A Sweet Chase (gxg)

Twelve

"Fuck! Could this get any worse?" Were Harper's first words after climbing out of the SUV. She was still shaking from the previous ordeal but was thankful to be alive.

Who wouldn't have been right?

"Yes, it can but we're fine now and that's all that matters."

"Oh yeah right but what about us being stranded in the middle of nowhere?"

"We're not stranded," Ryn said with such a calmness in her tone that it left Harper furious.

"How can you be so insouciant about what just happened?"
She asked rushing to Ryn and she shrugged.

"It's what I do, I'm used to it."

"Used to risking your life like that way? That doesn't sound right. I don't know about you but I'm never doing that again."

"Oh, now you've realized how dangerous this is?" Ryn stopped what she was doing, which was fishing tools and a spare out of the back of the car to fix the blown-out tire.
Her eyes were plastered unto Harper, but she couldn't see much.
The night wasn't a dark one nor was it extremely bright, there was just enough moonlight for Ryn to see the outline of Harper's face.

"I knew what you did wasn't going to be a walkthrough, but I also wasn't expecting Therese to be so violent."
It was the truth. Harper never thought that her own sister would want to hurt her; although technically it wasn't her doing the shooting but she allowed it.

"You'd be surprised to see how persons behave once they know that someone is looking for them, especially the law. This is what I was trying to make you understand but you're such a stubborn woman."

"I'm not stubborn okay, I just have my reasons why I wanted to come with you."

"Which is?"

"Simply because I wanted too. I wanted to be there when you caught her just to see the look on her face."

"So it's a game for you?"

"What? No! It's not."

"Then I could see no valid reason why you wanted to do this.
There definitely is one I am sure, but you just won't tell me and that's not really good."
Ryn spoke and pushed passed Harper.

"Yeah okay," Harper trailed off following her.

"Can we talk about something else, like I don't know, what are we going to do now?"

"What is there to do but go after them?"

"How are we going to go after them when all my clothing and stuff are back at the inn?"

"We'll leave it. Don't you have any more things to wear in the car?" Ryn asked.

"Besides what I have on my back right now, no. Also, I need them. I have stuff in my bags, important stuff."
The sigh that left Ryn's mouth was so heavy, Harper stepped back a little in fear of pissing her off.

"Do you see why I argued about bringing you along?

My god Lincoln was right, you are slowing me down."
She trailed off and as she did she could make out Harper staring at her but she couldn't read her expression. Nonetheless, she continued to rant.

"I would've been able to catch up with them if I was alone. Now I have to take you back to that fucking inn to get your things. God, I'm so stupid!"

"Okay," was all Harper said.

She stood a distance away from Ryn in silence as she fixed the tire.
When the car was done and they were heading back to the inn, Ryn sensed the tension between them and immediately apologized to Harper.

"I know you must be upset because of what I said to you a moment ago, and I'd like to apologize for it."

"It's fine, it doesn't matter." Harper quickly shot Ryn's apology down.

"No, you need to understand that it's not. I was somewhat frustrated and I took it out on you verbally. I didn't mean too."

"Yeah, well it's fine."

"Okay."

For the remainder of the ride, they were both silent.
Once they were at the inn Ryn decided that instead of driving throughout the night knowing they'll both be tired, she let them spend one last night in ankersville.

"Harper I'm really sorry." Ryn tried once more to mend the thing which was broken between them at the time but Harper wasn't having it.
She was already unlocking the door to her room when she stopped to reply, not even glancing at Ryn.

"As I've said before, don't worry about it." She disappeared behind the door, shutting it quickly before Ryn had a chance to say anything.

During the night Harper had contacted Harge and had filled him in on what had taken place.
She also made it known to him what Ryn had said about her slowing her down and he told her she had no choice but to ignore it.
Harge was indeed the sole reason behind Harper's quest in the hunt for her sister.
Sure he was saying it was because of the animosity but it wasn't.

Harge had offered her money to do it, in fact, he was the one who would be paying Ryn and well, it was encouragement enough for Harper.

______________

The next day without hesitation, Ryn had knocked at Harper's door. She appeared quietly and when she did Ryn had to take a deep breath in after seeing her.
She looked so perfect.

She had decided not to wear any sort of makeup that day and she did herself justice without even knowing.
With her natural beauty, Harper was astonishing and it was what Ryn needed to see more often.

"Hey." Harper broke the silence but still, the girl standing taller over her didn't say a thing.

"Is this some kind of joke?"

"You're beautiful," Ryn slipped without any remorse causing the redhead to arch a brow but you could tell within her eyes that she enjoyed hearing that.

"Is this a joke too?"

"No, I swear, it's a genuine compliment. You really are gorgeous and the way you've done your hair is just—I'm sorry for rambling on but I just had to say it.".

"Well as much as I appreciate your kind words, flattery won't get me to forget what you've said last night."

"Yes, I'm aware but you have to understand I didn't mean it. I was angry and I snapped."

"Doesn't matter. As soon as we find Therese I'll be out of your hair and you wouldn't have to worry about me slowing you down anymore."

"What about your request yesterday for us to be friends, I thought you wanted that?"

"I still do."

"There's a but though right?"

"I'll be your friend but I can't work with you and that's very obvious."

"Gosh, I feel like a heartless cunt for snapping on you." Ryn apologized as she and Harper carried her things down to the car.

"You should be," Harper replied with a blank expression and although she was trying to be mature, Ryn felt the urge to laugh at Harper's tone for some strange reason.

"Maybe you should make it up to me." She continued and Ryn arched a brow.

"In what way?"

"I don't know but I'll think about one."

"Alright,"

Harper smirked at Ryn as they'd packed the last of her things into the back.
She knew exactly what she wanted from Ryn and if she played her cards just right, she probably wouldn't even have to ask for it.
After all, she'd seen the way the maverick bounty hunter looks at her and the eyes never lie even when the mouth and everything else would.