{"id":2322,"date":"2017-03-27T12:50:59","date_gmt":"2017-03-27T02:50:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.30.214.42\/blog\/?p=2322"},"modified":"2024-12-26T22:19:38","modified_gmt":"2024-12-26T12:19:38","slug":"lifelong-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writers-exchange.com\/lifelong-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Lifelong Love by Wayne Winkle"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"LifelongAn ambitious young man, Roger Hilton hates to lose. Having proven himself in the Army, he comes home to marry his first love. But another boyfriend Rachel had returns, and Roger finds himself with his ring back. Stinging, he moves away to find a new life for himself.<\/p>\n

When he was younger, politics has been his ambition and now he has the opportunity to enter the ring. Swearing off women, he plunges into renovating his life from scratch. But it isn’t long before he meets the woman of his dreams. Their attraction is mutual, and Nell Scott becomes the passion in his life…until his political mentor tells him to make a choice: Nell or the election.<\/p>\n

Roger marries Nell, and they have thirty-nine happy years together before possibility and calamity arrive in a simultaneous storm, leaving Robert with the same question he grappled with so long ago: his dying wife or national politics.<\/p>\n

GENRE: Romance\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 ISBN: 978-1-920741-14-3\u00a0 \u00a0ASIN: B00440DR0M\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Word Count: 72, 964<\/p>\n

\"Author<\/a><\/p>\n

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Buy now from Writers Exchange, or from these Retailers:<\/caption>\n
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\"Buy<\/a><\/td>\"Apple<\/a><\/td>\"Get<\/a><\/td>\"Buy<\/a><\/td>\"Kobo<\/a><\/td>\"Everand<\/a><\/td>\"Smashwords<\/a><\/td> <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n \n \n \n<\/div>\n\n

\"blue<\/p>\n

Chapter 1<\/h1>\n

Late Spring, 1958<\/strong><\/p>\n

Never again would Roger Hilton give his heart so freely.<\/p>\n

At least, that’s what he kept telling himself as the miles unraveled behind him.\u00a0 His tires strummed a low traveling note that had been sustained over almost all his waking hours for the past three days.<\/p>\n

The first two of those days formed a black hole in his memory.\u00a0 All he knew for sure was that he filled his car’s gas tank five times in those two days and that he spent the first night sleeping curled up in the back seat beside some river.\u00a0 When he woke the next morning, he had no clue where he’d stopped.\u00a0 After driving for an hour down several dirt roads, he found a community store and discovered he was about 100 miles southwest of St. Louis.\u00a0 Once he got his bearings, he drove back to his mother’s house, cleaned up, then set out for Riverbend.<\/p>\n

But I’m not really running away.\u00a0 Not really. <\/em>\u00a0He remembered telling himself that the first two days.<\/p>\n

Now, closing on Riverbend, he cruised with one arm crooked on the window ledge, wind riffling his hair through the open window.\u00a0 He also closed on the truth.<\/p>\n

If I hadn’t been coming here, I’d have found someplace just as far away.\u00a0 He flicked the beginning of a tear from his eye.<\/p>\n

As if that simple action set loose a reaction, tear followed tear, filling up his eyes and overflowing down his cheeks until seeing became almost impossible.\u00a0 The windshield blurred as if viewed underwater.\u00a0 Both hands on the wheel, Roger pulled the ’57 Chevy off the road for the third time.\u00a0 Once stopped, he lowered his head until it rested on the steering wheel.<\/p>\n

Sobs erupted from his throat, one after another.\u00a0 In between, he muttered, “Rachel, Rachel.\u00a0 Why?”\u00a0 His voice choked on each word.\u00a0 For a full five minutes, this went on.\u00a0 When the current bout with tears ended, Roger sat for a few more minutes, slouched against the car door.\u00a0 As the wetness dried on his cheeks, as it had dried so many times over the past few days, he accosted God.\u00a0 Why did You let this happen, God?\u00a0 I thought You’d given me the perfect mate.\u00a0 She seemed so right for me.\u00a0 Then You took her away.\u00a0 Why, God?\u00a0 What did I do to cause You to hate me?\u00a0 First you take away Dad, now this.\u00a0 It’s just more than I can stand.<\/em><\/p>\n

Since leaving Brownwood, visions of his fianc\u00e9e handing the diamond back to him kept flashing before his eyes.\u00a0 He’d loved her forever.\u00a0 Nearly every time he thought of her, he had to pull over and either fight back the tears or give in to them.<\/p>\n

After several more minutes of staring out the windshield, Roger drove on.\u00a0 I’ve got to stop this.\u00a0 It won’t do for me to break down in the middle of talking to Mr. Price.<\/p>\n

Since the age of 10, Roger’s goal in life had been to be more successful in politics than his dad.\u00a0 Harold Price, the County Coordinator for his Party, knew Roger’s dad from twenty years before, back when Price had first started out in politics.\u00a0 There had been a time when Roger’s dad stood up for Price in a particularly contentious meeting of the Party.\u00a0 Price’s politics had nothing to do with the conflict.\u00a0 His appointment had simply provided the forum for a long-time political opponent of Roger’s dad’s to threaten to derail the deal, out of spite.\u00a0 The man never forgave Roger’s dad for facing him down. And Price never forgot what was done for him.<\/p>\n

Price was pleased when Roger talked to him about possibly getting his backing to run for a county official’s job.\u00a0 Several days ago, Price had called Roger to let him know the County Tax Assessor position would be open in the fall–and to let Roger know he was Price’s choice to run for the job.<\/p>\n

Roger’s joy overflowed.\u00a0 He all but bounced around the room as he told Rachel.<\/p>\n

Then she clobbered him.\u00a0 He didn’t even know she had a boyfriend before, much less that the boyfriend was back in town.<\/p>\n

But that’s behind me, he reflected again, sitting up behind the wheel and checking his face in the rearview mirror.\u00a0\u00a0 I have to keep telling myself that.\u00a0 Maybe I’ll begin to believe it.<\/p>\n

He’d already found a place to stay in Riverbend, so convinced was he about living there.\u00a0 Right after Price talked with him the first time, Roger rented a small apartment over a garage.\u00a0 Three rooms and a bath, it had just enough space for him.<\/p>\n

And Rachel<\/em>, I thought.<\/p>\n

Biting his lip, he drove on to the apartment.\u00a0 Half an hour later, he sat in Mr. Price’s office, composed and attentive.<\/p>\n

“I’m really glad you decided to make the run for the Assessor’s job, Roger.”\u00a0 Price sat behind his dark wood desk, studying the younger man, the rich warmth of the fresh coffee in their cups wafting between them.\u00a0 Mr. Price was in his early fifties, the prime of his life. A full head of graying hair showed his experience in the world of politics.\u00a0 His voice came from deep within his chest, and his hazel eyes carried a wealth of wisdom. “When you first contacted me about running, I’ll confess I was surprised.\u00a0 Maybe even shocked.\u00a0 After what happened to your father,…”\u00a0 He shook his head, his eyes filling with the sorrow of that memory.\u00a0 In a moment, he went on.\u00a0 “You realize you have to be a resident of the county for at least three months before you can declare your candidacy.”<\/p>\n

“Yes, Sir.\u00a0 That’s why I’m here so far before the race.”\u00a0 Roger did his best to project sincerity, competence, and a willingness to learn; all those things he thought the man in front of him would want to see in a young man getting his start in politics.\u00a0 “I thought six months in the area would look good to the voters before I declared myself.”<\/p>\n

“Smart.\u00a0 Yes, I think that’s a good idea.”\u00a0 Price’s nodding agreement turned into an expression of concern after a moment.\u00a0 “I understood you to say you were married when we talked before.\u00a0 I see you’re not wearing a wedding band.”<\/p>\n

“I said I was engaged and would be married by this fall.”\u00a0 Roger struggled for a few seconds against tears.\u00a0 “But my fianc\u00e9e changed her mind.”<\/p>\n

“Oh, that’s too bad.\u00a0 I’m sorry.”<\/p>\n

Roger nodded his thanks and remained silent, as did the older man.\u00a0 He tried and failed to read Price’s expression as his eyes touched the older man’s and slid away.<\/p>\n

“It was my feeling that being married, bringing a wife into the office with you, would help take voters’ minds off your being so young.”\u00a0 A fleeting smile softened the remark.\u00a0 “Give you an image of stability despite your years, so to speak.”<\/p>\n

Sitting forward with intensity, Roger spoke from his heart.\u00a0 “Mr. Price, I believe I can convince the voters of my maturity and ability, even without a wife.\u00a0 Being unencumbered, I’ll spend more of my time serving the citizens of the county.\u00a0 Sure I’m young, but that means I’m also more teachable, and will bring ideas for improvement of services to the job.\u00a0 It also means I’ll be able to pick up the skills necessary to do a good job quickly.\u00a0 Maybe more quickly than my opponent.”<\/p>\n

Price studied him for a moment longer.\u00a0 Then a more genuine smile crinkled up the corners of his eyes.\u00a0 “You do make good points, Roger.\u00a0 I’ll give you that.\u00a0 Especially the last one.\u00a0 If the other party runs who I think they will, that will be a strong selling point.”\u00a0 He lapsed back into silence for another couple of minutes.\u00a0 “Okay.\u00a0 You still have my support.”<\/p>\n

“Thank you, Mr. Price,” Roger replied with every bit of relief he felt.\u00a0 “I won’t disappoint you.”<\/p>\n

Price rose and extended his hand, signaling the meeting was over.\u00a0 As when he had first met Price, Roger felt surprise that the other man wasn’t seven feet tall.\u00a0 “Keep your nose clean, Roger.\u00a0 Don’t talk to anyone about running in the fall.\u00a0 Let me tell you when to do that.\u00a0 Do you have a job yet?”<\/p>\n

“Yes, Sir.\u00a0 Well, at least I think so.\u00a0 I’m going over to Hampton’s Department Store after I leave here and see about a job he advertised.”<\/p>\n

“Hampton?\u00a0 Yes, he’s a good man.\u00a0 Doesn’t always vote the right way, but a good man.\u00a0 All right.\u00a0 I’ll be in touch.\u00a0 Make sure my secretary knows how to get hold of you.”<\/p>\n

Roger hovered somewhere about ten feet above the sidewalk all the way to his car.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Lifelong<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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