1. Impressive Things
Belle and her father had been on the road for days traveling from the outskirts of their city to a quite village. In the city, Belle had everything she could have asked for. Of course, they were not so well off but her father worked steadily as a welder and there was always business to be found for a crafty man like himself.
She had books, fine dresses, educated friends, and the eye of every young sailor boy she passed on the boardwalk (her favorite place to get lost in a story).
But when her father informed her they would be off to the mountains of a far away village her small fanciful world came to an end. Instantly, she pictured the brash and vulgar folk of the country. She wanted no part in it.
Yet, her father was set on selling their home, her clothes, all their finery for a boat trip and carriage ride to some provincial town.
And there she was; among the trees and rolling hills searching for a quiet place to read. After following a path through the wood and hiking at least a mile from the town, she found a clearing and a large tree to lean against.
It was located on a hill that looked over the foliage and presented a pretty impressive view of the town.
She sighed looking out to her new home. The wind blew her hair back and she took a deep breath of the country air. Maybe it wouldn't be so horrible. She had read a few books that were set against the backdrop of the cliffs and mountains of some rural lands. Those characters didn't seem so miserable. They did often mention something about the wilderness having the ability to clear their minds.
She sat down beside the tree and opened her book. It was a story about a dashing vagabond and a strong willed young woman. Belle yearned for the love like the ones in the stories she read. From time to time, Belle would notice a respectable man glancing her way. Yet nothing seemed to come from these casual flirtations. Nothing more than a polite conversation…
This town was so much different. Already she had noticed how the people didn't smile as she walked by. How they gossiped as soon as she were out of earshot. And, strangely enough, she seemed to be the only one to ever enter the bookshop.
With her mind wandering, she thumbed the pages of her book looking for the stop she had left on. Just then, a sound like thunder jolted her to her feet.
BOOM. The thick oak tree practically shook at the powerful noise.
As she had jumped to her feet, she dropped her book and the aged binding of the pages gave way. The papers scattered onto the grass in a heap. She practically cursed under her breath in frustration.
"Blast your timing, Lefou! I had that buck in range!" She heard a deep voice call out followed by a meeker one.
"I didn't scare off that buck, whoever's further down the road did."
Hearing them approach she began to grab for her pages. Unfortunately, when she went to pick up the book, the remainder of the pages fell to dirt.
She groaned and began to gather them up as two figures suddenly merged from the woods.
"There she is!" cried the higher pitched voice before pausing for a long moment. "Wait, she?!"
"She!" replied the lower voice in shock.
Belle could sense them storming over to where she knelt in the grass. She focused on grabbing the loose pages until one of the men was standing a foot away from her. She could tell he was in a testy mood and pictured him staring down to her with his arms crossed.
'Some poor provincial hunter', she concluded. 'Probably missing half his teeth and wearing some burlap rags.'
She glanced up just enough to catch the sight of tall leather boots and tight grey trousers… and some impressive calve muscles.
Belle didn't want to look up any further. The man seemed uncommonly large and non-too pleased of her intrusion.
"Woman!" He called in a voice that bellowed like the roar of thunder, "Do you realize that you just cost me a pair of antlers for my tavern wall?"
"I'm sorry, sir," she said picking up the remainder of the pages and sounding less than apologetic. "I didn't mean to it's just- I was only reading!"
She got to her feet and the strangers met each other's challenging gaze.
He looked down to her, his hard features softening at the sight of her fair face.
"And who may you be?"
She cleared her throat looking down to the book in her arms.
"Belle Babineaux," she answered after a beat, "my father and I are new to this village. We have only just arrived the other day."
The black-haired man cast a look to his smaller friend before effortlessly tossing him a large sack filled with the smaller game of the day. Lefou practically fell over at the weight of the bag.
"Well then aren't you in luck, mademoiselle! You happen to be meeting the only man in this town who matters."
He learned closer to her presenting a smarmy grin. She forced her own small smile before glancing down to the large rifle he held around his belt. Had he truly no idea how uncomfortable he was making her?
After all, he was the largest man she had ever seen. His arms alone were the width of her head. He was devilishly handsome as well. The sort of handsome that almost hurt to look at. With his sharp cheekbones, his regal long nose, his strong jaw, and beautiful blue eyes, he was a sight. Sure, he was the type most women would swoon over. But Belle was put off by the way he leered down to her, eyeing her form as if she had her back turned. She wasn't all that impressed to say the least.
"I'm sorry, my dear. What did you say your name was, again?" He asked placing his arm on the tree behind her, his face invading her personal space.
She narrowed her brow. 'Was he serious? How dare he come onto her so strongly alone in the woods!'
"Belle," she said curtly as he took her hand, rather gently to her surprise.
"Ahh, Belle. Beauty. Well the name certainly has merit."
"Why thank you, monsieur-"
"Gaston LeGume," he said placing a kiss on her hand, "and the pleasure is all yours."
She grimaced getting the feeling he truly did believe himself to be the only man in town who mattered.
Again, her eyes darted down to the gun that was practically poking her. He made a showy laugh before clutching it with his massive gloved hand.
"I hunt here in town. One of my many many talents."
"That's lovely, monsieur," she said weaving past his large body, "but, really, I came out here to be alone. To enjoy my book."
She said before reaching down to pick up a few more stray pages.
He narrowed his brow and frowned in disgust. "What do you say that is?"
She sighed. "A book. Well it was a book. I was reading it until you frightened the day lights out of me."
He eyed her suspiciously walking back in front of her.
"Reading? That's an odd hobby. Especially for a woman to have."
"And what do you suggest I keep myself occupied by?" she laughed dryly getting up and meeting his eye again.
"Well…" he began with a smirk raising his arm and casually flexing his bicep, "you could start with me."
"You must be joking me!" she laughed sarcastically walking past him. He was quick to jump in front of her.
"Come now, mademoiselle! We hardly know each other. We should go for a walk through the forest," he said placing his hand on her back and leading her toward the path. She was suddenly reminded of a little girl and a hungry wolf. "And then, if it please me, we can go back to my tavern and admire my trophies."
She tried to pull away from him, "I don't think so. I must get back to my father. He will be worried if I'm out past dusk."
Gaston ignored her protest, "I'm sure they will be a few drunkards to regale you with a tail or two of one of my many adventures."
"Adventures?" She questioned suddenly interested, if only for a moment. "What adventures?"
He smiled pleased, "Oh, I've done many impressive things! What do you say?"
She glanced down to the book in her hands.
He frowned again. How could a bunch of crumpled pages be more interesting than him?
Suddenly a new tactic struck him. He looked to her with another exaggerated grin as his arm slyly snaked around her shoulder.
"I'll have you know that there isn't a girl in town who doesn't wish to capture my attention. And I must say, none have done so as you have today, Belle."
'Oh… how did I get so lucky?' She wondered inwardly.
"Perhaps, it would be kind of you to walk me home, monsieur."
"Wonderful!"
'Plenty of time to persuade the woman,' he thought to himself. 'Who could say no to Gaston, after all?'
"Oh!" she gasped suddenly ducking away from his hold, "but please before we head off, introduce me to your friend over there." She said pointing to Lefou who was hidden under the sack of animal carcasses.
Gaston scratched his chin looking over to his companion. He had completely forgotten the small man was still there.
"Well that's Lefou… he doesn't matter, really. Actually, I wouldn't even call us friends." He started to laugh to himself, "It's a funny story though… Belle…" Gaston glanced over his shoulder only to be met with the sight of an empty field.
"Belle?" He looked in every direction until he glanced down to the ground. His eye followed a line of papers back to the trail into the woods.
Belle had been practically halfway home.
