Babette's Story (Lawless Fanfic)

Chapter 22: Life Full Of Surprises

Three weeks had passed since I moved in with Forrest, and there was still no change in Richie's demeanor. That boy can sure hold grudges. Eli hung around Blackwater Station more than usual. After some time I noticed it wasn't to keep an eye on me. He would come after work and stay till closing. The chemistry between him and Maggie grew stronger. It was nice to finally see Eli happy. Now, if only Richie could find a nice girl to settle down with. Maybe a woman in his life would take the edge off his animosity towards the Bondurants.

Forrest and I spent a lot of time together. He tried to stay back as much as he could when they had to go on runs since he let Jack and Cricket in on the business. If he did leave, I was always left with a chaperone- whether it be Howard, or his equally intoxicated buddy Danny, or even Eli. Living with the Bondurants wasn't much of a difference than living with pop and my older brothers.

Being at the station kind of made me oblivious to the things going on- not just in Franklin County, but the whole country was in real bad shape. Many people were out of work, families were losing their homes and their farms and all. I certainly didn't see Forrest struggle. Jack said that shifting the liquor across the county line was making the money pour in for the Bondurants, but that didn't mean things were easy. Deputy Rakes made sure he let them feel the heat. Jack's car was riddled with a growing number of bullet holes- which often made me wonder how he manage to make it home every time. Even I had to admit that those invincible legends rang true to some extent. Then Cricket, had one of his ideas. A faster car meant a quicker get away from the law. He stuck a souped up carburetor in the Ford. He's gifted, Cricket is definitely one of the smartest and kindest people I have ever met.

On rare occasions I would be left with Jack and Cricket, with strict orders to stay put. I found it very challenging to stay at the station when Jack knew all the right words to say to get me going. He would take me deep into the woods where they kept their huge stills. He'd show me around and brag as usual. I tried to voice my concern as to how 'well hidden' the Bondurant stills were.

"Do you think Deputy Rakes could ever find this place?" I asked trying to mask the amount of worry in my tone.

"Naa, too deep in the woods for him to even know where to begin." Jack laughed it off. There was no doubt that Cricket and Jack were assets to the business. Cricket was good with his hands, whether it be fixing up a car or working on those stills. Jack was a smooth talker and a very good get away driver, or so Cricket tells me, but his biggest issue was letting the money get into his head.

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The weather in Franklin County was getting warm. Spring had started and that meant summer was just around the corner. I wonder what kind of mischief Angie would try to get us into. I let Jack talk me into taking a ride with him today. It felt like we went everywhere- to visit Bertha, a couple errands in town, visit my aunt Gillian, and the forbidden trip to the stills. Driving up to the station my heart leaps into my throat. I nervously glance at Jack, who looks to me without worry.

"Just let me talk Baps." He says to me.

"You think that's gonna help? He'll know that everything you say is a lie just by taking one look at me. He'll never leave me with you again, Jack." I hiss at him as my heart beat picks up speed.

"Relax, it's not that big of a deal. I'll just say everythin' we did.... Leavin' out the part with the still." He tried to reassure me as he parked his car in front of the diner. No sight of Forrest which meant he was inside, probably thinking of ways to hurt his hardheaded little brother. I took deep breaths trying to calm myself, in hopes that he wouldn't be able to read me like a book.

Jack rushes in through the screen door when he sees Forrest sitting at the bar. His hands raised defensively in front of him. "Now, Forrest, I already know what you're gon' say. I shouldn't of left the station, but c'mon, the girl's been cooped up here." Forrest looks at his brother with a glacial stare, but says nothing. Then he sets his eyes on me. A look that makes me want to spill my deepest secrets.

Before I can register what I'm doing the words just start spilling out of my mouth. "It wasn't his fault Forrest. I-I practically begged him to take me out." I swallowed. His eyes narrowed.

"Jack knows better than that." He says as a matter of fact. "You saw first hand what happened to cousin Spoons. You think he won't do the same to you?" His voice is eerily calm. My eyes drop to the floor.

"I'm sorry for sneaking off." I whisper. Suddenly aunt Gillian's words pop into my head- that I can't do things to make people happy if it makes me unhappy. "But... I'm not sorry for going to see my friends and family." I can see the slightest hint of surprise in Forrest' face. Before my bit of courage is gone I continue. "I know how dangerous Rakes is, but I can't keep living in fear. You want me safe, I get it, I really do. It's just I went from one overprotective home to another. I'm not a child so stop treating me like one." Anger rising in me and I had no idea why. "I am not your child Forrest. If I would've known you'd treat me like this I would have stood with my brothers in aunt Gillian's!" With that I stormed off towards the stairs and up to our room. I heard Howard howling downstairs about the spitfire Forrest had on his hands. What is going on with me? I just went from scared shitless to furious in a matter of seconds. Maybe I'm going crazy- I mean after dealing with my brothers for almost 20 years and getting involved with Forrest, sure is seeming to take its toll on me. Which also reminded me that my 20th birthday was coming up. Footsteps outside the room door snapped me out of my ridiculous thoughts.

Forrest steps in with the intense gaze that always made my heart melt. He closes the door and leans on it, his hands shoved into his pockets, eyeing me curiously. "Sorry for my outburst." I chuckled shaking my head. His lips twitch slightly.

"I don't mean to act like your brothers.... Things just ain't like before. That deputy got it out for me and my brothers and anyone we care about." His deep raspy voice fills the room.

"I know you mean well, Forrest. It's just, I'm not as delicate as you all like to think. I grew up in a house full of boys for Christ sake. It's not like Richie or Eli never taught me how to throw a punch." I smirk up at him. Forrest slowly approaches me and sits beside me on the bed. He sighs heavily. He pulls something out of his pocket. My eyes widen at the sight of it.

"It'll give me a piece of mind if ya carry it with you when I ain't around." He grumbles as he holds his revolver out for me to take.

"F-Forrest I-I never shot a gun before. I-I don't know about this." I say not able to hide my discomfort for his weapon. I could never take a life, especially not the way Charlie's was taken.

Forrest grunts. "You just point and pull the trigger." As if its the end of the discussion. He places it in my hand feeling the cool steel of the small firearm. He grabs me from the back of my head and kisses me gently. He gets up and heads to the room door. "Maggie says dinner is ready." And Forrest is out the door leaving me alone to get better acquainted with his weapon. There was no arguing with this man, was there? My only two options was to take the gun or never leave the station. I wouldn't really ever use it. So I guess I would be okay with carrying it with me.

Heading downstairs I offered my help to set the table. The boys were already seated at the table. Howard constantly joking on Jack about his infatuation with Bertha, while Forrest sat there chuckling at his brothers war with words. We filled the table with fried chicken, mash potatoes, collard greens, butter beans, and hot rolls. Maggie also made a strawberry shortcake for desert. There was a funny smell coming from the table that made my stomach uneasy. As Maggie took the lid off the dish with the collard greens, the smell became overwhelming. One single glance was all it took to get me rushing to the bathroom to empty my stomach. My body convulsing with horrible dry heaves. Some time had passed when I was finally relieved of those dry heaves. I rinsed my mouth and splashed some water on my face. Sinking slowly to the floor trying to gain my composure. I don't know what's gotten into me. Thinking about the smell again was enough to make me gag. A knock on the bathroom door startles me.

"Are you okay hun?" Maggie's voice asked softly through the door. 'I would be fine if you would be so kind to remove your collard greens from the table', I thought to myself.

"I'm fine. I'll be out in a minute." I assure her and she leaves. A few minutes pass before I'm able to muster up the courage to step back into the room. I swing open the door only to come face to face with a pair of stormy blue eyes. Worry and a bit of confusion seeping through.

"This ain't the first time this happened to you." He states. Jeez, here I thought that I was being discreet about it. Three times in the past week I had felt sick to my stomach, this being the forth. He said nothing but his eyes waited for an explanation I knew I could not give.