The sound of movement outside the tent wakes me. I look around me to find Mercedes, Rosita, Kate and Beth all soundly asleep. I focus a moment longer on Beth. I still haven't forgiven her for what she had done, but I push the murderous thoughts from my mind to focus on what's important: Nicole is not in the tent. A slight panic sets in as I make my way out of the tent into our little campsite just outside Physicia.
After we managed to defeat Bobo's men via Nicole's excellent plan of deception, we hurriedly went to get the horse and wagon in the woods, where Kate had left it tied to a birch tree. We didn't have anything besides the clothes and items on our person, along with what was in the wagon.
Kate, Rosita and Mercedes got into the wagon and Nicole assigned herself as driver, getting in front of the reigns. Jack jumped up next to her, which left Beth and I. Beth looked at us warily and breathed out an apology. Mercedes plead her case, whilst I immediately voiced my opposition to that snake of a woman traveling with us. I was not the only one who had reservations, Rosita and Kate both looked like they were about to agree with just leaving Beth behind.
But of course, the Sparrow was not about to leave a helpless woman to fend for herself in the woods. Even if that woman had resulted in her house being burned down by her greatest enemy. Nicole put a gentle hand on my shoulder and addressed the group in a soft, but firm voice. "Stop this. If we leave her out here, we are just as bad as Bobo. She is coming with us." I was once again blown away by Nicole's ability to forgive so easily, besides all the hurt she had experienced at the hands of others.
In the end, we could not deny that Nicole was right and begrudgingly allowed Beth to get in the wagon, to her and Mercedes's relief. I got onto the front of the wagon beside Nicole, with Jack sitting between us. Then we were off in the direction of Purgatory.
It had grown dark since we left the clearing which Nicole had called home, but we decided to push on at least until Physicia, before setting up camp. Nicole wore her hood to make sure no one around Monument would recognize her. The redhead made sure to take routes known to have less bandit activity, but kept her bow at the ready just in case there was any trouble. I was also glad to still have my dagger with me and gripped it tightly where it was sheaved against my left hip.
After three hours we finally arrived at Physicia. Nicole had steered the horse into the woods where we found a spot to set up camp. Kate and Mercedes removed the tent they always carry attached to the wagon and started setting it up as Nicole and I worked on getting the fire going. We didn't have much to eat besides some nuts and dried fruit that Rosita had saved beneath the seat inside the wagon. After our meal, we were all very much exhausted and got into the tent to sleep. I remember feeling Nicole's restless movements beside me before I eventually drifted off to sleep.
Which brings me to where I am now, venturing into the campsite in search of the redhead. It does not take me long to spot her, sitting on a log near the fireplace on the opposite side of the tent, with Jack dozing at her feet. I approach her slowly as to not startle her. "Hey." I say softly. Nicole doesn't even flinch at my voice, perhaps because her hearing is so sharp from her escapades as the Sparrow. She had probably heard me coming from a mile away. Jack's tail starts moving up and down slowly in greeting. I move to rub his head before moving to sit next to Nicole on the log.
She turns her head slowly towards me. "Hey." She echoes with a warm smile. My heart flutters, the memory of what almost happened before the Bobo event returns to the forefront of my mind. I have to physically restrain myself from moving forward and continuing where we had left off before being interrupted. I watch her eyes drop to my lips briefly, indicating that perhaps she had also been thinking about it. But I couldn't get distracted just yet. We needed to talk about things first.
"Couldn't sleep?" I prompt her. She looks at me sheepishly before nodding. "Yeah. I just have a lot on my mind right now." When she does not continue, I ask "Want to talk about it?" At my question, Nicole's shoulders slump. She takes a breath and nods.
"After telling you about my life and the whole Bobo thing happening, I guess…I guess it just brought up a lot of my old wounds and memories." She sounds so very sad that I grab her hand and squeeze it in comfort. To my surprise, she squeezes back.
"Waverly, I have always been so scared to make friends after everything that happened with my mother and Shae. That's why I chose to go live in the woods, to become a recluse. That way I would not risk meeting people and forming friendships." She takes another breath. "That way I would not be able to ruin anyone else's life."
Her words and the sadness in her demeanour break something within my soul. She did not deserve to feel like this. Nicole Haught was one of the best people I had ever met. She was the best of us, truly. "Nicole, you don't ruin anyone's life." I say with a frown, completely confused that she would think that way. "You help other people, you save them. You saved Mercedes and the other women in that tent. You saved numerous other victims of Bobo and your mother's tyranny." I say softly, a hint of exasperation in my voice. When she wouldn't look at me, I reach out and gently lift her chin in my direction. "You…you saved me." I say gently, gratefully. At my words her eyes seem to take on a new light, a light of hope.
"I save people in a stupid attempt to make a difference, to make up for every time I have resulted in someone getting hurt by my mother because of me." She replies softly, her voice raw and full of vulnerability. I move a red lock of her hair that had fallen in her face behind her ear, then I move my hand to cup her cheek gently.
"Nicole Haught, you listen to me. You are the bravest, kindest and most selfless person I have ever met. Well, besides that time you chased my food away and mocked me." I say smiling at her ruefully. She does not return my smile so I quickly speak again. "None of what happened by your mother's hand was ever your fault." She looks like she is about to protest, so I raise my finger and look at her sternly. "Don't you argue with me on this. It. wasn't your. fault." I emphasize. "Do you hear me? It wasn't." I tell her with complete conviction.
I physically witness the doubt draining from her beautiful features, being replaced by awe and wonder. She nods at me slowly in acknowledgement, to my relief. "Good. You are amazing and anyone who denies that…" My words are interrupted when Nicole's surges forward and kisses me. Any coherent thought I might have had after that flew out the proverbial window.
She kisses me gently, but there's an almost urgent passion behind the way her lips mould against mine. Like she needs this kiss almost as much as she needs air to breathe. She tastes of dried fruit and macadamias, and the deliciousness of it makes my head spin.
I have never been kissed before in my life, but I am pretty sure this was much better than any of the fairy-tale kisses mother had described in her stories.
To my great disappointment, Nicole starts to pull back and looks at me with deep worry. "Waves I am so sorry I…" She starts. I realise that I had been sitting there so completely dazed by Nicole's kiss that I never returned the favour. So to right this error, I move forward and grab Nicole's face with both my hands, bringing her lips back to mine before she can complete her sentence.
Nicole is motionless for a second, then I feel her relax into the kiss. Her hands move to my waist, holding me steady as our lips move against each other in a passionate dance. It's the most wonderful experience that I have ever had in my 19 years on this earth and I wish for it to never end.
Unfortunately, the universe had it out for me. A loud snore resounding from the tent startles us, causing us to break apart. Realizing it was only Mercedes, we relax again. I see Nicole glaring in the direction of the tent. Her thunderous expression causes me to burst out in giggles. At my laughter, Nicole's head whips back in my direction. She looks at me in surprise before joining in with giggles of her own. Her laughter is greater than any other sound I ever had the pleasure of hearing. It is even better than the sounds of the woods I adore so much.
Eventually someone groans inside the tent, causing us to quickly stifle our laughter. I rest my forehead against Nicole's gently. "Thank you, Waverly." Nicole whispers against my lips, her voice full of genuine gratefulness. I am uncertain if she is thanking me for the kiss, my speech before the kiss or something else. What I am certain of, however, is that if whatever I did could help Nicole out of the dark crevices of her mind, then my goal was achieved. So I just nod at her in response. "Anytime." I say and it some of the truest words I have ever said.
Then I am betrayed by an obnoxious yawn leaving my mouth, causing Nicole to raise an eyebrow at me. I smile sheepishly at her.
"You should go and get some sleep. We still have a ways to go till Purgatory." She instructs me. I nod and reluctantly get up to move towards the tent. When she makes no move to follow, I stop and turn back. "Aren't you coming?" I ask softly. She smiles at me with that expression that I am still too scared to name yet. "I'll be there soon, Waves." She replies.
I nod, satisfied by her answer. Then I turn and head back towards the tent. With one last look at the redhead who has changed my life in only a few days, I open the tent door and enter our temporary home. I lay to get some well-deserved rest before we continue our journey to Purgatory tomorrow. I was finally on my way to Wynonna, I realise. This thought along with the memory of gentle lips on mine quickly lulls me into a dreamless sleep.