Laurey
He was singing, of course. He was always singing, even when she was trying to talk to him. Much as she liked his voice, it could get downright irritating, as though he didn't have anything to actually say to her. When she was feeling nicer towards him, she dismissed it as shyness, the same shyness she felt about him, but after what had happened to her, she was feeling far less charitable than usual, even towards him. She let him reach the farmhouse before she stepped outside to greet him.
"You're back."
"That all you have to say, Miss Laurey? Come all this way to visit you, and I figured on us spendin' some time together sittin' out in the orchard. Learned some new songs, I thought I'd teach 'em to you. 'Less you're gonna keep bein' so uppity."
"I just ain't in the mood for singin'"
Curly dismounted Old Dunn and took his hat off.
"S'all right. Can hardly call those sounds you make singin' anyhow. Be an insult to those of us who've got the natural gift"
Laurey rolled her eyes and laughed. It was so easy settling into their back and forth, so much like the old days that she could almost forget and become the person she was before, carefree and funny.
"Listen," Curly cleared his throat, and Laurey steeled herself for what she knew he was going to say, knew he was going to break the illusion of normalcy. "I heard what happened. If you want me to, I'd hunt down that dirty skunk and-"
"How'd you find out?" She interrupted, not caring to hear the rest of that sentence. She knew his idea wouldn't work; even if she wanted him to, those men were long gone.
"Slim told me; he was in Kansas too, so he went and found me. But are you all right? That's what I wanna know."
"I-I guess" she shrugged, the question too big to answer with a yes or no. "I've just…I've started feelin' so scared all the time. And I'm angry that—"
"No, I mean, did you let him…do anythin'?"
"Let him? Let him?"
Curly sighed. "I didn't mean it like that, c'mon, you know I didn't mean that. I just—I want you to know that I will go after him if you want me too. Get a couple friends of mine and…well, do what we need to do. Ain't particularly civilized, but that's what men gotta do sometimes. And if he did hurt you like that, I'd be downright obligated to."
She softened slightly, not fully believing him, but willing to listen, willing to see if he'd take her up in his arms and promise to keep her safe. But he hadn't kept her safe that night, so she knew he wasn't dependable that way. Cowboys weren't reliable the way farmers were, or hired hands for that matter.
"Don't haveta go after him," she mumbled. "Probably long gone by now. Might've had a chance at trackin' him down if you'd been here."
"That ain't fair! Ain't like I knew it was gonna happen; I didn't—"
"I know," she interrupted. "I'm sorry, I've just been…it's been hard. Ain't been myself"
"I understand" he put a hand on her shoulder. "But don't worry, I still feel the same about you."
"Oh, thank you, that's awful nice." She shot back.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry; I never been in a situation like this, I don't know how to talk about it."
"That's fine."
"Is it true Jud rescued you?"
"Yeah, he was awful brave, and he helped me after."
Curly laughed. "Wouldn't have guessed that."
"Why not?"
"He's Jud Fry. You're always sayin' how growly and mean he is. Just didn't think he'd be the helpful type."
"Guess you were wrong, then."
"Don't act like you always thought he was so wonderful; just because he helped you don't mean he's any better'n we thought."
"I gotta go back inside" she could put up with his making insinuations about her, but saying that about Jud was too much.
"But I just got here. C'mon, lemme teach you at least one new song" he offered.
"Sorry, I'm tired. Ain't up to talkin' to folks."
"All right. Can I come back soon?"
"I guess. 'F you want."
"C-can I?" He leaned forward, but instinctively, she flinched away.
"No, I...not right now."
"Sorry" he pulled back. "I'm so sorry"
She nodded and headed inside.
