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THE REAL ADVENTURES OF BENTON QUEST

Synopsis:  Oh, come on, with a tag line and title like that, you can't
guess?


"Proposal"
by Eric R. Umali


        Benton Quest got up and out of bed rather slowly.  Still mostly
asleep, he headed into the bathroom and turned on the shower.  As steam
began to fill the air, he reached down to the side of the sink for his
razor.  He found only cold porcelain.

        Blinking his eyes, he looked down, and sure enough, there was no
razor in sight.  He looked back up into the mirror.  The sight of the
rust-red beard and mustache gave him a start.  Even after nearly a month
of having the thing, he was still getting used to it.  But, Rachel said
she liked it, so it stayed.

        Rachel...

        Benton's thoughts wandered to the woman he'd be meeting in a few
hours, Rachel Wildey.  They'd been seeing each other very seriously for
quite a while, and he was on his way to her family's ranch  to meet her
father, Doug.  Benton also had his own plans.

Sitting on the hotel's nightstand was a small velvet-covered box.  He
had made this extra layover in New York expressly for the purpose of
getting the box and its contents.  Inside, under the gold "Tiffany &
Co." lettering sat an eight-carat brilliant cut diamond, in a simple,
elegant gold setting.  Even closed, the tiny box screamed "engagement
ring."  He just hoped he could manage to get the words out before he
lost his nerve.

Benton still couldn't believe it.  He had been more than content to live
the life of the reclusive scientist, devoting his life to the betterment
of mankind.  He was familiar with love as a theory, but had little
empirical data to work with and almost no practical knowledge on the
subject.  But then came Rachel.  Years his junior, her attention
bewildered him.  He knew enough not to consider himself what Cosmo would
call a "catch," so he could hardly write it off to a youthful
infatuation.

But Rachel, bless her, was persistent.  And beautiful.  And brilliant in
so many ways.

After letting his mind wander to a few more... familiar thoughts of
Rachel, he opened his eyes only to find he couldn't see.  Cursing
himself for having let the water run so long, he stepped inside the
shower.

**********

        Four days later, Benton and Rachel were sharing an evening ride
out on the western edge of the Wildey Ranch.  The sun was setting,
turning the sky into a blaze of reds and oranges and yellows.  The
horizon looked like it was on fire.

        Shifting uncomfortably on his horse, Benton turned to Rachel.
He stared, taking in every detail with a scientist's eye.  The way her
hair shone in the setting light, how her eyes sparkled.

        "Rachel, dear?"

        "Oh, Benton, isn't it lovely?"

        "Oh, yes.  Rachel, there's something-- "

        "Before you say anything, there's something very important I
have to say."

        "But Rachel..."

        "Benton, I love you.  More than I thought I could love anyone."

        "I love you, too, Rachel, and that's why-- "

        "Benton, will you marry me?"

        Benton blinked.  He swallowed.  He breathed and opened his
mouth, but no sound escaped.

        "Benton, darling?  Is there something wrong?  Don't you want to
get married?"

        The only thing he could manage in response was to fumble around
in his vest.  Rachel looked on, confused, until finally he produced the
little velvet box.  Rachel's eyes widened as he handed it to her.

        "Oh, Benton... you were going to..." she said, then opened it.
She gasped.  Carefully removing the ring, she held it up to the setting
sun.  They both sat there, marveling at how it sparkled.  Rachel placed
the ring on her right ring finger, then leapt from her saddle.

        She hit Benton full force, and they both fell to the ground,
rolling in the dust.  Rachel ended up atop him, grinning like a fool.

        "I take it this means 'yes'?" Benton said.  Rachel's answer was
to kiss him liked he'd never been kissed before. He could swear he felt
it in his toes and the ends of his hairs.

        When they arrived at the main house two hours later, Doug Wildey
looked them both up and down.  They were covered in dust and dirt, their
clothes were disheveled, and they were both grinning like fools.

        "Go get washed up for supper," he said, turning away.

        "Daddy?" Rachel said, walking up to her father.

        He looked at her sternly.  "You're having the wedding _here_,
you understand?"

        Rachel wrapped her arms around him as he shook Benton's hand.
Benton almost winced, but didn't, and Doug smiled.  *Yeah, he'll be all
right, that one.  They both will.*


THE END.