The Trail's End

January 30, 1930 (Continued)

Dallas, Texas

"So, Clyde, what are you up to these days?"

Clyde gave Colleen a slightly pointed look, one eyebrow raised. He knew what she was getting at. "Just havin' a bit of fun, really. You know well that I do what I want to do when I want to do it."

He redirected his look to Peggy, who sat adjacent to him. "You see, I'm an old fashioned man. I don't quite understand the law or why it's in place. Some call it a blatant disregard for authority, and I suppose that could be correct." He waved his hand in front of him, letting it fall on the table where her arm rested. "I don't take kindly to being tied down. I go where the wind takes me. You understand, Bonnie?" His thumb traced circles on her upper arm as he spoke, to which Colleen took notice of.

Peggy noticed as well. In fact, she was having a hard time not noticing. She glanced over at his hand, rolling her shoulder so as to shake away the chills that came from where he touched her skin. "Seems like an overrated lifestyle, if you ask me," she responded, looking to Colleen for a moment. The blonde raised her eyebrows at her friend, questioning her, but Peggy ignored it with a smile towards Clyde's way. "I assume there's a past between the two of you," she changed the subject, plastering a smile on her face.

"Leena and I?" Clyde chuckled. "No, but I reckon she wishes," he teased, smirking over at the blonde.

"Please, not if you were the last fella on the planet," she responded with an equal amount of sarcasm, then turned to Peggy. "Clyde used to keep me company while Clarence was off at work," she explained.

"Oh," Peggy raised her eyebrows, looking aside for a moment. "I suppose I shouldn't judge, since we all have our vices I suppose – "

"Whoa, whoa there darlin', not like that," Clyde interrupted, flashing another charming smile. "I kept all of Clarence's boys off of Colleen's back, like her own personal guard. Made sure that nothin' happened to her while he was away. I don't like to fool around my friends' wives, Bonnie. Above all else, I'm a respectable man, and I plan on keepin' it that way." He then nods as if to solidify his point, raising the arm that once rested on hers up, propping his elbow up on the table and resting his head in his hand. "What about you, are you a loyal woman?"

Peggy gave him a look, then lowered her head, holding in her breath for a moment. "I don't have anyone to be loyal to, Mister Clyde. It's as simple as that."

Across the table, Colleen gave her friend a sympathetic smile, though Peggy didn't see it.

Clyde, however, was not as empathetic. "The ring on your finger says somethin' different." Colleen shot him a dirty look, to which he ignored, staring at the brunette.

Peggy looked up at him, then let her eyes fall to the ring on her left hand. "Ah, I suppose that does leave a few questions, doesn't it?" She held her hand out, spinning the ring around her finger. "I was married at a young age, and I… I suppose I was just naïve and oblivious to the facts. About three years into the marriage, he was arrested for…" She took a deep breath, shaking her head. "Well, all sorts of crimes. It wasn't so shocking, really. He was gone more often than he was around, and when he was around, he was distracted. It was good when he was around, though. It was good." She then looked to the ground, taking a deep breath again. "I wear the ring because technically, I am his wife, though I don't consider myself that way. And, it scares away anyone searching for anything serious."

"Why do you want to scare them away?"

"Well, I suppose some are welcome," she responded, smiling over at Clyde once again.

He responded with a smile as wide as hers. "That's really good news, Bonnie." He chuckled. "That's some really good news."

Peggy smiled, then crossed her legs at her ankles. "What about you, what's your story? We all got one, and somethin' tells me yours is worth listenin' to."

Clyde let out a sigh, leaning back in his chair. "Hm, let's see…" He then raised an eyebrow, looking over at her. "Well, I was raised in a small family, just my parents and my brother. That didn't count all of the friends we considered as family, but it was just us." His eyes grew darker as he heaved a sigh, looking back at the wall behind Peggy rather than at her. "Growin' up, my brother and I got along just fine, but my father always favored him, since he was the firstborn and frankly, the stronger one. I was always the one tryin' to get an education, since I knew my brother wasn't goin' to bother with all of that." He frowned. "When that didn't work out for me, I… I took up a certain lifestyle, one I'm not all that proud of, but it's my life regardless. Once I was old enough, I left them behind and started my own life, and I'm still tryin' to figure out what exactly it is that I'm meant for." He smiled over to Peggy, shaking his head slightly. "So that's my story, Miss Bonnie. It's not as glorious as everyone thinks, but it is what it is."

"Actually, it's Peggy," she responded, smiling warmly. "Since we are opening up to each other, I assume you'd want my actual name."

"Peggy," he chuckled with a nod. "I like it." He looked her over, this time wearing a solemn look. "Loki is my name, but no one calls me that anymore. Not even my friends."

She smiled at him once again, nodding just as he did. "Loki, huh?" She looked up at the ceiling, still nodding. "It's different, like you. I like it."

"Well thank you, Peggy."

"You're welcome, Loki."

"Well aren't you two just the cutest. Invite me to the weddin', alright?" Colleen interrupted, wearing a wide smirk.

Peggy closed her eyes as her friend spoke, a slight blush rising to her cheeks. "Colleen…"

"What?" The blonde chuckled. "I suppose you're right, I shouldn't impose on a moment. I'll just step out." She stood up, still wearing a smirk. "Just do me a favor, alright? Keep it down at least. Wouldn't want to alarm the neighbors."

"Colleen!"

"Alright, alright, I'm goin'! I'm proud of you, Peg!"

Once she closed her bedroom door, Peggy shook her head, chuckling slightly. "I would apologize, but I'm fairly certain you know how she gets."

"Yes," Loki chuckled as well. "She's constantly trying to set me up with some of her friends. She never mentioned you, though."

Peggy tilted her head slightly. "And if she had?"

"If she had mentioned you, I might have just taken her up on that offer." He smirked, then shook his head. "You know what, no, that's a lie. I probably would have told her that I was waiting for someone special to come around, or that I wasn't looking for a relationship, you know, the normal routine." He then crossed his arms across his chest. "But if she had introduced us before, I would have asked her where I could find you, in hopes that I wouldn't have to search all over the country for you."

Peggy smiled, flattered by his words. "Oh, I'm sure you've used that line before."

He leaned forward, taking her right hand in his. "I assure you, Peggy, I have never met any woman like you on this planet. I mean that."

She looked away, a blush rising to her cheeks. "That's very kind, Loki. I'm just not sure if I… If I could actually try –"

"Is it because of the man you were married to? I – I may work in similar degrees, but I would never do anything like that to you. I wouldn't leave you hanging like that." He paused for a moment. "Unless something else is holding you back."

"No, no, I know you wouldn't. I barely know you, and I know you wouldn't do that."

Loki took a deep breath, then nodded. "You still love him."

"I don't believe anyone ever stops loving a person, they simply learn to live without them until the love for them is replaced with that of another person." She shook her head. "My heart is not tied down by him, not anymore. I'm learnin' to live my life, without him in it."

Loki blinked, trying to understand. Giving up, he lifted his chin slightly, raising an eyebrow at her. "And what do you plan to do now?"

Peggy smiled, shrugging slightly. "Whatever I want."

He returned the smile, pleased with her answer. "Seems like an overrated lifestyle, if you ask me."

"Well, I can't know until I try, right?" She asked, smirking slightly. "Look, I – I'm sorry about before. You have to understand, the last one I had left me with a lot a baggage. I'm still tryin' to figure out how to carry it all."

Loki nodded, then took both of her hands into his. "Maybe the trick is to let other people help you carry them."

She smiled warmly, tilting her head slightly. "I suppose I just have one question."

"Only one?"

"Only one that matters," she shrugged. "Why, of all of the women you're bound to have met, would you even consider a woman like me?"

Loki raised his eyebrows, then narrowed his eyes. "I guess I haven't really figured that out yet. That just means you gotta stick around until I do."

"I'm not goin' anywhere," she smirked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not either – "

It was then that Colleen ran back into the room, a frantic look on her face. "You have to go."

"What? I didn't do anything – "

Colleen ran over, shutting the windows as she made her way around. "Clarence just came through over the radio. He's leavin' Dallas and headed for Oklahoma, and so is the rest of 'em. He said that one of them took it too far and now they're lookin' for all of you. He says they're takin' everyone."

Before she was finished, he was on his feet, his eyes wide. "They're arrestin' everyone? Even the ones that didn't have anything to do with the – "

"He didn't tell me, but you have to go before they find you."

"Wait, Colleen," Peggy intervened, shaking her head. "Can't we hide him here? He is no doubt more at risk out on the streets than here."

Colleen gave her a look. "But what about you and me? How 'at risk' will we be?"

"That's not what I meant –"

"Ladies, there's no need for that. I'm leavin'." Loki walked over to Colleen and pulled her close for a moment, then stepped back, his hands on her shoulders. "They're going to come by and ask for me and for Clarence and you're going to need to take care of yourself. Promise me you'll be safe."

Colleen nodded. "I'll do my best."

He smiled and rubbed her shoulders before turning to the brunette across the room. "I don't know when I'll be – "

"I know the drill by now, Loki. You've just met me, why should you have to explain yourself?" She raised an eyebrow. "Just don't get killed."

"If this was nothin', you wouldn't care if I died or not," he reasoned, walking over to her. "You'll take care of Colleen?"

"You're not gonna ask me to be safe?"

He raised an eyebrow at her. "You're a loaded pistol all on your own. Somethin' tells me you can hold your own."

"I guess," she took a deep breath. "You'll come back, right?"

He nodded. "I'll do my best."

"Good, then you'll owe me dinner."

He smirked. "Are you asking me on a date, Miss Carter?"

She shrugged. "You'll have to live first."

"Deal." He smiled, walking to the door.

Once he left, Peggy looked over at Colleen, giving her a slightly disappointed look.

"What is it with you and the dangerous ones?" The blonde asked, then motioned at the door. "He's gonna be gone for a while, you might as well – "

"Thanks, Leena," Peggy nodded before she was even finished, then followed him out of the door.

Colleen stared at the door as her friend ran out, frowning slightly. "Oh boy."

"Loki!" Peggy called out, holding her hand out as she ran out of the building where she had been staying.

Loki stopped at her voice and turned around, giving her a confused look. "I'm tryin' to make an escape here, you see."

"I just wanted to make sure you'd come back," she answered innocently, only stopping as she was inches away from him.

"Oh?"

"Mhm," she nodded, then pulled him down by his collar, forcing her lips on his. He didn't seem to mind though, and soon, he all but swept her off of her feet in returning the kiss. Seconds later, he forced himself to part, an apologetic look on his face.

"Continue this another time?"

Peggy smiled, somewhat drunk off of his kiss. "It's a deal."

"Until next time then," he smirked, stepping back away from her. Soon, he was gone, and Peggy was beginning to wonder if she would ever see him again.

She eventually made her way back to the room where her friend sat, her eyebrow raised at her. "I should've introduced you two sooner."

Peggy still smiled. "Hm, I suppose."

Colleen then walked her friend over to the couch, waiting for her to spill.

"You two are gonna be a problem, I can already tell."

A/N: Updates should become more of a regular thing now, and they've all been rewritten. Thank you all for your patience and loyalty :)

-June x