Forrest reached over and put his hand on Evie's back, doing his best to comfort her as she laid as still as possible in bed, resisting the urge to be sick. There was nothing he could do to make her feel better or make the nausea go away, he was useless and he absolutely hated it.
''How long you meant to feel like this?'' he asked worriedly.
''I don't know, I've never been pregnant before,'' she groaned, squeezing her eyes shut.
Forrest continued rubbing his hand along her back as he watched her try to move around. It had been just over a month since they had found out about the pregnancy and every stage was new and unfamiliar to the both of them. Evie was currently experiencing the worst of her morning sickness and Forrest was making sure she didn't have to lift a finger. It was the least he could do after spending his mornings by her side while she battled through the pain and discomfort.
He never thought he would be a father, and Evie never thought of herself as a mother, but now that it was all really happening, they grew more and more excited every day. Both Evie and Forrest grew up on a farm surrounded by family and although there were plenty of hard times, their parents always tried to give them the best in life and that's just what they wanted to do for their child.
''Maybe I should take you to the doc-''
''I went the other day,'' she snapped. ''You heard him, this is normal,''
Forrest shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't imagine how she felt.
''What can I do?'' he asked quietly.
Evie slowly rolled over to face him, her eyes still shut as she focused on not throwing up before reaching her hand out for him to take. As soon as she felt Forrest's hand in hers she felt a little bit better. He was so gentle, he didn't need to say a word to make her feel better.
''Just stay until I can fall asleep,'' she sighed.
Forrest could do that happily. He kept her hand in his as he brushed hair out of her face carefully. He only tore his eyes away from her when he felt something beneath his fingers, looking down to see the silver ring on her finger, a small sparkling rock in the middle.
Two days after Evie told Forrest she was pregnant, they headed to the registry on their own without saying a word to anyone and became husband and wife. There was no big fuss, there was no gathering or festivities, but it only made it even more special. Forrest always knew she would be the woman he would call his wife one day, and Evie knew there was no one else she would rather spend her life with. They both knew their fate from the moment they fell in love as teenagers, they just lost a few years.
Although it had been nice and peaceful keeping the news of Evie's pregnancy just between her and Forrest for a few months, when she entered into her fifth month, Evie was glad everyone knew. Clothes were getting tighter to wear, some duties were becoming harder to do and Evie's frustrations could finally be understood. It wasn't hard for everyone to adjust to the news given they knew it would happen one day, and it wasn't surprising that the couple had kept the news to themselves for quite a while.
Forrest knew Evie hated being fussed over, but after everyone had taken notice to her considerably larger stomach, he was relieved that he would no longer be the only person making sure she wasn't overdoing herself.
''Let me take that Evie,'' Jack rushed to her side when he saw her walking down the porch with a crate of vegetables.
''I got it Jack,'' she shook her head.
But Jack had already taken it from her hands, moving it into the kitchen she didn't need to take another step. Evie huffed and put her hands on her hips, her blue button up shirt barely squeezing around her swollen frame, watching as Forrest approached from the barn.
''You got everyone recruited to chase after me, huh?''
Forrest smirked at the unimpressed look on her face. Evie was a stubborn woman, she didn't like taking help off anyone, but she was going to have to get used to it considering Forrest could be equally as stubborn.
''Yes ma'am,'' he nodded, taking the three steps onto the porch to stand in front of her. ''You shouldn't be lifting,''
''I can carry a damn box of vegetables,'' she rolled her eyes.
''Well, now you don't have to,'' he shrugged playfully.
''I'm not a weakling,''
''I ain't doing it 'cause I think you're weak, I'm doing it to take care of you, both of you,'' Forrest explained, glancing down at the bump beneath her clothes.
Evie smiled at his reasoning, unable to find his worries annoying at all when he spoke like that. Over the past few months, the smallest things had changed between her and Forrest and she found herself not wanting to go more than a couple of hours without being at his side. Forrest had always left the violence and harshness of his daily life at the door when he was with Evie, his whole personality changed to a side of him that he only let her see, but now he was more gentle than ever.
Forrest adored Evie even more than he thought possible. She was giving him a child, a family, a future that he never thought he would have. He would do anything for her.
''You're sweet,'' she smiled, reaching up to place her hand on his cheek lovingly. ''But I'm gonna get real bored around here if no one lets me do anything, especially since I'm more than capable,''
''There's plenty for you to do,'' he shook his head as he leaned against the wooden beam.
''Not when you and Maggie make sure I don't have to,'' she pointed out. ''How long you got left?''
''Few more hours,''
Evie pouted her lips and leaned forward against her husband's chest, closing her eyes and she enjoyed his hand beginning to roam over her back. Forrest leaned down to press a kiss to her lips but Evie moved suddenly and instead focused his lips onto hers. Forrest was never comfortable with public displays of affection, but when Evie's soft lips were pressed against his, nothing else registered.
Soon enough Forrest was pulling her closer, feeling her round stomach against his own before heavy footsteps came from the other end of the porch.
''Alright now,'' Howard began, shaking his head at the sight before him. ''Keep it in the bedroom,''
Evie pulled away from Forrest a moment later, his hands still tightly wound around her waist as she looked over his shoulder.
''Evening Howard,'' she greeted with a playful grin.
''Evie,'' he nodded.
It was very clear to Howard now that Evie had no intention on breaking his brother's heart again or ever taking off. They were starting their family here together and he could tell that his brother, who barely showed any sign of emotion other than annoyance, was actually happy.
''You about ready to go?'' Forrest asked his brother.
''I been waitin' on Jack,''
''Jack!'' Forrest called out. ''Come on,''
Evie looked down toward the truck, the back loaded with crates of moonshine ready to be delivered to their loyal customers who had been waiting for more jars. Sometimes she forgot that it was illegal, that the business her husband was running was against the prohibition law, but the whole county depended on it so much that it was almost forgotten by everyone.
''Be careful,'' Evie told them all when Jack finally joined them on the porch.
''Will do,'' Howard huffed as he and his youngest brother made their way over to the truck.
Forrest stayed where he was, his eyes fixated on Evie's as her attention shifted back to his gaze. She didn't want to move from his grip, she wished he could hold her forever.
''You'll be back after dark, won't you?'' Evie sighed, smoothing out the top of his shirt.
''Most likely,'' Forrest nodded. ''Don't go waiting up for me,''
Evie rolled her eyes, both of them knowing that was in fact what she was going to do.
''Just make sure you come back,''
''Always do,''
Forrest gave her a smile and a quick kiss on her lips before walking away. Evie watched the truck drive out the property, already beginning to count down the hours until she could be in his arms again.
Evie yawned as she looked around at the beautiful day outside, the breeze just enough to cool her down as she sat out on the porch with Maggie. They were peeling some vegetables for dinner, laughing as they spoke about something Howard had done the night before. It was no secret that Maggie and the oldest Bondurant had somewhat of a connection, always flirting playfully when together. But Maggie brushed it off as nonsense, her cheeks blushing red.
''It's not a bad thing,'' Evie assured. ''I see how you two are together,''
''Howard's barely home and he drinks too much, he's just flirting, it don't mean a thing,'' Maggie explained.
''No, he don't drink nearly as much when he's around you,''
''It's nothing,'' Maggie shook her head again, looking up. ''Who's that?''
Evie turned her head to see what Maggie was talking about, noticing a black car driving toward the house. She hadn't seen it around here before, especially not around the station. Whoever it was, they weren't a regular visitor.
Forrest was down in one of the barns working and Evie watched as Cricket hurried down to let him know someone was here. Evie waited for him to appear, worried what was going to happen.
''What's wrong?'' Maggie asked, noticing Evie's expression.
''I don't know,'' she shook her head.
Forrest was never a man to panic, at least never in a way that someone could see. Evie saw the door of the barn swing open and Forrest walked out smoking his cigar, calmly locking up the door behind him and putting on his hat. As he walked toward the house where the car was now parked, Forrest slid his gun into his back pocket.
Both Evie and Maggie stared at the men who stepped out of the car. One was the Marshall, his badge shown clearly on his chest, and one was a tall lanky man with black, slicked back hair and a suit. From just one glance anyone would be able to see he wasn't from here.
Evie knew where he was from. He was a Deputy in Chicago. She had been involved in a few busts he had undertaken at the restraurant where she worked. He was the biggest problem for the people she worked for, he was always finding new ways to block them at every turn.
''Oh hey Forrest,'' the man greeted.
Forrest turned slightly to see Evie and Maggie on the porch, their eyes glued to the situation playing out before them. After one last puff of his cigar, Forrest threw it onto the ground as he turned to the Sheriff, clearly wanting to know what he was doing here.
''This here's the new Special Deputy, been brought in from the city to help us out, make sure things go smooth,'' Sheriff Hodges told him with an uneasy smile.
No one liked getting on Forrest Bondurant's bad side, not even the lawman.
''What things might they be?'' Forrest asked bluntly.
The Special Deputy chuckled to himself, earning himself a look off Forrest that would have frightened anyone else. But the man stayed calm and cool, turning to stare back at Forrest.
''Somethin' amuse you?'' Forrest asked.
''My name is Charlie Rakes, I'm from Chicago,'' he explained in an accent that only made him seem even more foreign.
Forrest had already taken an instant disliking toward the man so he didn't bother acknowledging the words he had just said, turning toward the Sheriff with a blank stare. There was another man sitting the back of the black car, a man he soon found out to be the new attorney, Mason Wardell.
''He wants to work it out so everyone gets to do some business,'' Hodges told him.
The old man in the car tapped on the window, the Sheriff ordering his deputy to see what was the matter as Charlie Rakes moved closer to Forrest. Evie stood up from where she sat on the porch, watching each step the man took, unnerved by the angry expression on her husband's face. Forrest didn't move, didn't gaze to his side to face the man.
''Who the hell is this son of a bitch?'' Forrest asked the Sheriff.
''Me?'' Rakes chimed in. ''I'm the one who's going to make your life real difficult from now on if you don't tow the line country boy,''
As if that remark wasn't enough to piss Forrest off even more, the Special Deputy reached out and poked Forrest in his chest, making a point of being above him, letting Forrest know he was in charge now.
Everyone went silent for a moment as Forrest finally turned to the man, his eyes full of rage and his voice, although kept low, full of threat and viciousness.
''Don't you ever touch me again,'' he warned.
Charlie laughed, stepping back slightly but not looking bothered in the slightest.
''Alright, alright,'' Sheriff Hodges cut in. ''Forrest, it's already settled. The whole county's gonna get on board eventually,''
As the Sheriff began explaining how it was going to work, the price per load they would have to pay to continue dealing, Charlie Rakes moved off to the side and switched his attention from the men to the women on the porch. Evie was staring at the man with daggers, a hand laying over her stomach as if she felt the need to protect her unborn child from the presence of this man.
Maggie glared back at him as well, her hands still working on peeling the vegetables. Rakes seemed to take an interest in them, but he didn't say a word. It was another act to show his power over all of them, an attempt to intimidate. But Evie was furious and refused to give him the pleasure, so she stared back just as he did. Forrest turned when he realized Rakes wasn't around, seeing him watch his wife and Maggie, deciding he was going to end all of this now.
Walking over to Mason Wardell, the man behind his whole scheme, Forrest forced him to wind down the window before he gave his response to the matter.
''You send your clown in the bow tie 'round here again, and I guarantee you'll personally pull a cleaver out his fuckin' skull, understand?''
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