"NO, Charlie. We're through. Get….get off of me." He took a step back, and stared into her eyes, his voice suddenly gruffer, and stone cold. "And what if I don't want to"? Suddenly, a voice came from behind Charlie. "Then you'll answer to me".
Reba's head snapped up at the voice, suddenly filled with hope. "Narvel" she softly uttered. Charlie stepped back and laughed cruelly. "Get lost Blackstock", he said. "This is between me and my wife." Narvel however, didn't back down. Standing his ground, he gazed over at Reba, and she smiled at him. A soft, sweet smile meant only for him. It gave him courage, and he stared Charlie in the face. "She's not yours Charlie. Not anymore. She doesn't want you, so leave. her. alone." Charlie raised his eyebrow, surprised at the firm stance in Narvel's voice, then took a step forward and punched him hard in the nose before grabbing Reba and pulling her to him, throwing her on the bed. Forgetting his own pain, Narvel lunged at Charlie, tackling him to the ground. He was not a violent man by nature, but no one touched his Reba. No one. Reba ran behind him, yelling at the two to stop, tears in her eyes. Narvel and Charlie wrestled on the floor for a few moments before Reba saw an opening, and kicked Charlie right in the groin. He rolled over and gasped in pain. Narvel took that moment to grab Reba's hand and run out, pulling her with him.
Narvel and Reba ran down the hall to his room, and the couple quickly locked the door behind them. "Narvel I…" Reba began. "No man has ever done something like that for me before. Thank you…I…You saved me." Her voice shook as she leaned in and placed a tender kiss on his lips. "Reba….I heard you scream and I knew I had to help you. You needed me." Reba smiled. "Narvel…I'll always need you." Narvel led her to his bed and gently kissed her. "Tonight, you stay here. Safe." He pulled up a sleeping bag and crawled into it. "You stay in my bed". "Narvel….."Reba started. "I trust you. If you want to lie with me….its ok. I know you won't try anything." At that, she blushed. "It's not that I don't want to…don't misunderstand…I just…want it to be perfect. Not yet…I….." Narvel laughed. "You're adorable you know that? I understand perfectly. And if it's just the same to you, I'll take the floor. It's a matter of respect for you Reebs." Narvel shut the light and the pair lay there in the dark, smiling despite the night's occurrences. "Night, Narvel", Reba said softly. "Night Red", came the reply. And then, quietly to himself, he whispered… "I love you"…..