It was in front of us - Micah Bell

Your turn Bell

As you came into the room with Micah, you sat yourself on the bed whilst he closed the door.
Before anything else, Micah went over to the fireplace, bent down and used a match to light the firewood.
The smell of fresh burning wood filled the room as the heat from the fire warmed your body.

Micah stood there momentarily to warm his hands. You turned your head to look out of the window. The town seemed so quiet at this time. The stars had scattered themselves along the night sky, creating a beautiful picture for the whole world to see. It had finally hit you. Everything that you had just told Micah. Your secret, your family, everything. It had all come flying back in a single conversation. Yet, you felt secure in your decision to tell him.

You heard a creak and sharply turned your head to see Micah had pulled up a chair over by the fire and was sitting on it backwards, leaning his arms on the back of it facing you.

"You okay over there O'Driscoll?" He asked you with a smirk.

"Oh be quiet." You retaliated with a laugh as you shook your head.

He cackled in reply.
It was at this moment that, you'd begun to realise that, even though Micah called you an O'Driscoll. It didn't bother you half as much as it used to. In the last couple of days. You'd come to look at the man differently. He wasn't just some other cowboy in the gang, he wasn't another outlaw. He wasn't even your friend. He was something more than that...but, you didn't want to make any assumptions too soon. You knew Micah well enough to know he was more into casual sex and whores than a real in depth relationship. You personally were afraid you'd allow yourself to care for him too much and you'd get hurt.

Then again, there was so much you still didn't know about this rugged yet appealing man. You wanted to know more. No.

You had to know more.

"What about you then, Bell?" You asked, leaning forward slightly.

"What about me?"

"What's your story?" You asked with a curious smile.

"Ah...there ain't much to tell I'm afraid." He replied with a smile.

"Oh come on. It's sure a man who's as rugged and bad mouthed as you has a pretty interesting past." You bribed as you got off of the bed and went over to him. Putting your hands on the chair and gripping it.

Micah looked up into your bright eyes and thought for a moment.

"Alright." He said with a sigh.

You smiled brightly and sat down on the rug by the fireplace, Patting the space beside you, prompting him to sit with you.

Micah sighed and got off his chair, moved it aside and sat on the floor with you.

"Well...first off it ain't pretty so you can't go judging me." He warned.

With a warm smile you placed a hand on his knee.
"Micah. You just heard the deepest darkest parts of my past. And you're still here." You reassured him.

"Okay then...so, I lived my father and brother-"

"You have a brother?!" You interrupted excitedly.

"Yes but you ain't meeting him." He dismissed the idea immediately.

"What? Why!" You asked as you folded your arms and pouted like a child.

"Because he's an asshole." Micah said bluntly.

"Why? What did he do?" You asked gently.

Micah grumbled and thought for a moment. Almost as if he were reluctant to tell you.

"He did everything I didn't do." Micah mumbled.
You looked at him pitifully.

"He... he ran with me and our father, Micah Bell Jr. My brother Amos, and I had been outlaws since our teenaged years. Daddy almost killed Amos. God knows why but...that was the last straw for him. He's married now. Fool." Micah spat.

"What, because he pulled his life together?" You replied.
Micah looked at you with wide and angry eyes. Almost as if he thought you meant to anger him.

"My brother is nothing but a spineless, cowardly, fool. Look, I'm actually quite fond of you (Y/N), you're one of the nice ones, so I wouldn't go and ruin it by sticking up for my brother." He snapped.

You sat and thought before you responded. You really didn't like the way Micah talked about his brother, then again...Micah accepted your past. It's only fair you accept his.

"I'm sorry." You apologised quietly as you looked at him sorrowfully.

He glanced at you for a moment before he got up and rubbed his face with his hand as he retreated to the window slowly.

"What's the matter?" You asked him softly as you stood.

He remained silent with his back to you.

"Micah, whats-" you asked again as you approached him and went to grab his arm but he turned around before you had chance.

"You don't get it. Every person who I tell about my brother says the same thing. That he did the right thing, got his life together, moved away, has a wife, well what if I don't want that?! Huh? Is that a crime?!" Micah said angrily. He was almost shouting but seemed to just about hold onto his indoor voice.

He huffed in anger.
"All i'll ever be is an outlaw, and I'm okay with that." He said as he turned to face the window once again.

Looking at him from behind, you could see he was hurt. Underneath his harsh exterior, Micah had feelings and emotions. He just hardly seemed to show them.
Walking to his side, you looked up at the sky, then across at him.

"I'm okay with that too." You said with a smile.
He looked down at you and met your smile with his own.
Boldly, you wrapped one arm around his waist and pulled him against you reassuringly. He seemed a little taken back by your boldness, but put an arm over your shoulder anyway.
He eventually relaxed into the embrace and was able to comfortably rest his arm on your shoulder whilst you both continued to examine the sky.

After a moment, you broke the silence with yet another bold move.

"You make a pretty good outlaw if you ask me" You said with a little laugh.
He smiled and chuckled at your remark in an attempt to cheer him up.

"Shut up." He said as he chuckled and took his hand off of your shoulder to head over to the bed, sit on it and take his boots off.

"Well, I'd best get back to my room." You said as went to walk to the door but Micah cunningly wrapped an arm around your waist and pulled you down into his lap.

"Ahh come on, I thought we were bonding." Micah said with a smirk.
With an amused smile, you playfully ruffled his hair causing him to look like he'd been dragged through a hedge backwards.

"We are aren't we?" You said with a giggle as you looked at his unamused face.

"What am I gunna do with you." Micah said as he attempted to fix his hair.
You laughed and got off of his lap to stand by the fireplace.
As you stood by it, the warmth from the fire made you feel so comfortable and safe, you didn't feel like leaving.

"I guess I can stay a little longer." You said as you sat down on the floor.
Micah smirked as he replied; "There you go, wasn't so hard was it?" He said as he came to you by the fire.
"Don't get cocky Bell." You teased.

Only
You don't stay a little longer.
Kind Mr. Humphreys had noticed you were staying with a guest and brought you both a warm drink.
You and Micah talked some more about his father, brother and the gang but eventually, with a warm drink in your stomach, you fell asleep with your head on Micah's jacket on the floor by the fire.

Micah watched your petite body move up and down as you steadily breathed in your sleep.
With a smile, he reached down and managed to carefully scoop you into his arms and carry you over to the bed. Where he placed you on it and put the covers over you.