Moonshine Hollow

Chapter Thirty-One

Rose woke slowly, she was so warm, and the gentle strokes of Forrest's hands on her back urged her to lull back to sleep. She drifted that way for what felt like hours and when she finally awoke she found herself sprawled across Forrest's chest, her head resting over his heart.

"Morning," he rumbled, his voice low and scratchy from sleep.

She looked up at him, and felt a blush warm her cheeks. His eyes were liquid and soft and his hair was mussed from sleep.

He made a noise low in his throat and chuckled. He squeezed her in a hug and kissed the top of her head. "Did you sleep alright?" he asked, his mouth pressed against her hair.

Rose pulled back, pushing herself up on her arms so he could see how serious she was. "I can't remember the last time I slept so well."

Forrest crossed his arms under his head and watched her. "Good, you woke once, but after that it seemed like you slept well."

Rose nodded. "I normally wake up several times; I never sleep through the night. Did you sleep okay?" she asked shyly. "I didn't keep you up did I?"

Forrest chuckled again and it bounced her on his chest. She smiled with him, enjoying this quiet moment alone before Peter and Arthur woke. Light was just beginning to break through the forest's canopy, fog hung heavily around the trunks of the trees and she could hear the birds beginning to start their song. She knew she should get up, but she didn't want to leave the warmth of the blanket and his arms. Her cheeks, out in the morning air were already starting to feel the chill. She snuggled back in the blankets and glanced over her shoulder at the other brothers.

"Are they still asleep?" she asked.

Forrest nodded. "They have a bit to sleep off." He jerked his chin to where she could see the empty jar laying on the ground in the space between them.

Rose wanted to stay where she was but she didn't want to have to explain to Arthur and Peter once they woke so she climbed reluctantly to her feet. Forrest lay on his back and watched her, but didn't say anything.

Rose shivered and went back to her original bedroll. She tossed several branches on the smoldering embers. The branches caught and the fire flared back to life. Forrest set water back on the rocks to begin warming for tea.

<><><><><>

They stayed in the little clearing for three nights. During the day the brothers would disappear and see to it the stills or collect fire wood. Peter did some hunting and Arthur took her down to the river and taught her to fish. She didn't really like fishing, it took too much time and patience and she ended up sitting on a rock nearby enjoying the sun and reading from her book.

It was a snapshot of what life could be like if she stayed, and if they didn't run the type of business they did. She felt it was what life could be like if it were simple and they were all different people. She found herself idly tracing the scars around her wrists as these thoughts chased themselves through her head. But they were bootleggers and moonshiners and she couldn't stay, no matter how badly she wanted to. One day she would have to leave them. So instead it was a vacation from the hand fate had dealt them all and she treasured it.

On the second afternoon, while Arthur and Peter fished she found herself wondering at their lives. They didn't seem greedy, not a one of them, nor did they shy away from hard work, so how had they ended up in the business? The store seemed to make decent money on its own and she couldn't imagine Forrest deciding he needed more. But he was without a doubt the head of their small family and it would have been him who made the decision to start the business.

She chewed on her lip and before long she realized not knowing worried her. It was like there was a piece about them she didn't understand and in not understanding it she found she doubted her ability to trust it. Their business was such an intrinsic part of their lives and their identity and yet she didn't see the motivation.

She startled as Forrest stepped silently out of the trees near her. His shotgun was over one shoulder and he was carrying a dead wild turkey. 

"Just give up already," he called good naturedly. He tossed the bird at Arthur. "I already got us dinner. It's all ready for you to pluck." And he winked at Rose.

Rose smiled with him and wondered at what a difference two days could make. He was so relaxed and at home out here. His laughter came easier and it was as though a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. She wished there was some way for her to help it be like this for him all the time. He took so much of the responsibility on himself all the time. But out here, he laughed and joked and smiled with his brothers. The change was so great that it was as though he resembled them more. Though she had fallen in love with the more reserved and intense Forrest she found this side of him equally appealing. And watching him laugh and tease his brothers made her heart light.

Every night once the sun went down and Peter and Arthur fell asleep around the fire Rose would get up and slip into Forrest's bed roll. They never spoke about it and it didn't change how they acted around one another during the daylight, but Rose found peace sleeping in the circle of Forrest's arms. And she thought that she could spend the rest of her life doing just that and she would die happy.

<><><><><>

When they returned to the store the man from Chicago was waiting for them on the porch. He was sitting on the rocking chair as though he had been there all morning. Rose hung back a few steps, letting Peter and Forrest quicken their pace so the brothers could provide a unified front.

When they approached he stood to greet them, smiling as though they were old friends. "I wanted to give you one last fair warning," the man said in his quiet voice. "There's no use denying it now, I saw your bosses man in town. If you simply stand aside while I dispose of him, and agree to work for my boss I will leave you in peace. All you will have to do is send us forty percent of your profits. Your life here doesn't have to change."

Forrest stepped forward, his lighthearted air swallowed up. His shoulders tightened aggressively and he dropped his chin and narrowed his eyes. "I think it's time for you to leave."

The man smiled and it was a thing of teeth. "I will give you another day to think things through. It would make it so you can protect your girl there. I hear you are having trouble in town, I can make all that go away. I believe if you take the time to consider it Mr. Garrett, you will see my way is really the best way."

The man from Chicago tipped his hat at Rose where she stood halfway to the barn, he winked at Arthur and strolled away, down the road and out of sight.

Rose cautiously approached Forrest where he stood on the porch. His arms were still tight and his shoulders were heaving with his effort to keep his temper in check. "Your boss is in town?" She asked in a quiet voice.

Forrest glanced at her. He took in the fear in her eyes but he didn't know if it was from the man from Chicago or because he was having trouble with his temper. He shook his head and made an effort to soften his expression. "We don't have a boss."

Rose glanced at Peter and Arthur before she stepped up so close her chest was nearly brushing against Forrest's as she spoke. "There's another man here from Chicago?"

Forrest looked grim and scratched at his eye. "We don't know that."

"That man is out of his mind," Arthur said wearily climbing the steps and pushing his way passed them and through the door.