A damsel in distress yells from the barrel of a galleon. How does the hero respond? He swings into action without a plan, muscles his way aboard, and fights his way to her. He grabs her in his arms and jumps overboard with hopes of making it to safety.
Sounds romantic doesn’t it? Historical romance saving the woman in distress is a fairy tale. When it comes to reality, we wonder about the condition of the relationship that got the damsel aboard. What was the situation that got her upset enough to scream bloody murder? Was it disappointment because the Buccaneer of her interest fails to meet her expectation? Or was it simply a lack of focus on her entertainment? Who knows why, but we understand something changes the spirit of a woman who expects to live a fantasy. The damsel is now in a sad state of mind and instead of simply leaving, she yells for attention. She would say, “The bad boy was an illusion to fun and romance.”
Some women find themselves with the “bad boy” only to discover a repeat of pain and agony. What they thought was the excitement and thrill of living is a now their reality in a cyclic effort to change him. The fight to make him into someone they really want endures until fatigue sets and forgiveness is numb. The “bad boy” adventure is just that, an adventure. And when she finally figures it out, “help” becomes their blaring scream for freedom.
Lonz Cook 