Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 136: The End?

Chapter 136: The End?

Arthur took out the bracelet and he couldn’t help but smile. It was an yellow gold bracelet and at the centre an iris was designed; a siberian iris, his mother’s favourite flower.

Along with small diamonds, there were small sapphires, amethysts and citrine gems fixed on it to give a 3D effect of an iris flower.

"I know you call Talia ’Iris’!" Roderick patted his shoulder and Arthur looked at him with a big smile. He was genuinely happy. He felt like he really got his mother’s blessings.

I didn’t even look before I choose and I got an Iris from my mother!

Ah, mother! I wish you’ve met her! You’d have loved her so much.

Iris, my love, I want to make you my wife soon!

---

Talia was cheering loud along with Rebecca as they were watching a skijoring competition. The temperature was freezing and they all were bundled warm and standing in the crowd, cheering loudly, both of them weren’t cold.

It’s been almost a week since Talia came here. The entire county was filled with tall mountains and plains, now covered with snow.

Mr. Ed was right! This place greatly resembled Esteria.

The people here were so lovely and as they entered the town,they were stopped by the sheriff and only then they were let in.

And Talia was surprised with the amount of weapon everyone had. Whether they carry a mobile phone or not, everyone surely had at least two weapons; one in their car and another on themselves. And there were no restrictions for how many they can carry.

This aspect was similar to Esteria too!

Only when Talia interacted with the people here, she realised that Rebecca’s cussing was nothing compared to those from here. They threw away cusses like greetings and those words were not always insults.

That was entirely different from Esteria.

And it seems like everyone in the town loved Rebecca and she was nicknamed ’Smarty Becky’ by the townsfolk.

Apparently there are two more Rebecca in the town and so she was given ’Smarty’ as an adjective since she was always good at her studies and she was the first one from the town go to an ivy-league school for higher education.

Talia was surprised the first day she entered the local bar, everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at her like she had seen in movies.

"She’s the friend I told you about!" Rebecca said and everyone started minding their own business. Talia only hoped that Rebecca said good things about her.

Whatever!

And a couple days later, Talia met the barlady as she ride around in the fields and the Suzy, the barlady became more friendly with Talia and provided her with free drinks each time she visited the bar.

"I misunderstood you were one of those snobby city dwellers who’d be scared of a horse!" Suzy cackled.

"I love riding horses," Talia replied with a smile and from then on, people started to look at her like she was one of them.

Just because I can ride a horse?

Of course I’d know horse-riding; I’m a Lady!

No one in the town called Talia by her name and everyone referred her as ’That posh friend of Smarty Becky’. Turns out, even though she rides horses, her riding skills weren’t rustic, but posh! Whatever that means. Talia didn’t mind.

Rebecca’s parent’s were amazing! They were in their late sixties and were down to earth. In their actions were embedded deep knowledge about the world. They were still working in their fields and were happy doing it.

Talia stayed in Rebecca’s old room with her. And Mr. Ed and the security were planning to stay in a motel,but Rebecca’s father insisted for them to stay in their house and Talia was surprised to see some neighbours bringing in beds and even assembling them for their use.

Talia really loved the people here. Rebecca stopped crying often and Talia could feel the anger held back by Talia’s father and also the townsfolk as they could understand there is trouble in Rebecca’s marriage and that’s why she came here.

Talia could understand why Joe feared he’d lose Rebecca once she gets here. The people here were avid supporters of the other political party and it seemed like no one were pleased that Rebecca was marrying the son of a Senator from their rival political party.

But when Rebecca showed the picture she took with the President, they all were impressed and jealous even.

Isn’t President Carter from the same party as Senator Feldstein? Talia wondered. So why hate one and love the other? But then she realised they loved their country and in turn loved the President who is their Commander-in-chief!

Awesome! They have their biases, but they loved their country, their town, their fields and their horses as much as they loved their life!

Talia never had interacted with the middle class of the society. Not because she was haughty and she looked down on them, but since that was not her usual group. People generally mingled with the people of their socio-economic status and she was no exception. She was awed by the experience she gained here.

Even though Rebecca didn’t expose Joe, Talia could see the protective feelings of these townsfolk towards Rebecca. Talia knew, if Joe came here, he’d be murdered and buried and even the sheriff will cover it up. Joe will have to lie in an unmarked grave!

Since it was winter and most of the people here were farmers and ranchers, they had nothing much to do in winter and so they celebrated winter together.

There were a lot of recreation available outdoors and even Talia who felt comfortable indoors wanted to have a look at the local activities.

There was a skijoring competition and wearing layers of clothes, both Rebecca and Talia went to watch the competition.

"Go Warren! Go!" Rebecca was shouting and Talia watched Warren on skiis, maneuvering on the snow doing little tricks as he was pulled by a horse.

Talia couldn’t believe that Warren was Rebecca’s type. Apparently, he was Rebecca’s "first".

Joe is the entirely opposite spectrum of man. Warren is a wild, macho man while Joe is an urban, metro-sexual man.

Eh, whatever!

That made Talia wonder what kind of man Fred is. He used to be the athletic, cool guy in school. He aced in sports, jumped in front of danger and was very... Cool!

And then she remembered the day she met him again in the Gentleman Club. He looked...suave, classy and elegant gentleman! And... Hot as hell!

But then she remembered all the acts he did when he stayed with her. Pushing her on the couch, on the bed.... doing... stuff!

Ah! Shameful!

Talia converted her face as she felt her entire body burning.

He is no gentleman. He’s just a perverted lecher!

As she was in her own world, she had a creepy feeling that someone was watching her and somehow she felt her scalp go numb. She looked around, but she couldn’t find anything weird.

Also, Mr. Ed and others are here and there is no way someone could hurt her here. Also the sheriff of this town and also other officers too have offered to assist in her protection as Mr. Ed mentioned.

There is no need to fear!

Talia composed herself and looking at the joyful Rebecca, an idea popped in her head. She recorded a video in her phone with Warren doing stunts and Rebecca’s loud cheering. She then uploaded the video to Joe with the title ’Great Day out!’.

A series of messages flooded her phone and Talia switched off her phone to let Joe suffer more. The reception here isn’t that great anyways. She can always blame that in the future.

He hehe! Talia smiled evily. Stew in your jealousy dude! You deserve it!

That day Talia tried skijoring and ended up faceplanting on the snow. Thankfully she was not injured. And then she tried dog sledding and it was a lot more fun.

As they were returning back to their home in the late afternoon, they heard a commotion in one of the houses.

"Ah, Dakota is getting married today! I almost forgot!" Rebecca said and ran inside the house and Talia followed too.

Talia found most of the doors will be unlocked here and people would just not bother to lock the door and the crime rate was low in the town too.

The police department usually buys food for the elderly and settle domestic disputes more than actually arrest any criminals.

Talia was saddened to see the bride wearing a bathrobe doing makeup was now weeping. Apparently their church organ player has injured his hand in one of the competitions today and he won’t be able to play the organ for the wedding service.

The dozens of cousins surrounding the bride were trying to come up with a plan and tried to call for someone else, but they couldn’t find anyone.

"I’ll help.. " Talia offered and even Rebecca was a bit shocked.

For one, Talia wouldn’t offer her help to strangers and the other thing, she said she’d never step inside a church! The wedding is in the Church. So how will she...

"Your Highness! You cannot be entertaining-"

"I’m not entertaining, Lieutenant; I’m helping a bride on her wedding day."

Before Amy could finish whispering in her ears, Talia interjected her. As a Royal, she cannot be entertaining the general public. She might be breaking Royal Protocols, but Talia didn’t like seeing a bride unhappy on a wedding day.

" Don’t worry! Talia can play the piano really well! Get ready soon! We’ll get ready too!" Rebecca stopped that horde of cousins from hugging Talia.

Who knows? Her posh friend who doesn’t like other people hugging her, will change her mind!

Amy tied to speak further as they were walking home, but Mr. Ed stopped her.

Talia could hear both of them mumbling behind her discussing something and Talia didn’t care. She is the Princess and even if she breaks protocol, it won’t be for them to criticise her. Only the King, Queen Consort and the Dowager Queen has authority over her.

The Church wedding ceremony went especially well. Talia saw everyone’s eyes watery and she couldn’t help but dry a bit as the Minister pronounced the groom and the ride, man and wife.

How adorable!

Although Talia tried to sneak away and not attend the reception, the bride’s parents didn’t let her leave and so Talia attended the reception.

The reception was in a hall near the pub and there was a very easy flow of alcohol and everyone was drinking and being merry.

Talia saw the bride and the groom having their first dance and although she was happy for them, she couldn’t help that uneasy feeling in her heart.

That day of her wedding came to her mind. It was unfortunate. Very unfortunate!

Talia saw Rebecca sitting with her mother and was in a bad mood too. She probably remembered her wedding with Joe!

Talia asked if they could leave and Rebecca’s mom said it would be rude to leave before the cake cutting ceremony.

Talia excused herself that she’s going to the restroom and waked out of the hall. She wrapped the bolero puffer jacket she was wearing tightly around her. Even with the thick tights and boots she was wearing, she still felt cold.

She looked up and in the bright lights outside, the falling snow looked like glittering fairy dust. She remembered watching the snow fall with Fred back in the days.

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