Eden is Burning
a.n. This has been sitting in my "fic folder" since November. I was torn between working on it and "Safe Haven." I've obviously decided to play with fire and work on both at the same time. We'll see how it goes. Please be aware that while this chapter is incredibly generic this is destined to become a CM2/Marlie fic.
There wasn't even a chance to say to say goodbye before Blanchard, in his infinite wisdom, decided to ship Miles and Monroe out to take back over Monroe's former territory.
They were to recruit all the former militia they could find and start getting the Republic back on its feet. This time, however, Blanchard and Monroe would walk hand in hand.
A single letter, delivered right to their porch steps by a harried Texas Ranger, right before they crossed over the Mississippi was the first time anyone in Willoughby knew anything about it.
The same letter that arrived along with a summons for one Rachel Matheson to present herself to President Blanchard in Austin where he was busy locating and bringing in people like herself to find a way to stop the Nano and restore the power.
Her father, Dr. Porter, had been invited along to help with the setup of a new hospital in the capitol. No expense would be spared on the government's behalf in making it the best hospital in the state. The two left with assurances from Charlie that she would be fine until they decided to return home. Just another day in the life of former freedom fighters, right?
So that's how, when a Texas Ranger appeared on her doorstep four months later, Charlie found herself standing on the wide front porch of her Grandpa's house, a new homeowner, and for all intents and purposes alone in the world.
Gene had passed away a week earlier of a heart attack and Rachel, grief stricken from the loss of her father and the breakup with Miles in such a short period of time, had accepted Blanchard's offer to travel to California to work with the scientists under President Affleck.
Walking into the house Charlie locked herself in and began to plan.
She spent the winter hunting, bartering the meat and skin for supplies and free labor come the spring.
She packed up her Grandpas medical paraphernalia and had it shipped to Blanchard himself, who in return, sent her diamonds and his condolences.
When she wasn't hunting and trapping she was cleaning. Everything. Every cabinet, closet, floor board and rug was swept, mopped, laundered and scrubbed.
Anything that she couldn't possibly need was traded off for things that she did.
Furniture was brought down out of the attic and cleaned. Her Grandmas old clothes were traded to one of the ladies in town in exchange for sewing new curtains and making extra quilts out of the fabric she had found in the attic. She visited several of the widows in town that had mouths to feed with a business proposition and all parties walked away satisfied.
Every month, give or take, a package would arrive from a Ranger passing on his way through to Austin addressed to Charlie or Charlotte (depending on whose handwriting was scrawled on the front) Matheson of Willoughby, Texas.
There was always be a faded postcard from a different place with a short note from Miles about how much he missed her, how he couldn't wait to see her again and that yes, he was keeping Bass in line and the stupid to a minimum.
Bass never failed to include a fairly lengthy letter detailing their latest progress and the hope that either they would soon be able to return to Texas or that they would eventually be settled enough to send for her. He always included a trinket or jewelry of some sort.
She never wrote back.
When the last freeze was over, Charlie starting calling in favors.
It was time to put all her planning and hard work into action. Every day you could hear men yelling over the sound of sawing and hammering, women and children chattering as flowerbeds were cleaned and re-fashioned, folks sharing their seeds and bulbs with her. A kitchen garden was plowed and fenced and the large iron stove in the house moved into the new combination cook and bath house just outside the back door, connected by a gravel path and newly built overhang attaching the two buildings.
Six months to the day that everyone had left her once again, Charlie hung up the sign to Willoughby's newest business, "Doc Porter's Boarding House and Gentlemen's Establishment."
Gene's office and treatment area had been converted into a poker room, complete with two poker tables courtesy of Marion's basement. The living room boasted floor to ceiling red velvet curtains and wing backed chairs, along with the best home brew and home rolled cigars the town had to offer.
The upstairs rooms, that she would rent out, along with the kitchen, dining room and newly enclosed sun porch, still had a homey, country feel to them.
A few dresses were added to her wardrobe, along with more than just two pairs of everything. She also had a special outfit that was strictly for Friday and Saturday nights when the poker room was open and she was working the tables.
They rolled into town on a Sunday, coming to a stop in front of the Rangers office, leaving the Lieutenant to make arrangements for the officers in town while the troops set up a field camp just outside the town gates.
The Ranger in charge welcomed them, logging in their arrival before offering to buy them a drink at the local bar. Miles and Bass accepted immediately.
Settling at a table near the front where they had a view of the street, they traded pleasantries before the subject of Charlie was brought up.
"Ahh, yes, Miss Matheson," the Ranger slightly blushed as he ducked his head. "She's made quite a name for herself here in town, being as young as she is and all."
"A name for herself?" Bass asked a bemused expression on his face as he and Miles exchanged looks.
"Yes Sirs. Opened up Doc' Porters Boarding house and Gentlemen's establishment, oh, going on about a year now."
Miles choked on the drink of whiskey he's just taken while Bass went pale. "She's a madam?"
"Oh, no! Nothing like that. Town certainly wouldn't like that at all. She runs a boarding house for travelers that might be passing through, it's where all the Rangers stay when they're traveling through to Austin, and on Friday and Saturday nights she opens up the poker rooms. Regular and high stakes. I've seen some pretty heated games take place there. A few of the local widows help her out with the cooking and cleaning during the week for a cut of the profits."
Bass was impressed, but worried. They had come to fetch Charlotte home with them, but it sounded like she had turned this into her home. He glanced over at Miles. This had the potential to be a disaster.
Miles was thunderstruck. Charlie, his Charlie, had up and opened a business all on her own. He already knew it was a big fuck you to him and Bass for leaving her. She had to come home with them. He refused to leave without her.
"Well, I think it's about time we made our way out there. The General hasn't seen his niece in almost two years, now." Bass said holding out his hand to the Ranger.
"Of course, Generals. Have yourself a nice visit."
They rode out to the edge of town in silence, each lost in their thoughts, before coming to a stop in front of the house. Bass whistled at the changes in the place. Tying their horses to the hitching post out past the fence, they walked up the steps to the enclosed patio. Stepping inside they knocked on the front door.
"I'll get it Rosie!" They heard her call out from the kitchen.
"Miles? Bass?" She breathed, shocked to see what was left of her family standing on her doorstep.
"Hey, Kid," Miles said soaking in the sight of her. Hair loose and flowing around her shoulders, she was barefoot in a loose fitting sundress. She had matured in the two years since he had last seen her. She looked comfortable in her own skin. Holding out his arms, Charlie immediately went to him. She was so mad at them for just leaving her here but had missed them so much. She buried her face in his neck as his hands wrapped around her holding her close. She felt his warm breath on her cheek.
"Missed you so much," he whispered, stroking her hair.
Charlie pulled away blinking back her tears as she turned to Bass.
"Welcome back, Bass." Charlie said embracing him.
"Thanks. You look absolutely gorgeous, Charlotte," He replied smiling in such a way that his dimples showed.
"Well, come on in," she said guiding them through the kitchen. "Have you ate? We're actually tenant free tonight but I'll let Rosie know we've got company. Be right back."
She disappeared through the house as Bass and Miles looked around. "Are we sure this isn't a whorehouse?" Bass asked as they ventured into the revamped living room.
Miles simply raised his eyebrows plopping down into a chair by the fireplace.
Charlie returned a few minutes later carrying a serving tray with a younger woman following carrying the same. "Come eat you two," she called back to them as she and Rosie set the table.
"You're not staying?" They heard her ask the younger woman with a frown in her voice as they slipped out onto the porch. A heated round of whispering took place before the outer door shut and Charlie reappeared shutting the front door behind her. "Looks like it's just us."