A Lawless Land

Memories Of Time Past

Two years earlier...

"So, when's the big day?"

Blythe looked across the table at her best friend, Peyton, and shrugged, "we're going to talk about it when he gets back from Texas. I just can't believe it's already been this long. It seems like just yesterday that I met him in basic training. Time sure flies."

"I can't believe he's finally settling down. I still wish you had a more romantic story about how you two met. It would make for a much nicer wedding toast" Peyton laughed.

"Come on, it could be romantic, you just have to word it right" Blythe protested.

"Okay, let's see" Peyton spoke in a low voice, trying to sound masculine, "I remember, to this day, the first moment I laid eyes on Blythe, our fingers touched as we reached for the same toilet brush."

They burst into fits of laughter, Blythe dabbed the tears from her eyes with a napkin, "okay, you've made your point. There's nothing romantic about latrine duty. But we've had plenty of other sweet moments to make up for that."

"I just hope Raleigh realizes how lucky he is. No other woman would be as patient and light-hearted about it as you have been" Peyton smirked.

"Well it's not about how we met anyway. Dustin is a wonderful man who I'm thrilled I'll get to spend the rest of my life with" she beamed.

>>><<<

Queen was leaning against a fallen tree next to the lake, staring at the dog tags in her hand. She glanced over to her side where her furry stalker had gone to sleep. She had started calling him Duke, for his fighting spirit. The name seemed to suit him. That's when she realized she had gotten attached to him. She reached over and gently scratched behind his ear, he rested his head in her lap, anticipating more scratching.

She smiled and gave in, "what am I going to do with you? I have a hard enough time taking care of myself."

Duke quickly stood up and stared off into the distance, letting out a small warning growl.

Queen reached to her side where her knife was as she heard leaves crunch and twigs snap. She was relieved to see it was only Pauline.

"Why are you out here?" Queen gruffly asked her.

"Leo wants you to come see him" Pauline glanced around cautiously with her arms folded.

"If he needs his bandages changed again, someone else will have to do it. I'm not here to baby him, I'm just here until he's healed up enough, then I'm gone" Queen poked her campfire with a stick, rolling a piece of wood.

"He still wants to talk to you" Pauline said enviously.

Queen heard it right off the bat, "so what's going on? Is he your boyfriend or something?"

Pauline blushed, "no. But I've been trying everything."

"If it's not working, maybe he's just not interested. If that's the case, move on. There are more important things to worry about anyway" she answered bluntly.

"I couldn't. Haven't you ever been in love with someone so much that you can't even stand it? I actually have a heart, unlike you. I just can't do that" Pauline cried.

Queen stood up and stared her down, "your heart is only a vital organ, a body part, we all have one, even me. Love is a state of mind. Besides, you shouldn't just assume things about a person you don't know."