Here's a new chapter of Runaway.
I own Jack and Marianne in this chapter.
That evening Marianne sat down for dinner with Jack and Heath. She had thoroughly enjoyed helping Mickie with the horses, although she had only gotten more curious about what made Heath so unsociable towards her. The New York native was fairly sure that it must have something to do with Barbara and Paul, whom Mickie had mentioned to Jack earlier.
"I really enjoyed helping Mickie today." Marianne told Jack.
"I thought you would. You two seem to get on real well." He replied with a smile.
"She says I can help out again, if that's alright with you." She returned the smile.
"Of course. Mickie asked me if I'd let you go down to the Inn to see her sometime." Jack told her.
"Really? And would you?" Marianne asked him.
"Well, there are a few folks that are, shall I say unsavoury types… But I'd be fine with it if Heath went with you." Jack replied.
"What?" the redhead spoke for the first time that evening.
"You'd be fine with escorting this young lady to the Inn and back, wouldn't you?" Jack raised a brow.
"I don't like it there." Heath frowned, his brown eyes looked sad and pained.
"Just one night, that's all." Jack added.
"I'd be ever so grateful." Marianne nodded.
"Why can't you go?" Heath asked Jack.
"Son, my days of getting caught in brawls are long gone. You're younger and stronger than me." Jack replied.
"I just don't want to be around those people." The redhead sighed.
"Look, I don't doubt that Marianne can look after herself. But you need to be a Southern gentleman and protect her from all those wrong sorts out there." Jack told the young man.
"Please, just this once?" Marianne locked her pleading green eyes with Heath's brown ones.
"Once." The redhead nodded, giving a weary sigh.
"Thank you." Marianne gave a grateful smile.
"Right, that's that then. I'm going to wash these plates and then head off to bed." Jack said, standing up.
"I'll go and lock the barn up." Heath nodded.
"Marianne, would you go and get the chickens back in their coop?" Jack asked her.
"Yes." She nodded,
Marianne got up and headed out to the chicken coop. Most of the birds had headed back inside anyway, but three of them were roaming the yard. The New York native shooed them towards the coop and picked them up one by one, closing the door when they were all inside. Heading back inside the house, Marianne helped Jack with the last of the dishes, before they said goodnight and headed up the stairs.
The following day was much the same as the one before. Marianne was pleased however, that Heath had agreed to take her to see Mickie at the Inn that evening. The redhead seemed to be in a better mood than he had been in since she had arrived, even though he had not spoken to her since dinner the previous evening. Jack had to drive to the next town to buy some logs and chicken feed, so he had left shortly after breakfast with Rex sitting faithfully beside him in the truck. He returned in the late afternoon and told Marianne that she could go and get ready.
Back in her attic bedroom, the New York native laid out some clothes on her bed and mused over what to wear. She eventually chose a blue and white striped shirt with a matching skirt that ended just below the knee. A brown belt matched her shoes, which had a small heel and a strap at the ankle. She finally teased her dark hair into waves and added a red ribbon. Checking her reflection in the dresser mirror, Marianne smiled and nodded before exiting the room.
"You look very pretty." Jack smiled when he saw her.
"Thank you." Marianne blushed.
"Heath! Come on!" Jack yelled up the stairs.
"I'm here, goddamn it!" Heath growled as he made his way down the stairs.
"He cleans up pretty good, don't he?" Jack nudged the New York native's arm.
"He does." Marianne agreed.
The redhead wore a light grey dress shirt and darker grey dress pants with a black belt and a pair of freshly polished black boots. His shoulder length hair had been smoothed down neatly. The New York native was a little surprised at how handsome Heath looked. He looked towards her and gave an awkward shrug. "Ready?" he asked her.
"Let's go." Marianne nodded.
"Have fun!" Jack smiled as he sat in his armchair and petted Rex.
Heath led Marianne out into the yard and opened the passenger door of the red truck. She smiled and climbed into the passenger seat before he closed the door and walked around to the driver's side, getting in and pulling the door shut before turning on the engine. The vehicle roared into life and Heath reversed quickly in the yard before heading off down the road that led back into the town. He said nothing, but kept glancing towards the New York native and giving a smile.
They eventually arrived in the town centre and Heath pulled the truck into the space outside the Greenwood Inn. It didn't really look like a bar from the outside. There were a lot of lights in and around the building, as well as some greenery and flowerbeds. A couple of people sat outside on a wooden bench, singing along drunkenly to a wartime song. Heath opened the passenger side door and helped Marianne out of the truck. Taking her hand, he led her into the Inn and through to a back room, where Mickie was serving a couple of older gentlemen, cheerfully as she usually was.
"Hey, you made it!" Mickie smiled as she spotted the duo.
"Yes." Marianne nodded, still aware of Heath's hand on hers.
"Why don't you two go and sit down? I'll come and see you in a minute." Mickie nodded.
No sooner had the words left her mouth, than Heath led Marianne towards a table in the corner of the room. The chairs were upholstered with a dark green material, which was fraying a little and the table had a few chips in the wood. Looking around the room, the New York native saw a few older men drinking ale, as well as a group of younger men wearing braces and a few wearing flat caps. There was a woman in the opposite corner who looked like she could take on a group of men in a fight. She was a larger lady with a heaving bosom and a double chin, her hands laden with rings and bracelets.
"Here you go." Mickie grinned as she placed down a tray of drinks and took a seat next to Marianne.
"What is it?" the New York native asked as she took a glass from Mickie.
"Port. Just try it." The brunette smiled, taking a big drink from her own glass.
"Not too busy tonight." Heath said to Mickie as he nursed a pint of ale.
"No. Lucky I still get paid!" the cheery brunette joked.
"Do you live here too?" Marianne asked her.
"I have a room upstairs." Mickie nodded.
"Who owns this place?" Marianne asked, sipping the glass of Port.
"The owner's not here right now. His name's Chris Irvine." The brunette replied.
Marianne felt Heath tense beside her as two figures entered the room. The first was a young man of around Heath's age with tanned skin and dark hair, as well as a small beard. Following him was a young woman of around the same age with flowing blonde hair and a dazzling smile. Mickie turned to see the distraction and Marianne saw a hint of worry flash in her brown eyes.
"Who are they?" Marianne asked.
"You don't need to know." Heath replied, finishing the ale and grabbing her wrist to leave.
"Why not?" she asked him.
"Because you're better than them." The redhead replied.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" Mickie asked as the New York native was whisked away by Heath.
"Yes." She replied as she looked back.
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