Chapter 4

Tying the horse up out back, Bass led Charlie into the shed next to the house that they had converted into a combination bathhouse and laundry room. He lit a lamp that was kept on a nearby table before walking over to a small portable clay fireplace. Throwing in some wood he started a fire.

Charlie stared at the claw foot bathtub that sat on a short platform of pallets.

"Is there something about this tub that I should know about?" She asked Bass, suddenly uncomfortable.

Looking between her and the tub he made the connection. "I believe there was an incident involving a tub similar to this. You'll need to ask Miles as I wasn't there. I've only heard about it second-hand." He said trying to school his features. Just the thought of Drexel laying his hands on her made his blood boil. "So you just turn on the faucet here and the fire does the rest. Towels are in the changing room and you and Rachel keep some bath stuff out here. Shampoo and whatnot," he explained pointing at a nearby shelf. "Yours are the brown ones."

Shaking the weird sensation off, she tried to simply think about soaking in that tub. "Thanks, Bass. This is great, really"

Turning her back to him, she began to shed her clothes as he looked on. She knew that she was the type of person who didn't have modesty issues and hell, he'd already seen everything anyway, not to mention the fact that his hands liked to travel in his sleep.

"Charlotte" he growled turning away.

"Chicken," she teased. "Go on. Come get me when you're done."

He headed out the door without looking back. "We won't be long."

"Jesus, Bass, you were supposed to protect her!" Miles bellowed as Bass finished his story.

"What do you call dragging her out of the freezing water, Miles?" Bass threw back disgustedly. "She had a bump on her head, but the greater danger was her dropping body temperature!"

"He's right, Miles," Gene interrupted just as Miles was about to start back up. "There was no way to know what type of damage the head wound had done if she had died of hypothermia first."

Miles kicked a hay bale in frustration, "So what do we do now?"

Gene looked at Bass. "It sounds like a case of selective amnesia. But you say she's already started to remember some things."

Bass nodded. "Yeah, little things, like my blind spot and the two of us patching each other up. She woke up last night saying that she saw images but they were flashing so fast she couldn't latch on to any one of them, just the emotions that they evoked. And none of them were good."

"Whatdaya mean the two of you patching each other up?" Miles ground out.

"OH FUCK YOU, MILES! Who do you think is out there with Charlie in the field while you're here playing house with Rachel? I'm the one she relies on these days!"

"Ladies!" Gene said snapping his fingers. "I think our first concern should be Charlie don't you?"

Bass and Miles grumbled going back to their respective corners as a scream shattered the night.

Bass and Miles took off running, Gene following behind. "That was Rachel!" Miles said heading towards the house when another scream broke the silence, "Yeah, but that was Charlie!" Bass called after him headed towards the bath house.

Running through the door he discovered a naked Charlie rolling around on the floor with Rachel, her hands wrapped around Rachel's neck.

"Charlie! Rachel!" Miles yelled running into the room to discover Bass trying to pull Charlie off of her mother.

"Ya wanna help me out here, Brother!" Bass shouted over Charlie's shrieking.

Miles ran to his side, pushing his way between the two women as Bass trapped a struggling Charlie in his arms, pulling her away.

"Are you alright?" Miles asked Rachel pulling her to her feet just as Gene finally made it to the little house.

"My God! Rachel! What happened?" Gene asked taking a look at the hand prints and scratches on his daughter's throat.

"It's ok Dad." Rachel said hoarsely rubbing her throat, "I think I just startled Charlie. I was bringing her some clean clothes and she had fallen asleep in the tub."

"Damnit, Charlie!" Miles chided "you can't go around just trying to kill your mother!"

"That's not my Mother!" Charlie yelled slipping out of Bass' arms before he was able to catch her again, turning her so that her naked front pressed against his clothed one as Miles face turned an alarming shade of red.

Gene grabbed a towel tossing it in Charlie's direction as Bass pulled her to a corner. "Baby, you've got calm down. I'm going to let go and wrap this towel around you, okay?"

Charlie's chest heaved in her anger but she nodded and Bass slowly let go of her arms. "Good girl," he murmured wrapping it around her and tucking the end between her breasts. "Now, can you at least try to be civil?"

"Won't promise," she muttered her hand clutching at his hip.

Keeping a hand wrapped around her bicep, Bass turned, pulling Charlie with him. The other three who were whispering loudly in the corner turned towards them.

Miles stepped forward, an arm wrapped around Rachel's shoulders. "Charlie, this is your Mom, Rachel."

Charlie struggled against Bass' hold. "That's a lie! Other than the blonde hair my Mother looked nothing like her!' She spat out "This is the woman who walked off and let Nora die! Let her bleed to death! My Mother would never do that!" She broke off with a sob. "Why would you lie to me?" She asked Bass her eyes filled with hurt.

Bass looked from her to Miles, his eyes begging for help.

"Charlie, Bass didn't lie to you. He didn't know your step-mother, Maggie. She's the one that raised you. She died before you and Bass ever met."

"And Nora?" Charlie asked her voice thick with unshed tears as she angled towards Bass who put his hand on her back rubbing circles with his thumb on her exposed skin between her shoulder blades.

Rachel stepped forward. "It's true, I don't know if she could have been saved but I didn't try, and I am so very sorry for that, Charlie."

"Nora was my friend," Charlie whispered looking up at Bass.

Bass lifted a hand to rub at her jaw. "I know. She was mine, too."

She nuzzled his hand as Gene approached them.

"Hello, Charlotte. I'm Gene Porter. I'm your Grandpa. After you get dressed I'd like to take a look at your injury."

"It's nice to meet you, but could it wait till tomorrow? She asked turning pleading eyes to Bass.

Bass looked to Gene for guidance, he would defer to the older man in all things concerning Charlie's health.

"Sure honey, we can do that." Gene answered, "Why don't you let me show you to your room?"

Charlie shook her head, tangling her hand in Bass' shirt. "I stay with Bass."

"But Charlie," Rachel started as Gene said "Honey, I don't think.." and Miles started walking towards Bass, hands clenched, face looking like a thundercloud.

"Just stop it!" Charlie shouted moving to stand in front of Bass, causing Rachel and Gene's mouths to snap shut and Miles to halt in his tracks.

"I don't know any of you people!" Charlie said looking at the faces in the room, before pointing a finger at Miles, "You pulled a gun on us, and you let my friend die," she said looking at Rachel knowing that she was being more than a little irrational but not caring. "I know Bass and I trust him. If any of you have a problem with that I'll leave and not think twice about it. As of right now he's the only one that means anything to me."

The room was silent as that sunk in. Bass place his hand upon Charlie's shoulders. "Your room is larger and has the bigger bed. I can move my things over there. Why don't you let Gene take you upstairs so you can get settled and I'll be up after I talk to your Mom and Miles, okay?"

Charlie nodded as she reached out squeezing his hand while glaring at her Mother and Miles. "I'll see you soon."

They watched as she and Gene picked up her clothes and weapons as they made their way to the door. "Have I ever yelled at you?" they heard Charlie ask as the door shut behind them.

"What have you been telling her?" Rachel hissed as soon as they were alone.

Bass could only chuckle. "Would you listen to yourself, Rachel? She was talking about things I had no knowledge of. I never knew that her step mother was a blonde and that her name was Maggie. I only knew that she had one. And as far as Nora? I had no idea that you refused to help her. I only knew that she died in Miles' arms. So go ahead and blame me if you want, but if you lose her again you'll only have yourself to blame. Now it's been a very long day so if you don't mind, Charlie and I'll be going to bed now," He said stalking towards the door. "I imagine we'll be sleeping in as well."

Rachel fell into Miles' arms crying as she listened to Bass stomp out of the room.