Chapter 11

No time to say goodbye

Aaron and Gene sat listening to the argument taking place on the front porch between Miles and Rachel.

Aaron, having witnessed shouting matches between Miles and everyone, couldn't help the twitch at the corner of his mouth as he imagined the man throwing his arms up in the air or dragging a hand through his hair with the intention of pulling it out.

"Well, that's it! I don't know how to save this town from the patriots or anybody else. So, when you figure it out, you let me know!" Miles shouted, throwing open the screen door only to stomp past Aaron and Gene up the stairs to Charlies room.

Gene sat his cup on the kitchen table and turned towards Aaron. "Do me a favor and be at the courthouse tonight."

Aaron looked up in surprise. "Me? Why?"

"I may need your help with something." Gene replied absently looking over at the stairs.

Aaron sat vigil in the Porter home, watching the wind up clock on the mantle. He had become so engrossed in watching the minute hand move that he jumped when there was a loud knock at the door. Throwing open the door, he glared at the Rangers standing on the doorstep. "You've missed him. Dr. Porter is already on his way into town.

"We're not here for the Doctor."

Aaron knocked lightly on Charlie's bedroom door peaking his head inside to see Miles sitting in the chair beside a still unconscious Charlie. "Miles, the Rangers are here."

"What for?" Miles asked a hint of panic creeping into his voice as he glanced between Aaron and Charlie.

"It's Monroe. They gave him a last request. He wants to see Charlie."

"Fuck." Miles breathed rubbing his forehead. "Okay, okay. Can you stay here with Charlie, while I go down to the jail?"

"Yeah, of course. Whatever you need me to do."

"Thanks, Aaron."

The two men nodded, Aaron taking Miles place in the chair.

Miles took one last look at Charlies still form before shutting the door quietly behind him.

Bass watched as Miles waked into the jail, waiting for the Ranger to leave the room before walking over to the bars. Bass rose from his seat upon the cot to meet him at the barrier. "Isn't Texas adorable? Lethal Injection. They should just put a bullet in my brain and save the drama," he sighed. "No offense, Miles, but where's Charlie. I want to see my wife one last time before I die."

"From what I heard, you no longer have a wife." Miles replied leaning up against the bars.

Bass scoffed. "We were married in the Church, Miles. Texas can say or do whatever the hell it wants, but it doesn't change the fact that until I draw my last breath Charlie and I are still married."

Miles held up his hand, "I'm sorry Bass. Whatever Gene gave her hit her pretty hard. She's still sleeping it off at the house. She probably won't wake until after."

Bass nodded sadly. "It's probably for the best anyway. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt her." He said his voice breaking on the last word.

Miles swallowed, looking away from the pain etched on his best friends face.

Bass huffed out a sad laugh. "Everybody wants me to go to hell except for the two of you. Shake my hand Miles and say good-bye."

Miles blinked back the tears in his eyes as he took Bass' hand.

"We had some good times, didn't we?" Bass asked, a faraway smile on his face.

"Yeah, Bass. We did."

"Promise me, Miles. Promise me you'll take care of her." Bass pleaded, tightening his grip on Miles hand. "Tell her I'm sorry. Tell her that I love her. If she believes nothing else that I ever said to her, tell her to at least believe that."

Miles nodded as he backed away from the cell. "I will. I'll tell her."

Bass shuffled back over to the cot he had laid on with Charlie only hours earlier, his shoulders hunched over as if the weight was suddenly too much.

When Miles returned home, it was to the sound of yelling. Taking the stairs two at a time he entered the tornado that was currently Charlie's room as she slung things into a pack while she and Aaron yelled at each other.

Miles sighed clapping a hand on Aaron's back. When Charlie looked up he could see her red rimmed eyes, tears still wet on her face.

"Why don't you head home, Aaron. I'll take over from here." Miles said quietly.

Aaron nodded as he blew out a breath. "I love you, Charlie and I'm begging you not to do this." He said holding her eyes for a few moments before turning away and heading down the stairs.

"So, what's going on?" Miles asked waving a hand at the items she was sorting through.

"What does it look like Miles? I'm leaving."

"Yeah, I figured that out on my own. Where are you going?"

"I promised Bass I'd find his son."

"His son?" Miles choked.

"His and Emma's. I promised him I'd find him."

"Okay, but do you have to leave tonight?"

Charlie swiped angrily at her cheeks. "I can't stay Miles. They're going to kill him and there's nothing I can do about it. I don't even get a chance to say good-bye!" she yelled as Miles pulled her back against his chest wrapping his arms around her.

"I just got back from seeing him. His last request was to see you." He whispered against her head. "He said he didn't care what Texas said, you were his wife until the moment he died."

Charlie brought her hand up to her mouth to cover her sobs as she sagged in his arms. "He said to tell you that he was sorry and that if you didn't believe anything else to at least believe that he loved you. He asked me to take care of you Charlie, so I'm begging you, please don't leave tonight. Let's wait and leave tomorrow."

"Let's?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah." Miles said stroking her hair. "I can't take care of you if I'm not with you, can I?"

"Tomorrow. You promise?"

"I promise."

He pressed a kiss to her temple. "Will you be okay while I go get us a drink?"

She nodded, slumping on the bed where he moved her, rubbing the rings on her finger.

He was passing through the living room when he heard it. The ringing tones reaching all the way out here. Slowly turning towards the mantle, he saw the clock hands move to five past midnight as the hair on the back of his neck stood up from a scream so heart wrenching, so full of grief, he knew they'd be able to hear it in town.

Racing up the stairs he found Charlie in the middle of the floor, gasping sobs wrenching their way out of her chest, followed by another soul shattering scream as this time she called Bass' name.

Miles dropped to his knees beside her, tears running down his own face at the devastation written across hers. "He's dead, Miles, He's dead!" She sobbed as he pulled her into his arms.

"I'm here, Charlie. I'm here." Miles whispered.

Aaron jumped when a hand clamped down on his shoulder once the crowd had mostly cleared out.

"Calm down and come with me," Gene hissed looking up and down the street as he led Aaron out the town gate.

"Where are we going?" Aaron asked.

Gene stopped along the wall grabbing two shovels hidden in the shadows. "Aaron, ours is not to question but to dig quickly."