Hello peeps! Hope you all had a great Christmas :D Hope you like this chapter and sure leave a review if you want, I love hearing what you guys think after all :D That's all for now, talk to y'all later :D

-Sailor

Over the next few weeks, things at the Bondurant place were pretty quiet. Clearly everyone there was keeping the head down, except the youngest one, the most excitable one. I had my boys watching the Bondurant place round the clock while the little one was still bopping around town and I had the hicks on him wherever he went too. But the problem was there were no new fresh leads about where the Bondurant boy's stills were. These hicks weren't about to give them up, they still lived by their tight knit community rule and along with this idea that Forrest Bondurant was of a different sort of folk who was not to be messed with so I was stuck chasing old, stale leads that led nowhere. I also kept a personal eye on Forrest whenever I got the chance. I don't know why, but every evening when I was finished in the station, I'd lock up, get in my car and drive to his place. I'd park just in between the trees while the other car with my guys in it was on the other side, out of view. I'd always see Forrest sitting out on the porch with a cup of tea staring out in front of him. There was just something about him. I would never act on it though, I'm still here to do a job but it was nice to watch him. His calm, chilled nature calmed me down after a stressful day at work before I went back to the hotel to sleep. I'd wait until he stood up, took one look around, his eyes usually running along to where my car was parked before walking inside then I'd leave. I knew he couldn't see me but it was nice to think he did and was ok with having me here.

I was sitting in the back office doing paperwork because apparently I was the only one who had the brain capacity to do it, when I heard gunshots coming from down the street. I raced out of my chair and out to the front window where I saw Floyd Banner getting back into a car and driving down the street. I looked to where my car that was watching the youngest Bondurant boy and there they sat doing nothing about it. I walked out into the blistering sun and saw Jack running out to where the empty bullet cases were lying on the ground. He picked up a few, placed them in his hat and ran the other way away from town. I looked at the car but they weren't moving. I ran over and saw they were all asleep in the car. Asleep, like they don't sleep enough at home! I banged loudly on the window watching the fright register before they woke up fully.

"What are you stupid hill billy's doing?!" I roared.

"Sorry Deputy" one yawned.

"He's still over in the feed lot…" said the other rubbing his eyes.

"Is he?!" I said pointing over. "Do you see him? Because I don't! Do you also see that car there with that body there?!"

They all peered over to where I was pointing and a look of shock covered their faces.

"Yea, you missed out on Floyd Banner you stupid hicks! And the Bondurant boy is gone!"

"It's alrigh' he went that way?" the other one in the back asked looking at where I was pointing. "He's probably gone to see Cricket, he lives down that way"

The rest of the car turned and shot him a look but he had already said it and I, of course, didn't miss it.

"Who's Cricket?"

"Dunno" they all said nodding their heads like clones.

I grabbed the driver through the window dragging his head out and pointing my gun to his temple.

"Tell me who he is now!"

"He's just a friend of the Bondurant's!" he said immediately.

"You, out of the car!" I screamed to the one in the passenger seat while I pushed the driver back in. "Go back to the station! You drive me to this Cricket place!"

He started the engine and pulled out onto the dusty road heading out of town. We pulled up on the main road and looked down to see a little dingy house and there they were, the two of them standing there yapping away. Cricket was a small, thin boy with dangly legs and arms. He didn't look well at all, his clothes hung off his scrawny form being held up by braces. They both stumbled on the spot clearly excited by what Jack had just seen; I suppose Floyd Banner would have been a hero to this guy.

"So what's the story with this Cricket guy?" I said keeping my eye on them.

"Poor crippled boy, had the rickets"

I snapped my head towards him. He knew that's not what I meant.

"I don't know Deputy; he's just a boy Jack knows"

"I don't believe that at all, there's something else to this" I whispered keeping my eye on them.

They talked for a few more minutes before disappearing into the house.

"Right…"

"We can't just march into Cricket's house!" one spoke up before I even got a chance to say it.

"Alright…" I said settling back in my seat. I was getting a bit ahead of myself. We couldn't just march in with no reason whatsoever, but it'll be ok we'll come back they'll still be there.

"Let's go back to the station" I mumbled.

Later that night, I sat in the office again watching as the darkness crept up on me. I lit the little candle beside my papers and continued to work. I heard mumblings come from the main foyer of the station and I instantly grew suspicious. I got up standing at the doorway as the mumblings stopped. They all looked like they were ready to go home for the evening.

"What's going on?"

"Nothin' Deputy" one mumbled.

"Why aren't you all at your stations?"

"Eh we were thinkin', well we have some stuff to do"

"What stuff?"

They all stayed silent, the only sound came from the few that were chewing tobacco.

"We don't want Forrest as an enemy…"

"It's not personal, this is just business" I said.

"But it is around these parts…"

I knew what that meant, it had been a little over a month since I arrived here and I'd imagine their razor thin profit margins were beginning to hit their pockets hard and they were getting sick of it.

"Forrest don't want no trouble you know. If you talked to him he'd cut you in on it"

"I don't want a cut out of it! I'm here to do a job"

"Alrigh' Deputy, we'll see you tomorrow then"

I watched as they all shuffled out and I was left on my own. I worked for another while longer until it got completely dark. I blew out the candle and got into my car. It was beginning to get a bit colder here, I suppose it was coming into winter and even Franklin can't escape the cold. I pulled my coat up around my neck and started the engine. I drove down the road and took the exit off towards the Bondurant's. But I met a car on the way. It stopped as I approached and I slowed down. I saw Forrest sitting in the passenger seat, his eyes clouded with suspicion.

"Is there a problem Deputy?" he spoke through the window in that low rumbling tone that gave me shivers.

"No, no problem" I didn't really know what excuse to give him; he had caught me off guard.

"Is there a reason you're driving to my home at this hour?"

"Where are you going?" I asked ignoring his question.

"That ain't none of your business now is it?" he mumbled.

"I think it is"

"Oh yea, how'd you figure that?"

"I told you I'd be making your life hell remember?"

"At this time in the evening?" he said his eyes shifting slightly.

I didn't care for his insinuation or tone.

"You got somethin' to say Deputy?"

"You sound like you've got something to say Mr Bondurant"

"It's Forrest" he mumbled. I looked at his brother whose eyes were creased looking between the two of us.

"Ok…Mr Bondurant" I sneered.

"Goodnight Florence" he murmured gesturing to Howard to drive on.

"It's Deputy"

"Hmm"

He glanced at me quickly before brother drove off and I waited until the noise of his car was gone before turning around driving back to my hotel.

When I got back to my hotel room I saw my officers were there waiting for me.

"We got a tip" said one standing up as soon as I entered.

"What is it?"

"That Cricket kid…he's got a still in his house"

"Where'd you hear this?"

"We followed the young one from the house and when we arrived he went into the basement, the smoke was billowing out. It all points to a still"

"Ok, good work guys. Were you watching Forrest earlier?"

"Yea but we left to come tell you what we heard. He doesn't do anything in the evening though, he usually just sits out on the porch drinking his tea"

"Yea…" I said as if I hadn't a clue. "Ok, go get some sleep and we'll make a plan of attack tomorrow"

They all walked out of the room and I was left alone. I closed the window, stopping the chill night air. I lay on my bed thinking about Forrest. I didn't want to but I couldn't help it. An hour passed and I lay in the same position with the same thoughts going through my head. I got up and looked out the window into the darkness. Forrest was just another country bumpkin…then why couldn't I stop thinking about him? The men in the city were more my type. They oozed money, wore sharp suits and were far more sophisticated than anyone I was going to meet here. I shook my head storming out of my room and down to my car. I hopped in revving the engine and driving towards Forrest's place.

When I got there, I killed the engine and watched the house. The light still shone from inside but I didn't see anyone. I got out and closed the door as quietly as I could before walking up the steps to the main door. I noticed it was unlocked so I stepped in. There wasn't a soul to be seen, just a candle that flickered on the bar and another coming from the back room through the mesh. I walked over and sat at the bar breathing in the mustiness of the whole place. I rested my hands on my folded arms feeling totally at ease here for some strange reason.

"Florence" I suddenly heard being mumbled right behind me.

I shot up and was met with Forrest looking down at me.

"Hi…Forrest"

He coughed followed by a low rumble as his eyes looked away from mine.

"Do you have, uh…a reason for being here?"

"I was thinking maybe I could have some of your Bondurant coffee?" I mumbled.

"Hmm"

He walked around to the bar, his boots making ominous thuds against the wooden floorboards.

"Deputy" he asked pouring my coffee. "I understand why you have your officers watching my place…but why do I always see another car pull up at night…are your boys doing such a bad job?"

"Forrest, it's my job"

"That's fair…but it is your job that has you here now?" he mumbled to himself. "Because if it is, I can't have you here"

"I just wanted some coffee" I mumbled.

"Well once you have it, can you leave?" he said coughing slightly.

I sipped at the cup while he took a seat at the other end of the bar. We sat in silence, with just the noise of me sipping Forrest's coffee between us.