Jane

  "Jane, dear you really do not have to go along with me on this expedition. Clayton is coming along with me. We will be able to handle ourselves" my father Quincy Porter warns me as he thumbs through his library of books he was planning on taking with him. My father was a professor of sorts. He used to work over at the local college. He was supposed to be retiring. But that was not in my father's blood. Ever since mother had passed away he had a strong urge to travel. He craved it. It was no spring chicken either. I did not like for him to go on his own. I know Clayton could handle things. But my father was clumsy. Forgetful. He needed me. I had the whole summer off of work. I taught kids art lessons at a school so yes I was off! Out of work! So why not come along for the ride? I loved art. Drawing. I wanted to capture some jungle images of my own. "Father, the rain forest is a very dangerous place" I remind him as he reaches for a large book on the top shelf. I walk over to him and pick up the book just fine. I hand it over to him. I smile. "You need me. Admit it father. Besides I would miss you all summer long. Clayton to" Did I forget to mention I was engaged to marry this Clayton? I was not at all sure of marrying this man. But we had been together for a very long time. Clayton was stable. He reminded me a bit of my father back when he was younger. He was an explorer. My father had first hired Clayton back during his first trip out to the rain forest. My father caught cold the last time he was out that way. Clayton ended up having to fly him back home. I knew Clayton was not marrying me for my father's money. My father had come from a well to do family. So did my mother. My father could be a bit foolish with his money. He felt if he needed to spend it he would do it without giving it a second thought. One moment he could have a ton of money the next we might be broke on the streets. Clayton's family was well off. He was a bit spoiled. Thought highly of himself at times. He could be a bit well...bossy. He often got on my nerves. But no worries. I put him in his place if needed. "But it will be humid over there all summer Jane dear. No air conditioning" warns my father as he reaches for another one of his books. "That is what a swim can cure. Father let me come with you! Please, let me. I want to study the apes" I remind him of my research for my book. "I don't know about this Jane dear" "Father, I could come if I wanted to. I am an adult after all" I point out as I reach over and grab the next book he was fumbling for. "I agree with your father Jane. You have no idea how dangerous the jungle is. I do not want my fiancé to get mauled by a beast out there" warns Cecil as he saunters into the room. I frown at my fiancé. "I can handle myself Cecil Clayton" I snap back. I knew it could be dangerous to go! That was why I wanted to watch over my father! "Just like you handled that spider that landed near you the other day?" he pipes up as a sly smile crosses over his handsome face. "Shut it" I groan. He was no help here. "I shall be bored being here all by myself all summer long!"  I argue with them. "Jane dear whining is not very becoming of a lady" says Clayton. I glare at him. He winks at me. "Fine, Jane, fine. You can come. But if you get into any danger in anyway you are to be sent right home. A jungle is no place for a lady" warns my father. "You are serious? Porter you can't let her go" argues Clayton. "I can do whatever I wish Cecil Clayton. I can also call off the engagement if I find my future mate does not support my dreams" I warn him harshly. "Well played" sighs Clayton. I smile as I cross my arms. "Go get packing dear. We are leaving out of here in the morning in Clayton's plane" warns my father. "Oh thank you father! Thank you!" I gush as I come over to hug him. I cause him to drop a book to the floor as I hug him tightly. "I still do not think this is such a good idea" sighs Cecil. "Jane one. Cecil zero" I snicker before heading out of the library to pack my things for the trip. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Thankfully for me, I had been reading up on the Rain Forest. So I knew what to expect on this expedition. I knew my father loved to travel because it helped to keep his mind off of missing my mother. I could not very well ask my father to stay home. But one day, when he was too old to travel I was going to have to keep him home. Somehow. My father meant everything in the world to me. I could not bare to lose him. I drag out my suite case out of my closet. I had not traveled for oh so long. I was so going to enjoy this trip. I gathered up my art pad. My pencils. I was going to need a lot being out there. I wondered if there would be places to charge my phone. My camera if I wanted to record videos while I was out. That was something to keep in mind when going on my trip. My phone rings. It was my great aunt Bea. "Hello auntie" I answer. "Where is that father of yours? He has not answered a single one of my calls" grumbles my aunt. "Sorry he is getting ready for another expedition to head out to the Rain Forest" I warn her. "For the summer" "At his age? That is awful! He could have heat stroke! Or worse! He should not be going out there at his age! Did you not try to stop him?" my aunt demands to know. "Of course auntie I did try my hardest. But do not worry. Clayton and I are going with him for the summer" I make the mistake of bragging to her. "What? You are going to? Have you lost your marbles girl? You will get killed out there! You should be staying home and planning that wedding! I guess I have to do all the work now don't I? While you are gone chasing monkeys all summer?" she snaps angrily. I knew one thing about my aunt. She was a busy body. She meant well. "Auntie could you handle things while we are aware? I will owe you my life. Besides Clayton will be around. He plans on coming back over here to get things for us while we stay there" I point out to her as I head over to my closet to plan on being away during a whole summer. June, July, and August! "I guess I will have to know won't I?" grumbles my aunt. "Thank you auntie. Thank you so much" I say gratefully. I was still not real sure about this whole wedding thing. But I knew Clayton was a stable man. He would take care of my father and I in the long run. Clayton was a man I knew I could count on when times got tough. He had been there for me through a lot of things in my life. "Have a safe trip. At least write me to know you are still alive now and again" my aunt mumbles. "Always" I vow. "Good-bye girlie. I hope when I talk to you next that you are still around" she grumbles before hanging up on me. I shake my head as I set my phone down on the bed. I begin to pack my clothing up. I glance down at my ring. Jane Clayton. It sounded like an alright name. Nothing to get too excited about. Jane Clayton. Maybe he could take on my last name. Men did tend to do that nowadays. He could bare my name. Keep my name going in the family. Father would be so very pleased if Clayton chose to take his name. Father always wanted a son. More kids. But sadly I was all he ever had with mother. Father never even tried to remarry or have kids with someone new. It would have been nice to have some siblings. But I try not to dwell on the matters. I could not change the past. Only look toward the future. I did want kids of my own one day. Loads of them. A very large family. Maybe two boys. Or two girls and a boy perhaps. "You really are planning on going with us" I hear him grumbling as he enters my bedroom. "Clayton you know I planned on going the moment I found father was going on this trip" I warn him. "I know. But I do not think you have any idea what could really happen out there" he warns me as he looks concerned for me. "I know what can happen. I know what can happen to father to. That is why I need to go along" I say sternly to him. "Fine. But I am bringing a gun" he warns me. "No, you are not allowed to bring a gun. You could get arrested over there" I warn him. "I know what the rules are. I am not going to go hunting. I am only keeping it for protection. Trust me Jane you will need it. They are nothing but savages out there. We are only staying in the forest in nothing but tents Jane" he reminds me. "No cabins. Tents" "I know. Imagine this Clayton...being under the stars. By a little camp fire. Wouldn't that be romantic?" I question him. "I suppose so if a panther is not sneaking up on you while you fall asleep next to the camp fire" he snickers. I smack his arm. "Oh you! You always look at the horrid side of things! We will have a wonderful summer. And when we come back we can have the wedding of the century all planned out" I promise him as he pulls me in his arms. He kisses me. "Good. Because I would rather be planning our wedding then this jungle madness expedition" he mutters under his breath. "Have a told you lately how sweet you are for looking out for my father. If anything happened to him..." "You do not know what you would do without him..." he finishes my sentence for me. I smile. "Yes. Father is so important to me" I tell him. "Am I Jane? Am I important to you?" he demands to know. "Of course" I say. "Then please think about staying. I worry about you being out in the forest. Just think it over tonight. Alright? And if you still want to go I know you will" he asks me. I was not going to be changing my mind. Not overnight. He could get that idea out of his head right now. He smiles my way as he kisses me before heading out of the room. He could he so certain that he could always get his own way at any time. But this time he was not going to get his own way. Not this time around. I was. Check mate... ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥