TC Stark: I must be crazy to take on a third project lol But, between my recent obsession with Tom Hardy, loving the movie Lawless, and in the middle of reading The Wettest County in The World, I knew I had to write this. I wanted to say that those who are following my other stories, I will continue them. My mind works way too fast to concentrate on one lol Also, I should say that I do an insane amount of research for everything I write. I like to make my stories plausible within the era it takes place in, as well as the category. So, anything you read is there because I made sure it could go there. Quick little note, homosexuality in the 1930s was considered a mental disease, you were sent away for this. Also, I am a huge believer of bisexuality, so if you don't agree…keep an open mind lol Also, I'm writing this the way I feel they would all talk and think lol I hope you all enjoy my story and reviews are always welcomed!

Disclaimer: I only own Frankie and my ideas!

Chapter One

"How does a gal from New York City end up in Franklin?"

Jack Bondurant was of course referring to Frankie Giller. The twenty-three year old had only been in Virginia for a week, when she caught wind of the brothers' bootlegging business. In the age of Prohibition, the illegal activity of selling liquor had flourished. Especially moonshine, something that probably couldn't have been sold on the shelves when drinking was legal.

Even though the banning of alcohol had begun when she was twelve, Frankie was no stranger to liquor. The Southerners may have had moonshine, but the Northerners had bathtub gin. Home distilled hard liquor was nothing new to New Yorkers and she had practically grown up on it.

So, when she had heard about this one hundred and ninety proof liquor, Frankie thought she should try it out. The three brothers had all given her a look, when she first stepped into their establishment. She didn't look like women from their town. They had all thought Maggie was something to behold, but Frankie was a different creature entirely.

For starters, she didn't even wear a dress. That kind of fashion wasn't scene around Franklin. Women wore dresses, even flashy ones like Maggie did. But, Frankie wore loose fitting black trousers, along with a button down red shirt that she tucked in. At least she wore closed toed heels. They made her outfit a little more feminine, but not by much.

Frankie was a thin girl, standing at about 5'3" without three inch heels. She had walked into their establishment, smoking a cigarette with one hand and the other tucked into her pocket. Her lined Hazel eyes instantly locked onto the bar, which she headed towards. Her shoulders were held back and although it was a bit of an unfeminine saunter, her outfit couldn't hide her female frame. Despite not having too big of a chest and being thin, she had a figure eight frame with an average behind.

She was peach skinned, not too tan. Though, that would most likely changed if she was planning on staying in Franklin, since on hot days the sun glared down and burned the skin like torching fire. Her chin length hair was practically white and pulled back in pin curls, though eye level bangs flicked off to the side.

Frankie was in the middle of sipping on the powerful White Lighting, when Jack asked the question from across the bar. Maggie was on the grill and the older brothers Howard and Forrest were playing cards in the corner. It was a slow day and she was their only customer.

The moonshine was powerful. It stung her tongue and burned all the way down. Frankie felt the liquid in the pit of her stomach and it made the bathtub gin she was used to taste like water. There were a few real unpleasant tastes, but she attributed that to the way it was made. Either way, it was going to get the job done, so she needn't complain.

"I don't want to go back the hospital," Frankie gave a wry grin, as she turned and stated, "I'm a sick woman."

The younger brother tilted an eyebrow up and asked curiously, "What's wrong with ya?"

"Jack." Forrest's deep droll warned.

Howard, on the other hand; wasn't as subtle, "God damn it, boy. No manners."

There was a slight shade of pink that colored Jack's cheeks and he turned back to apologize, "I'm sorry, Ms. Giller."

"No reason to," She lit a match and held it up to the tip of her cigarette, "I haven't talked to anyone since I left New York."

"Oh…well, you can talk, I'll listen."

The older Bondurant brothers may have scolded the younger one for prying, but Frankie didn't mind, she quite liked the company. It had been a long time since she really felt a connection to anyone. Seeking out affection had been what got her in the mess she was in, in the first place.

Frankie's Hazel eyes looked up at Maggie, who was staring just as curiously. And even though they had scolded Jack, she knew the older boys were curious as well. Taking another pull of her cigarette, she stated, "Two years ago my parents sent me to the Looney Bin…spent six months there. We did group therapies…" She then tapped the side of her skull, "They tried shocking me…eventually I pretended to be well, just so I could get out. But…I knew sooner or later I'd act up again and they'd send me right back. I had to leave."

"What'd you do?" Jack leaned in, curiosity tugging on his earlobe.

Frankie took a small sip of the foul drink, she biting back the taste. With a rasped voice, she stated, "They caught me…Dad was at work…mom was suppose to be at her sister's house, but she came back and…found me with her."

"With her?" Now it was Maggie's turn to gawk.

The redhead looked shocked and a little worried. After all, homosexuality was pretty taboo for that time. It was fairly unknown and it was the all too common defense, to be afraid of what you didn't know. Of what wasn't considered normal. Frankie hadn't the heart to tell Maggie that she wasn't her type.

Taking in a pull of her cigarette, she explained, "I try my hardest not to. I don't want my parents to be ashamed of me. But, I can't help it."

Jack was confused. They were small town folks and he hadn't ever heard of something like this. Men married women and that was that. With his mouth hanging open and his eyebrows furrowed perplexed, he asked, "But…how can you lay…you don't like men?"

"I do," She replied, with another pull of her cigarette, "I enjoy both. I'm somewhere in between homosexuals and heterosexuals. I guess you can see now why I was sent away." It must have been a bold thing to talk about with strangers, but wasn't that what bars were for?

"So…you have intercourse with women? How is that possible?" His daddy ain't ever talked about something like this.

"Drop it, Jack." Forrest once again warned.

Frankie looked over to the brute of a man and waved off, "The boy is curious. It feels good to talk about my condition openly."

Maggie was looking warily down at the blonde haired girl. Her body was tense and her lips were thin. She took notice of this and reassured, "Don't worry, redheads aren't my cup of tea."

It was silent in the bar. Frankie could feel the awkward silence and instantly regretted her decision to opening up so freely. Somehow, she had thought moving to the country would be better than living in the fast paced city. That maybe they would have been friendlier. She should have known they would be even more backwards. No matter where she went, she was faced with the bitter truth that she would always have to hide who she really was.

Maybe there would be a day where people like her didn't have to be ashamed of who they were and could be accepted by society, but that wasn't the case in 1931. So, with placing down enough money to cover her moonshine and a tip, she swung around the stool and lazily saluted, "Well, I'll get outta your hairs. Thanks again."

Forrest's eyes lifted just enough, to watch as the blonde walked out of their establishment. There was the undeniable look of loneliness on her face. It was obvious that it had been a while since she had even spoken about her condition. No one around their parts were like her.

"It ain't right," Howard finally grumbled to his cards, "A woman with another woman. Ain't natural."

"And when did we become men of God?" Forrest asked, while placing a card down.

Jack took a big gulp, while meekly stating, "I heard they did that all the time…y'know Greeks and Romans."

The drunk Bondurant turned around and snapped, "Well, we ain't Roman and Greeks, are we? We is living in the now and now it ain't right."

"I don't like it one bit." Maggie shuddered.

Jack frowned. He quite liked the New Yorker. All she was looking for, was some companionship. She was escaping a nightmarish life in her city, just the way Maggie did. Only it seemed that the redhead hadn't been able to make that connection. Howard's prejudice didn't surprise him; his older brother was a simple man who relied heavily on old fashioned morals. If you counted illegal bootlegging moral.

Later in that evening, Forrest and Jack were sitting on the porch, drinking some white lightning. Howard was off into the forest with a few friends and Maggie was inside, flipping through the latest Sears catalog. It had been a few months, since the redhead had broken up with the silent brother. Since then, she had still been living in their residence.

Forrest was upset at first, though he never spoke about it. Jack hadn't expected him to, but the look in his eyes gave it all away. It wasn't that Maggie didn't care. She cared plenty. A little too much really. The Bondurant brothers attracted trouble wherever they went and she just couldn't take the idea of repeatedly having to wonder when he would finally kick the bucket. All legends had to die eventually.

For the most part, Forrest just sat outside on that rocking chair. His eyes staring out before him, brass knuckles in his pockets, and a pistol in his pants. Charles Rake had survived the attack on the bridge, though; where he went no one knew. Apparently, the Bondurant brothers weren't the only ones who were immortal.

Wanting to break the uneasy air that always surrounded his older brother, Jack pondered out loud, "I quite like Ms. Giller. She seemed awful nice."

Forrest's eyes shifted over to his younger brother. The collar dipped a little and Jack was faced the everlasting reminder that someone had almost killed him. Even though he would never say it out loud, Jack knew his brother was proud of him. Proud that he had finally taken the initiative to stand up for himself and actually pull the trigger.

Adjusting himself, Forrest grumbled, "Losing battle to convince Howard otherwise."

Jack frowned, he didn't like it one bit. They lived in tense times, sure. But, wasn't it just pure Southern hospitality to open one's doors to those who were down and out? Sure, it was strange. He hadn't ever seen a woman like her before. One that spoke so openly about her sexuality, especially one that spoke about sex with another woman. That was big talk for a town like Franklin.

"Jack! Come here, the grill is acting up!"

Jumping out of his chair, the youngest brother instantly ran inside to help the redhead. They all really liked Maggie. Despite not officially being together, she still took care of Forrest. Took care of all of them. Howard's love life was quite unstable and his own wasn't too good, considering he was in love with the Baptist Pastor's daughter. Things were just fine between them, but it was hard to see one another.

So, Maggie was the only woman who was really around. That kind of feminine touch was nice, around the very rough around the edges men that resided at Blackwater station. Their mother had died when they were young, as well as their sisters. All struck with the Spanish Lady Flu. Forrest had been victim to it as well, but had been the only one to survive.

"Yes, Maggie?" Jack asked, once inside.

Taking an angry pull of her cigarette, she pointed, "Damn thing is acting up again."

It was true. Over the past few weeks, their grill had really been acting up. One day it was working, while the others it wasn't. Not many people came in for food, most drinks; but this was their home and they needed to eat as well. Almost always there were greasy meats sizzling or omelets being made on the grill.

"Don't worry, Miss Maggie, business is booming and I'll be able to buy a new grill." Jack said, quite proud of himself. The moon shining business really had been taking off, ever since Rakes went slithering into the night.

"Well, that's sweet." She laughed, while the young man stuck his face below.

Taking another drag, she leaned her hand against the counter and spoke, "Jack, you shouldn't be hanging around the likes of that girl."

With the mention of the New Yorker, Jack's head turned and he raised an eyebrow, "Why? She seemed nice. I ain't looking to court her or anything…I got Bertha. But…maybe as a friend? I mean she's new in town…and she like men too."

Maggie let out a small snort, as she stated, "I knew a few like her back in Chicago. So funny. So many problems. They're never happy and cause lots of trouble. They're like little vixens and destroy foundations. Ain't nothing stopping a girl like her from corrupting another."

"I don't think she's like that," Jack frowned, "She just needs a friend."