A/N - Oh my gosh guys n gals, it's been a while hasn't it? I haven't touched this story for a good few months. I have had my reasons. I had all my exams which were horrid and then I went on holiday. After that I really couldn't be bothered to write at all so that's why stories haven't been going up. I also have some kittens now as well which means less laptop time meaning less story writing time. Some woman down my road never has her cats seen to and one of them moved in with us and had three babies! Not getting rid of the little sweet hearts. They are over a month old now and adorable.

Well I hope you enjoy this long awaited chapter!

Chapter 37 –

When they re-entered the house, Pete was sat flicking through a paper. He was now in white baggy clothing and wasn't wearing his hat.
"Now don't go messing up my pile Pete." Jessie said jokingly.
Pete looked up to see the two in the doorway. "I was wondering where use two were. I've had my bath and evr'thing. I thought you were just going out to talk." Pete chuckled.
"We sat and watched the sun set, it was beautiful." Jessie said with a smile as she sat down next to Pete.
"Woody you sly dog you." Pete said winking at Woody.
Woody just glared in response; he was not going to retaliate.

Pete pulled out his pocket watch and had a look at the time, "You two were out there for quite some time. It's nine now." Pete said looking up at the two of them.
Woody's eyes seemed to widen a little, "Nine, really?"
"Yes, you were out there for ages, I've had a bath, got my night gear on, had a snack and read two papers while you were out. This is my third." Pete said waving his paper in the air.
"Well, the day went by pretty quickly, for me anyway." Jessie said with a yawn. Her eyes seemed to be getting baggy and a bit blood shot.
"I need to have my bath in a minute." Woody said taking off his hat and placing it on a hanger.
"Jessie dear, why don't you go get your night gown on before Woody has a bath, you look shattered." Pete smiled.
Jessie looked at Pete and then at Woody, "I don't want to delay Woody's bath."
"It doesn't matter Jessie, I can wait." Woody looked over to her, still he did not smile even thought his voice sounded kind.
Jessie smiled, "Okay, thank you, I won't be too long."

Jessie stood up and went over to the draws where her clothing was when she suddenly had a thought. 'Oh darn it, I need bloomers and towels, I'm gonna have to hide them in my night gown.' Jessie bit her lip as she opened the draws. She pulled out her night gown and then went down to the bottom draws where her bloomers and towels would be. Jessie looked over her shoulder to see if the two males were looking, Pete was focused on his paper while Woody tinkered in the kitchen. Quickly opening the bottom draw, Jessie pulled out a pair of bloomers and two towels. Wrapping the towels and bloomers in her night gown, she turned to the two and said "Be back soon."

Jessie entered the bathroom and dropped her things on the floor. She sighed with relief that they hadn't seen anything of hers. Jessie began to take off her dress, having difficulty to pull it past her waist; it was a tight little thing. After she had taken it off, she braced herself for the sight of the towels. Again, like before, they were stained with blood. Jessie could feel her cheeks burn a bit with embarrassment. Sure it's part of being a woman and it's nothing to be ashamed of, but Jessie just felt embarrassed about it as she was in a house with two people she hardly knew and she was having to deal with this. She took out the towels and changed her bloomers and then proceeded to place fresh towels inside. Taking off her corset, she placed that on the floor and picked up her night gown and pulled it over her head. 'All ready,' she thought 'now to wash my face.'

In the living room, Pete placed down the paper and looked over at Woody who was now reading a paper of his own.
"So Woody," Pete began "where is Jessie going to be sleeping?"
"In my bed." Woody said, his eyes not leaving the paper.
"With you?'" Pete said raising his eyebrows.
"Nope, I will be on the sofa." Woody said calmly as he turned a page.
"Oh, alright. It's not gonna be comfy."
"I know, but Jessie gets priority over me." Woody said looking up at Pete.
"Fair do's. I would offer her mine but..." Pete trailed off thinking of the state of his room.
"Yeah, but." Woody raised his eyebrows. "I better go and get the stuff out for me then." Woody said placing down the paper as he stood up.

Buster yapped and ran over to Woody. He placed his front legs against Woody's and wagged his little tail.
"Hello boy." Woody said rubbing Buster's head. "Wanna help me get some stuff for Jessie?"
Buster yapped again and ran over to the cupboard Jessie had previously looked in that day.
Woody walked over and twisted the handle causing to door to stiffly open.
"That cupboard needs to be tidy'd up." Pete said in shock looking from his seat.
"Yeah, and a good dust." Woody yanked on the light switch that was hanging from the ceiling but it didn't work. "And a new light bulb, luckily I know where everything is in here."
Woody stretched up causing some of his shirt to come out of his trousers and hang loosely over the top of his belt. He pulled down two big dusty brown boxes and placed them on the floor by the table. Dust danced around everywhere, some even went up Woody's nose causing him to sneeze.
"Bless you cowboy." Pete said with a chuckle.
Woody pulled out a hanky and blew his nose, "Thanks Pete."

Woody made his way back to the cupboard and closed it. Buster ran over to the two boxes and began to sniff them. Like with Woody, dust went up his nose and the little pup sneezed too.
"Bless you too Buster." Pete laughed even more. "What's in the boxes anyway?"
Woody blew the dust off the first box and opened it. Inside were a duvet and a blanket. The duvet was white where as the blanket was patch work with the colours green, red and blue in a square pattern.
"You keep the duvet and your mothers blanket in that?" Pete said looking at the box.
Woody tensed a little, "Yeah, I know they are safe in there." he threw the two on the sofa and then proceeded to the next box. Within the box were two plumped up pillows in cream cases.
"Woody, you have boxes of wonder; I didn't know you kept the stuff in there." Pete said looking at the pillows.
"That's me, wonder Sheriff." Woody said throwing the pillows onto the sofa. He picked up the boxes and put them back in the cupboard, "Come on, out you come Buster." Woody gestured for Buster to come out who had been exploring the closet.

Buster ran out the closet wagging his tail. Running over to Pete, he jumped on the old guy's lap and licked his face.
"Good boy Buster." Pete smiled stroking him.
Woody closed the door and sat on the sofa next to the duvet, blanket and pillows. Placing his hand on the blanket he sighed and closed his eyes.
Pete frowned a little; he could tell Woody was aching a little inside. "I'm gonna go sort my bed out and read a little, have a nice bath Woody; I might see ya when I get my drink of water." Pete said putting Buster on the floor as he got up.
"Reading yer wife's book again?" Woody looked over at Pete.
"Yeah, like every day." Pete sighed. "I miss her Woody, I really do. But, she is up there, in that big ole sky with yer mother watching down on us." Pete smiled at Woody.
"See ya Pete." Woody sighed looking down.
Pete made his way to the bedroom; he sighed as he opened the door, took one last glance at Woody and then entered, closing the door behind him.

Buster yapped and wagged his tail at Woody; however the tail soon slowed down. Woody was frowning and his eyes seemed to be filled with sorrow. Buster made his way over to Woody and nudged his leg.
Woody reached down and stroked Buster's head. "Good boy." He sat doing this for
a few minutes.
"Oh gosh, I better make my little bed for the night." Woody said to Buster as he stood up.

Woody hit the sofa to flatten it out. Placing the blanket down first, he smoothed it out and then placed the two pillows on top. Buster jumped over onto Pete's chair and wagged his tail while watching Woody sort out his new bed. Woody proceeded to unravel the duvet and placed in on top of the blanket. "There all done, a bed fit for a Sheriff."

A/N - How was it? Was it okay? I'm struggling to remember what has happened so far in this story! It's gradually coming back now. I have the next two chapters already done but will add a few more until I upload the next. Gosh I am starting to dislike this story a lot. I think I've dragged it out too much. I hope you liked it anyway.

Over and out!