Any mistakes, inconsistencies or weirdness in the story are for being sick and tired irl.
I do not own anything.
Chapter 2
They were driving on the road, the horses barely trotting, when Charlie saw something. It was a sign with text on it.
"They are having a fair. Can we go?"
"No."
"Come on, Monroe. We need to buy stuff, like soap. Maybe get a job for awhile, to get decent food and a place to stay?"
Monroe seemed to be thinking about it. He turned the horses on the intersection, to the road where the sign pointed. "Only for a short visit."
Near the fair, Bass got some boy to guard their horses and carriage for a small payment.
Charlie was excited. She hadn't been at the fair for ages. It didn't matter that this was a small village. She examined the products and tried some of them in her hands.
Monroe went into another direction, but never too far to lose sight over her.
Charlie approached a booth with nice looking middle-aged woman, who was selling soaps, vegetables, herbs.
"Hello. I'd like to buy some soap."
"Here are all the different varieties."
The soap were in the boxes, which were labeled. Charlie chose a lavender soap.
"Thank you."
"Do you know where one could get a job for food and a place to stay, just for a while?"
"What are your skills?"
"I can hunt and my friend is good with horses.", she said, when she saw Monroe walking near.
"You could stay at our farm?"
"That would be nice."
"I will talk about this with my husband, but I think he'll say yes."
Monroe got to speak first."I'm Jimmy King and this is my friend… Carla.
Charlie almost kicked Monroe for using a name so close to her real one. But she just smiled nicely.
"Evening Ma'am."
The woman smiled. "I'm not Ma'am, I'm Lizzie."
To Charlie's surprise, even Monroe smiled slightly.
"Come to me in an hour.", Lizzie said.
"We have to get our carriage.", Monroe said.
He guided Charlie away from the booth, placing his hand on the small of her back. Charlie tried not to react but she felt like a jolt in her system. Registering everything. How warm his hand was. His scent. How close to her he walked. Her mind started to wander.
"You should have asked me first. We are not gonna stay there for long .", Monroe moaned. , He was scanning the crowd, when they were alone again.
"Don't be so grumpy. Think about the warm meals and soft beds."
"Well, there's a certain appeal there.", he admitted reluctantly.
They arrived at the farm. Monroe stopped the carriage after Lizzie and her husband, Sam.
"Meet my family.", Sam said.
Monroe and Charlie came down, there was a young man holding their horses.
"This is Jamie", Sam told them. The young man smiled.
Everyone greeted. Sam hugged Lizzie who seemed pleased about it. "You have already met my wife."
When Jamie took the reins, Monroe had been ready to take them.
"We can take care of the horses. You should go inside and rest.", Sam said, with a friendly smile.
Charlie smiled back. "Thanks."
Monroe and Charlie walked behind the carriage and opened the doors. Monroe jumped in and grabbed some of their stuff, giving it to Charlie. She put them out from the carriage. She was about to leave for the house when Monroe jumped down to the ground and grabbed her arm. "Wait. I want to see where they take the horses and carriage."
"You don't trust them?"
"I don't trust anyone I don't know.", he said.
Charlie sighed but waited for him. "So we stand here like two idiots?"
Sam and Jamie took the carriage to the back of the yard, near stables, leaving Bass and Charlie standing in the yard. Then Sam and Jamie proceeded to take the harness off on the horses.
"Let's get inside.", Monroe decided.
Charlie snorted. That's what she had said just a moment ago, but he refused.
They opened the door, got into the kitchen and Lizzie was already preparing food in there.
"Come inside. I'll get you something to eat soon."
"Thank you.", Charlie said.
When Monroe just gazed the kitchen, apparently on some memory lane, she kicked Monroe under the table.
"Thanks.", he said.
In no time, Lizzie planted dishes of hot home made food in front of them. There was some kind of meat sauce and potatoes seasoned with herbs and salt, with vegetables.
They ate like they hadn't seen food for weeks.
"You could use a bath. I'll tell Sam to boil the water for you. In the mean time, Jamie can show you your rooms."
Charlie looked at the door way with Monroe. Young Jamie stood in the doorway, smiling.
They climbed the stairs and ended up in a corridor. There were doors on the both sides of the way. At the end of the corridor was a big window.
Jamie guided Charlie to her room. Then he left with Monroe, while Charlie took her bags in. She didn't want to miss seeing where Bass ended up, so she decided not to unpack right now.
She saw that one door was open, not far from her room. Jamie got just out.
"You will be called when the bath is ready.", he said.
"Thanks."
"Do you have any spare clothes for us? We could lend also some towels.", Charlie asked.
"I can ask from my Mother."
"I'm grateful."
She didn't want to disturb Monroe so she got back to her room and went through her things. She found the most important thing. The soap.
Lizzie gave her a towel when she came to get her. "You can leave the dirty clothes there"
Once Charlie had bathed alone, she returned to her room. There was women's clothes on the bed. Some jeans, shirts and a long nightgown. Some panties and a top.
Charlie hadn't seen Monroe after the evening. She had a night snack and she was told that Monroe was in the bath then. She lied on her bed, trying to sleep.
She woke up into a nightmare. Where she was surrounded by the men from the bar. Again.
Bass was in the bath, enjoying the hot water and the cleanliness. He thought he could get used to this. Getting food, baths, all just for working at the stables, which would start tomorrow. He closed his eyes. He was informed before that Charlie was already eating. He thought that she had been in this very room, naked and taking the bath just before him. Then the unwanted images of her started. Of Charlie, without any clothes. He didn't have to imagine what she looked like, after the incident in the river. He swallowed and tried to think about something else.
For the first time on the trip, they had a roof over their head. And a place to stay. Their own rooms. Real beds. Real home cooked meals. Bass almost purred. The warm water surrounding him.
Charlie sleeping next to him in the cold, dark camp, by the fire. Charlie sitting with him for the long hours when they were trying to get to Willoughby. Charlie with him in the river.
He sighed and started to wash himself. The water was already cooling down. When he was ready, he went to his room and found a pair of worn blue jeans and a white t-shirt. And some old briefs. A pair of socks. A dark jacket. His boots were still close to the bed. Another set of clothes for work.
He was trying to sleep but his mind was on overdrive. He felt also a bit lonely without Charlie's company. He had grown to like it. He realized he couldn't sleep without her. He lighted up some candles and tried to look for something to do. There wasn't anything in the room. Back to the bed, his eyes staring at the ceiling.
Monroe knew that he couldn't go to Charlie's room. It would be awkward. And what if she didn't want him there?
It's gonna be a long night. Fuck.
Charlie couldn't sleep after seeing the nightmare. Where the men were closing in on her in the shady bar and there was nothing she could do. She saw where the clothes were, in the pale moon light, and changed her nightgown into jeans and a shirt.
She opened the door and slipped to the dark corridor. There was pale light from the moon at the end of it, shining from the window. She was thinking about turning over to her room but then she saw a line of soft yellow light under Monroe's door. She felt her heart start to race. She
She knocked on his door. " Come in.", said the muffled voice.
She opened the door.
"Hey.", Charlie said and closed the door, sitting on a chair.
The room was lit softly. The air smelled of him, fresh sheets and the burning candles.
Monroe was lying in his bed, under covers. Leaning over to his pillows and his hands behind his head he was able to gaze her. She saw his bare chest and arms. And wondered did he even have any pants on. "What brings you here?"
She wasn't going to say it. She didn't want to. Monroe threw the blanket off and got up. Charlie didn't know where to look but she got a glimpse of Bass' naked body. She turned her gaze away with her cheeks burning when he turned and started to dress up.
Charlie only laid her eyes on Monroe again when she was sure he was decent. He had blue jeans on and pulled a white t-shirt over his upper body. His curly haired head emerging from the collar and then hands from the sleeves. He sat on the end of the bed, setting his curious gaze on her.
"I woke up and I couldn't sleep. I though that maybe you'd be up too."
He watched her. "Are you okay?"
Charlie wasn't expecting that. "How..."
"You are not yourself."
"I saw this nightmare. You know about what.", she said and walked over to the bed and slumped on the end of it, right next to him.
"It's normal.", he said.
She refused to look at him although she could feel his gaze on herself. She swallowed. "You're the only one who I feel safe with.", she admitted.
"If you're going to make fun of me now, I will hit you.", she said and stared at him, tears in her eyes, but ready for anything if he decided to be a dick about the matter.
Monroe's eyes searched for hers and he looked a bit worried. He touched her shoulder and left his hand there. She could feel their connection although he didn't say a word. She felt how she was falling apart inside. She also knew she didn't have to be strong around him. He could take her problems and help to carry them when she couldn't.
When he slowly pulled her into his arms, she didn't resist. Just like a dam had broke down, she cried. It seemed like a long time but finally she could calm herself down. She was content close to him. Monroe let go and he crawled to the bed, lying down. She followed him suit and curled to his side. He turned to his side and put his arm over her.
At some point Charlie had fallen asleep. Monroe let her be. He extinguished the flames in the candles and took some duvets for them. Then he went back, next to her.
He felt better with her. His own demons staying at bay when she was around. He sighed deep, feeling the new scent on her, the lavender and her warm side under his arm, which was again laying protective over her and closed his eyes.
In the morning Bass woke up and noticed she was watching him.
"I have nightmares about snakes.", he told her.
Charlie left a chuckle and looked like she didn't believe him.
"It's true. Don't laugh at me.", he said, his mouth curving into a smile.
"Big bad Monroe, scared of snakes."
"Well, there's just one big. It's always the snake."
Charlie laughed. Monroe felt insanely happy about that. He smiled back at her. "I'm glad you're having fun." He pretended to be upset and lied on his back, covering his face with his arm.
Charlie was checking on him. He lifted his arm to see her. "You're such a cheat."
She tickled him from his side and he recoiled. "God damn!"
Monroe retaliated and suddenly, he was partially on her, holding her from the wrists. He saw her smile shut down. He wasn't sure what it was. Either she was scared of him or...
"I'm sorry.", he said and let her hands go.
"It's okay.", she said. Before he knew, she was tickling him hard, with her both hands.
Now he really had to do something about it. He captured her with his own body weight and held her arms against himself. He smiled slightly, because he didn't want to worry her.
"We have to eat.", Charlie said.
He let her go.
The breakfast was over soon. Monroe headed for the stables with Sam and Charlie went to hunt with Jamie. She felt happier after being with Monroe. Jamie seemed to be happy too.
"It's a beautiful weather.", Jamie commented on his steed.
"Just perfect for the hunt.", she said as they were riding towards the woods.
They found just the perfect spot for waiting for the deer.
Monroe was a bit disappointed for not seeing Charlie for many hours. He knew what she would come eventually. Maybe bring back the horses or something.
He saw her only some time later. He was cleaning the stalls when she suddenly came there.
"I've been cleaning the harness and the stables all day. What have you done?"
"We shot a few deer.", Charlie said.
"We?"
"Jamie was with me."
"Oh."
Monroe took a break. He was sweating so he took his shirt off. He found his water bottle and drank. He noticed Charlie was watching him. He took a secret satisfaction from that. He couldn't stop a smirk rising to his lips. Charlie gazed him again, then she left.
He watched her leaving. The way her were hips swaying as she made more distance between them. Her round behind, long legs. He remembered what she looked like at the river, half dressed. That image had burned permanently in his memory. He knew it was wrong. But the more he tried to resist the images of her whirling in his mind, the more persistent they became.
What he didn't want to admit, not even to himself, was that he felt something for her. It wasn't only physical attraction. He wanted to get to know her, wanted to make her happy. Most of all, he wanted to be with her, so much that it hurt. He remembered when they had met the first time and wondered if she would still see him as that person, as he had been back then. Or as someone else?
He knew also that most likely nothing would happen. He had done so much bad and killed or caused a lot of deaths. Also in Charlie's family. It would be a miracle if she would ever accept him. Even this was wonder, that she let him be so close to herself.
Not even starting on Rachel. He wondered why she could forgive Miles for doing all that same shit as he had. But Rachel forgave Miles and not him. It was true that his acts had caused Ben's, Danny's death and so many others. But he hadn't been there in person, pulling the trigger. She would never let him forget that. And that way, Charlie was off limits for good.
If he would touch her, he would be on Rachel's and Miles's hit list as number one. No matter how much he would care about Charlie. They wouldn't believe that his intentions were pure.
Well, he had a death wish anyway. They would just be added to his list, of who wanted him dead. And there were many. Didn't he deserve some happiness too, where ever he could find it?
Rachel and Miles were probably playing home and Miles would be properly under her thumb. However Bass knew that he would never submit to that. Not for anyone. What had made Miles like that? He didn't know. No matter if he felt something for Charlie, he would never let her control him. As he couldn't control her. And he didn't even wan to, Part of her charm was the fact that she was stubborn and had a mind of her own. In her eyes there was fire and persistence which he admired.