed to know how much danger would be coming their way. There was also another possibility concerning Kurt’s death, that he hadn’t told Lexi. There was no way to know yet how any of this could play out. His main concern was to know if he could trust her first. Mistrust of people was not just some character trait of his. It was a survival trait.
Still, he was intrigued by the possibility that Lexi was for real. He would give it some time while he looked for any clues that this was some sort of trap. He got up and went inside with Buddy. “Sleeping on the couch tonight Buddy. Stay out of the bedroom.” He nodded at the closed door.
Chapter Four
Ryan was happily busy in the kitchen. The smell of fresh coffee, oranges, bananas, and mangos brought the little bungalow to life like it never had before. In the spirit of the morning
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