For Always (book one)

Chapter 6: Feelings

Malyn

It had been over a week since I'd moved here and I loved it, so far. We'd spent all week working outside in the flower beds and doing some much-needed work to the yard. Beau simply watched.

"Wish I could help," he said as he laid in the hammock, sporting a smile that said otherwise. "I really do." He crossed his arms under his head so he could see me better.

"Yeah, you look like it," I teased, which I'd done a lot this week. Teasing him seemed to help ease the tension that had been building between us. We seemed to both be attracted to each other, but with him being dead, and all, it made it awkward.

"I'm just glad I can't smell yuns, 'cause ya look like you'd stink."

"Beau said you look stinky," I told Grandmama.

Beau laughed. "I'd whoop you, Miss Reed, but I think you'd like it too much."

"Well, I'd say Beau is right," Grandmama said. I looked at her, shocked at first, forgetting that she couldn't hear him. "We are filthy!" She dusted off her knees that had been buried in the dirt. "Why don't we go on in and get cleaned up and go into town for supper. I'll show ya around and introduce ya to some locals."

"Sounds good to me." Then I thought about Beau not being able to go. I looked toward him, his eyes shut like he was asleep, but I knew he wasn't. He never slept.

I went inside so I could go ahead and take a shower. I knew I didn't have to worry about Beau infringing on my privacy while I bathed. One thing I'd come to learn about him was that even though he was a little rough around the edges, he was also a gentleman. He'd been raised to respect women, which had stayed with him even after death.

He was waiting on me when I walked into my room. "Will ya take some more pictures for me? I'd like to see how much things have changed in the past hundred years."

"Sure. I may not get many before it gets dark, but I'll take what I can." I felt sorry for him. I tried not to, but how could I not? "I wish you could go."

He was watching me comb my wet hair. "I do, too. Ya have no idea how bad I wanna get away from here." He got up and went to look out the window. "It's just been so long...."

He was quiet for a bit, so I knew he wasn't gonna elaborate. My hair was so long and thick that I rarely dried it. I would usually braid it so when I took it down it'd be in waves, or just let it hang and air dry. I was tired, today, so it was just gonna hang. And, like my hair, my lashes were also long and thick. I didn't wear much makeup, just mascara and lip gloss, which didn't take long to put on. I got up, slipped my shoes on, and grabbed my purse and camera off my dresser. When I turned around, I almost walked right through Beau.

"Ya look awfully nice, Miss Reed," he said with an approving smile. "I betcha smell a lot better, too."

I smacked at his arm, which went right through him.

"It feels good when ya do that. Not at all painful like ya intend for it to be."

He was still standing in front of me, blocking my way to the door. "I forget...," my voice trailed off as I looked up at him. I hated saying he was dead or a ghost. He seemed alive to me until I would forget and try to touch him or see him go through something.

He knew I wasn't gonna walk through him, so he moved to the side to let me pass. "I hope y'all enjoy your evenin'."

I stopped at the door and turned to look at him. He seemed sad. "We won't be gone long."