Chapter 6

I Love You

ABBY'S POV.

I woke up the next day, the suns rays hitting my face.

I looked to see I wasn't in my room, but someone else's. Everything from last night came back to me, especially the part when I was told my parents had been killed. Tears came to my eyes and I let out a small sob. I then heard someone else stir. Someone more…masculine.

I looked over and saw Tennessee there, waking up. He looked at me and smiled sadly. I looked away, more tears coming to my eyes.

I felt the bed shift, meaning someone else had sat down on the bed. I looked and saw Tennessee now next to me.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Was he joking?

I looked at him angrily, with tears still in my eyes.

"I was kidnapped and nearly rapped, while finding out that my parents had been tortured and murdered. Do you really think that I'm okay!?" I asked, my voice cracking halfway through.

"Sorry." he said looking away.

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be taking this out on you. After all, you saved me." I said.

"It's alright, I understand." he said.

I looked down, more tears spilling. Then he took my face in both his hands and made me look at him, while he wiped my tears. I took so much not to let my blush show.

"Come on, Abby. Have some faith." he said.

I looked at him confused.

"I don't think that your parents are dead." he said.

I looked at him surprised.

"Tennessee…you don't need to say things to make me feel better." I said.

"No really. Think about it. He wanted you vulnerable. Did it work?" he asked.

As much as I hated to admit, I had. I had just given up.

I nodded, and he continued.

"Exactly." he pulled me close and actually hugged me.

"Trust me Abby." he said.

I hugged him back and nodded.

"Okay." I said, closing my eyes and resting my head in the crook of his neck.

Maybe he was right…

He pulled away and spoke.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

Just then my stomach growled, loudly, making me blush lightly.

"That answers that." he said.

Just then, the smell of soda biscuits and fried apples came into the room. It smelled so good.

"Smells like breakfast. Come on." he said.

I walked with him and was met with Steven and Jared, and food on the table.

They looked at me and I looked at the floor uncomfortably. After all, I had been after them as well as Tennessee for years, now here I was about to eat breakfast with them.

"Uh…good morning Miss Abigail." Steven stated.

"G…good morning." I said quietly.

There was an awkward silence as I sat down with them and began to eat quietly. After a minute I spoke.

"…This is delicious. Best soda biscuits and fried apples I've ever had. Well, second best. Nothing compares to my mothers-…" I trailed off, and felt a lump in my throat.

"Uh…well, thank you Miss Abby. That's very kind of you. Since these two can't cook to save their lives. I'm the cook." Steven said, gesturing to Tennessee and Jared.

I giggled, my mood lightening up a bit. I had to have faith. We continued breakfast for a while and we actually began talking more, and it was, well…nice.

After breakfast, Tennessee walked me back home, without being seen. As we walked, we began talking.

"Do you really think that my parents are alive?" I asked, looking down at my feet.

"I do. You need to have faith Abby." he said sincerely.

I looked at him and smiled.

"Thank you Tennessee." I said.

I realized that we had made it back to my home and just before I went in I spoke.

"Thank you for walking me home. I think I'll just stay in today." I said.

"No problem Abby. Have a nice day." he said, sincerely.

I then stepped up to him quickly and hugged him, then gave him a peck on the cheek, before going inside quickly.

I leaned against the door, and then walked to my room. Sonia was still asleep when I checked on her, so I went back to my room. Things were certainly changing around here, and to be honest…I liked it…

It's been a week already and to be honest, it had been really nice. Since I had been through a "traumatic event", as Sheriff Fox put it. I was on a break from my sheriff duties for a few weeks.

In that time, Tennessee actually, hadn't committed that many crimes. I had actually asked him about it, when I ran into him. He only said, that he was saving the bigger heists for when I was back in action.

He said that it was his job as my thief to make me feel good and like I would actually catch him. Sure I had been annoyed with the last part, but the part about him being my thief, made me blush a bit when he said it.

What did he mean 'as my thief'? I really didn't understand. But maybe things would get easier again soon.

I was finally able to go back to my sheriff duties, and it had gone smooth so far. And Tennessee had been truthful. He was now doing a lot more than he had before when I wasn't being a sheriff. We had actually done a lot of talking while I was off duty. It was nice to just get to talk to him.

It was night and I had been walking around, just thinking about the past few weeks, moreover, I was thinking about Tennessee's and my relationship. It had gotten to be a lot more in such a short time as of late. I used to think he was just a no good, low down thief. But now I saw him a actually…well… a friend…maybe…

On my way back to the sheriff house she soon heard some noise behind her. I soon got my gun ready and walked towards the noise only to find some longhorns and one male gray and white wolf with them as well. I soon realized from the looks that they were the outlaws sheriff fox had been looking for. The gray and white wolf gave me a smirk.

"Hold it right there Mike, you and your gang are going to jail." I yelled, pointing my gun at them.

"Oh am I Sheriff Abigail?" Mike laughed.

He then singled his men to grab me. I immediately ran while I turned to shot my gun. But the guards were quicker and grabbed me and took my gun away in the process. I struggled to free myself but nothing worked, and I was unable to get my holstered revolver from my ankle.

The gray and white wolf soon walked up to me and smirked as he took the gun from his men and held it at my chin.

"Well looks like there will be one less annoying sheriff in this here town." He said about to pull the trigger.

I could only be frozen with fear. This was really going to be my end. Small tears came to my eyes. But Before he pulled the trigger, gunshots were heard, and almost all his men were dead. He turned to see a familiar outlaw on top of a roof, causing him to smirk.

"Well, well, well if it ain't Tennessee kid cooper." Mike smirked.

Tennessee soon jumped down from the roof and held his gun towards Mike. I looked at Tennessee with relief, glad for him being here at the right time.

"Let her go you darn varmint." Tennessee demanded, anger in his eyes.

This now had Mike confused.

"But Tennessee don't you see if there are no sheriffs then we can pull heists without any worry about anyone stopping us." Mike stated. "So what do you say Cooper? Are you going to help like a true outlaw or be a coward a help this sheriff, your choice…" he stated.

I could see from the look on Tennessee's face that he was stuck. I'll admit, this made me nervous.

"I am a true outlaw but I ain't cruel like you." Tennessee snapped as he fired his revolver at the longhorn that was holding me.

Tennessee then ran up to me, helping me off the ground. I stayed behind Tennessee and watched to see what would happen. I couldn't take the chance to try and get my revolver. Tennessee kept one hand on my wrist and the other with his revolver kept pointed at the gray and white wolf.

"So, turns out you are a coward." Mike said as he raised his gun to Tennessee.

"Like I said, I ain't cruel like you are Mike." Tennessee growled that he kept calling him a coward.

"COWARD!" he snapped angrily.

"You should be killing her and know you both will die Cooper." He said menacingly.

Tennessee took a look at me and took a deep breath.

"Bring it on one-eye." He snapped.

I could tell that Mike had had enough of the brown raccoon and started to fire his gun.

Tennessee and I soon hid behind some barrels while Mike was putting in more bullets in his gun. Tennessee signaled me to stay quiet and get ready to move. He looked from the top of the barrel to see the gray and white wolf looking around for us. Tennessee soon got his revolver ready and aimed for the Wolf's legs. Once he got it aimed correctly, he fired and the male wolf fell to the ground and his gun slid away from him.

He howled in pain as he clutched his leg. He tried to reach for it, but was stopped when I came over. After tying him up and delivering him to sheriff Fox, I headed back to the clock tower to meet Tennessee.

I made my way up to the top and made my way inside the clock tower. It was a great spot to watch the sunrise, sunset and moon. I sat at the window on my arms on the ledge.

After waiting a minute, Tennessee appeared, and smiled at me. I couldn't help myself. I smiled back at him, feeling butterflies in my tummy.

"Thanks again, Tennessee, but what were you doing here anyway?" I asked confused.

"Well I heard gun fire so I came to see what was going on. And not surprisingly, you were there." Tennessee smirked, grabbing a chair and sitting next to me, resting an elbow on the ledge as well.

"What are you implying, Cooper?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"I'm just saying, whenever something happens, you seem to be in the middle of it, Miss Abby." he said.

I chuckled softly, then spoke.

"Well thank you again for helping me, again." I said.

He then took off his hat and placed it on his chest. "I was happy to help Abby." He said giving me a handsome smirk again.

"So, where are Jared and Steven? I didn't see them or hear them when I came in." I stated.

"They are both out seeing their families. They should be back next week." he said. "So that leaves only us here." he said, looking out the window.

I blushed a bit, and turned back to look at the moon. Just then, I felt him take my hand. I blushed and looked at him. He looked a bit nervous.

"Abby. There's something I want you to know…" he said.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Well, I'm glad that we've been able to become friends…but I have deeper feelings for you than that…" he said.

Was he saying what I thought he was saying…?

"T-Tennessee?" I asked.

"Abby, I…I love you." he said.

He…he loved me…?

I still hadn't said anything to him, which caused him to make a sad expression.

"Listen. I know you don't feel the same. But I had to get that off my chest. I hope you wont want to end our friendship." he said, getting up, so he could walk away.

I stood up quickly and grabbed his hand. I couldn't let him walk away. My cheeks burned red for what I was about to say. There was no doubt in my mind now. I loved Tennessee. I ha known it, but I wanted to push the feelings away. Of course I knew that this would make things much more complicated, but it was worth it. I made him turn and face me.

"Tennessee…I love you too." I said, then kissed him straight on.

He seemed shocked at first and was a bit stiff, but then, began to kiss back. I wrapped my arms around his neck, as he griped my hips and pulled me closer to him, until I was pressed against his chest. It was sweet and gentle, yet passionate at the same time.

I began to moan a bit as he gripped my hips a bit tighter. It was getting very heated, I had come to realize, as he pushed me against the wall lightly, and wrapped his tail around my leg. Now it was getting just a bit to fast. I gasped into his mouth as I felt his hand on the collar of my shirt. I looked down and saw what he was doing.

'He…he's undoing my buttons…!' I thought to myself.

He broke the kiss and I could feel his breath on my neck. Okay, now I needed to stop.

"T-Tennessee…" I squeaked. I'll be honest, I was getting really nervous. I would get a bit skittish about something like this, ever since the almost rape thing.

"Yes?" he asked, breathlessly.

"W-we…we need to stop now…please?" I asked, my voice cracking.

He looked up at me and saw my look.

"Sorry. I just-…" I cut him off.

"It's okay, I enjoyed it. But maybe we could take things slow?" I asked.

"Yeah of course. Come on, I'll take you home." he said.

He walked me home, and I slipped into my room and went to check on Sonia. She was asleep peacefully. I walked back out and to my room, where Tennessee was on the window ledge.

"You know that this will mean we have to be careful, when around one another?" he asked.

"I do, but I know we can pull it off." I said.

I kissed him one last time and spoke.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight Tennessee. I love you." I said.

"I love you too, Abby. Goodnight." he said, before heading off. I changed into my nightgown, and headed off to bed. Dreams of Tennessee and I together fluttered through my mind, as I drifted off into sleep…

OKAY, I HOPE YOU ALL LIKED. SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE. WRITERS BLOCK SUCKS. ANYWAY. PEACE OUT!