love just gets complicated

chapter 17

He was undecided. Should he carry on riding or camp for the night? He could see clearly what was in front of him. The moon was full tonight so he would be able to see his path he was taking, he would have to keep his pace at a trot though. His eyes were itching with tiredness but he had to continue , even just for a couple of hours. Each pace he took was hopefully one step closer to his cousin. He hoped.

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He would have to stop. He was slowly falling asleep in the saddle. He dismounted and set up camp for the night. He pulled out some stale biscuits from his saddle bag.

"Looks like this is my supper for tonight" he said to sandy.

Sandy snorted in his direction and chomped on more grass. He watched his horse stamp her foot in gratefulness.

He stared out among the trees. How long had it been since he had since heyes. To him it felt like a year, but in reality it must of only been about 3 or 4 weeks. That was too long. He had to see him now. If anything happened to heyes he would never ever forgive himself.

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He didn't know what had awoke him. Could it be possibly that Madeline was laying up close next to him. Sound asleep. Her thigh was resting against his thigh and her hand was on his chest. His hair was resting against his cheek. He groaned deep in his throat. His conscience was screaming at him to move further away from this young girl. But he couldn't. He was starting to feel panicky.
Calm down heyes. Do you hear yourself? Your panicking over a girl. Keep your head on. Stop it. Just stop. Your a cracking saving , train robber ex outlaw. Former leader of the devils hole gang. Hannibal heyes dont let no woman mess with his head. Quit what you thinking heyes. Move away from Maddy. NOW

His silver tongue had worked his magic again. He softly lifted Maddy's hand away from him and slid further away so there was at least a few inches between them. He closed his eyes and tried to relax. However his body felt warm. He could still feel the lingering touch of Maddy's thigh against his and where her hand had been. He rolled over looking towards the trees. How long had it been since he had seen the kid? It felt like a year. But in reality about 3 or 4 weeks. Or many even longer he didn't know. A strange feeling came over him. An emotion he rarely felt. It was foreign to him. He felt homesick. Even though he had no place to call home he still felt homesick. He missed the kid. He needed to see him, to hear him reassure him. He needed him to tell him what an idiot he is being. He squeezed his eyes shut, blocking out the world around him. He felt his mind relax. His muscles, no longer tense. He fell asleep.

Her eyelids fluttered open. Where was she? Where was Joshua? Last night flooded through her mind. She had asked him to sleep next to her. She had cried all over him. Oh goodness. What must he think of her. She looked towards him. He was on his side. She didn't know if he was awake. She crawled over to see his face. He was still asleep. His brown hair was in his eyes. She gently reached over and brushed a lock of brown hair from his eyes. She was mesmerized by his face. He looked so innocent and sweet and oh so handsome. She looked at his watch which he had left on the ground.