There's Light at the End of the Tunnel

Chapter 14

"Sheriff n ma brother? What were they sayin'"

"Just now I'm worthless, weak, wouldnt do and good, never shoulda saved me, how you're a fool for goin' after me, brother said ya fucked me the first night..." I look down with tears in my eyes, realizing the truth.

"Sunshine..."

"They're right about me. Not ya though"

"No sunshine. They ain't"

"They are. Don't lie ta me"

"Ma brother's an asshole"

"He didn't say it. The sheriff did"

He's speechless...

"When I first saw ya, I knew if we left ya, ya weren't gonna make it. Your wound was bad, I did somethin' like that before. If he made me leave, I was comin' back. Maybe it was love at first sight but somethin' kept tellin' me I needed ya. Sunshine, don't believe 'em. You'd be the best damn leader. Hell, ya saved me. Sure, the first night in the tent I did wanna see ya undress, like ya told me in the house, ya weren't gonna do it. I understood and didn't push ya. I needed someone like ya in my life. I'm happy now, somethin' I haven't been in a long time. Sunshine, ya my world, I'd do anythin' for ya..."

I tear up, his words touch my heart. I hug him tightly.

"I'd be long gone my love. When ya were gone, I almost killed myself, thought I had nothin' else ta live for. Thank ya, so much"

"Nah, thank ya" He hugs me in return and kisses my forehead.

He pulls me onto his lap, I lay my head on his shoulder and wrap my arms around his neck.

"Gettin' cold out huh?" He asks kisses my nose

"Winter's comin', it's gon be cold" I smile

"Winter usually is cold" With sarcasm, he responds

"Well yeah..."

"I'm just jokin'" He smiles, and picks me up.

By now, the fire has gone out. He carries me up to our room and lays me down.

"One sheet? That's all?" I pout

He throws a huge quilt at me, "Nope"

"You the best" I snuggle up under the blanket

He lays next to me, pulls me close, and covers us up.

"Night sunshine, I love ya" He says and kisses me on the lips

"Night, love ya too" I smile and lay with him, I slowly drift off to sleep.

I slowly open my eyes, the sun peaking through the curtains.

"Mornin' love" He smiles

"Hey..." My voice hoarse, I rub my eyes

"Y'alright?"

I cough and clear my throat, "I'm fine"

"Alright. So what ya want to do today"

"Ya never took me huntin' like ya said ya would..."

"We could do that if ya want"

"Yeah lets do that"

"Whenever ya wanna go out"

I nod, "Am I loud?"

"Brotha's brought home louder. Ya ain't that loud trust me. And ya said ya never done it 'fore..." He smirks

I smile, "Alright. N I ain't lyin'"

"How much porn ya watch then" He teases

I laugh, "None. Jus' had people explain things ta me"

"Well they did a damn good job of tellin' ya what ta do 'cause God damn girl..."

I giggle, "I'd do it again"

"In a heartbeat" He smiles

"Maybe later, eventually"

"Alright sunshine" He holds me close

"We still gon' paint my crossbow?" I ask

"I already did. A light pink"

"Pink? I hate pink...."

"Only color I could find and the only one that worked"

"Where'd ya find paint?"

"In the barn. I'll show ya c'mon" He gets up and gets dressed

I put on some jeans and throw my hair in a messy bun and follow him out. He opens the doors, his bike parked in the corner, our bows hanging next to each other.

"Fixed in 'ere too?" I ask looking for spray paint

"Lil bit"

I find silver metallic spray paint.

"Go nice over pink yeah?" I ask shaking the silver and pink paint cans.

"Very" He smiles and puts my bow on the table

I shake the cans and put another coat of pink on, making it pop more.

"Thought ya didn't like pink"

"I don't, ya see what I'm doin'" I say

"Creative aren't ya"

"Guess ya could say that" I grab a paint brush and paint our initials on the stock of my bow.

He smiles, "That's cute"

I smile back to him, "Ain't it"

Once the pink dries, I spray a coat of the metallic over it. The colors mix perfectly.

"Ya were right. Looks good now"

"It gonna look better after top coat, gonna pop more" I say smiling

"Shinier?"

I nod and grab the top coat and start to shake it. I spray my bow and leave it to dry.

"Should be better now"

"We gotta go on a run soon. Head North, he won't follow us" He says with a sigh

"Alright. That's fine by me... But what if we head inta town n someone from the group is there..."

"Ya hide... That I'll take the long way home so they don' know we here"

I nod and hug him, knowing everything was going to be okay.