A Life Of 'Shine - Lem Fike

17

"Maggie's used everyone else and she's using you too." Nora could remember Hixon saying something along those lines just before she killed him. This dream wasn't a reenactment of any of the past encounters with Hixon though, no this one was far more different. It was as if Hixon was in her mind communicating with the girl, as if he was still alive but trapped within her head.

In her sleep Nora tossed and turned, her face screwed up as if this was a method of banishing Hixon from her mind. Hixon continued taunting her, mocking her and the other's she grew close too. All Nora pleaded was for him to stop but he only grew louder and more aggressive until he was nothing but a demon screaming at her. She was scared and trapped, trapped until she woke up.

"Easy, easy. Wake up, Nora." Lem's voice was gentle, providing a light at the end of a dark tunnel. A warmth Nora couldn't feel anywhere else in the dark void of her mind. She followed the light and the warmth, reaching out for it before her body jostled itself awake. She sprang up in the bed, heavily panting as she slowly woke up from the nightmare. It was once she began to catch her breath did she begin to cry, her sobbing loud in the quiet home.

Following the same script, Lem shuffled closer to wrap his arms around the girl. Rubbing his hand in circles on her back to help with her breathing; a method they both found to have worked one night during her episode's. Just having him close to her was enough to calm her, she found that the warmth he provided was just the familiar sense of happiness she craved.

"Good thing it ain't still dark out." Nora chuckled, looking out of the window to see the sky change into a lighter colour. Dawn washing over the land to paint the country in a new selection of colours. Lem nodded, smiling at her while also noticing how she had calmed down a lot quicker this time. Relaxing almost as soon as she woke up.

"I know what it's like. The nightmares, I used to have the same repetitive nightmare of Maggie gettin' thrown into that shack in jail." He was honest, looking down at the floor as if disgusted by being afraid. Nora knew he wasn't, no, Lem was more open about being scared than herself- it was something she admired; how he wasn't afraid to be afraid.

"How did they stop?"

Lem only frowned, ashamed by the answer she wanted to learn.

"I met you. I realised, that there was nothing to be afraid of as long as I had you in my corner." Nora was taken back at first but shortly she grew into a soft smile, throwing her arms around his kneck to embrace him. Hastily placing a kiss on his cheek.

"If that's what it took for the nightmares to stop then why is my sleep a consistent nightmare? I feel the same and I love you but it ain't working that way for me."

"Everyone's different, perhaps I need to rescue you from danger instead of dropping you into it." This caused the female to frown, sure each time he was to cause for her few near death experiences and yet here she was, still standing like her friend Elton who nearly lost his leg to a wolf. Lem might have been bad luck to all those who lost their lives, the revenue agents namely, but she was fine; he was her goodluck charm and she dread to think where she would have been if he wasn't around.

"I think I like saving you better." She smirked, pushing herself into a stand while he reached out to hold onto her a little while longer.

"Well, since we're already awake let's say you and me go sell some 'shine for Maggie." Lem nodded, shooing the girl out of the bedroom they shared that night so he himself to get dressed. His shyness being something she found amusing.

Nora walked downstairs to the guest bedroom, entering the small space so she could grab her own spare clothing to change into.

It took some searching but she decided that a simple chemise and hitched skirt combo would be the most suitable attire for the harsh heat during the summer. She was glad that most people wouldn't bat an eye at her clothing, the choice not being too uncommon for most ladies of today. Then again, most people weren't those who came from the high class of Saint Denis.

She laced her boots as tightly as she could manage before walking out of the bedroom, greeted by Lem who had seated himself at the table.

"Shall we head out, cowboy?" Nora teased, shuffling around the room to leave the homestead. Lem followed behind, his hand slowly moving to rest on her hip as he got closer- walking alongside her now.

"We shall." He replied after a while, calling for his own horse Nora had gifted him a few days prior. Nora copied, calling for Beanz before mounting herself. She spurred the horse forward before moving in a gentle pace out of the town; only moving into a gallop after they left Valentine with Lem closely behind her.