The Archies?

Chapter 22

Carolyn shot up in bed gasping for breath, clutching at her chest, as she simultaneously reached for Riddick, only to find his side of the bed empty. She whimpered, drawing her legs up, before hearing his voice in the dark.

"Bad dream?"

Drawing in a shaky breath, Carolyn crawled to the end of the bed where he was standing. Riddick helped her to her knees, as she wrapped her arms around him. He sighed, enveloping her in his arms. "Why won't you tell me?"

"I don't need you thinking I'm any weaker than I already am." She mumbled against his shoulder as tears escaped her eyes.

He pulled her away holding her face in his hands. "How could I possibly think you're weak, Carolyn? You survived one hell just to be dumped in the middle of another. You're the strongest woman I know," he explained wiping the tears away from her face.

She placed her hands over his, "I love you, Richard."

He leaned forward, kissing her forehead. "I know," he whispered. Lifting his head he ran a hand down her bare back. "Do you want to go back bed?"

She shook her head. "I'm not ready to close my eyes again."

He smacked her ass eliciting a yelp from her. "Richard!"

"Good, get dressed and we'll get a head start on some chores."

"But it's still dark outside," she grumbled as he lifted her off the bed setting her on her feet, giving her a light push in the direction of her clothes. She had gotten adept over the months at dressing in dark and it just took her a few moments as Riddick made their bed. She chuckled. "Who knew that Richard B. Riddick, escaped convict and murderer was a neat freak?"

"And it's that attention to detail that you appreciate so much, Carolyn."

She could hear the amusement in his voice as she held out her hand. Taking it, he led her out into the early morning.

As they neared the courtyard he saw the girl that Carolyn had befriended last night, sitting at the table. He squeezed Carolyn's arm.

"Ouch!" she whispered loudly, causing Nicky to turn her head in their direction.

"We're not the only ones up," he spoke softly.

Carolyn turned her head in the direction that he was looking, smacking him across the stomach with an arm. "So not necessary," she hissed making her way to the table.

"I'm sorry," Nicky said to the couple, "I hope that I didn't wake you."

"Not at all," Carolyn responded. "We we're on our way outside. Want to come?" she invited.

"Are you sure I won't be intruding?" she asked, her eyes flicking to Riddick.

Carolyn shook her head, pulling the girl to her feet while making introductions.

Riddick stuck out his hand and Nicky took it without blinking. "I like her," he said glancing at Carolyn before turning back to Nicky. Dropping her hand, he slung his rifle on his back and headed to the gate.

Carolyn snorted, jerking her head in his direction, Nicky falling into step with her.

Once they caught up, Riddick shut the gate as Carolyn lit a lantern behind him setting it on the ground before approaching him. "We're going to the little girl's room. And, I want the cows," she informed him with a poke in his chest.

"I always knew you had a thing for…" the rest of his reply was muffled as she covered his mouth with her hand, laughing as she shook a finger at him.

"That dirty mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble one of these days, Mister!"

He ran his tongue along the palm that was covering his mouth causing her to jerk it away with a grin. His shined eyes twinkled as he grinned back.

"You packing?"

She pulled a handgun out of her pants to show him before putting it back. "10 minutes and then I'm coming back whether you're decent or not."

"Jesus, Riddick, what's gotten into you this morning?"

"Would you like me to go into the details in front of our young friend here?

Carolyn shook her head frantically, "No, thank you! It's impossible to have a private life around here as it is without you filling in the missing details, thank you very much! We'll be there in five," she said shooing him away with her hand as she picked up the lantern and turned back to Nicky who had a small smile on her face from watching them banter.

"Are you and Riddick together?" Nicky asked as she followed Carolyn and the swaying light from the lantern.

"I suppose that's one way of putting it," she said over her shoulder. They had walked just a short way from the gate when Carolyn stopped in front of a small bamboo enclosure. Turning back to Nicky she asked, "Have you ever heard of an outhouse?"

Four minutes and forty five seconds later Carolyn was hooking the lantern onto a pole attached to the fence. She knew that Riddick had seen the light as they passed by the pen he was working in first. She opened the gate and retrieving the lantern pushed Nicky inside before latching the gate quickly behind her.

"What the hell?" Nicky exclaimed, as she found herself looking at two milk cows.

"Crazy, right?" Carolyn responded hanging the lantern up on this side of the fence as she grabbed a couple of ropes attaching them to the lumbering animals. "Here," she said handing Nicky one of the ropes, "Tie Betty up over there on that post."

"Betty?" Nicky questioned doing as Carolyn requested.

"That's Betty," Carolyn pointed at the cow Nicky was leading "And this lovely young woman here" Carolyn grunted as the cow attempted to push her, "Is Veronica."

"Betty and Veronica? As in the Archie's? Seriously?"

Carolyn shrugged her shoulders. "Ask Royce, I don't get it either."

Carolyn grabbed a rake and a shovel before opening up the gate. Now that the animals were secure she proceeded to muck out the pen hauling the shovels of manure out to a pile on the far side that they used as fertilizer for the crops.

She then put out the predator version of hay that they kept in a sealed crate just outside the pen. "Now the fun begins," she told Nicky with a smile. She grabbed a crate, sitting it next to Betty. Shoving Nicky onto it, she proceeded to teach her how to milk a cow. Once the girl had the hang of it Carolyn settled in next to Veronica.

She was startled by the arms that circled her and watched as his hands covered hers as he helped her with the long rhythmic strokes. She turned her head to him, her mouth nearly against his ear he was so close. "What has gotten into you, Richard?" She leaned her forehead against his cheek as she let his hands guide her.

"You," he answered huskily, just as they heard a discrete cough behind them.

Carolyn kissed his cheek before he stood to help Nicky. Carolyn finished up, letting Riddick take the bucket and set it outside with the other. Untying the cows she hung the rope back up and turned off the lantern in the early morning light, shutting the gate behind her.

"If you get the eggs, I'll take the milk," Riddick volunteered. Carolyn nodded and scooped up the basket as they headed back.

"Are the eggs from chickens or something else?" Nicky asked just as Barney, their Rooster made his presence known. "Honest to God chickens?" she breathed.

Carolyn patted her on the back, "It's a lot to take in, I know."