Deadly

Chapter 20

Dallas came to get me early in the morning to get started on chores, just like my mother said. I was tired, bitter and not in a talking mood. He was quiet, distracted and anxious. I thought about the flowers he'd given me last night, I'd put them in a vace and set them on the nightstand beside my bed. He'd seen them when he'd come to get me. He hadn't said anything, but he'd smiled.

Now we walked side by side across the freshly mowed lawn on our way to the horses stables. Despite the early hour, the sun was bright and warm. A stark contrast compared to the cloudyand gloomy weather I'd been getting use to. It was still slightly chilly here, most of the leaves having fallen off the trees and turned brown. I inhaled the autumn air with closed eyes, tilting my head toward the sky. Peaceful, but not quiet. Birds were chirping from the forest, the church bell from town was ringing and there was a scuffle in the bushes by the garden. Three chipmunks were fighting over something.

Dallas was staring at me when I looked at him.

" What?"

" Nothing."

But it wasn't nothing. Something was different, something had changed.

I looked at him oddly, following him through the open stable doors. He paid me no attention, so I started giving the horses their food. Half of them were still sleeping, the other half impatiently waiting for their meal. When all twelve of them were fed, I grabbed two five gallon buckets and brought them to the well. Dallas followed close behind, watching silently as I filled them. Before I could grab them to bring them back to the stables, Dallas took the one closest to him, his fingers brushing mine in the process.

" What are you doing?" I asked.

" These are heavy." He said so quietly I almost didn't hear him.

" So?"

" Just let me help." He said. Grumbling to himself about chivalry, he carried the bucket back to the stables. I smiled appreciatively at his back, taking a moment to watch him before I took the other bucket and followed him. We repeated the process several more times until all of the horses had water. Next I grabbed one of the brushes on the shelf and climbed into Cinnamon's stable. She munched contently on her oats, paying me no attention. Dallas grabbed another brush, joining me in the stable. This time I didn't comment when he started helping.

" Is this all part of your plan to make me forgive you?" I asked. One eyebrow raised, I gave him a curious look over Cinnamon's back.

He looked at me for a moment, then resumed brushing. " Some of it, I guess.. I just.."

" What?"

" I've been a body guard for so long, I've forgotten what it's like to be me." He said softly. Something flashed in his eyes. Shame? " The real me. Not the follow every order to the letter, focus on protection, blank stare and yes ma'am."

Leaning back against the wall of the stable, I smiled at him. I still remembered when he'd first come here, he'd been free spirited, all bright smiles and unending energy. At the time, I'd argued that I didn't need a body guard or a baby sitter, but my mother had insisted. Persistently. When his offer was accepted, I made his job a living hell. In fact, I have it on good authority that there were a few times he almost resigned because of me. It wasn't until later on that I became drawn to his warm eyes, his friendly smiles and determination to remain my body guard. He was a ray of sunshine in this world shrouded by darkness.

I don't know when it happened exactly, only that it did. He started taking his job too seriously. There were no more smiles, no easy banter, the fun was over. From then on it was keep your distance, listen to your mother. There were still times when I saw pieces of the old Dallas, but not as often and never for very long.