The Ranger's Passionate Love

Before they could get into a further discussion, Marcus peeked out from the bathroom. His clothes were now firmly back in place.

Trip looked up and nodded to him.

“While you were getting yourself in order, we seem to have been scheduled for tomorrow morning.”

Marcus opened his mouth to protest, then took in the ladies speculatively.

“Hey, I'm Ashley. Kyara says you're a personal trainer?” said Ashley, stepping forward to extend her hand. Marcus took it, studying her face.

“Uh, yeah,” he managed.

“I run an equipment rental place up the road. ATVs, snowmobiles, skis, stuff like that, but we’ve been talking about adding a gym space. Kyara said you might want to take a look?” Ashley looked up at him through long, dark lashes.

God bless my friends being willing to take these two out of my hair, thought Kyara appreciatively. I really owe them.

“And, since we have to be up early, I suspect we should get back to ... where we're staying,” said Trip, carefully avoiding mentioning Jason's name. Caitlin smiled up at him.

“Clever man,” Caitlin said, her voice so quiet it barely reached Kyara.

“Alright, everyone out. Sounds like we've got morning plans, then we can come here for lunch. Tomorrow is a hush puppy day. Plan? Good. Let's go home,” announced K, starting to herd everyone out the door. Kyara shot her a grateful look. The other two were already chatting with her brothers.

It's good to have such good friends, thought Kyara to herself as she closed the door firmly behind them. Especially as I might be going to jail soon for killing my boyfriend. With that, she went to go get on her coat, determined to confront Jason tonight.

Kyara was on Jan's porch before she knew it, bundled in her winter coat. Though there was no snow right now, it was bitterly cold, the wind slicing through her pants and stinging her face.

Just one more thing he has to pay for, Kyara thought, knowing it was nasty and a little unfair, and in no mood to care or try to change.

She pounded on the door, secure in the knowledge that Jan would be in bed with her hearing aid out, and unable to hear a thing.

At the third rattling knock, Jason finally opened the door, blinking blearily. He wore only his boxers, his well-muscled chest reflecting the lamplight in the freezing air... His hair stood at attention, forming a crest on his head like some sort of exhausted cockatoo. He blinked at her, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“Kyara?” he asked, clearly trying to pull himself together. “Are you okay? Is something wrong?”

“Yes,” said Kyara, her voice hard. “Something's wrong.” She advanced on him, and he stepped back into the fire-lit interior, his eyes going wide with alarm at her tone.

“Apparently, I am dating someone who thinks it's not only acceptable, but important to meddle in my life. Someone who thinks they know better than I do, and can make decisions for me. Someone who thinks they should just meddle in my business without even telling me so I get blindsided by my brothers showing up out of nowhere. That. Is. What's. Wrong.”

Jason retreated backwards at each statement, Kyara advancing to not give him an inch.

“But, you seemed so sad when you talked about not seeing them,” Jason tried to defend.

“Don't,” spat Kyara. “Just don't. Don't try to defend. Don't try to justify. You just made the decision without even talking to me about it first. Without getting all the information, or knowing what you were doing. You. Had. No. Right. But you did it anyway.”

Kyara sagged, her energy draining away.

“It can't be this way, Jason. You can't just decide what's best for me. You're not some white knight sweeping in to save the day. I'm not your pet, or your slave.”

“That's not how I meant it,” said Jason softly. “I just wanted to make you happy.”

“And you didn't think to ask me what would do that?” responded Kyara.

“I was trying to surprise you. I just ... if someone managed to bring my parents home, I know I would really appreciate it,” he said.

“Well, maybe that's the problem. Maybe you never got used to thinking about what other people would like, just what you would. That's why you try to take change. That's why you keep things from people. That's why this ... whatever we have, it's why it isn't going to work.” Kyara's voice remained steady. She'd cried enough tonight. She didn't have tears left for this.

“No, Kyara, I didn't mean, it wasn't like that,” said Jason.

“You never mean to,” said Kyara. “But you never think it out either. And that's not good enough for me. Not any more.” Kyara turned, and went to the door.