From Light to Darkness
Emma grimaced, dipping the mop into the bucket of water. She'd been cleaning Gold's cell, and the blood was almost all gone. She wasn't a squeamish person. Not usually, anyway. She'd seen a lot of blood in her life, because, as a bounty hunter, she'd had to get violent, and sometimes, blood would spill.
But in this instance, because she was conscious of how and why Gold had gotten killed, it made Emma sick.
Rebecca hadn't seemed dangerous. Not until she held Regina and her at gunpoint, that is. She was a lost soul, who trusted the wrong person, and when that person betrayed her, she'd gotten so mad, she'd done something drastic. In a weird way, Emma felt sorry for her. She mopped up the last of the blood, then walked out to the back alley to dump it out. Emma closed her eyes, looking away, as the blood fell onto the cobblestone. She then took the bucket and the mop back into the station.
Sometimes her job was pretty thankless. She also couldn't help feeling slightly relieved that Gold was dead, even though it was coupled with guilt. When she was a bounty hunter, she only ever killed in self-defense; death wasn't something she dealt with lightly. But Gold would have never stopped until Regina was dead, because of some girl named Belle.
She was tempted to go and ask Regina who Belle was, and why Mr. Gold had been so interested in her. But, as Regina never really jumped for joy when she came around the brothel, Emma decided to leave her alone.
Leroy was out with Graham, making rounds. It was Kevin and Bert's day off, so Emma had nobody to pass the time with. She decided she'd stroll around town herself. She pushed the front door of the Sheriff's office open, pulling her hat over her eyes. It was late July, and there was a nice breeze which felt good against the sweat on Emma's neck.
Her spurs jingled as she walked slowly down the boardwalk, her arms swinging. She knew that people stared at her, because she always wore men's clothes, but she was past caring. She'd been raised on a farm in Texas, and she'd never really liked to wear dresses. Mr. and Mrs. Bixby, the people who had taken her in when she was just a baby, never forced her to be a 'lady,' and thanks to them, Emma was the person she was now. Confident, self-reliant. It was rare for women to be independent and unattached, but Emma enjoyed it.
She walked down Main Street, then turned right down another street, then another, her feet taking her to no place in particular. She walked past a building with a sign overhead that read Nolan's Pets, and seeing the puppies staring at her in the window was too much to resist. Emma pushed the door open, her eyes taking in the wonderful sight.
There were birds, guinea pigs in cages, kittens, dogs…even some rats, though Emma had no idea why someone would want to have one as a pet. She bent down to one of the puppies in the pen, scratching its ears.
"Hello, sir," a voice said from behind her.
Emma turned.
The man blinked. "Sorry, miss…I just thought…"
"It's okay," Emma smiled. "It's not the first time I've been mistaken for a man, and it sure won't be the last."
The man smiled. "Well, if you're interested in buying, we're selling the whole litter of puppies for just 10 dollars. We really need to find them a home."
Emma looked at the man, who was smiling at her so innocently, then back to the litter of golden retriever pups. She took a deep breath, knowing that Mrs. Jenkins would probably kill her for this.
"I'll take them." Emma smiled.
"Splendid! Let me just go get my wife so she can help find you a box to take them in." The man walked to the back of the building, and emerged seconds later with a woman—a woman Emma had seen before.
The woman's eyes lit up; apparently, she recognized Emma too. "Hi, Emma. I knew we'd find each other again."
Emma blinked in surprise. "Hi, Mary Margaret."
Mr. Nolan looked between the two of them, frowning. He scratched his head . "You two know each other?"
"I met her on the train on the way to New York," Mary Margaret said. "How have you been, Emma?"
Emma shrugged. "Fine, I guess. I've just been tracking an arsonist down, and trying to keep people from killing other people. Same old, same old."
Mary Margaret's eyes fell on the deputy badge on Emma's chest, then looked into her eyes, concerned. It was interesting how she seemed to care so much for Emma, even though they barely knew each other. "Well, Emma, if you ever want to talk, about anything, I'm here. Feel free to come by any time."
"I'll do that."
Mary Margaret smiled at Emma, bearing an uncanny resemblance to a cherub. This couple certainly was smiley. She handed Emma a crate to put the puppies in, and Emma bent over, picking up the four pups and placing them in the crate. She started walking back to the Sheriff's station, grinning widely.
Cradling the crate on her hips, she walked down Mavis street, to the grocer. She'd need to buy some meat to feed the puppies. She placed the crate outside, putting her satchel over the top of it so the canines wouldn't push the top open. She went inside, getting some food for herself as well.
When she stepped out with her groceries, the pups were gone. Evidently, the deputy had underestimated their strength. Emma grunted. "Damn it."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
She spent the next three hours scouring Boston, with no clue as to where the litter of puppies was. She was great at finding people; animals, not so much. Her stomach sank as she realized she'd just lost ten bucks. She pulled on Mo's reins, going back down the street she'd been down ten times already. Giving up, Emma dejectedly rode back to the Sheriff's office. It was around 6. Emma knew Graham wouldn't mind it if she headed home.
She walked into the station, pulling off her badge. Her feet stopped their progress when she saw a golden retriever pup sitting on the floor next to one of the tables, looking up at her innocently. She frowned, wondering what the hell was going on. How had the puppy known to come here?
Her questions were all answered when a woman came strolling from Graham's office, holding two more pups by the scruffs of their necks.
Regina glared at Emma, making her feel ten times smaller than she was.
"Deputy, these strays were loitering around my place of business, chasing my customers away. I suggest you do something before they cause any more trouble."
Emma stepped closer to Regina to take the puppies from her. "They're mine. I bought them. They kinda…got away from me. But thanks for bringing them back."
Regina didn't look particularly glad that she'd ended up helping the deputy. "Yes, well, I hope you'll take better care of them from now on. I really don't know why they were at the whore house."
"Maybe because bitches like to stick together," Emma said, without thinking.
Regina bristled, all her poise gone. She stomped over to Emma until they were a mere foot apart. The glare she gave her made Emma want to pee her pants and run away, at the same time. But she didn't show it…she had been stupid enough to poke the beast. It was too late to back down now.
"Deputy Swan, I am surprised that you and I have managed to coexist in this town this long. I really don't know why I haven't snapped and just throttled you."
Emma smirked. "Because I saved your life."
"I still hate you."
"Oooh, I'm so scared."
Regina stepped just inches closer, so her breath fell on Emma's lips. "You should be. You have no idea what I'm capable of."
Then the woman left.
Okay, so maybe Emma was a little scared.
Scratch that, she was scared as hell.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kevin had been spending more and more time with Candy; he'd go so far as to call her a friend. After Rebecca's trial, she'd been sent to prison upstate, and Kevin had been the shoulder Candy had cried on. Rebecca wasn't a murderer; at least, that's what Candy had thought. Kevin was inclined to agree. But then again, he hadn't met any murderers in his life, so what did he know?
After that whole mess, his mother pleaded with him to quit his job. It was too dangerous, she said. What if he died? They couldn't go on without him. Kevin knew that was true. Bert couldn't put on his boots without Kevin's help.
But Kevin hadn't quit. He didn't want to; he needed the money.
All of the businesses that Gold had owned got bought out. The spaces were claimed by the town and put up for lease. New businesses flowed in. In the place of Gold's pawn shop, there was a pet store. Kevin liked walking by and seeing the birds in the window.
The sun was starting to retreat under the horizon. Kevin was just outside the brothel, lighting up a cigarette. Candy was with him, watching the sun set.
"Can I have one?" The girl asked. Kevin pulled out another cigarette from his shirt pocket and handed it to her, lighting it for her.
She took a drag on it and coughed.
"You don't smoke often, do you?"
"No…but today's been a long one. And the sad thing is, my shift just started." Candy laughed.
Kevin looked back at the brothel behind them. "Yeah, speaking of that, won't Miss Regina be mad that you're out here?"
Candy shook her head. "She's not here yet."
Just as Candy spoke the words, they saw a dark-clad figure come practically charging down the street towards them. Kevin squinted; it was getting darker, and he couldn't tell who it was.
The person's voice gave them away. Regina appeared to be fuming. "Insufferable woman—I should have just slapped her right there…" Regina trailed off when she saw the pair watching her.
"Uh, Miss Regina…are you all right?" Candy looked concerned. It struck Kevin how Candy saw Regina as a mother. She didn't seem like the maternal type.
Regina straightened up and unclenched her fists. "Yes, of course. I just had some…business that needed attending. Come on inside."
Kevin gave Candy a secret smile, watching her go inside the brothel. He took another drag, and tried not to think about what Candy would be doing for the next 10 hours.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX
For the past week and a half, Graham had been trying to find the man who'd held up the bank on Elm Street. It was Tuesday, July 29th, and Graham still hadn't caught him. The robber's two buddies gave up his name, but not anything else. He didn't know where the man's hide-out was, or where his share of the money had gone. Graham was between a rock and a hard place. He didn't even know what the guy looked like.
He just had the name: August Booth.
He waited for Emma to show up for work so he could talk with her about what to do. She was still his best deputy, by far. He trusted her the most, because she'd been working for him the longest. Maybe she could use her feminine charms—oh, who was he kidding? They'd need someone else to lure Booth into a false sense of security. Someone who was classy, but not afraid to push the envelope. Someone like Regina Mills.
When Graham told Emma his plan, she scoffed, pouring herself a cup of coffee. She'd bought some, because she kept complaining that the kind Graham bought tasted like cow-pies. He'd just shrugged.
"Graham, Regina won't be able to find this guy. She's too gaudy; she'd attract way too much attention. And we don't even know where to start in finding this Booth, so why drag Regina into it?" Emma palmed her coffee cup in both hands.
"Because I'm desperate, Emma. The man's got to have a hide-out somewhere; we just need someone to use their feminine wiles to drag it out of him. And we both know you're not the woman for the job." Graham smirked.
Emma groaned. "Okay, here's the thing: I kinda called Regina…a…a bitch, so I really don't think she'll want to help us."
Graham stood up fast, barely restraining a yell. "Emma, damn it, how old are you?"
Emma cringed. "I'm sorry, she just gets on my nerves, thinking she's so much better than me all the time, and I just—"
"Don't apologize to me! You get your ass over to Regina's house, and you fucking bend your knee and prostrate yourself before her. You do this, or I fire you. Understood?"
Emma's eyes bulged. She had never seen this side to her boss, not even when she'd ran into the fire at the brothel without any back up. As scared as she was of Regina, she was fucking terrified of the man before her. "All right, fine, I will."
"GO! NOW!"
Emma quickly put down her cup, sloshing her coffee all over the floor. Graham would get Leroy to clean that up, when he bothered to show up for work.
His deputy ran out of the building like her life depended on it.
Emma stuck her foot into the horse's stirrup, swinging herself up onto the saddle. She huffed, angry at Graham for…whatever that was back there. He was usually so calm, and put together. Emma kicked Mo's side with her left foot, turning down the street. She reached Mifflin Street about twenty minutes later.
Regina's house still had that intimidating effect on Emma that it had had when she first saw it. She knocked on the door softly, her knees knocking.
The door opened, and Emma held her breath. Regina's eyes zeroed in on hers, and it was Emma could do to not fall to pieces. She gulped.
"I—I just came to say, I'm sorry," Emma said, lamely.
"Apology not accepted." Regina slammed the door in her face.
Emma flinched, then steeled her resolve. She had not come all this way for this shit. She pounded on the door this time.
"Regina, come on! I need to talk to you. What I said was wrong, yeah, but the sheriff needs your help and he said—"
Regina opened the door, her expression the same as before. "So you are only here because Sheriff Graham sent you?" Regina rolled her eyes. "I should have known. Good day, Miss Swan." Flipping her hair haughtily, she made to shut the door.
Emma moved fast. She (somewhat clumsily) stuck her foot in the door jamb, preventing the door's progress. Then she slipped inside, and took off her hat.
She saw Regina turn on her, looking ready to breathe fire. "You really have no decorum whatsoever."
Emma just grinned, leaning against the hallway wall. "Says the woman who owns a whore house."
"At least I have knowledge of common etiquette, Miss Swan. You, however, wouldn't know good manners if they hit you in the face. Really, dear, would it kill you to clean your boots? You're tracking mud all over my carpet."
Emma rolled her eyes, but slipped her boots off. "Fine. Happy now?"
"Not really, but we may as well get over whatever it is Graham sent you here for. So what it is it?"
Emma gulped, hating what she was about to do. Biting her lip, she got down on her knees, looking up into Regina's face. "Regina, will you please forgive me for calling you a bitch?" Emma asked, sincerely.
Regina looked down her nose at her. Then she let out a peal of laughter that was rather insulting, given the current circumstances. Emma grumbled and felt her face getting red—well, redder.
"Can you please take this seriously?" Emma asked.
That just made Regina laugh more.
Emma stood up, more than a little mortified. "Well, now that that's out of the way, Graham needs your help in tracking down a bank robber. He goes by the name of August Booth."
Emma paused for a moment. When Graham said the name, it had sounded familiar, but Emma couldn't remember where she'd heard it. "We've caught his two accomplices, but he's sneaky. Have you heard of him?"
Regina made a show of wiping her eyes from the bout of hysterical laughter she'd had. At Emma's impatient stomp, however, she composed herself. "No, Deputy, I haven't." She reluctantly guided Emma to the living room, as this was a social call.
Emma sat down on the couch closest to the fireplace. "Well, Graham was wondering if you'd want to help us track him down, using your feminine wiles."
Regina raised her eyebrows. "My what?"
"His words, not mine."
"Well, seeing as you're not too polite with words…"
"I said I was sorry. What more do you want?"
Regina pursed her lips. "I've been meaning to ask, how are the puppies doing?"
Emma blinked at the sudden change in conversation. "Um…they're fine. Mrs. Jenkins is letting me keep them out in the barn. They like Leroy a lot. But I think he's allergic; he said he didn't feel well, and I thought he was just giving that old excuse so he wouldn't have to come to work. But he looked like shit this morning."
"A simple 'they're feeling healthy' would have sufficed."
Emma rolled her eyes. "You asked."
"Back to this 'tracking' business. What does the Sheriff want me to do, exactly?"
Emma slapped her knees with her hands, and blew some air out of her cheeks. "Well, use your influence around the town to see If anyone knows who August is, then flirt with him, get him drunk..I don't know. I have no idea what Graham was thinking."
Regina stiffened. "Are you saying I'm not capable of flirting, Deputy?"
Emma just stared at the brunette, wondering where the hell she'd gotten that from. "No, I just—"
"Because I'll have you know, men have fallen to their knees before me. Much like you did when you came in here," Regina gave her a smirk, and placed her hands demurely in her lap.
Emma stood up. "Okay, I think we're done. Obviously you don't want to help. I'll tell Graham to find someone else."
"Sit down."
"But—"
"Sit. Down."
Emma sat.
"Now, I never said I wouldn't help. I will. But I have conditions."
Emma sighed. This did not sound good.
"In addition to the reward—there is a reward, correct?"
Emma nodded. "Yeah. Fifty dollars."
"Good. In addition to that, I want you to tell your deputy Kevin to stop coming to my whore house every night. He's interfering with Candy's job."
Emma frowned. "Are you sure we're talking about the same kid?"
"Yes…the younger Jackson boy, who has red hair that always looks like it needs to be combed."
"Why is he going there every night?"
"I believe he has an infatuation with Candy. I need you to promise me you'll put an end to his advances. I do not need Candy distracted."
Emma nodded. "Fine."
Regina smiled. "Allright. I will start seeing what I can find out about this August."
Emma stood up. While she was relieved that they had a better chance of finding Booth with Regina on their side, Emma didn't relish the thought of having to work with her. She hoped Regina was half as good as she thought she was.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Regina spent all of Wednesday with some of her business contacts—other brothel owners, barkeeps and the like, and she didn't find a shred of credible evidence as to who August was. No one had heard of him, which led Regina to believe he was from out of town. He might have left already, for all she knew.
From what Emma had said, they were dealing with someone who knew what he was doing. Since he was so good at seemingly disappearing into thin air, Regina guessed this man was no amateur. Emma had interviewed the bank teller, who had said that the man was average build, about 6 foot 2, and wore a mask across his eyes, and a bandana. So his face was covered except for his eyes. Emma had said they were blue.
So they were looking for a man, average height and weight with blue eyes.
Regina sighed, having just met with a man who owned the Salazar Saloon. His answer had been the same; he had never heard of an August Booth. Regina rapped her hands on the bar, getting the bartender's attention. After the day she'd had, Regina really did need a drink. The bartender slid a glass over to her, full to the brim with ale.
She took a gulp of her beer, deep in thought. She didn't notice a short, stocky man sit at the barstool next to her.
"Hey there, sister."
Regina turned her body to face Leroy Jenkins, former town drunk. Now that he was working at the Sheriff's station, he'd cut back considerably on his drinking habits. Regina knew this because he'd been a regular customer at her brothel. She was partly glad that he wasn't doing that anymore, despite the loss of income.
"Hello, Leroy," she said, politely enough. She took in his appearance. His nose was red, and there was snot dangling from it. He looked positively miserable. She pulled out a hankie and gave it to him, and he muttered a thanks before blowing into it. He reached out his hand to give it back, but she grimaced.
"No thank you, you keep it," she said quickly.
Leroy sniffed. "Thanks."
"Are you sick?"
Leroy did a double take, as if he was unsure if he'd just heard Regina actually ask about his well-being. "No…I think I'm allergic to the dogs that Emma brought home. She's keeping them out in the barn and I—" Leroy sneezed into the kerchief.
Regina hesitated for a moment, before speaking. "If you like, I have some rooms open for rent. You can stay with me. For pay, of course. 10 dollars a week."
Leroy looked at her, shocked. "I'll think about it. Thanks again for the hankie." He pushed himself off the stool and walked out the door, sneezing three times before he reached it. Regina really did feel sorry for him. But she also wanted Emma to be able to keep those puppies. She didn't show it often, but she had a soft spot for animals.
At least, what she told herself. She cared about the pups. Not about Miss Swan. Definitely not.
Regina went back to pondering how to track August. An idea came to her, one that she should have thought of much sooner. She hurriedly finished her drink, then walked to the street. It was a cloudy day, and it was starting to drizzle. Regina had come prepared; she hoisted her parasol above her head and started to walk to the station.
She told her idea to Graham and Emma, and they agreed that it was worth a try.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The two men, Niles Garvey and Rick Stumpy, had been August Booth's accomplices in the bank robbery. Graham made a deal with them, saying that if they brought August to justice, they'd be exempt from punishment. Niles told them more about what August looked like—he had brown hair and a scruffy beard. He usually wore black, but Niles wasn't sure where he'd come from, or if he was still in town.
Emma had to give it to Regina, her plan was solid.
She'd suggested that the two men go back to their hideout, leading a posse right to it. They'd send for August via smoke signal, and wait to see if he showed up. Graham and his deputies would be just close by, and they'd watch to see if anyone rode in. The plan was well thought out.
So, on Friday, Graham, Kevin, Bert, Leroy, and Emma all saddled up, with Niles and Rick riding ahead of them. Graham had warned them that if they tried to escape, he'd fire at them. And Emma could attest to the fact that he was an excellent shot.
The band rode out to the hideout. It was a small cabin in a valley that was well hidden by the trees. Graham and his posse dismounted, keeping well away from the cabin, watching from behind a thicket.
Niles and Rick walked up to the cabin, and opened the door, their guns out just in case. Emma watched with baited breath, squinting through the leaves in the thicket. She heard two gunshots seconds later. There was a collective gasp, and Emma's gut reaction was to run out, guns blazing. Graham held her back.
"Just wait for them to come back. Maybe they got him."
They waited for five minutes, each second more torturous than the last. Finally, Emma spoke.
"I think we should just blitz him. Run out all at once, and fire."
Graham rolled his eyes. "No. For all we know, this guy knows we're here. He's prepared."
"So what do we do?" Emma asked.
Bert spoke up. "I could try to sneak around the back. This thicket will cover me for most of it…there's only ten feet of clearing between the end of the thicket and the back door."
Everyone turned their heads to look at Bert; this was the first time since he'd been hired that he'd come up with a logical plan. Give the guy a prize, Emma thought.
Graham deliberated for a moment. He nodded. "Keep your gun out. And be careful."
Bert made sure the round in his gun was full. He hugged Kevin, patted him on the shoulder, then walked through the thicket, pushing away thorns and leaves as he went.
Emma's eyes zeroed in on the clearing, waiting for Bert to reach it. After what seemed like hours, Emma saw a shock of red hair—and Bert ran to the door. Before he reached it, a shot rang out. Kevin screamed. Bert fell down, clutching his chest. Emma gasped; so did Leroy. Graham grabbed Kevin to keep him from running out after his brother. Holding Kevin's head to his chest, Graham turned to Leroy.
"Go back to my saddlebags. In there is some lighter fluid. Then get one of your bottles of whiskey from your saddlebags."
Leroy nodded and sprinted away.
He came back with both of the requested items, and handed them to the sheriff. Graham ran towards the end of the thicket before any of them could stop him. They just watched him, scared to move. He ripped off a sleeve of his shirt, then dipped it in the lighter fluid. He tied the cloth to the whiskey bottle, then pulled out his lighter and lit the end of the rag. With a swing of his arm, the bottle flew towards the cabin in an arc. Heat hit all of their faces as the wooden building caught fire.
They watched to see if anyone would come out. Sure enough, a man ran out, a man that fit August Booth's description. He ran across the clearing, and Graham sent Leroy after him. Leroy doubled back to get his horse with remarkable speed.
Now they all knew just what they were dealing with. Emma watched Bert's lifeless body, tears prickling at her eyes. Whatever she thought about Bert, however useless of a deputy he had been in the past, his last moments were ones of the highest bravery. The unfairness of it all made her want to scream. Give him a million prizes.
Kevin didn't stop crying. As they picked up the body and rode back to town, Emma heard his loud sobs pierce the valley.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Bert's funeral was held a week later.
As Kevin threw shovelful after shovelful of dirt onto his brother's body, all he felt was numbness. It should be him lying there. He should have stopped his brother from doing such a stupid, brave thing. His life would never be the same without his brothers' crazy antics and stupid schemes coloring it, making it brighter.
He cried, not caring that his hands were blistering. He looked at the small gathering of friends, surprised to see Candy there. Regina was there, as well Graham and the other deputies. Kevin was angry at them—and at himself. They should have stopped Bert. They all should have just ridden away.
But nothing could change what had happened, no matter how overcome with guilt Kevin was. He didn't even have the energy to be mad at the man who killed his brother. Not that he didn't want revenge; he did, but he was just too exhausted. Grief had taken everything out of him, until there was nothing left.
He felt his father's hand on his shoulder, soothing him. He just kept crying, not holding back.
After the priest was done with the service, Kevin walked forward to give a eulogy.
"Bert was…full of bravery, up until the last moments of his death. He was never afraid to try new things, and he lived life to its fullest. I feel ashamed of the times that I let petty jealousy get in the way of loving him, and appreciating him." Kevin gave a muffled sob. "And I just wish he was here so I could tell him all this, and say sorry for letting him do such a brave, stupid thing that ended up getting him killed."
Kevin wiped his face, and walked back to join his parents. People came up to hug him, but his bleary eyes barely focused on them at all. All he could see was his brother's lifeless body back in the clearing, the blood seeping out of him. He felt pats on his back, and heard whispers of 'I'm sorry,' but he didn't snap back into focus until Candy was standing before him.
She just held him. She let him cry long heaving sobs that shook his whole body.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Watching Candy comfort Kevin like that softened Regina's heart. She had been foolish in keeping them apart, or at least trying to. Candy was Kevin's only friend now. She knew what that felt like. She watched the scene, unable to keep the tears out of her eyes. Whoever did this would pay. Regina would make sure of it, even with her last breath.
Emma walked up to her, her eyes red.
"I just can't believe it…" Emma trailed off, not sure what else to say.
Regina understood. Sometimes silence spoke volumes.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ruby Booth sat in the parlor of her house in New York City. August had bought it for them, saying that as soon as he got back, he'd be ready to start their family.
She had a dress in her lap, and she blinked her eyes as she passed the thread through the eye of the needle. She was a seamstress, and a lot of times, she brought her work home with her. It helped pass the lonely nights.
Being a carpet salesman was more demanding than Ruby had originally thought. August was gone almost 7 months out of the year; Ruby hoped they'd be able to at least spend the holidays together. She also didn't want him to miss the birth of their child. But now, he was traveling across the states, selling rugs. Ruby missed him terribly.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mrs. Jenkins demanded that Emma spend some days at home. She made her soup, and spent almost every second of the day with her. Emma didn't understand this. It wasn't like she was sick. She was just grieving. She didn't normally like being babied, though she secretly appreciated it in this instance. Mrs. Jenkins read to her, brushed her hair, even offered to sleep next to her, in case she started having nightmares.
Emma was grateful for her presence tonight. Feeling a body next to her didn't make her feel so powerless, or alone. Her thoughts drifted to what she'd do when she caught August. She'd revel in making him suffer, if not physically, then emotionally. Maybe she'd let Regina have a go at him. She'd have him begging for mercy.
With these last thoughts sifting through her consciousness, Emma fell asleep.
She woke the next morning, an indentation in her mattress. She could smell something cooking—it smelled like bacon and eggs. Emma rolled out of bed, still feeling like shit, but the prospect of having a good breakfast made her throw on a red flannel shirt and her cowhide pants.
She ate heartily, and even then, Mrs. Jenkins urged her to have more. She shoveled as many eggs into her stomach as possible, then excused herself. She needed to talk to someone. And while Mrs. Jenkins' company was nice, Emma wanted to talk to someone close to her own age.
She slowly walked out to the barn, seeing her pups all huddled together sleeping. She smiled at them. They really were adorable. Looking around, she was surprised when she didn't see Leroy there. Not thinking much of it, Emma saddled Mo and rode into town.
Emma pulled at her satchel, itching the skin underneath. She walked with purpose to the pet store, breathing steadily as each step she took felt heavier. She pushed the door open, hoping to see Mary Margaret. Sure enough, she was there.
"Hi, Emma!" Mary Margaret's eyes lit up, but her face contorted into a frown when she took in the blonde's tired expression. "What's wrong?"
"One of the deputies—Bert Jackson…he got shot," Emma muttered, her eyes glued to the floor.
She heard footsteps, then felt a hand pull her chin up. "I'm sorry."
Emma nodded, all of her defenses falling down. "I just…I shouldn't have let the stupid kid run out there, when we didn't know what we were dealing with..I should have known better…things should not have turned out this way."
"You know, it's been my experience that when people say 'should' it just means they feel guilty. And you, Emma, have nothing to feel guilty about. Did you kill the deputy?"
Emma shook her head.
"Then stop this. Stop thinking you could have stopped a killer from killing."
Emma looked at her tearfully. "But that's my job. I'm supposed to stop these things from happening."
"Then catch him. What's his name?"
Emma reached into her satchel, pulling out a wanted poster. Mary Margaret took it, then her eyes bulged out of her head. "August? His name is August Booth?"
Emma turned to her, and nodded. Suddenly she knew why that name had sounded familiar. She recalled the conversation she and Mary Margaret had had when they first met.
"Do you have someone back home?"
"Uh…no. I'm not really the marrying type."
"That's what my friend Ruby said. But six months later, she got hitched. She and August are happily married now."
Emma gasped, angry that she hadn't figured it out sooner. Mary Margaret and her just stared at each other, the realization dawning on them.
"Ruby's in New York City," Mary Margaret said.
Emma flew out of the pet store, Mary Margaret right behind her. She heard the woman panting heavily. Emma ran to her horse and helped Mary Margaret climb on behind her. They galloped down the cobblestone streets, the wind blowing Emma's hair everywhere.
They dismounted once they reached the sheriff's station, and Emma screamed for Graham. No one was there, and Emma slammed her fist against the table in anger. They were so close to avenging Bert's death, but they would need a plan. She guessed that, since Ruby was back in New York, August would go visit her. She could just go find him. Graham would understand. Making up her mind, she turned to Mary Margaret.
"When Graham gets back, tell him I've gone to New York City, and I'm planning on bringing August back, if he's there."
"You need to get Ruby. She's not safe in New York."
Emma nodded. "I will." With that, she threw the door open and left, jumping on her horse's back. She galloped to the rooming house to pack. Throwing together essentials for her journey—clothes, a shot gun, and three pistols—she grabbed her belt, putting two of the pistols in the holsters. The third pistol was strapped to her left calf. It'd be hard to grab, but in case she was captured, it was better than having no weapon at all. Her shotgun was slung over her shoulder. Thus armed, she moved to open her bedroom door.
Regina had her hand raised, as if she had been about to knock. Her mouth was open slightly, and she widened her eyes at Emma's hard expression.
"Hello, Deputy," Regina said, her voice low. "Going somewhere?"
Emma tried to sidestep the woman, but had no such luck. Regina placed her hands on either side of the doorframe.
"I'm not in the mood, Regina. I have a bad guy to catch."
"And you're just going to go alone?"
"Yeah."
Regina rolled her eyes. "You really are an idiot. The last time you just charged into a situation like this, Miss Swan, you almost got beaten to death. Must I remind that you would have, had I not shown up?"
"Well, what do you want me to do? I don't have time to wait for Graham to gather up a posse." Emma shifted impatiently.
"Let me come with you."
Emma scoffed. "Uh, no."
"Have you ever been to New York City?"
"No, but I'll be fine. I can take care of myself."
"I am simply proposing you let me come with you as a navigator. I lived in New York for a few years."
"Yeah, Graham told me you lived in Chicago too. You've sure been around."
"Yes, and as such, I think it would be best if you let me come with you."
Emma bit her lip, looking at the woman. She just couldn't stay out of Emma's way, could she? She'd thought that's exactly what Regina would want, yet, here she was. "Why did you come here?"
"I came to give my sympathies about Bert's death," Regina answered. "I know what it's like to lose someone. My mother died five years ago from scarlet fever."
Emma's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry."
"Yes, well…" Regina paused. "Are you going to let me come with you or not?"
Emma sighed. "You can come. But we're going on horseback."
Regina groaned and followed Emma out to the barn.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Why couldn't we have taken a carriage?" Regina complained.
"Because of robbers. We might as well carry a sign that says, 'we have money, come steal from us,'" Emma answered.
"But we're two women, traveling without a male companion. Don't you think we're easy targets as it is?"
Emma stopped trying to make a fire, and glared at Regina. "If you're going to be like this the whole time, you can just go back. We still have six hour's ride ahead of us, and I really don't think you'd want me to have to dispose of your body in a river somewhere."
That shut Regina up. For a while.
Regina didn't understand how someone could do this for a living. She was cold, tired, and bugs were feasting on her legs, biting them relentlessly. She had a grudging admiration for Emma, not that she'd ever tell her that. She shifted on the blanket, and watched the flames slowly kindle from Emma's expert touch. The blonde blew on the smoke, throwing more sticks onto the orange coals. There were so many stars in the sky, and Regina craned her neck to look at them all. She scratched at the pair of pants Emma had lent her. Emma had smirked as she gave them to Regina, watching her horrified expression. She'd been loath to put them on, but they were more comfortable for riding than her skirts.
Emma pulled out the rabbit that she'd shot out of her saddlebags, and started cleaning it. Soon, she was roasting the meat on a spit, and handed Regina some.
"This is good, Miss Swan," Regina said, slowly chewing the rough meat.
"Thanks. I really wish you'd stop calling me Miss Swan, or Deputy Swan. My name is Emma."
"Emma…" Regina winced. "I don't like it."
Emma groaned. "Well, don't call me 'Miss Swan' then. If I had to pick between, 'deputy' or 'miss,' the first would be my choice."
Regina smirked. "All right, Miss Swan."
Emma just glared at her.
They ate in silence, watching the fireflies come out. Emma lied onto the blanket, stretching her legs out in opposite directions. Regina soon lied down as well, so they were parallel.
"I used to catch fireflies all the time as a kid. I lived on a farm, so every summer night, I'd go outside with a jar and try to catch as many as I could."
Regina shifted. "That sounds fun."
"Yeah. Did you ever do that as a kid?"
"No. My mother was strict about not being outside after dark."
"Oh. Well, it's not too late." Emma sat up, holding her hand out to Regina to help her off the blanket.
Regina just squinted at her.
"Come on, Regina. I'm going to teach you how to catch a firefly."
"Miss Swan, I am an adult, in case you didn't notice."
"Fine." Emma lied back down on the blanket, but she turned her head towards Regina. "You don't know what you're missing out on."
Regina got up, if for no other reason than to shut the woman up. She walked out to the field, watching the bugs light up, then fly around. It really was beautiful. Regina tried cupping her hands and closing them around the bugs, but they would end up flying out of the cracks in between her fingers. Emma managed to catch one, then called to Regina. She held out her hands, letting the bug crawl into Regina's waiting hand. It lit up, and Regina smiled. Her head bent close to Miss Swan's, and they just looked at the light, then let the insect fly away.
Soon, they went back to the fire, and opened their bedrolls. Before Regina drifted off to sleep, she said, "Thank you, Miss Swan."
Emma had only ever heard that when she'd saved Regina's life, or done something stupid/heroic. Hearing her say it just for showing her how to catch a firefly was…nice.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Graham woke. His house was situated on a street close to Main Street, which was nice, because that meant the Sheriff's station was close by. Graham stood up and walked to the wash bin. He splashed himself with cold water, then opened his dresser to get a shirt. Now that Emma was gone, and Bert had been killed, he only had two deputies.
Leroy had chased August, but had lost him when he reached the river. Graham didn't know where he had gone, but he hoped that Emma's lead was right. Maybe he was in New York City. Mrs. Nolan had told him everything yesterday; one of her close friends was married to this dangerous man. That's why Emma had gone to New York.
Graham hoped she would be safe.