3

The drive home was full of emotions and chatter. Mother kept asking what happened and dad kept replying 'nothing happened don't worry about it' but mother knew better. The boys were spewing venom about what had happened in the bar.

"Everybody listen. The Bondurant boys are not ones to fuck with. They are very tricky beings and I have heard from men in Chicago that they run illegal bootlegging for making white lightning whiskey. You will all stay away from them." he commanded. We all nodded and I kept my eyes on my lap. Why was Forrest looking at me earlier? It wasn't hard to guess. He was probably disgusted with the fact that I'm black and I was living in a family of whites. My eyes watered up and I began to cry at all the hate in the world brought on by its people. Jay saw me crying and wrapped his hands around me.

"It's okay Eula, we won't let them Bondurant boys near you." he whispered. I just leaned in to him. It was not the Bondurant boys I feared but the fact that I would never be an equal in the world of white and white. We moved in quietly. The house was big and white. A slave owner built it. My stomach was churning all day as we unpacked. Once everything was finished we all separated. The boys went into town to get food and mom and dad were fast asleep in their rooms. We knew they liked to get their rest. I decided to sit on the front steps of the porch and just looked at all the tress. Birds chirped a bit and for a second this place looked almost peaceful. I guess I needed to think of the type of job I would be getting.

But what decent job can a girl like me get? I sighed letting my head fall, my head falling over my shoulders. The sound of a large vehicle coming made me look up and I watched as an old brown truck stopped in front of the house and in it were three men I thought were never going to come around here. In the back I saw Howard standing watching me and I tensed now under his glare. I looked in the driver seat to see Forrest was cutting off his engine and stepping out of the vehicle. I felt fear shoot into me and I stood up swiftly and started to move back up the stairs.

"Ma'am." Forrest called out and I froze as I heard that respectful word used in my direction. I closed my eyes now at the sound of his deep cool yet soothing voice. I turned slowly to see Forrest had walked away from his truck and was standing a few feet away from the house, but he was still far enough that I had to meet him half way. I shook a bit and watched as he slowly removed his hat and placed it to his chest. I felt my heart tighten up at the sight of his face. It looked so smooth and the stubble around his face matched the personality that radiated off him. I knew he wanted me to come over.

I gathered my courage. I was a Kincaid. The men of our family feared nothing and the women were just as fearless. I stuck my chest out and started to move closer up to him, but as he did I noticed his eyes started to roam over me and then he looked down at the ground then up at the sky as if trying to distract himself from looking at me. I knew he didn't like the sight of me but he didn't have to be so non discreet about it. I stopped a feet away from him and just noticed he was bigger than me. Broad shoulders, tall and slim figure, he was a big man. I felt my courage slip away from me and I kept my hands to my side. I didn't even know what to say.

"Uh." he replied in a deep tone and that one word made me tense.

"We...don't want any trouble." I whispered. He swallowed now and looked at his brothers then back down at me with fast blinking eyes.

"Um Miss Eula, I just wanted to say on behalf of my brother that we are deeply sorry for the way we reacted towards you and your family. Howard is normally for the… African American community here." he said frowning at his brother now who looked down. I blinked now at his words and he looked down on me. "He didn't know what he was doing and we sho didn't mean to make you all feel unwelcome."

I looked around him now and glanced at Howard and then the youngest, Jack, to see him looking over at me with curiosity. I swallowed now already knowing that I was about to over step a boundary. I looked up at Forrest.

"I want him to tell me he's sorry. Your only offence was trying to shoot my brother." I replied. He looked down now almost in pure guilt but it faded and he looked back at me.

"And I apologize for that ma'am. Howard! Say you're sorry to the woman!" he yelled out still looking down at me. I knew his loudness wouldn't disturb my parents. They learned to sleep through loud things since we lived in Chicago. It would be a different story if we were in the house. Howard lifted his head up.

"Sorry for insulting you, Miss Eula." he called out. I was very shocked to hear him apologize for this and he continued to watch me as if seeing what I'd do. I only nodded and looked at Forrest to see him looking down at me still with the same gaze he did at his bar. I knew my brothers would be home soon so I knew I had to cut it short.

"Well Mr. Bondurant thank you for taking the time to say sorry." I said and raised my hand up to him to shake. He looked down at it and his fingers stayed curled around his hat and he only cleared his throat. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I didn't expect for him to turn swiftly away from me and place his hat on his head and walk away as if my hand never came up. My lips parted due to shock and I watched him get back in his truck, cut it on, and drive away. My fingers curled up and I placed my hand down to my side. I knew it, he hated black people. He hated the sight of me. His eyes scanned my body probably taking in my imperfections and comparing me to a white woman. Maybe Maggie made them come down and apologize.

I turned and moved back and moved into the house.

(Forrest Inner thoughts)

How can this even be happening? How could I let my legs loosen like a noodle back in that bar? That white trash Arliss had some nerve putting his hands on my brother. I'll show them that no one messes with me or my brother.

But why, why is that woman, their sister so…attractive? She doesn't talk like a Negro. She talks like a white woman; proper. She has such a wonderful body, she couldn't be older then nineteen maybe. It's no wonder I started to undress her body with my eyes back in the bar. I don't even know what her father was spewing. She's strong. She was able to stop me from shooting her brother.

God what am I thinking, thinking of a black woman like that. That's so taboo and what would she want with an old war veteran like me? Damn I feel almost old now…less invincible. But she's so beautiful. Her hair is shiny and silky. I would love to run my fingers through her hair… slowly take off her dress, feel what was underneath. Oh damn Forrest stop it. She will never love you. Unlike me love can expire and die. But it's not like I can stop myself from looking at her.

Damn she probably thinks I'm old. She probably thinks I hate Negros. I couldn't even shake her hand when she offered it to me. She even made me apologize for shooting her brother and i never say sorry for shooting and killing a man. But why couldn't I shake her hand? I shook Maggie's hand when I met her. But it wasn't because she was white. I can shake Eula's hand. I could kiss Eula's hand. No! She is a black woman and I am a white man, but so what… who would say anything against me, the invincible Forrest Bondurant? It's settled. I want Eula Kincaid. I want her to be mine and mine alone and no one is going to stop me…

(Authors notes)

Okay so I love how Eula is naïve that she doesn't see that Forrest is obviously attracted to her but is being shy about it.

I'm not sure if Forrest's inner thoughts were fitting to his character but hey review and tell me what you think…if it's negative then you will be ignored.

Also thanks skycord1990 your comments kept me going through this chapter ^.^