37

Two weeks had passed and Ray was recovering slowly and I visited him as much as I could and he didn't seem too different. He talked about how he and I were the same now that we had both been shot. Arliss was already jealous and rambling on about how he should get shot so we would all be the same. Father sent a sign back to the dear old deputy by cutting off all the genitals of the male animals he's killed and sent them to the hotel Rakes stayed at. He didn't take it kindly I heard but he didn't know who the culprit was even though it was common knowledge the Kincaid family wanted revenge, but I guess making enemies with both the Bondurants and the Kincaid he didn't know whose gun was firing on him.

It was another Sunday and I had not yet shown any signs of pregnancy, so while mother was caring for Ray and Arliss was now working for both him and Ray I had decided to take care of dinner since it father was out hunting some moose.

As I walked around the store I found myself in an aisle that had diapers and baby bottles. I looked at them deeply and sighed. I heard the door of the store open but thought nothing of it until I felt a shiver shoot up my spine and I looked around feeling something dark in the area and I heard the sweet evil chuckle of the deputy. I turned slowly and looked at him with a glare. He stood perfectly erect with his nose high in the air.

"Well well Miss. Kincaid it has been a while." he said stalking down the aisle and I turned my body from him and continued to make my way to the other end.

"As it should be Deputy Rakes." I said watching him. His eyes moved all over the items on the shelves and he smirked.

"Bottles, diapers, baby food? Why this isn't an area of the store you should be around." he said innocently and still begin to confront me.

"I'm just browsing the area." I told. He smirked and I frowned with a warning to tell him to back off. He stopped and lifted a black gloved hand and pulled a bottle of the shelf.

"Oh now we both know that isn't the truth now is it? If I could recall some very past lustful events between us I believe I might need to interrogate you on who sent me that…very disrespectful present the other day." he said with a frown and I scowled at him.

"I wouldn't know anything about that. Are you going to arrest the man who shot my brother?" I asked acidly. His lips curved into a sneer.

"Watch your words, you forget you are talking to a white man." he said with a hiss and I felt my body tighten at his words and I looked away. "Now will I have to ask you to come with me?" I looked at him and frowned.

"Like I said I know nothing of what happened, but Deputy Rakes you have many people who don't favor you. I would be careful. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you." I said in an emotionless tone and he glared at me even harder before smirking and leaning back.

"I caution you the same advice," he said before quickly grabbing my shoulders and pulling me forward making me gasp in shock. His lips were right at the shell of my ear, "I wouldn't want anything happening to you or the child I put inside you."

My eyes widened at his words and I closed them with disgust now as I felt his tongue slide up my ear forcing a shiver out of me. He pulled back and trailed off leaving the store. I let out a breath of air I felt like I had been holding in ever since he licked me and I covered my mouth feeling my eyes water and a single tear slid down my cheek. Was I doubting who this baby belonged to? I needed to get home. I paid for the canned foods I got and then began to walk home. I was not dressed formally today, but I had on a sun yellow dress with my hair blowing carelessly in the breeze. I held the bags close to my chest and I was now leaving the small town. The sun was shining today and it was very hot so I had to wipe me forehead more than once. I then heard a light honking and I turned to see a familiar car. It was Brandon and I couldn't help but smile as he drove up beside me slowly.

"Hey there." he said with a smile. I smiled down at him and slowed my walking.

"Hello Brandon. You're still here? I thought you were going to your family?" I asked him and he grinned.

"Already left to see them and had to drive back through here to get back to Chicago so I thought I would stay a while and see how you were doing. You know after what happened with your brother. How is he by the way?" he asked. I smiled feeling happy that he was back.

"He's progressing and he will be home very soon." I told him. He smiled his bright eyes flashing beneath the sun's rays.

"That's good to hear. How about I give you a ride home, there's a longer route I found that will take you to your home. Maybe we can talk and catch up on stuff." he suggested. I arched a brow and bit the inside of my cheek.

"A longer route, does it pass the Bondurant's bar?" I asked and he shook his head and smirked.

"Nope, we won't have to worry about the creepy old bar today. So how's about it?" he asked and I looked around seeing as no one was around and that the sun was blazing and I needed cool air.

"Fine and I happen to work at that bar." I said walking around his car and getting in and sitting my stuff down in the back of his car. Brandon winced and began to drive on.

"You work there? How can you work under those boys? I heard they have some major history behind them. Dangerous history." he told and I closed my eyes feeling the cool air on my skin from his air condition.

"They're nice men and are nice to me." I said. He nodded.

"Does that boss of yours still have a stick up his ass?" he asked. I glanced at him now knowing he meant my fiancé.

"You mean Forrest? He's not so bad." I said and watched as he merged off the road onto a dustier trail. I was somewhat familiar with the area.

"I know this place. I walked home on this trail and it took me an hour or so to get home." I told him as I looked around. He smiled and then picked up a bottle of lemonade he had in his cup holder and began to sip from it then he handed it to me and I was utterly taken by his hand motions. "Do you want me to hold this or something?" Brandon suddenly laughed.

"No, Eula, I know you're hot from the heat. Have some." he said and I tensed up.

"No. That is not something we do around here. Why would you want me to drink from you?" I asked. He chuckled, his white teeth shining and his hair blowing from the air from his air condition.

"Look you are my friend, and a woman who looks like she is going to exhaust from the heat. It's not like you're going to give me a disease. You're a classy woman and I don't want you to expire from all of this heat. So drink." he explained and I looked down at the bottle of cool lemonade and I looked up at him and he was smiling as he watched the road and I sighed giving in and taking the drink and taking a small sip of it and handed it back to him and he smiled and just placed his lips around the bottle and finished the rest. I shook my head in mild confusion.

"I don't get you. Why are you doing all of these nice things for me?" I asked and he just shrugged and glanced at me.

"Because it makes me feel good to do nice things for you." he said and I looked down for a moment.

"But I'm black. No one cares about me other then my family and the people I work with." I said and I noticed the car begin to slow down and I watched him as he now looked a bit upset and once the car came to a stop he looked at me with a deep yet hard stare.

"I know you don't believe that given your current family situation. Some people actually care about others no matter what their race. I guess you can call my color blind." he said lightly looking me over. I stared at him for a while and then nodded slowly.

"The whole world should be colorblind." I said softly and he smiled lightly and the next thing that happened made me see stars. Brandon leaned over swiftly and placed the back of his hand on my head and in seconds he pushed our heads together, our lips crashing wildly against each other.

(Author's Notes)

Hey everyone back. I know I've been away for a bit but I hope this chapter sparks things back up again! Enjoy. I enjoy all of your reviews ^.^