"You've never seen a Disney movie? Ever?" Ruby asked, a soft smile on her face as she looked up from Lou's lap. "Not even as a little girl?" Lou snorted.
"When I was a little girl, I carried water for my dad and granddaddy when they were digging. I got a shovel for my eighth birthday. Every day was a digging day. Christmas too." Ruby lifted her head when Louise's voice took on a sad and wistful tone. She still winced, and fought back an audible moan when Louise began softly massaging her neck and scalp, soft hands running through her hair.
"I want to give you at least a teeny tiny piece of that childhood that you missed. I'm going to show you a Disney movie." She smiled, looking up at her, the brown eyes shining with joy, making her own mirror them.
"I want to make you happy too." Louise whispered, leaning down to place a kiss on her temple, laughing softly at the shiver that went down Ruby's spine. She smiled, softly stroking Ruby's hair, the blond locks silky in her hands."I hate what happened earlier.I'm so sorry. I never want ya to be afraid of me."
"I'm not afraid of you. I was scared though, not gonna lie." She closed her eyes, turning her face towards Louise, and hiding her eyes in the big cherokee printed shawl, so her tears were not visible. "I was so scared, when I came in, and the door was open, and then you screamed. I..I just, well, I...I ran to you. Im sorry Lulu. Im..I.." She fell silent then, trying not to make it obvious that she was crying. She had already lost her Nora, and, though Louise wasnt hers, not exactly, she still didnt want to lose her, or anything to happen to her, and she was unable to help. She was, she refused to voice, falling in love, and falling fast.
"Shhhh. Hey...Shhhh. Honey Darlin..shhhh. You oughta know, I get nightmares sometimes. I..Somethin happened to me, and I still dream about it sometimes. It isnt usually a big deal, since no ones around to hear it. I wont sleep with my gun anymore, and I..I am thankful that you tried to save me. Even if it was just from a dream."Her hand ran through Ruby's hair, voice soft and crooning. "I know youre cryin." She whispered, breath tickling her ear. "I know ya are. And I wish youd let me see."
Ruby turned, her tearfilled eyes staring into Louise's warm ones. "I dont let people see me cry." She whispered softly, smiling sadly when Louise placed a hand on her cheek. "Auntie Alice taught me that people use your weakness and prey on it, though Grandmother said it differently in her diary." She remembered. "She wrote that people are neither monsters nor saviors. Some are good and some are bad. The bad might destroy the good, so we have to try our best to be the good in the world, even if we do it by bein bad." She mused, seeing Louise's eyes narrow in confusion.
"My Granddaddy, said the opposite. He believed only certain people were good, all others were scum. Trash. Which is funny. He died poor, buried in a paupers grave with not a damned dime to his name. You'd hardly know he used to be one of the richest men alive." Louise stared off into the distance. "I didnt love him, or agree with him, but he was a part of me. I dont miss that he's gone, but I do miss the idea of having a Granddaddy. He wasn't much of one." Her eyes narrowed. "Spent his whole damned life pining for a woman he couldnt have, killed her lover, then married a fourteen year old kid. Died poor as all hell wasting his life chasin treasure and liquor."
"I never knew my Grandmother." Ruby whispered. "She died before I was born. Shot by a Klansman saving a little boy's life. Least, thats how Aunt Alice told it. I used to read her diary over and over when I was little. She had a forbidden love too." She paused, snagging a handful of mxms from the bowl on the coffee table. "I was a freshman in HighSchool when Auntie Alice caught me kissin a girl from the school's rodeo team. Kicked me out the very next day, said no child in her house was gonna be in bed with the devil." She paused, choking back tears. "I was gonna kill myself, didn't have anywhere to go, anything to live for. I went and stood on an overpass, but Grandmother's diary fell out of my bag. I sat there, in the rain, reading about her and Grandfather's love story. Grandmother was thrown out of town, just because Grandfather was a former slave. She said she thought about dyin too, but then she decided to live in his memory, until she saw him again." She went quiet then, turning so her face was hidden in Louise's sweater.
"I'm glad you didn't, kill yourself. I'd never have met ya." Her voice was husky, like she too was trying not to cry. In one movement, she lifted Ruby in her arms, carrying her into the bedroom, gently laying her in the bed, then moving to lay beside her. She wrapped her arms around Ruby, holding her close against her. "Sorry. It's been a long time, since I held anybody. Figured we both could use this." Her heart was pounding. She knew she should explain, explain what had happened, but she didnt think she could.
"Can I ask you something dumb?" Ruby whispered, the look in her eyes making Louise's heart melt.
"Go ahead." Louise whispered back. " Ask away,"
"Do you mind the names I call you? Lulu, Lula Bell, Geeze Louise?" She asked, fully prepared to be told not to use them anymore.
"No. I dont mind. Not a fan of my name, except my middle name. I like Annabell. I dont like Louise. It sounds stupid to me." Louise laughed. "I like Lulu though. And Geez Louise is just funny. You know how to make me laugh."
"Annabell reminds me of a poem Grandmother talked about in her diary. Annabell Lee by Poe. She grew up with Grandfather, and the poem reminded her of him, and their kingdom by the sea. Well, the lake." She smiled. "I think Grandmother wouldve liked you. Youre kind, warm, and..I'm going to sound silly here, but really pretty."
"Pretty huh?" Louise smiled, a blush finding its way to her cheeks. "I aint pretty. I'm work worn. Look at me. Im as ugly as they get."
"No you aint." Ruby whispered, standing slowly, closing the door to reveal a full length mirror. "You have eyes that shine, a smile that crinkles your cheeks, and I love your hair. And dont even get me started on your hugs." She teased. "Lulu, you are Beautiful. I dont know why you think youre not." She paused, leaning on the door, dizzy from the earlier blow to the head. Instantly, Louise was by her side, arms around her waist, steadying her.
"Ya ok? Ya aint feelin weak now are ya?" She leaned forward into Louise's arms, smiling as she felt warmer as she was held tighter. "This ok?" She asked. Ruby nodded.
"We had music, Id dance with you." She whispered, a smile dancing in her eyes. "Can I tell you something?"
"Yeah. Go ahead." Louise's voice was soft, closer to her ear than she usually would've found comfortable. "Let's sit down though. I'm still worried about your head."
Ruby sighed, closing her eyes as she sat back down, pulling herself out of Louise's arms. "Lou, Are you, seeing anyone?" Her heart pounded as she asked, a part of her instinctively knowing that she had asked the wrong question.
"Well, no, not exactly, but there IS someone I'd like to see." Lou's eyes danced with mischief, as she looked into Ruby's dark ones.
"O..Oh." Ruby whispered, her voice sounding small, and embarrassed even to her own ears. How could she have been so stupid? Why on earth would Lou want anything to do with her, that way? Besides, she didn't want to ruin the friendship she had barely begun with the other woman. "How about that movie then? I brought Titanic."
They spent the evening on the couch, a bowl of popcorn between them. Halfway through, they paused the movie, and Ruby insisted upon making dinner for Louise. Against laughing protests, she stood, making her way to the kitchen,a smile on her face when she thawed a pound of hamburger, and began to dice potatoes, taking a can of green beans and dumping them into a pan with some butter to cook. Once the beef was defrosted, Ruby chopped it finely, placing it into the frying pan, cooking it to perfection, spices and all, combining it with the potatoes carrots, and a warm brown gravy. She added some cheese, stirring everything together and topping it with a generous portion of garlic and onions.
"Auntie Alice's leftover pan casserole. Green beans on the side." She brought over two plates, and two tall glasses of lemonade. "Here. Lulu."
"Thanks love." The endearment fell from her lips as if she'd been using it her entire life. In truth, she had never called anyone Love before, had never been in love, never been with anyone, man or woman, at least voluntarily. There had been a time, of course, when Marion had a thing for her, more of a school boy crush really, because long ago, she actually had been quite beautiful, though according to Ruby, she still was. Louise didn't believe a word of it.
Oh she knew her preferences, that wasn't the issue. She knew she favored women, but she didn't want to bring anyone here, to this awful God forsaken Camp Green Lake. No one would care to spend their life here, beside her, besides, Her daddy and grandaddy always used to question if anyone would actually love a poor woman. And now she questioned it too. She thought, maybe, perhaps someday, when she found the treasure, she might be able to find someone who wanted her, for her. Ruby would never. She shouldn't. There was no way in the world that woman would ACTUALLY want to, voluntarily, be here.
"What are you thinking Geez Louise?" Ruby's voice pulled her out of her thoughts, grounded her, jerked her back to reality. The concern in her eyes made her heart melt, caused her to almost reconsider what she had been thinking. Ruby cared. And Ruby was real. And her nicknames were so stupid, but she adored them.
"Nothing. Just...just thinkin." Louise hoped her eyes didn't betray her sadness and self doubt. By the way Ruby was eyeing her, she surmised she was wrong. "Your food is good."
"You havent tried it yet." Ruby raised an eyebrow. "Come on, talk to me. What's up?" She took her fork, stabbing a bit of the casserole, and raising it to Louise's lips. "Try it. Please? For me?"
Louise sighed, her eyes lighting up when she brought the fork to her lips, the flavors mixing together and combining in her mouth. "This is really good." She smiled when Ruby blushed at the praise. "Whats the matter darlin? No one ever liked your cookin before?"
"No its not that. More like, I dont know exactly what to do when YOU praise my cooking." She giggled at the admission, taking a bite of food before she could say anything more.
"Rubes, you got somethin to tell me?" Louise teased, closing her eyes as she leaned her head against Ruby's pretty much guessed, she thought softly, as she set her bowl down on the coffee table. She hoped Ruby was feeling the same type of things that she was, though she doubted it were the case. She hoped, because she was so very, very tired of being alone. She wrapped her arms around her, sighing when Ruby turned and burrowed into her shawl.
"No." She whispered, more than happy to take the opportunity to snuggle against her. She wanted to say how she felt, wanted to ask Lou to be her girlfriend, but she knew it wouldnt work. Lou just didnt feel the same way. She closed her eyes, not wanting to let go of Lou, enjoying the scent of her cologne, mixed with the every day scent of her.
"I think there is." Lou gently stroked her hair, sighing softly as her hand grazed the stitches. "Im sorry. About throwing you."
"Oh Louise, it wasn't your fault. You didnt mean to, and Im not upset with you. I...Im just glad youre alright. If anything happened to you, I dont know what I would do." Her voice cracked, and she suddenly remembered that day, as clear as it had been. Nora flying through the air, the deafening sound of the gunshot as the man made sure her fiance was dead. She couldn't lose Lou. Couldnt even imagine coming here one Saturday, and her not being there, being gone. She couldnt. She wouldnt. She needed air.
"Hey, love. Where are you going? Rubes? Hey, Shit, Ruby, come back here, hey...come on now."
Ruby bolted from out the front door, running haphazardly through the dark of the night, her sobs echoing through the stillness. She stumbled, finding herself lost as she she looked around at the holes. There had to be hundreds, thousands of them. She didn't know where she was. No idea how to get back to the Cabin, the old lake lit only by the stars. She turned, running in the direction she thought she had come, but she had woven between so many holes she had gotten all turned around. She yelped as she fell, a strangled cry of terror leaving her lips as she plunged into the deep, dark hole, landing in a heap at the bottom, falling into unconsciousness as her already injured head slammed against a rock.
"Find her. Get the boys out of bed if ya have to, but find her. Shes lost out there, and those damn lizards come out at night." Louise was shaking, her shawl wrapped around her shoulders though the night was hot. "Marion, Ya know I dont please. If anything happens to her-"
"Aint nothin gonna happen. We'll look. Pendansky and me'll check towards the desert aways, she cant have got too far." Marion's voice was oddly comforting, a gruff hand placed on the Warden's shoulder.
"I'll get my car. If she's hurt I can't carry her back." Louise turned, grabbing her keys off the hook and taking off at a run for her vehicle. Her heart was hammering out of her chest. What had she said? What had she done? Everything had happened so fast, she had barely had time to blink. She drove through the desert, weaving through the maze of holes, calling out desperately every few feet, begging, longing for Ruby to answer her.
"Rubes...Come on! Where are you?" Her shout was heard for miles, so why wasn't Ruby answering her?
She saw Pendansky out with several of the boys, saw them checking every single hole. . . She couldn't have fallen! Not with her head wound, not with those damned Lizard's out there. She stopped, looking up to the sky up above, the star's piercing light bringing her some calm, some peace of mind.
"What the hell should I do?" Louise asked desperately. "I know I don't deserve much, not after what ole Trout did, but please, My heart's good at least. Help me to help her? I'll do anything, anything at all. Just let her be alright?" She left her car there, keys still in the ignition, the hum of the engine about the only sound besides her heavy breathing, and the shouts of the boys far in the distance. Wait. What was that?
A soft, cry reached her ears, coming from behind her. "Ruby? Come on Girl, Answer me."
"L..Lulu..Lulu help me" She spun around, her voice catching in her throat, phone light shining down into the five feet deep hole.
"Oh my God." She leaped down, without a second thought, without even caring for her own safety, kneeling beside Ruby, hands traveling down her body, feeling for anything broken, her heart shattering when she heard Ruby yelp in pain when she touched her temples. "Baby...shhhh….shhhh...I've gotcha. I've gotcha, come here."
"Im sorry Lou...Im sorry...I just….cant lose you...like I lost Nora...I wasnt running from you. I was running from the memories…" She sighed, smiling softly when Louise pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I..I gotta tell you something."
"No, you dont. I gotta tell YOU something." Lou's voice took on a husky tone, her throat constricted by tears. "Dont ya ever do this again. I..I..oh Ruby, hon, I gotta tell ya, I..I was talkin bout you, earlier, when I mentioned, someone, Id like to try bein with."
"I..I want to..please Lou," Ruby winced, trying to get up, wanting to be back on the couch, or in the bed so she could wrap herself around the other woman. "Please….Im scared, get me out of here?"
"Come on." Louise stood, bending over, leaning against the wall of the hole. "Step onto my back. If you can. Easy now love. Ready, one, two, three!" She pushed upwards, ignoring the pop in her back, her only concern making sure Ruby was safe. She reached upwards, her nails clawing the dirt.
"Lou, grab my hand." Ruby peered over the hole, grabbing her hands in her own, trying to pull her up. "I've got you. Just trust me, ok?" Blood was running down her cheek, sending alarm bells through Louise's brain. She had to get out, had to get her fixed up.
"Okay, I'm ready." She yelped as Ruby pulled her up and over the rim, laughing softly as she found herself on top of the other woman, staring into the soft dark eyes. "H..Hey gorgeous." She teased, moving to get up, groaning as they were suddenly in the beam of a very bright flashlight.
"Hey Yo! Get a room!" Louise scrambled up, wincing as she moved, glaring at the boy who spoke, knowing she likely didn't look intimidating at all in her floral bed clothes and geometric shawl.
"Enough. Okay. If you bring my car over here, You'll get extra shower tokens, just...be careful with it, alright?" Normally, she'd never let anyone, even Marion touch old Betsy, but her main concern was not letting Ruby walk at all until she'd been able to properly check her over.
"Pendansky, for the first time in Green Lake History, I'm declaring tomorrow an official day off from digging. Sleep late, the day is yours."
She ignored the shocked murmurs that turned into loud cheers. She sighed in relief when the boy opened the car door, and she lifted Ruby in her arms, all the while crooning softly to her, lovingly setting her in the backseat, sighing when Ruby grabbed her hand.
"Dont leave me?" The weak voice broke her heart. She turned,the internal battle lasting only a minute.
"You get me an my girl to my cabin in once piece, your whole tent can share a gallon of Rocky Road." Louise climbed in back, allowing Ruby to rest in her lap. "Ive gotcha baby. I'm here. See my darlin? I'm right here."
"Lulu...I'm sorry." Ruby whispered, looking into Louise's eyes. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have run."
"Im just glad youre ok." Louise's voice was soft as she helped Ruby out of the car, lifting her in her arms and carrying her into the cabin. She set Ruby down on the bed, before rushing out and giving a tub of ice cream to the waiting boy, thanking him for his help. She turned, hitting her leg on the coffee table in her haste to return to Ruby's side.
"Louey, youre limping." Ruby said, sitting up, wincing in pain as she moved over for Louise to sit down.
"Louey, That's a new one. Sounds like a fat old mailman. Louey." She scoffed, though the smile on her face was bright, as she moved to give Ruby a more thorough check over. "Seems alright. Does anything feel broken?"
"No." It had been a long time, since Ruby had a massage, of any kind, and she enjoyed the feeling of Louise's hands moving over every inch of her, making sure nothing was broken, or bruised. She closed her eyes, obediently turning over when Louise asked her to, wincing only slightly when the strong, soft hands travelled down her back. Her breath hitched, but she was very careful to hope that Louise didnt notice. Apparently, she did, for her hands grew still more gentle, still softer, a loving smile on her face as she found the spot that made Ruby wince.
"Here. Hows that? Better? Wait here while I run a bath." Louise stood, without waiting to hear her protests, and disappeared. Ruby heard the bathtub running, and in a few short moments Louise returned, carrying a fluffy towel and a pair of pajamas with paw prints on them.
"I brought my own PJs Lou, I'll be alright." Ruby stood, surprised when Louise entwined their hands, leading her into the bathroom.
"Can ya take your own clothes off or should I help ya?" Her accent was thick as her face grew as red as her hair, and she attempted to hide her blush. "I..I um...I mean...shit…"
"I think i'll be fine Louise." Ruby blushed as well, her mind travelling to places it likely shouldnt be going, as she imagined things she shouldnt be imagining. "Though, If you dont mind, would you be able to help with my blouse? I dont want to mess up my stitches pulling it over my head, and the buttons always get caught in my hair." She giggled nervously, raising her arms as Louise gently pulled the blouse over her head.
"Youre beautiful." The words were said with an almost reverence, and Ruby could feel Louise's hot breath against her lips, they were standing so close. She looked into her eyes, before leaning forward, and crashing their lips together.
The kiss was gentle, though it had begun as a hard, needy one, molding itself into the gentlest, most loving of kisses. She moaned softly, before breaking away, needing air, needing to sit down, leaning against Louise, fully aware that there was only a sports bra in between them.
"Oh Lou...Lou..Lulu…" Ruby said breathlessly, looking at her almost teasingly. "Kiss me again?"
"Ya need to get in the bath. It'll help your back. I'll kiss ya as much as ya want later on." Louise's voice was soft, gentle as she exited the bathroom. "Tell me when youre in the water, I'll bring ya a glass of wine."
Ruby undressed, tossing her clothes in the corner, climbing into the hot water and sinking down all the way to her nose in the rose scented water. She reached out and knocked on the door, leaving a trail of bubbles from her hand.
"Brought us wine, my love." The obviously fake british accent made Ruby laugh as she saw Louise enter the small bathroom, two glasses of red wine in her hands, and a smile on her face. She sat up, the tub deep enough that her breasts were still covered by soap bubbles, and reached out to take a glass.
"Why thank you Madame." Her own fake accent was worse than Louise's had been, and they were both giggling as they sipped the wine, Louise leaning over the tub and stealing soft kisses. She grinned at Ruby, a conspiratory look on her face. "Dont you think youve had enough wine?" Ruby giggled, seeing the empty first bottle, and the beginnings gone out of the second. "I mean, We're both...pretty drunk." She reached up, placing a soapy hand to Louise's cheek, kissing her sloppily, but with more passion than their previous kiss had been.
"Youre pretty….ummm pretty." Louise slurred, her eyes bright as she set her glass down, reaching into the water to splash Ruby in the face. "Gah, if ya werent hurt right now, I could just…"
"MMmh. So could I. I want to. Lulu, Oh I want to." Their lips crashed together again, Louise nipping softly at her bottom lip, her hands trailing down Ruby's sides. She still had her wits about her, that was definitely a blessing, otherwise she'd have crawled into the tub, completely clothed.
"Someday, Im gonna be a rich woman, and you'll be my wife, and we'll be happier than anyone in the world. I'll buy ya a big ole house, with a horse so ya can start ridin again, and a dog. I always wanted a dog." Louise kissed her again. "My gal. That's what ya are. My buffalo gal."