Hey guys, sorry about the delay. This chapter has actually been sitting complete for a while now, I just kept forgetting to post it. I hope you can forgive me. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.
Penelo was buried deep in thought as she kneaded the dough for the bread. Her thoughts kept wandering back to what Vaan had said two days ago, about how some things run too deep to lose. As she worked the dough, she heard the ring of the axe just outside the window. Looking out, she spotted Vaan at the chopping block. His chest was bare in the heat of the day, and sweat ran down in small rivers between the curves of his musculature. Thoughts of moonlit nights fluttered through her head, and a warmth seemed to spread through her chest. As she watched him move, her thoughts ran more and more over the details of his body. The multitude of scars on his chest and shoulders. The hard ridges of muscle covering his stomach. She was so caught up in admiring him that she failed to notice that he had stopped chopping and was looking out across the desert, towards the cliffs he had scout those few nights ago.
"Vaan!" Vaan turned at the sound of Reks voice. "Gijuk's out front asking for you. Thought you oughta know." Vaan looked towards the gate.
"Alright, give me a second to get my gun on." Reks nodded and walked back to the area of dirt in front of the station. Penelo watched as Vaan picked up the colt and buckled the belt around his waist. She turned and ran out the back door to catch him. As he was about to round the corner, Penelo latched onto his left arm.
"Please, don't do this!" she whispered. Vaan just looked at her.
"You don't know what is going to happen. He may just be here to tell me that they know about me." Penelo stopped trying to pull him back, but didn't let go of his arm.
"I don't want you to get hurt." Vaan nodded, and patted her shoulder.
"I won't get hurt. If he doesn't draw on me, no one has to get hurt today." Penelo nodded and let go of him, allowing him to go around the corner. She followed him closely, moving just a bit closer when she saw the man in front of the station. He was large and burly, and appeared to be heavily muscled. The beard covering his face was dirty and contained crumbs from his last meal. His eyes were small, and had a very cruel look to them. And as they turned on Vaan they narrowed, appearing even more cruel.
"There you are. You gave us quite a chase. But not any more." he said. Vaan didn't flinch at the cold tone in the mans voice. But when he spoke, his tone was even icier than Gijuk's.
"What do you want, Gijuk?" the man glared at him for a moment.
"Your hide, boy." Vaan didn't move a muscle. Balthier stepped up and pulled Penelo off to the side.
"Then it's your move, Gijuk." he said. The bounty hunters gaze traveled between Vaan and Balthier for a moment, then focused on Vaan.
"Hope you've made your peace with God boy, because you'll be standing before him soon." Vaan simply continued to stare. Gijuk's hands began to twitch, the boy's silence and apparent calm beginning to unnerve him.
"Bah, to hell with it!" His hand shot to his gun and a pair of shots rang out. Penelo screamed as she saw Vaan swing around a his shoulder blossomed red with blood. Gijuk chuckled slightly as Vaan turned back toward him, blood pouring from his shoulder.
"I see... that Bwagi... was right about... you. I... shouldn't have tried... to take you...alone." he said as blood began to stain his shirt front red. Vaan watched silently as the man slumped to his knees, then to the ground and stretched out on his face. A hand on his arm caught his attention and he looked down to see Penelo standing next to him, staring at the bounty hunters body. She looked up at him, pulling his arm close to her. Vaan gave her a slight grin, then looked back at the body.
"Balthier, take the body, strip it of anything useful, tie it to his horse and send him back to Ba'gamnan." Balthier nodded and started searching the body. Vaan turned as Reks came up and stood next to him, a rifle in his hand.
"Insurance." Vaan nodded.
"Damn it!" Everyone looked at Balthier, who stood up holding the remains of what looked like a small bag. "Vaan, you shot through his tobacco sack." Vaan chuckled.
"The tag made a convenient target." he said. Penelo tightened her grip on Vaans arm as she continued to stare at the body. Reks chuckled as he looked at her.
"Looks like you've made a nice catch Vaan."
"Huh?" Vaan looked at his brother in confusion.
"The girl clinging to your arm as if it's her only lifeline." Penelo turned bright red, gave a small squeak, and let go of Vaans arm, putting some distance between them, and turning away.
"Um, I, I'll be in the kitchen if anyone needs me." she stuttered as she walked away. Her gingham dress swaying slightly in the mild breeze. Vaan grinned as she walked away.
"Looks like I'll have to make this up to her."
/
Migelo slipped into the kitchen to see his daughter furiously kneading the dough on the counter. Stepping up next to her, he busied himself with a knife he'd been meaning to sharpen for a while.
"So what's wrong?" Penelo didn't jump at the question, but her face flushed.
"Nothing, why do you ask?" Migelo smiled at her.
"You know, if you want to be near him, you'll have to push a little." Penelo looked at her dad.
"What are you talking about?" her voice gave away that she knew exactly what he was talking about, but didn't want to admit it. Migelo grinned.
"I've seen how you look at him. You want to be near, but are afraid to make a move." Penelo stayed silent, but her blush deepened, and spread across her face. Migelo looked out the window. "He's a fine boy. And if he can survive this, he'll make some girl very happy. Don't waste your chance just because you're afraid." she looked up at him as he stood and turned to the door.
"But what should I do?" she asked. Migelo paused in the doorway.
"That's up to you." he said as he stepped through and walked away. Penelo's eyes dropped to the floor as she turned back to the counter and continued working the dough. She was so preoccupied that she didn't notice when Vaan stepped into the kitchen.
"I think it's dead now." she jumped at the unexpected words, and whipped around reaching out to slap him. Vaan ducked just in time to avoid her flour covered hand as it sailed through the spot where his head had just been. "Whoa, didn't think you were that jumpy."
"Well if someone hadn't decided to sneak up on me maybe I wouldn't have responded like that." Vaan chuckled at her.
"Well, I didn't exactly sneak up. You should have been able to hear me coming. I made enough noise coming in." Penelo dropped her gaze.
"I guess I was a little distracted." Vaan nodded and put a hand on her shoulder, causing her breath to catch in her throat.
"It's alright, you just saw a man die, so it's natural to be a little upset." Penelo suddenly sobbed and wrapped her arms around his waist, her tears quickly soaking his shirt as she cried against his chest. Vaan maneuvered his injured arm away from her and wrapped his good arm around her shoulders. He let his eyes close, pressing his lips to the top of her head. As he stood there, her scent overwhelming his senses, the only thought that ran through his mind, was how much this girl suddenly meant to him.
/
The next few weeks were a whirlwind of activity. At least for everyone but Vaan. His shoulder prohibited any strenuous activity, and the fact had become a very sore subject for him. The fact that it was his right shoulder that was injured only made it worse. He tried to adjust, going so far as to practice with his left hand on the draw, often getting into little contests with Balthier, which the older rider almost always won. The other people around the station tried to cheer him up when they could, but he often just turned their efforts away, saying they had better things to do than waste time on him. Penelo was the only one who could say or do anything that made him smile. And it was not long before Vaan had full use of his arm back. It was only a few days later that he began riding the express again. But now, he wasn't gone as long. Penelo began to go on long walks with him, mostly down by the Nebra river. And as the days began to grow shorter, they began to show more affection towards each other. It was only a few days after the first harvest the Vaan offered to take Penelo into town, much to Migelo's delight.
"Would you really boy? I know how much she'd appreciate that." Vaan chuckled.
"Of course. Just make sure no one gets into any trouble while we're gone and I'll have her back here safe and sound." Migelo nodded.
"I know you will boy. I'll have Fran hitch up the team for you." Vaan nodded. But if he had known what was going to happen, he never would have suggested the trip.
Alright, lot happening. Keep watching because things are going to get hot real soon. Maybe in the next two to three chapters, maybe even in the next.
