Bethany Gilbert's grew up in Bozeman Montana, she was a singer. Never went very far because she fell in love in the bar one night. Bill Gilberts was sheriff for many years until he retired and they moved to tha lake never having children of there own. Bill had an infertility diagnosis but Beth loved him just the same. A sudden turn in Bills health though turned them back ta town. A small two bedroom apartment, four blocks from Betty's cafe.
When Bill passed Beth took position of cook at the cafe. She and tha Jenson's have been friends for many years, Bill Gilberts and Blake Jenson were fishing buddies since Blake was fresh outta collage. Beth also took care of Cassidy from the time she was a new born baby to the time she was old enough ta drive a car.
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"Beth, do ya think that Prince Charming is real," I asked her.
She leaned over as we sat eating our ice cream. "Of course I do sweet pea, I met mine, he was my rock," she said.
"Do ya think there's one fer me out there," I asked her.
"Yes baby girl, I know so, he will make yer heart pound an take yer breath away, as well as make ya feel special, and beautiful, but he'll be a good knight, maybe even have stuffed boots like yer daddy," she said with a wink.
"Beth," I said
"Yes darlin," she answered.
"I love you," I told her.
"I love you too sweetie pie," she said.
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"Ohhhhh look at y'all aren't ya just a sight, so pretty an handsome," she said.
"Hmhm, thank ya Beth, he dose look good don't he," I said giggling.
"Hm, very, but you my dear are tha icing on his cake," she said.
"Oh Beth, Jake don't look that good ha ha," I said.
"Ha ha ha, ok Oreo cookies," she said
"Mmmm, with milk," I said.
I straighten his tie as we stand in front of tha cafe for Beth ta take our picture. His hand ran down ta my butt an I blushed. This is tha night I promised him my virginity. Our grad night, best time of our lives, we are on our way ta adult hood.
"Hmhm, come on Cassidy, lets go, this party's fading out, les go back ta my place," he growled.
"Alright," I said
He grabbed my ass again and led me out ta his car. It was all goin so fast an I was way to drunk fer this. The last thing I really remember was him on top me biting my neck squeezing my boobs hard as he pushed in ta me. Pain ripped threw me an I blacked out after that.
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"Beth," I cried.
"Baby girl, what happened," she gasped as she opened the door.
I moved in ta her arms, "Jake hit me," I bawled in ta her shoulder.
"Oh my love, come in y'all stay here ta night," she says.
She fed me milk an cookies that she made that day. Then she took me to her spare room wrapped me in a homemade blanket and helped me lay down. Running her hand over my hair, "hush now my girl yer safe here, just close yer eyes an fall asleep," she said.
"Somewhere over the rainbow, Way up high, And the dreams that you dreamed of,Once in a lullaby, Somewhere over the rainbow, Blue birds fly, And the dreams that you dreamed of, Dreams really do come true ooh oh, Someday I'll wish upon a star, Wake up where, the clouds are far behind me, Where, trouble melts like lemon drops, High above the chimney top, That's where you'll find me," she sang as I fell asleep.
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Ryan's POV:
We pulled up outside the hospital an I barely got stopped as Cassidy ran from the truck. I put it in park and chased her, catching her at the doors we fly threw them. She gets to tha desk, and goes to say something when she sees her dad. She runs to him and he grabs her up in his arms. "Huuuu daddy," she huffs sadly.
"It's ok baby girl, it's ok," he comforts her and then sees me.
Setting her down he looks at me, "you must be Ryan," he said.
"Yes sir," I say and nod my head.
He puts out his hand to shake and I shake it. "Y'all can call me Blake," he says.
"Alright, hm," I say.
This is really awkward, until Cassidy puts her arm around me. I put mine around her and her mom walks up, her eyes blood shot. For a moment I think she's gonna be nice but. She looks me up and down, then Cassidy and turns ta Blake. "I'm gonna run ta tha cafe, want some coffee or somethin," she asks him.
Blake looks over at us, "you guys want lunch er coffee er somethin," he asked.
"I'm good, daddy," Cassidy said.
"Thanks Blake I'm good too," I say.
"Not that I would get y'all anything any way," her mom states.
"LEANNE," Blake barked.
Cassidy blinked at her and her eyes widened, turned around walkin to tha door. I followed her outside as she burst threw them.
Just as we got to tha truck her mom burst threw the doors too, Blake hot on her heels. "Maybe if ya weren't bein such a fuckin bitch an be a fuckin mother, instead of some high fucking class snot," he yelled at her.
Her eyes went wide an she stopped turnin around ta slap him across tha face.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH," she yelled.
"SHES YOUR FUCKING DAUGHTER LEANNE, YOU CANT JUST SHUN HER CAUSE YOU THINK YOU KNOW THA BOY SHES WITH, THINK ABOUT WHERE WE CAME FROM," he said anger radiating from him, his eyes deathly dark.
Her fists clenched an she spun around walking away fast in tha heels an pencil skirt. She got in her car which I might add is a Chevy Camaro. Black with pink writing Betty's Cafe n' Gril on tha side. Blake stood looking up at tha sky rubbing his forehead before he went back in.
Cassidy's eyes were red an her tears started ta flow again, I walked over to her as she sat on the seat, moving to hug her. She fell part in my arms, stabbing me in the heart as she sobbed an her body wracked against me. When her dad came bursting threw the doors again "CASSIDY BETH'S A WAKE AN SHES WANTIN YOU," he yells to her.
She shakes a deep breath in and looks up at me, I take her hand an help her off the seat. We walk towards the door, her head against my chest crying. "Hey, I'm here for you, ok, no matter what," I say kissing her head.
We walk in an follow her dad an a nurse down the hall to room 305. I kissed her forehead an let her go in ta talk with Beth.
Cassidy's POV:
I was so upset, with Beth's heart attack and my parents fighting. My mom being a bitch, I was ready ta just lay on tha floor close my eyes an not come back. Room 305, was Beth's room, I starred at it for a moment before I went in. That's her apartment number too, and that was Ryan's hotel number.
I thought as I walked in seeing Beth laying so weak and fragile on tha bed, tubes coming outta her nose an arms. The beep of tha machine counting her heart beat. "Huu, Beth," I whimpered out taking her hand in mine.
"Sweet pea," she whispered so fragile, groggy an quiet.
"Oh Beth, y'all done scared me," I said as tears dripped down my face.
She lifted her hand slowly shaking towards my face an put her hand on my cheek. "Baby, Huu, ya need ta, look deep yer heart, an love again," she said.
"Oh Beth, I don't know what ta do, I can't loose you though," I cry out.
"Sweet heart, Prince Charming is real, very real, even if ya don't see it, let yer heart open, cause if ya don't, you'll regret it," she says.
"What did you say," I asked.
"You'll regret it," she said.
"No, the Prince Charming thing huuu" I breathed out.
"He's real my love," she said with a fragile smile.
I thought about when I was younger when I asked her if Prince Charming was real. She told me he was, "huuu, Beth," I said quietly.
"Yes honey," she whispered.
"Hooo, 305, dose that mean anything ta you," I asked her.
She smiled an put her hand from my cheek to the top of my hand. "Bill an I met on the 30th day of May," she said.
I looked up at tha calendar on tha wall, it was may, 30th. "We also got married on tha 30th of may," she said.
"Huuu, Ryan's hotel room was 305, your room right now is, 305, Huu," I cried.
"Baby, my Prince Charming is waitin fer me, you need ta help yours see your heart," she said.
"I love you Beth," I whimpered.
"Promise me, you'll try my love," she said.
"I'll try," I shuttered out.
"Promise," she whispered.
"Huuuuu, promise," I whispered back.
"I love ya too baby, always, be brave my princess," she whispered.
I tightened my grip on her hand an leaned my head on her hand on top of mine.
"Yer momma will be ok soon," she said quietly.
After a long moment of silence "Don't, let, him, ride, away," she said pauses between each word. I looked up her eyes closing.
Suddenly the machine for her heart beeped a long tone an I couldn't see threw my tears. I gripped her hand, "no, no, no, NOOOO BETH," I screamed as nurses and doctors came running in.
"Girl y'all gotta get outta here," one said.
"NOO, NO BETH PLEASE," I screamed.
I felt familiar arms wrap around me and I tried ta fight them, "noooo, pleassssseee," I yelled.
"Hey, Cassidy come on let's go, it's ok, it's ok just let me hold you," he said as he lifted me moving me out of tha door.
"NNNNNOOOO," I screamed and pushed on him.
I fought and fought him but he wouldn't let me go. Punching and screaming but my body gave up the fight and I collapsed into an exhausted heap. Falling to tha floor with me in his arms, I couldn't even fight anymore. "Ssssssshhh Cassidy, ssssshhhhhh, it'll be ok," he whispering in my ear.
He rocked me against his chest pulling me tighter into his arms. The doctor came out to talk to my dad, "I'm really sorry, she passed on, there was nothin we could do," he said.
This killed me, I slid my arms around Ryan and held him so tight you'd think I was trying ta choke him. "Huu, Cass, I'm gonna need yer help, fer the burial an plans honey," dad said.
I couldn't do it, I was done I pushed away from Ryan hard, got up and bolted for the door. Crashing threw them and down the stairs to the truck. Doubling over heaving and getting sick, holding the truck side for support.
"There you are," a deep growl came from outta no where.
Suddenly I was being thrown into the side of the truck an dark eyes burned into mine. "Huu, no, please Jake don't," I cried.
"Ima fuckin kill you ya bitch," he growled.
I struggled with the little strength I had, but he hit me hard in the stomach. I fell to the ground and curled into a ball screaming for someone to help. He kicked me and kicked me and I tightened my hold on my legs. The rain started to pour as I felt it on my skin letting it take over the pain.
Ryan's POV:
I made it to the top of the stairs as I heard crying and hitting noises. Looking down seeing that fuck beating the shit outta her. I jumped down the stairs flying towards him grabbing his hair. Slamming his head off my truck he backed up drunkly trying to focus. "You again," he garbled threw the blood streaming down his face.
"You fucking son of a bitch I shoulda fuckin killed you," I growled at him.
Seeing Cassidy curled in a ball on the ground angered me as the rain poured down. I looked up just in time to see him coming at me with a knife. Swinging it at me I dodged and kneed him in the gut. He doubled over blood coming from his mouth now, and he turned around to come again. This time he ran at me tackling me to the ground, we struggled back an forth he was getting the best of me cause I couldn't focus from Cassidy's cries.
I got him flipped over an used it to my advantage trying to turn the knife around on him. Suddenly another pair of hands came in and over powered him. Pushing it deep into his chest, the sound of bones breaking and him dying.
I looked over wide eyed as her dad knelt there holding my hands to his and the knife. "Get Cassidy, in the truck and get the hell outta here," he barked.
"But," I breathed out.
"GET OUTTA HERE NOW," he yelled.
"Huu, yes sir," I said swallowing hard.
I moved around as he took over in my place, I picked her up an opened the truck door. I put her in on the seat, and turned. My heart beating fast "I can't let you take this, Huu," I said.
"Take care of my lil girl," he said quietly.
I bowed my head and tears slipped from my eyes, "Ryan, she won't know what happened, so the only thing she will know, is her daddy took of tha bad guy,"
"Huu, huuu," I breathed, out running both hands threw my hair.
"Ryan, NOW GO," he ordered.
The rain came down faster washing the blood away, an I heard him talkin on the phone. "Hey Ray, I uh, I got that kid that escaped, Jake," he said.
"Yeah, no ya wont need cuffs, he's dead" he said before I got in the truck shutting the door.
I tried to stop crying but couldn't as I started the truck, backed up an started to drive away. Going down the back alley to the outskirts hearing the sirens coming from everywhere. I got to the service road an turned on to the highway and started driving. Turning up the radio, Cassidy had fallen asleep an I pulled a blanket from behind the seat covering her as best as I could with one hand.
I wiped my cheeks the burning sensation of tears running down my face as I watched Bozeman disappear in the mirror. I pulled over finally onto a side road the wipers goin full. Got outta the truck an walked down into the field and dropped to my knees. No one has ever done that. Least of all someone I didn't even know.