Chapter Seven

Mattie awoke to the crack of thunder. She hadn't even realized she had fallen asleep in the chair. The house had become dark and turned off bitterly cold. She hurriedly got over to the fire place and started one. She sighed and sat back down as the warmth started to fill the room. She liked this feeling. She sat there for a minute and closed her eyes. Her mind started to flood back to her home and the nights spent around that fire.

She could see James sitting on their father's knee as she helped her mother quilt. She opened her eyes suddenly, thinking about her family. Had it always been that simple? Then she remembered that it hadn't been. Her family had fought most of the time. Mostly it was about the war. Other times it had been about something she had allowed James to do. She tossed another log on the fire, thinking of how she had let James die.

Frank watched from the doorway as Mattie threw the log on the fire. She pushed some of hair back and looked up. She seemed surprised when she saw Frank standing there. She stood up and smiled a little.

"What are you doing out of bed?" she asked.

"The storm woke me, and then I heard you in here and thought you might need help," Frank replied.

Mattie sat down and motioned for Frank to do the same. Frank sat down heavily. There was still pain in his side as the stitches pulled on his side. He grimaced and sighed.

"Are you alright?" Mattie asked with concern showing in her eyes.

"I'm fine," Frank said, holding his side. "The stitches are pulling and it hurts."

Mattie got up and walked into the kitchen. She came back in with a tray that had a coffee pot and two cups on it. She sat the tray down on the table next to them. She poured some the steamy, black liquid into the cups. Frank took the first and sipped the coffee. Mattie took the other and sat back down.

"I'm sorry the house is so cold," she said as she swallowed her coffee. "I didn't know that the storm was going to bring cold weather with it."

Frank shrugged. He had noticed that the house was cold, but it didn't really bother him. He held the cup in his hands and felt the heat go through him. He liked the feeling he looked around the room. This was what he had always wanted. He wanted to be in a little house, sitting by the fire with his wife. He glanced at Mattie and noticed how the firelight danced around her eyes. She was so beautiful. He suddenly looked away with that thought. He couldn't stay with her, and he was no good for her.

"Frank," Mattie said, snapping him out of his thoughts.

He looked over at her and smiled. He hadn't realized that he had gone into a daydream. She gave him a small smile and then turned away. He wondered if she felt the same way he did.

"Frank," Mattie started. "Where are you from?"

Frank looked over at her. He wasn't sure how he should go about telling her anything. The truth was the best, but it was the most dangerous. He took a long swig of his coffee and stared at the fire. He then turned to her.

"I'm from all over really," he lied. "I don't really have a place to call home.

Mattie nodded, pretending to buy his story. She took a sip of her drink and then lay back against the chair. The fire and the room felt so warm. She glanced over at Frank and something shot through her. In the fire light she could see his dark eyes dance and his features come alive. She shook her head, hoping the feeling would pass. She stood up to put another log on the fire.

"Are you married?" Mattie asked suddenly.

Mattie picked up a small piece of kindling and laid it on the fire. "No," Frank almost whispered.

Frank only shook his head. He had never even thought about it. Then his mind went to Jesse and Zee. He turned away, thinking about his brother.

"What's wrong?" Mattie asked.

Frank sighed. He thought about lying, but there was no real reason to. "I have a brother."

Mattie felt as if she had been hit. She knew that Frank had a brother, but she didn't know that they were close. She bit her lip and looked away.

"Where is he?" she asked.

"I don't know," Frank admitted. "We got separated. I don't even know if he is safe."

"How did you get separated?"

Frank looked at her and then turned his eyes to the floor. He didn't want to tell her anything. Soon he would be on his way, and it wouldn't matter.

"There were some men after us. The men started shooting and we split up. I got shot, and I hope he got away."

Mattie felt sick, thinking about what she was going to do to find Cole Younger. She turned away and stood up quickly. She grabbed the tray and started back toward the kitchen when Frank stood up, grabbing her elbow. Mattie turned caught off guard by the warmth of his touch. She pulled away from, but her gaze stayed on his eyes.

"Thank you," Frank said softly.

"Your welcome," Mattie whispered hoarsely. She wasn't sure what to do. She had never let anyone get this close to her. It was almost frightening for her to feel like this. She moved farther away, feeling something grab at her.

Frank watched as Mattie moved away. He had not meant to scare her away, but something in him was urging him to go forward. He followed her into the small kitchen and watched as she put away some things. She turned to him with a fake smile.

"You should get some rest," Mattie said softly.

"I'm not tired," Frank said, smiling and moving closer to her.

Mattie turned around almost dropping the tray she was still holding. Frank slowly reached out and took it from her. He sat it aside and moved toward her. Mattie looked away until Frank touched her face. Her eyes suddenly flew at him.

Frank was staring deeply into her eyes. She could feel something coming off of him that she had never felt before. She hesitantly reached up and touched his cheek. She could almost feel him tense beneath her hand.

"You started this," she whispered playfully.

"I should get some rest," Frank mumbled.

Mattie could only manage to nod. She wasn't even sure why she let him get that close. Frank withdrew and walked to the bedroom. Mattie lingered in the kitchen a moment longer and then headed off to the spare bedroom. She removed her dress and let her hair fall down her back. She built a small fire in her room and then lay down, but sleep would not come to her.

Frank was lying in bed, thinking of how close he had come to Mattie. He reached down and touched his wound. She had done a wonderful job of mending it. He just wished the pain would stop. He was ready to go back to the gang, or was he? He thought of all the shooting, robbing, and fighting. He was tired of all of it. He was sick of jumping in between Jesse and Cole when they were both ready to shot first and not worry. He wanted to get married and settle down. He let out a sigh and closed his eyes. He could hear Mattie moving around and wondered what she was doing and thinking. He cursed himself for wondering such things. It wasn't his place to know. Finally he closed his eyes.

He could still hear the thunder outside. He thought about Jesse. He could only hope that his young impetuous brother was safe, or as close to heaven as he was at that moment.