Chapter 8
Vin could feel someone watching over him. He bolted upright and looked around. Belle was standing next to him, in a long skirt and short-sleeved blouse and shawl draped over her shoulders. She had a cup of coffee in one hand and a smile on her face.
"Mornin' Miss Belle." Vin stood and smiled stiffly at her.
"Good morning, Vin." Her smile got wider. "Would you like some coffee? It doesn't have any cream or sugar in it, but you're welcome to come inside and add what you want."
Vin accepted the cup gratefully and took a sip. "It's strong."
"That's the only way I can drink it." Isabelle took a step back toward her sister's house. "Would you like some breakfast? I'm making flapjacks."
Vin's smile broadened. "That'd be nice, Miss Belle." He walked after her and into the house. He saw Billy already at the table, eating a big pile of pancakes. "Morning, Billy."
Billy smiled and tried to say good morning around a mouth full of breakfast. Isabelle scolded him. "Billy, not with your mouth full!" She smiled at Vin. "Mary's at the office already, so I'm watching Billy for the morning."
"Well, he sure isn't going hungry," Vin commented as he watched the boy shove another huge bite of pancake into his already full mouth.
Isabelle laughed. "Chew first, silly boy." She patted him on the head. Then she looked at Vin. "How many would you like?"
Vin shrugged. "Just a couple if you don't mind."
Belle smiled and began to pour the batter. There was a knock on the door. "Come in," she called over her shoulder.
"Morning, one and all." Buck walked into the room, removing his hat as he did so. He took in the scene, Vin sitting at the table drinking coffee, Billy shoveling food into his mouth, and Belle at the stove. "What a quaint domestic scene." He smiled.
Both Vin and Belle blushed. "I'm making flapjacks, Buck. Would you like some?" Belle expertly flipped the one in the skillet.
"Ah, no thank you, Belle. I've come to kidnap Billy for a spell."
Belle whirled around. "Kidnap?" She crossed her arms across her chest and glared at him.
Buck laughed. "You'll make a great mama some day, Belle. I just want to take him on a ride to the creek. Go fishing. Mary already said ok."
Belle's demeanor softened. She looked down at her nephew. "Would you like to go with Buck?" She watched him nod with big eyes. "Are you finished eating?"
"Yes, Aunt Belle." Billy smiled. "Can I go?"
"Well, your mother said it was alright, I don't see why not. Go wash your hands and face first and then you can go." She kissed his forehead as he moved to get up.
Billy raced out of the room toward the bathroom. After a few minutes, he raced back in, hat on his head, face all clear of syrup. "Bye, Mr. Tanner. Bye, Aunt Belle. C'mon, Buck! Let's go!" And he raced out the door.
"Have fun!" Belle called after him. "Be careful, Buck."
"I'll guard him with my life, Belle." He smiled and put his hat back on, tipping it her way. "Miss Belle. Vin." He nodded at his friend and he was gone.
"He's just so handsome!" Belle gushed. She looked at Vin, who was staring at her, mouth open in shock. "What? Billy is handsome. Just like his daddy."
Vin's jaw popped close. "For a second there, I thought you were talking about Buck."
Belle laughed and returned her attention to the stove. Vin watched her, arms poised, concentrating on her work.
"If this is too much trouble, I can leave." He went to stand up.
"Oh, don't you dare. This is no trouble at all. I don't mind." She started filling a plate with bacon and eggs, waiting on the pancakes to just finish. "Besides, it's the least I can do for the man who watched over me all night." She put the plate in front of him and sat down opposite him.
Vin squirmed uncomfortably. "You know, huh?"
"It wasn't too hard to figure out, Vin." She smiled and started fiddling with her skirt. "I mean, I saw you when Ezra was walking me home. Knew you were right across the street. And when you were still there this morning, I assumed you'd been there all night." She stopped looking at the fabric on her legs and returned her gaze back to Vin. "I really appreciate you taking such concern over me, Vin. I'm not scared about Terrence at all, knowing one of the Seven is watching my home overnight."
Vin tried to control his blush as he cut into his pancakes. He looked across the table and noticed Belle still hadn't made any move to get any food. "Aren't you hungry, Miss Belle?"
"Oh, no. I ate with Mary earlier." She sighed. "I only made breakfast because I knew Billy'd be hungry. Then I noticed you outside, so I thought I'd make a little more."
Vin got nervous again. "You're a good girl, Belle." It didn't sound like a compliment, but coming from him, after all he'd thought, it was.
Belle seemed to notice it as she colored with pleasure. "I do try. Contrary to popular beliefs." She said the last bit playfully, but it still got Vin excited.
"Why did you have to throw that comment on the end of it? Why do you have to be so darn…sarcastic?" Vin's eyes flashed as he looked back at her.
"Vin, I was teasing. We both know you thought very little of me when you first met me, after my apology." The smile disappeared off her face. "Besides, it's part of who I am. My feeling is if someone can't handle all of my flaws and all of my perfections, then they can't have either." She stood up and gathered Billy's plate. Taking it over the sink, she began to scrap off the extra food into a basket.
"And how's that working out for you?" Vin asked with a little more bite in his voice than he intended.
Belle glared at him over her shoulder. "Well, I know Ezra doesn't seem to mind. He finds everything I do charming." She returned her attention to the dish in her hands.
Vin ate a few more bites, but he couldn't concentrate on food anymore. He was upset and didn't want to eat. He stood up. "Thank you for the meal, Miss Belle."
"You're welcome." Her voice was sad. Vin looked up from the table but her back was to him. He walked over to her and peered into her face.
"Why are you crying?" Vin felt guilty for making her upset and didn't want to leave until she felt better.
Belle smiled softly, wiping off her cheeks. "Oh, it's nothing. Just a little emotional lately, that's all." She looked him straight in the eyes. "I'm fine."
"Your eyes say different. Please talk to me, if it'll help." Vin was pleading with her; not just to talk to him, but to stop the tears he'd started.
Belle cleared her throat and left the room. Vin followed. She entered the parlor and sat down on the sofa Mary had placed in the room. Vin followed her example, sitting down next to her. Belle turned and looked at him. Vin waited expectantly.
"Have you ever been in love?" she blurted the question out, just when he thought she wouldn't say anything.
Vin shifted uncomfortably. He hoped she wasn't going to admit who she cared for of his friends; he didn't care to know. Hesitating only a second longer, Vin returned her gaze. "Yes, once. Why?"
Ignoring his question, she went on with her own. "Did she love you back?"
"Yes, she did."
"Did you marry her?"
"I couldn't." Vin was uncomfortable with her line of questioning.
"Why?" She noticed how upset he looked. "I mean, if you don't mind telling me."
"Why don't you tell me why you're asking me all this first?" Vin maneuvered around the question.
"Because I'm in love with someone who doesn't love me back and I wanted to know how well you could relate before I continued to spill my heart out." Belle stated it simply, but Vin could see the yearning in her eyes for someone to understand.
Vin sighed. "I couldn't marry her because she was already married." He paused for a moment. "And she decided to stay with her husband."
He looked up at Belle. Her eyes were burning accusingly. "SO, you aren't as high and mighty as you seem, Mr. Tanner," she said gruffly. "I may flirt too much. Be a little looser on some things…But I never EVER had anyone commit adultery for me."
"It ain't something I'm proud of." Vin stood up. "Don't even compare Charlotte and mine situation to yours. It's not the same at all."
"It isn't, is it? Well, Mr. Tanner. I admit I flirted when I was younger, a young girl's mistake. Never anything too serious. But I broke an engagement and a man's heart for love, much like your precious Charlotte broke her husband's. I promised Connelly a slave girl to get here that much faster to be with the person I wanted. Don't you dare make me out to be any worse than you." She stood up and straightened to her full height. "Get out. I don't want to speak to you ever again."
"Miss Belle, you're being ridiculous. You just need to cool down."
Belle's tears started flowing down her cheeks. "Get OUT!" She pushed him toward the door.
Vin, very confused, allowed himself to be shoved out the door. He turned around in time to see it slam shut. He heard the lock turn. He tried pounding the door for a few minutes, but to no avail. As he walked away from the Travis house, Vin felt his heart drop into his stomach. What was going on? Why did she push him away? "What in the hell did I do??"
A/N: this chapter is ok, but not great. Sorry. I just didn't want it to last FOREVER…lol. Hope you liked the last two chapters. Ttyl! R/r nellie
