Texas Ranger

Three

I know this isn't what majority of you has asked for, but this is what I was motivated to write. I apologize and hope that you like it anyway!

And yes, I have seen The Death Cure and I didn't expect to be in shock for this long. The scene aside, I think TDC is the best movie among all three.

For all you Begin Again fans here, I left a message on my profile. x

"Well, I'll be damned," Ava's loud voice rang in your ears, making you wince. "I should've known this was where you'd run off to."

"Be quiet, Ava, damn." Thomas tightened his hold on you, and you hummed at the feel of his warm skin.

"You overslept, ya know. The sun is peekin' out already," Ava walked to the kitchen, and you could hear her prepare to heat some water. "at least tell me y'all are clothed underneath that blanket."

"If we weren't, would ya leave?"

"Disgusting, Tom." you heard Ava scoff and Thomas smile against your hair. "Are you goin' to the beach or not?

"We can leave tomorrow," you suggested, though you were pretty sure the siblings understood it as a sleepy moan.

"Yes!" Ava squealed. "Mam would love to see more of ya, Tom. You're barely around."

"Ain't my fault the outlaws run about," Thomas grumbled, pressing his cheek on your hair.

"Good Lord, Tom, don't let your Pap see you that way!" Tasha's sleepy voice was what made you pull away from Thomas. "Why don't you both get changed then we can ride into town for lunch?"

"Sounds lovely, Mam," Thomas wrapped his blanket around your shoulders to cover you from the cold and led you to Ava's bedroom to change.

After changing into the dress Tasha prepared for you, you went to the washroom to see Thomas shaving. He moved over so that you could wash your face.

After patting your face dry, you looked at him in the mirror. "You're missing a lot of spots, ya know," you told him.

"Am I?" a smirk slowly graced his lips. "care to do the honors?"

You took the blade from him and held his jaw in place, feeling it tense under your touch. Then you set to work.

You could feel his eyes on you the whole time, making you blush then making him smirk. It was a cycle. Always.

While you were washing the blade in a tub of water, Thomas spoke. "I'd be blushing too, ya know—if I could actually blush. S'pecially if yer starin' at me."

"Shush," you huffed, feeling your face grow 10 times darker in its redness. You knew he was saying that to make you blush all the more. His smile widened into a grin, so you went back to work. "You oughta be ashamed of yerself, Ranger, flirtin' in yer Mam's home."

"Ya ain't gonna tell on me, are ya, angel?" he took the blade from you so he could kiss your cheek.

"If ya kiss me properly, I might not," you smiled your sweetest smile.

"Oh, better get ta work, then," he leaned down slowly and pecked your lips twice.

"Let's get outta here before yer sister tells on me," you sighed, putting your hair up in a bun.

You were already in town when Thomas' father spoke. "Tom, you should show Y/N around town. Tell her stories of yer childhood," he gestured to an empty lot between a barber shop and a dentist's office.

"Meet us at Eddie's," Ava stood on her toes to kiss her brother's cheek.

Thomas nodded and bade his family goodbye as they entered a small shop. He led you closer to the empty land.

"This is where my Pap taught me to ride," he chuckled to himself as if he were recalling the memory. "I was resting on this very porch," he rested one foot on the barber shop's doorstep, "when a little girl my age tried to kiss me."

"How old were you?"

"About six. No need to get bothered about it, darlin', Heidi is happily off the market and married Frank. He tutors the rich people's kids up north."

"I wasn't bothered," you defended, but Thomas only grabbed your hand and kissed it twice, eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Shall we?"

--

After passing Thomas' former schools and favorite places to play, he led you to the marketplace. It's barely noon so it's fairly quiet.

"The devil! Is that you, Tommy, old chap?" a deep voice sounded from behind you.

"Pablo!" Thomas looked genuinely happy to see the tall man as he shook his hand firmly. "Haven't seen you in years! It's been so long."

"Too long, it seems. You seem to have snagged yourself a lady!" the comment was friendly. It did not sound as lewd as the others' comments back where Thomas lives now. You felt yourself relax.

 "A pretty one, too. Her name's Y/N," Thomas caught your eye as he said the words and discreetly winked at you. "What about you, Pablo? Got anyone special?"

The gruff-looking man turned into a cupid incarnate at Thomas' question. "Just started courtin' her. You remember Leila from Queen's?"

"Leila Pickett?"

"The one and only, Tom," he grinned. "we have to meet at the pool hall downtown for a few pints. Enough man talk. I'm selling shawls and scarfs and cloths. Perhaps your lady takes an interest in them?"

"Oh, Pablo. If she did, you'd have to force the words out of her. How much?"

"Fifteen cents, my boy."

Thomas picked a light blue shawl, made of cotton. "This looks lovely on her skin, wouldn't you agree?"

"That," Pablo pointed at Thomas, but his eyes were on you. "Is the face of a man in love."

Both men chuckled when blood rushed to your face.

"I'll take this one, Pablo," Thomas continued to browse the cloths laid down on a small table.

"This is completely unnecessary, Thomas," you tried to sound stern but it faltered when he looked at you with that smile.

That damned smile.

"A scarf for our travels tomorrow is definitely necessary, my love," he grinned. "I'd like the white one next to you, Pablo. I'll take that as well."

"Pleasure doing business with you, my friend." Pablo waved as you left his stall.

"Consider it my gift for your birthday," he said when you were further into the sea of market stalls.

"You've already given me two books for my birthday last month!" you sighed.

Thomas kissed your hand again. For some reason, his hand kisses left you speechless and all nerve disappeared.

A stall of hats caught your eye, and you paused for the slightest second to examine one. You regretted it immediately when you realized Thomas has been watching your every move.

"Take your pick, I will be right back," he left leaving no room for discussion.

"Hello, dearie," the lady in the stall greeted, "You look new here. I'm Leila Pickett. Do you want any help with pickin' a hat?"

Oh boy.