Monday, May 18, 2009

The Rescuers

No, not those cute little mice from Disney, although The Rescuers is one of my favorite “kid” movies. I have a thing for a hero who steps up and makes something a little easier for the heroine, especially when he’d rather do anything but that. Or maybe I should say a hero who tries to make something easier, because more often than not, it backfires.

It took me several books—some still under the bed collecting dust—to realize that I have a penchant for the kind of men who go beyond what’s expected. I’ve never figured out why. Maybe it’s the shining-knight-on-a-white-horse image or maybe I’ve secretly just wanted to be rescued—from the dishes, a bad day, a rain puddle (Sir Walter Raleigh to the rescue!), or myself.

In The Rodeo Rider, the hero offers to help the heroine overcome her fear of horses. She isn’t all crazy about the idea, but that doesn't sway him. He's going to help! His first attempt (of course!) backfires, frightening the heroine, who secretly longs to ride. But a good hero never gives up. He simply finds a better way to do it, sometimes by taking the heroine by surprise.

A hero who goes out of his way to do a good turn for the heroine always gets a little piece of my heart, especially if he had no intentions of helping, but did it anyway. It portrays a chivalry that we assume has been lost, although I believe it’s still there and always will be. At least in my heroes. :)

(By the way, Sir Walter never did spread his cloak on the puddle for the Queen. It’s pure fiction.)

Roxann Delaney
The Rodeo Rider - August 2009
Bachelor Cowboy - January 2010
www.RoxannDelaney.com

3 comments:

Marin Thomas said...

Hi Roxann

I, too, love a hero who'll sacrafice and go out of his way to help the heroine. If the heroine doesn't want to be rescued, these guys often step back and let the heroine do what she needs to do BUT they make sure the playing field is even and no one tries to take advantage of her. Sometimes these sneaking heroes even let the heroine "think" she's doing just fine on her own when in fact they're helping her out in ways the heroine never learns about :-)

Marin
www.marinthomas.com

Pamela Stone said...

I think most women have a secret fantasy about being rescued, even if in the fantasy, we think we should be able to rescue ourselves. There is something very sexy about a knight on a white horse.

Anonymous said...

Ah, a hero to walk beside you , stand behind you when you stand for yourself, or to stand in front to protect you.
I'd like to have one of those.

MarcieR