There's Light at the End of the Tunnel

Chapter 6

I take a few bites out of my dinner and stand up.

"Where ya goin'?" He asks, not wanting me to strain myself.

"I need some fresh air"

I slowly start walking out to the front porch. I make my way into the rocking chair and watch the sun go down. He comes out and sits on the railing by the steps.

A young blonde girl comes towards the house.

Smiling she says to me, "Glad to see ya awake. When you're up for it, I'll show you the shower"

"Alright thanks" I return a small smile to her.

"I'll be in the kitchen if you need me" She heads inside.

After watching the sunset, I go inside and find that blonde girl. He follows me like a shadow, in case I fall or something.

"Did ya say a shower?" I ask from the doorway.

She turns to me with a warm smile.

"Yes, a shower. Come on I'll show ya" She leads me into the room I was in and opens a door which I thought was a closet. Inside was a bathroom, a big one too.

"Towels are on the sink. Shampoo, soap, and wash rag are in the shower"

"Thank ya" I give her a warm smile and enter the bathroom.

She exits the room, and as I turn to close the door, he is standing in the doorway.

"Ya ain't gettin' a show" I say to him seriously.

"Wasn't askin' for one. Just wanted ta make sure y'alright"

"Like I said, I'm fine. If I need any help I'll call her" I smile to him, he steps out and closes the door.

Taking a real shower felt amazing. Even though I was still sore, it felt so good to have the warm water on my skin. I put on some comfier clothes I had, brush my hair and go back to my room. It's empty. No one's here. I sigh and sit on my bed carefully.

Night has fallen, I lay in bed under a thin sheet in the dark. Then I hear the door slowly open...

"Ya still 'wake?" He asks me quietly.

"Yeah I'm up" I say sitting up.

"Mind if I spend the night?" He asks me nervously.

"No not at all come on"

He quietly closes the door and gently lays down next to me.

"Ya don't gotta ask. I know ya wanna protect me" I look over at him.

"I do, but I don't wanna bother ya" He says as he wraps his arm around my waist, gently pulling me close.

"You need sleep too ya know" I say to him.

"Yeah but ya need it more"

I scoot closer to him, the Georgia nights are getting colder and I only have a sheet. He holds me close with a grip on me but not too tight.

I wake up to two men bickering quietly. I lay there, still, not opening my eyes.

"She ain't my girlfriend" He says.

"Sure as hell looks like it lil brother" His brother says to him.

"Jus' don't want 'er gettin' inta the hands of guys like you" He spits

His brother stands up and makes his way closer to me.

"Don't get any closer ta 'er" He says tightening his grip on me some.

"Why? 'fraid she might get hurt again?"

"What happened ta her wasn't given ta her from an asshole like you"

"Ya better watch ya mouth lil brother" Anger in his voice.

"Yeah and ya better think before ya do stupid shit like ya always do"

His brother is obviously pissed and leaves the room. As I lay there pretending I'm asleep, he kisses my forehead.

He whispers, "Don' worry, nobody gon hurt ya.... I won't let 'em..."

When he whispers this I feel the butterflies in my stomach and my heart skips a beat. No this can't happen. I can't fall for someone. In the end we both get hurt. But I can't pull away from him either. I screwed myself over.

I doze off again for awhile, then I get woken up by someone gently shaking my arm.

"C'mon time ta wake up sunshine" He says to me.

I smile, "Mornin'"

"Glad you're up. Think ya gon walk 'round today?"

"Mayyyybbeee"

"Breakfast is done" He smiles and picks me up. I grab a sweatshirt and he carries me into the kitchen.

"Morning" The blonde one says smiling.

I put on my sweatshirt and smile, "Morning"

He sits next to me and she serves us our food.

"Thank ya" I say to her respectfully.

"No problem" She smiles and exits the room.

"Thought ya said that dinner was gon be the best damn meal I was gon get for awhile" I ask him stuffing my face.

"Didn't think they served breakfast too"

After we ate and I washed our dishes, I went into the bathroom to change. My wound is healing a lot better now and it doesn't hurt as much. I throw on a muscle shirt of mine, black skinny jeans and my boots. I leave my hair down. I walk out to the front porch with less of a limp now to see him on the same railing.

"If I go on a run today, ya gon be alright" He asks not wanting to leave me behind.

"Why can't I come with. I can just stay in the car"

"Ya hurt"

"Not as bad as I was"

"I would take ya but he won't let me"

I sigh, "I'm comin' anyway"

"You can try but the old man ain't gon let ya go"

"Sure he's the doctor but he ain't the boss of me"

He grins, "That's true"

"Now where we goin'?" I walk over to him

"Inta town. Me, you and sheriff"

"I'll grab my knife and we can go"

He pulls out my knife with knuckles on the handle, "Ya mean this?"

"Why were ya goin' through my bag?"

"I didn't, ya left it on the nightstand and I didn't want anyone takin' it"

I take it from him and put it in its holster in my jeans.

"Thanks now lets get a move on"

We walk together over to the rest of the group. Every person I pass, I get a stare from.

"'Ey, we're ready" He says

"Good lets go" Sheriff says as he leads us to a truck.