Shiver - The Last Part (standard:romance, 1747 words) [5/5] show all parts
Author: Freya Griffin	Added: Feb 27 2003	Views/Reads: 2416/1972	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Finally!

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

sister to their parents. 

Chris knew it then. 

He held Shari's hand and told her he's very sorry. Then he ran after
Claire, followed by Sean. The chapel drama reached the climax. Shari 
obviously didn't handle it too well. 

Claire kept on running and running. She lost both her shoes minutes ago.
The dress was ripped up above her knees and she was running like a wild 
deer across the ranch. She had no idea where she would go, but she 
would clear away from the ranch first. Her legs and feet were sore, 
running bare feet like that, but she kept on running. 

She heard galloping horse chasing her. She didn't look back and picked
up her phase. 

‘Claire! Stop!' Chris shouted. She did exactly the opposite. 

‘Claire! Gawddamit!' Chris made the horse ran faster and cut her path.
She was forced to stop. Claire turned around and ran the opposite way. 
Chris jumped off the saddle and ran after her on foot. 

‘Claire! Stop!' 

She was tired and he was much stronger and faster then she was. Chris
caught up with her in no time. Claire kicked and writhed, trying to get 
loose. Chris had to pinned her down to the ground to make her stop 
kicking and punching. 

‘Get off of me!' she cried. The make up was not meant for cross-country
running and Thai boxing. It was smudged and ruined with her sweat and 
tears. 

‘Would you stop? I would've had to tie you up if you kept on struggling
like this' he said to her. 

‘Let me go!' she screamed and sobbed. 

‘Shhh! Shh... Claire, stop it' Chris soften his voice to calm her down.
She struggled and writhed and kicked and shouted. After a minute she 
knew what she was trying to do was worthless, and she calmed down. 

‘Good. Now maybe you'd listen to me. I love you, Claire. I love you' he
said right into her eyes. 

Claire began to cry again. A helpless kind of cry. Piercing into Chris'
heart. 

‘Oh god. I'm sorry, baby. I'm very sorry. I didn't mean for any of these
to happen. I do love you so much' Chris let her go. She kept lying on 
the ground, crying helplessly. The white dress was dirty with mud now 
and looked like a piece of rag. 

He lifted her up and put her on the saddle before getting up and sat
behind her. They rode to the direction of the road, away from the 
ranch. 

‘What happened in the chapel?' Claire finally asked after she could
control herself. 

‘I don't know. I'm eloping with you' Chris answered lightly. 

‘What about Shari? My dad would kill you. And your mother. People would
hunt us down and kill us' 

‘Shari is not very happy the last time I looked. I don't know about your
dad or my mother. I hope they had a great party, since everything was 
already paid for' he reached for his pocket and gave Claire a crisp 
clean handkerchief. 

‘Don't worry about people hunting us down either. We'll be just fine' he
said again. 

‘But first, I have to ask you something. Claire Perchant, I love you,
and I need to know if you feel the same as I do' he stopped the horse 
and looked into Claire's eyes. 

‘I'm scared' she answered after several seconds. 

‘What are you scared of? You won't lose me as a friend. I have told you
this before; I will always be your friend, even if it didn't work' 

‘I just don't want to lose you. And I've been so terrible to you' she
was about to cry again. 

‘Don't cry' he whispered to her ears softly. ‘Terrible indeed, you have
been to me. I haven't been a gentleman myself' 

‘Do you love me, Claire?' he asked again. She nodded until her whole
body shook. No point denying the obvious. 

‘Yes, I love you' 

‘Good' Chris smiled and he sent the horse on gallops again. 

‘Where are we going?' 

‘I don't know yet' he confessed. 

By the road, a car had waited for them with Sean Fewing behind the
wheels. 

‘You found her. Good. I was beginning to think you guys got lost' he
smiled to them. He helped Claire off the horse. ‘How was everything, 
Sean?' Chris got off the horse himself. 

‘I didn't get to see much. I ran right after you, remember? I think
somebody fainted though. By the way, your mother helped me to get the 
clothes, and your stuffs are in trunk' Sean gave Chris the keys to the 
car. 

‘My mother?' 

‘She saw the whole thing coming, she said. She even threw in some
champagne and the chicken for you on the way' Sean pointed on the 
duffel bag on the back seat. 

‘Your mother?' Claire repeated the question. 

‘And she also said that you should talk and explain the whole things as
soon as possible, pay the other half of the bills, but don't show your 
face for about five years' Sean continued. 

‘I will put that in mind' Chris shook his head in amazement. 

‘I wish you guys the best of luck!”, Sean shook Chris' hand, hugged and
patted his back. He also shook Claire's hand. ‘Call me once you get... 
where ever you're heading next' 

‘Wait, wait! I have to do this right this time!' Chris cut Sean's words
off. ‘Sean, you still have the ring?' 

‘Uh, yeah,' Sean fished the ring out of his pocket. ‘Here it is' 

Chris took the box and opened it. He looked at Claire who stood still,
waiting for him at the door of the car and then back to the ring. The 
ring was made for Shari. 

‘Nah, it wouldn't be right. This is hers' he gave the ring back to Sean
and then he kneeled in front of Claire. 

‘Claire, we love each other, and I know you're crazy enough to stop me
marrying another woman. Now I will have to ask you another important 
question. Would you be crazy enough to marry me?' 

‘Perhaps...' she answered faintly. 

‘Perhaps? That's good enough' Chris smiled widely and opened the door
for Claire. ‘Do you think it might progress into a more positive answer 
while we're driving all the way to the nearest airport?' he asked 
again. 

‘Yes' she smiled to him. 

‘Even better!' Chris got inside the driver's seat and started the car. 

‘Bye, Sean. Thank you' Claire waved at Sean. 

‘Bye, Claire. Take care of Chris there. Sometimes he has no idea what
he's doing' Sean mounted the horse. 

Chris waved his hands as they drove away. Sean didn't wait until the car
disappeared behind the trees, he went straight back to the ranch. 

“In a haze, a stormy haze, I'll be round I'll be loving you always,
always. Here I am and I'll take my time Here I am and I'll wait in line 
always Always”—Parachute— 


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