Scarlet Roses (continued) – Torn between two loves

“Amelia”

“Whose voice is calling me?” she wondered.

She laid in bed, sleepless, thinking about what the old man had told her that she was a pilot and her plane had crashed, the accident causing her to lose her memory. She knew, now though her mind was still in scattered pieces, that search parties were looking for her. “My family must be worried,” was her distressing thought, “And I’m so far away from home.”
Her eyes closed in sleep, close to the morning hour and when she awoke, sunlight was streaming through the window. The two pretty little girls were standing by her bedside with fresh flowers. Amelia sat up and smiled, feeling somehow like this was all a dream.
“The two of you are like the flower fairies” she said to them.
They took her hand and led her to a hut nearby where there was a bathtub expertly crafted from the rich woods of the forest to hold water.
“This is unbelievable” she said, quietly, as she stepped into the water, warm and scented from the floating flower petals.
It surprised her that the natives had such luxury but as she relaxed in the tub, for those calm moments that soothed her mind, she realised it was because of the innovative thinking of the Englishman. The girls helped her to dress in native’s clothes and brushed her hair, adorning it with a string of tiny petals. She looked at her reflection, hardly recognising who she was anymore and turned around as the hunter came into the hut. He was looking different, his long hair neat, his face clean shaven, and he wore jeans and t-shirt, definitely a look to appreciate.
“Nice” she said to herself
He looked at her for a long moment before he said with a slight smile, ‘Beautiful’ and held out his hand, “Come with me, breakfast awaits you.”
Breakfast was in a larger hut, the interior looking like a little banquet hall, the dining table and chairs carved from the finest woods, stunning craftsmanship. Amelia looked at the old Englishman, truly impressed.
“This is amazing, you have brought a little of the outside world here.”

“Not me” he said, inclining his head to his son standing beside her, “It’s his creative mind and expert hands.”
She turned and looked at the hunter, a deep look of amazement reflecting in her eyes, “This is incredible.”
He smiled, still that slight smile, playing at the corner of his mouth, pleased she was impressed.
Breakfast was a nice little family affair with the old man, Samuel, his son, Nate, a close resemblance to his father, two daughters, more native than European, and his grand-daughters , the two pretty little girls who had brought her flowers and was taking care of her.
“Did you sleep well?” Samuel asked her.
“Not too well, I’m worried about my family.”

“Try not to” he advised her, “Your mind needs to be relaxed, not stressed. The trackers left since before sunrise, they should locate the search parties soon and until then, you’re in good hands.”
She smiled at the old man warmly, thankful for his kindness and understanding-a man of God, honoured by the natives.

And his son?

She glanced at Nate, his long hair giving him that little wild look, effortlessly attractive and a body that would take a woman’s breath away. He turned and looked at her and for a brief moment, his eyes held hers, before she looked away.
“What am I thinking?” she admonished herself, “I’ll be leaving here soon.”

The food was served, setting her mind at ease and she almost gasped, not having a seen so much food in many days. The flavour of real native dishes, she had never tasted and she savoured the pure delicacy of the pepper pot, cassava bread, beans and corn, a glow of satisfaction on her face.
“That was very good, I thank you for this wonderful meal,” she said to the native/European family who were beginning to give her life a new meaning.
Nate stood and held out his hand to her, “Come on, let me show you around my home.”
She took his hand and as they walked out the hut, she turned and looked back at the old man. He nodded his head a little as though telling her, “It’s okay, you’re in safe hands.”

Nate took her or a walk along the meandering streams, its crystal water like the drink of life and she watched amazed and thrilled, the exotic birds and rare flowers, a secret haven of nature, unknown to the world. Nate held her hand sometimes so she could not lose her balance on uneven ground and twice he lifted her over the rocky areas. His arms were strong and he moved with the ease and agility, his masculinity, natural and rugged something she was beginning to like. He was careful with her, knowing for a woman of the outside world, her bare feet were virgin to the naked jungle floor and streams.
He sat her down on a rock in the middle of a wide stream, so she could rest a little, the cool water rushing past her feet and he said to her, “Look closely in the water and tell me what you see.”

Through the clear water, she saw fishes swimming leisurely and tiny glints of something. “I’m not sure” she said “What is it?”
He reached under the water and scooped up a handful of small rocks, holding it up to the sunlight and she gasped, recognising it was gold.
“No wonder you father said, this place is something of heaven, its richness and beauty undisturbed”
“And you have not seen it all” Nate told her “This is our world, our home.”
He pulled off his shirt that had gotten wet, wringing it dry and tied it around his waist then lifted her off the rock. For one timeless moment, standing their close to each other, it looked from above, like God had recreated man and woman in a beautiful garden.
He took her back to the village, knowing she must be now tired and hungry. The midday meal was outdoors, a little way from the huts, in a garden setting, just the two of them as the children ran around playing.
“Is this your creative work too?” she asked.
“No, it’s the work of my sisters.”
“You have an amazing family” she said with a little laugh, not realising how the troubles from her mind had disappeared since breakfast.
She looked around, lost in thought for a moment, “I wonder if it’s real or it’s all dream that I will soon awaken from?”
He looked at her, her fairness and beauty, the smile on her lips, something he wanted to be real, not a dream.
“How do I know it’s a not a dream?” she asked, touching his hand instinctively.

“I have an idea” he said and leaning close to her, he kissed her, a soft, lingering kiss that sent waves of emotion through her body, she could not remember ever feeling.
A sweet kiss, that awakened her to the reality she was not dreaming.
“Amelia”
She gasped at the sound of a voice calling her again, the same voice and she pulled away from Nate, a confused look on her face.
“Are you okay?” Nate asked, concerned.
She stood up, not sure what was happening to her, trying to piece together the fragmented pieces in her mind so she could remember. The stress took toll, her head beginning to throb and everything suddenly became dark. The last thing she remembered was Nate’s voice and his arms holding her.

Arvin drank some water from a small spring, splashing it over his face, trying to wash away some of the tiredness. The search party had stopped to take a break, fatigued but not disenhearted knowing they were on the right trail, having found pieces of her uniform on the lower limbs of trees. The other search party had returned but Arvin did not give up, vowing to search until he found her, dead or alive. The idea of finding her dead felt like a deep wound in his heart and he continued to pray in his mind.
Amelia opened her eyes and saw the old man sitting by her bedside, worried, no one else was in the hut.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“I don’t know” she sighed, the pain in her head gone, “What happened?”

“You lost consciousness while you were with Nate.”
“Oh!” she exclaimed softly, remembering the kiss, the voice calling her name, and the confusion in her head.
“Nate, is he here?”
“No, he’s feeling guilty that he caused this.”
“No” she said, sitting up slowly, “I don’t know what caused this.”
“The memory loss has caused your mind to become fragile” Samuel explained, “And extreme stress can lead to a breakdown. Whatever is bothering you, you have to deal with it calmly to avoid turmoil in your mind.”
She leaned back and closed her eyes for a brief moment, a hint of frustration in her voice. “Why did this have to happen to me?”
The old man patted her affectionately on the head, “There’s a reason for everything dear, you have to stay strong for faith is the greatest healer.”
He left the hut after giving her some herbal medicine to drink that would help her to relax. Nate came in a little while later and taking her hand, he kissed it apologetically, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have….”
“It’s okay” she said, not wanting him to feel bad, “I guess I was too stressed.”
He stayed with her for a while talking, to bring a smile back to her lips, the little girls helping in their own way, until the medicine took effect and he told her, “Rest now, I’ll come back later to take you to watch the sunset.”
She fell asleep with a little smile on her lips and as promised he came back later in the afternoon, just after she had taken a warm bath. She looked radiant and he blew a kiss to the heavens. “Thank you, dear lord.”

They sat by the river’s bank, watching the sun set in its crimson splendour, a masterpiece created by the ingenuity of divine hands. He put his arm gently around her waist so she could rest her head on his shoulder, sitting there in silence, a comforting embrace. It was late when she went to bed and he kissed her softly on the cheek, “Sweet dreams for tomorrow.”
After three more tiring days of trekking in the endless jungle, one of the men from the search party who was always walking ahead, came back with a worried look on his face.
“What is it?” Arvin asked, fearful of bad news.
The man held up a ring – her engagement ring.
Arvin took the ring, trying his utmost to stay calm in his mind.

“Where did you find this?” he asked in a low tone.
“Follow me” the man said and he led them to the spot where Nate had shot the tiger.
The carcass of the animal was still there with the arrow in its chest.
“She was at this spot,” the man indicated to Arvin, “And someone standing that way shot the tiger and took her away.”
Arvin looked around slowly, trying to deduce where the hunter could have walked and he looked at the ring in his hand, again, saying in his mind, “He couldn’t have gone far with you. I will find you.”

(To be continued)

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