The Knight of Her Dreams (Dragons and Dreamphasers) Read Free

wouldn’t be here at this
hour in her room, let alone in her bed!  Now you can either exit by the front
door, or I can throw you out the window.  Which is it?”
    Steeling his expression, Roger strode past him
without a look to Julianna.  “Roger, wait!” she yelled after him.  Tearfully,
she tried to follow, but her father pulled her away as Roger’s departing
footsteps stomped down the stairs, followed by a door slam.  Turning to her
father, she shook her head.  “He didn’t do anything, Dad,” she said
witheringly.  “Roger would never hurt me.”
    Sighing once, her father’s temper faded.  “I’d
like to believe that, pumpkin,” he replied gently.  “And despite the fact that
I’ve worried that boy is too aggressive, I’ve never stood in the way of your
friendship before.  But Julie, he is several years older than you
are.  If your mother was still alive, I’m sure she would have explained all
this to you, so you’d understand my concern.”  She blinked once, but said
nothing.
    “Pumpkin, I love you very much.  You’re young and
naïve, and I just don’t want you getting hurt.”  Lowering her head, Julianna
blushed.  Her father was never one to mince words.  “Do you understand,
sweetheart?”  She gave a quick nod and he hugged her, patting her back.
    “Does this mean I can’t see Roger anymore?” she
asked softly.
    “No,” he sighed.  “I suppose you can see him. 
Just make sure it’s during daylight hours, and no more creeping into your
bedroom.  Otherwise I will throw him out the window next time. 
Fair enough?”  She smiled slightly with another nod.  “All right then,” he
replied, kissing her forehead.  “Now why don’t you get some sleep?  We’ll talk
more about this tomorrow.”  As he was leaving, he turned once.  “And before you
go to bed… please pick up all those feathers.”
    Julianna glanced at the mess
strewn across her bed and groaned, just before proceeding.  It was only when
she heard a low whistle that she dropped the feathers she held and raced to the
window.  Roger peered in from the ledge, glancing once around the room.
    “Your father’s gone, right?” he murmured.
    “Yes,” she whispered, “but you can’t stay here. 
When he gives a warning, he means it, and I don’t want to be responsible for
your being tossed from a second story window.”
    “I’ll go, but only so I don’t get you in trouble,
Julie.  And to be on the safe side, I’ll keep away for a few weeks to avoid
your father’s wrath.  That should settle things down somewhat.”
    “Well, if you feel it’s best.”
    “I do.”  He gave her a knowing smile.  “Trust
me?”
    “Always,” she said solemnly.
    He leaned forward to give her a quick kiss.  “See
you in a few weeks,” he replied, grinning before heading back to the ground.
    As he waved and ran off towards his house,
Julianna waved after him with starry eyes.  He loves me! her young mind
echoed happily.  And I’ll love him forever , she vowed, slowly shutting
her window with a blissful smile.
    *****
    Julianna smiled at the memory.
    That was many years ago.
    After that evening, Roger didn’t cross the line
of friendship again, as if it had never happened.  While this saddened her at
first, their bond of friendship still seemed strong, so she assumed time would
restore the rest eventually.  She even shrugged off the occasional jibes from
her friends regarding her ‘older boyfriend.’
    But as often happens with childhood friendships,
time steered them down different paths, leaving her feeling lost when he went
off to college.  They corresponded for a while, but as their lives grew busier,
the letters grew fewer.  And when Roger’s family moved to a different
neighborhood, ultimately they lost touch with each other completely.
    Which was why Julianna was so surprised at what
happened four months ago.
    *****
    Why do I let her drag me to these things?
    True, her close friend Marybeth