Title: Night Rider

Pen name: jotack

Characters: Sookie, Eric, Bill

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Charlaine Harris

Standing under the sagging cover of her front porch, Sookie gazed intently toward the faint glow where the sun had just set. The dark speck she watched grew until it became a silhouette. Gaunt and mysterious it was more like the drawings she'd seen on the dime novels displayed at the Mercantile in town than anything she had seen in real life. As the figure drew ever nearer it became clearer that it was indeed a rider. When the mysterious apparition came into the lamplight of the porch she beheld a magnificent stallion, pale as the sunlight through morning mist. And then there was the horse he rode…as dark as he was light, shining even in the scant illumination available from the house.

"Ma'am, I heard in town that you might be needing a hand," he drawled as he doffed his hat. Man and horse were both specimens of great size and beauty. The speaker's hair was the exact hue the wheat in the far east field achieved just before harvest.

"You heard correctly, sir, but I'm surprised to see a rider at this time of the evening." And I'm surprised to see one such as you, she thought to herself. "What experience do you have?"

"Well, ma'am, I haven't been doing this kind of work lately, but I did work for a while as a drover on the trails. I've also worked as a hand on the King Ranch in Texas, a pretty large spread."

"You look young to have that much experience, but I'll have to trust you for now. I need someone to start right away. There is much to be done. Are you willing to get right to work?" She gave him a stern look, which was hard to do when gazing upon such a pleasant visage, but necessary to her way of thinking. She'd never shouldered this kind of responsibility, but since her husband Sam had been kicked in the head while breaking a horse last month, she had no choice. "You can stay in the bunkhouse tonight, and I'll give you a list of chores in the morning."

"If it's all the same to you, ma'am, you can give me that list right now. I like to get started early."

Sookie regarded him again with curiosity, but responded, "an admirable trait, Mr. …I didn't catch you name."

"Northman, ma'am, Eric Northman."

"Very well, Mr. Northman, I'll need you to milk the cow in the barn, gather any eggs from the henhouse, and then ride the north pasture to check the fence. I noticed a few weak spots when I rode there last week. We will be turning the cattle in there next week. You'll find supplies in the tack shed. Is there anything else you require tonight –a meal perhaps?"

"No, ma'am, thank you, but I'm fine. I'll check in with you tomorrow evening, " he said placing his hat over his flaxen hair and clucking to his horse as he turned and headed toward the outbuildings.

Sookie pulled her shawl tighter against the chill of the night air and watched for a few minutes before stepping backward into the house and locking the door. This man was a complete stranger, so different from the other men who had worked for Sam and her throughout the few years they had ranched this land. But somehow she couldn't bring herself to be frightened or even suspicious of him. Something in him was so gentle, so serious, that she felt completely at ease with her decision to give him a chance. Would he be the answer to her needs? Surely he would lessen the burden of work around the place, but could he, would he offer her the companionship she so missed? For the first time since Sam's death, she slept soundly.

As she rose with the sun the next morning she dressed quickly, and, after starting the coffee and biscuits, stepped out the back door to ask Eric if he wanted either before getting to work. To her surprise the top step boasted a pail of fresh milk and a basket of eggs. The large dark horse and the large pale man did not appear to be around. She supposed he was really an early bird who wanted to get started. After having her own breakfast, she carried some biscuits, a few slices of salted pork, and a pitcher of spring

water to the bunkhouse. Other than his bedroll tossed on a bunk, there was no indication that her new employee had spent the night there.

As she worked around the house and yard all day, Sookie watched for her hired hand to come riding in, but it was again, as the evening before, after the last vestiges of daylight had left the sky before he rode in, reporting that the fence in the north field was repaired, as well as another breech he had found on the east side. Thanking her for the food and drink left in the bunkhouse, he declined anything further and asked for the instructions for the next day.

This routine continued exactly for the next five days. Finally on Monday evening Sookie invited Eric into the house, "Eric, would you come in and have supper with me? I need to talk to you about tomorrow's work."

Hat in hand, he stepped slowly through the sitting room and to the small table set for two. Sookie dished beans onto the plates and placed a pan of hot cornbread in the center of the small wooden table. Sookie was accustomed to Sam and the other hands digging right in to the evening meal. Men were hungry after a hard day's work, but Eric just appeared to push the food around on his plate. She didn't actually see him take a bite. Deciding that he was just so shy he didn't indulge as he might wish, she went on with what she wanted to say. "Tomorrow I'll ride out with you to push the cattle into that north field. The whole herd can be a handful for just one rider. I helped my husband many times. I'm not too bad at it," she smiled.

His face showed no emotion as he looked intently at his plate. She, however, was struck by several things she saw (or rather didn't see) in his face. For one thing after working all day, he didn't look dirty or sweaty. Neither did he sport the whiskers she would have expected. And after five days of working in the sun, his face and hands were still as pale as they had been the night she'd first seen him. One with such fair hair would surely have tanned or burned by now. She shook herself mentally, thinking she shouldn't question a good thing—and his work had been a good thing for her. "I'll meet you in the morning then."

"Ma'am, I may ride on out ahead if you don't mind, and I'll meet you near the north pasture," he intoned quietly.

She was perplexed at this. Did he not relish her company? "If you prefer that," she replied, "I'll see you there."

Her sleep that night was troubled, full of questions and thoughts of her hired man. After nearly a week, she knew no more about him than what she'd learned that first night. They hadn't spent the equivalent on an hour together in all this time. Who was this Eric Northman?

She awoke early and hurriedly dressed, grabbed some leftovers and a tin of coffee, and sped out to the barn. She had hoped to catch him before he left, but he was already gone. Disappointed she sat down and drank her coffee as she waited for the sun to rise. As soon as it was high enough to provide good light she saddled her mare and headed north. Almost an hour later she crossed into the pasture where the cattle had been grazing for the last three months. She saw none, but dust still hung in the air on the horizon toward the north pasture. Eric must be driving them alone. She kicked her horse and hurried to help. When she reached the north pasture she saw her cattle grazing happily on the tall grass. She did not see Eric. That tall cowboy on that big horse was not easy to miss. Maybe he had doubled back to round up some strays. After a quick ride around the near side of the herd, she went back through the gate and along the perimeter to try to find some sign of Eric, wandering cattle, something. Finding no sign of human or animal, she finally started for home. Maybe he was already there.

Back at the house there was still no evidence that he had returned. She cleaned up, ate her leftovers and did something she rarely did. She sat down to rest. When she awoke it was dusk, and Eric stood before her.

She was out of her chair like a shot, "Where were you? I rode around trying to find you!"

"Sorry, ma'am, I got them all in pretty easy. I think they wanted that fresh grass. Then I rode the fences to make sure they were all strong." His eyes were on his hands as he turned his hat round and round as he spoke.

"You can call me Sookie, Eric," she spoke, trying to keep her voice level. "I am not questioning your work—everything is done well, and quickly—but, I don't know, you are different somehow from other hands I've seen."

"Yes, ma'am, er, Sookie, I reckon I am different." He slowly raised his face and looked her in the eye. Was it the first time? She thought so.

"Tomorrow we'll go into town and get supplies. I'll need your help for some of the heavy stuff," she said as she turned away to avoid those blue eyes boring into her very soul.

"No, ma'am, I mean, Sookie, I can't go into town with you tomorrow," he stated evenly.

Sookie wheeled around to face him now. "I should have known," she spoke in staccato fashion, "you are some sort of outlaw or something. Is there a poster of you hanging up somewhere in town?"

He laughed. That was certainly a first! "No posters, no. I think you'd better sit down. I had hoped I wouldn't have to do this so soon, but I think it's high time for me to explain myself."

Hours later Sookie sat dazed as Eric held her small workworn hands in his huge smooth ones. Never would she have dreamed that there were such creatures as he described to her, let alone that she would have one working here at her own ranch. Vampire! Dead, but not! What should her next move be? She just couldn't think.

"I can just leave now, if that's what you want, Sookie. You got the right to throw me off your land. You probably fear me," Eric said in a low, even tone.

"No!" she stood and almost shouted, "I mean…let me think…I've never felt scared of you, and I still don't. I don't think you'd hurt me, you're so, seem so gentle, and shy, I have too many questions to let you leave right now, Eric."

"It'll be dawn in a couple of hours. I'll milk the cow, gather the eggs, and go to ground before the day. If you still trust me to be here, leave a lamp lit on the porch and I'll return with the dark," he said as he rose and grabbed his hat.

Sookie stared at the door he had shut behind him. She knew there were too many emotions churning in her to sort out just now. She'd lie down for awhile, then try to get some perspective on this unusual situation, if that were possible.

After a couple of hours of fitful sleep she awoke, not with a start as she might have thought, but with a clear resolve to gain information and attempt to understand and accept this man, creature, whatever, who had been so honest with her. She dressed grabbed the milk and eggs from the porch and took care of the few chores she had. As dusk approached she set a lamp on the porch rail and lit it. Then she sat down and waited, making a mental list of questions.

When the last rays of light left the sky, she heard his footfall on the steps. With her heart pounding, she went to the door and opened it before he could knock.

"You sure?" Eric asked, hat in hand.

Sookie nodded, "Come in, please." She led him to the chairs where they'd sat last night. "May I ask you some questions?"

A slow smile spread across his face, "Curiosity wasn't exactly what I expected, but I'll take it."

Throughout the night she asked him things she wanted to know and received direct and seemingly honest answers. She learned that he had used a cave system on the edge of property as his daytime refuge, that he fed on victims that he felt would not be missed: rustlers, outlaws, renegades, and the like. She had learned last night that he'd been turned during a cattle drive ten years ago. As he rode outside the herd one night looking for stragglers, he was attacked by a dark figure who'd become his maker. With her burning curiosity sated, she said good night and retired for a few hours' sleep.

When she awoke the sun was already high in the clear blue sky. She quickly dressed and hitched the horses to the wagon. Her plan was to get to town and back by dusk. She'd have to hurry to do so.

"Ms. Sookie, haven't seen you in quite a spell," said Bill, the shopkeep, excitedly. "Did that tall young fella find his way out to your place? He was lookin' for a job, and I reckoned you might need some help."

"Yes, Bill, thank you, Mr. Northman has been most helpful. Regrettably, he couldn't come with me today, though, so I'll require your help to load my supplies."

"Anytime, Ms. Sookie, anytime. What can I get for you today?"

Her list was long, but Bill got everything loaded up with a couple of hours of daylight left. After a quick supper at the café in town, Sookie headed back home. She wasn't well known in town, having never actually lived here. In the three years she and Sam had been married, they had spent only one or two days a month in town for supplies. Money had always been tight, so there weren't many extravagances. The work load was such that they'd been unable to make the trip just for social occasions. It may have been a lonely existence in that respect, but she cherished the memory of it and longed for the companionship she had shared with Sam.

On the ride home she thought about the handsome ranch hand waiting there to help unload the wagon. He was certainly not Sam, not even human any longer. Was there any chance of his offering her the friendship, the intimacy she suddenly, urgently missed?

Dark had fallen as the team pulled the wagon through the gate. Eric stood as soon as he saw the wagon approach. He stepped into the yard and met her there. He lifted his hand to help her down. "A successful trip, I presume," he raised an eyebrow in inquiry.

Sookie took his hand lightly and stepped down from the seat, "I shouldn't need to return to town for at least a month for supplies. Let's get these things unloaded so you can feed the horses."

Between the two of them, they got the food stuffs into the pantry behind the kitchen, then Eric took the wagon to the barn to unload the other supplies, unhitch, and feed the team.

Sookie cleaned up and sat down in her chair. She left the lamp burning and looked out the window toward the outbuildings. She could scarcely see the large, shadowy figure as he moved from the wagon to the barn or tack room. She felt herself longing to learn more about the man he had been before. She hoped he would come back to the house when the chore was complete.

Soon Eric stowed the last of the supplies and turned to look toward the house. Sookie could swear she caught the glint of moonlight off his blue eyes. She felt a blush rise to her cheeks. He was slowly making his way to the back door.

Before he could turn the knob she stood and deliberately stepped to the door opening it wide for him to enter. Neither spoke, but their eyes locked in a gaze that held both curiosity and promise.

They sat opposite each other at the table and Eric extended his large hand to lightly hold hers. His thumb stroked the back of her fingers gently, "Sookie?" It was little more than whisper.

She swallowed audibly, "Yes." They stood in unison and he led her to the bedroom at the back of the house. Stepping just inside the door, Eric placed his hand on Sookie's cheek and raised her face with his thumb. A shiver shook her body all the way to her shoes.

"Oh, Sookie, I want so to be your lover. I want to be gentle and…and human. But I'm so afraid I can't…be that way anymore." His eyes searched hers as he spoke, sounding so human, almost on the verge of tears.

Her mouth opened, but no words came. He bent and kissed her tenderly at first, then with an urgency that both frightened and thrilled her.

She pulled away slowly and climbed into the bed, pulling him in after her. His mouth sought hers even as his hands sought her body. She helped him to unbutton the bodice of her dress and slip it from her shoulders. His hands cupped her breasts through her chemise, and she squirmed and moaned with the fiery throbbing that took over her pelvic region.

"Ummm, Eric," she groaned as his mouth clamped on her rigid nipple, "please, Eric."

He pushed her clothes down and pulled them away from her body, leaving it fully exposed to his inquisitive eyes and hands. As his fingers moved tantalizingly down her stomach, past her navel, and to the top of the blond curls which concealed her center of longing, she lifted herself to accept them. He obliged, invoking even more moans that wracked her body with increasing pleasure. Each slow, deep thrust brought her closer to ecstasy. As he continued, he moved closer to her, revealing his own desire against her thigh. Her breath caught as she reached down to confirm an erection much larger than she would have dreamed possible.

Now his breath caught, "Do you think, Sookie, would you be okay, if I tried?"

There was no way she could speak, but she nodded frantically. She wanted him, all of him. He disengaged from her reluctantly to rise and remove his clothing. A gasp escaped her lips as she saw the object of her desire in all its glory. She raised an arm to beckon him back to her. He gently climbed on top of her, kissing her mouth, her cheek, her neck as he began his entry. Slowly, carefully, he moved into her welcoming wetness until finally his considerable length was completely enveloped by her. His movement became more frenzied, more urgent, as did hers. Soon their bodies reached such a fevered pitch that each was lost in a world of phantasmagoric pleasure. Sookie's knees grew weak, her breath was ragged and a single tear escaped her eye. Eric growled and made one last mighty thrust. At the same moment his fangs

penetrated her neck and he drank deep and long. With that, both achieved completion, and collapsed, sinking into the soft feather bed still in each other's arms.

Minutes passed before their eyes opened and they regarded each other. Sookie lifted her hand to his face, fingering his jawline, his forehead, his lips. He opened his mouth to reveal his still extended fangs. She lightly touched them too.

"You okay?" he asked huskily.

"Mmmm," she nodded and snuggled into his neck. She knew he would have to leave soon, but for now she felt warm and safe and more satisfied than she had ever been. She had loved Sam, and thoroughly enjoyed their physical relationship, but never had she felt like this.

Eric lazily ran his fingers up and down her back as he placed soft kisses on her head.

Soon Sookie snored softly as Eric rose and headed for the cave where he would again wait for darkness.

.

When she awoke still feeling sated and warm, the sun was well overhead. Before rising she lightly touched the place he had so expertly touched the night before. She flushed at the thought of that touch and thrilled in anticipation of a repeat performance. She also felt the tiny twin wounds on her neck. To her surprise that also brought a tingle instead of terror.

She passed the day working around the house and in the garden before storm clouds gathered and drove her inside. Dark would come early she reasoned, and smiled at the thought.

Even before she'd risen from her evening meal, Eric pushed the door open and entered without a knock or a word. He came straight to her, turned her chair to face him and knelt before it. He pushed her house dress above her knees and spread them with his hands. Sookie was breathless already as his hands

made their agonizingly slow way up her thighs. "Hello, Lover," he whispered, "have you missed me?" His eyes never left hers, and his crooked grin contained a hint of evil intent.

"I did," she managed to choke out. "Eric, sit down, you're dripping wet." She fetched a towel and lovingly dried his hair as he sat humbly on the floor before her.

"Any chores you need done tonight, ma'am?" There was that grin again.

"As a matter of fact there are three," she answered with mock seriousness. "First we're going to make a place for you to stay in the root cellar next to the back porch. After that we're going to have a long chat—get to know each other. Then you'll make love to me like you did last night. Ready to get to work, Mr. Northman?"

"Yes, ma'am, but we're starting at the bottom of the list," he said as he stood and scooped her into his arms.