love just gets complicated

chapter 42

"This reminds me of being out here in the wilderness with you Joshua" Maddy exclaimed.

"Yeah, it doesn't feel like it was really a couple of months ago"

they had just descended the mountain. at the bottom was a valley. if she wasn't going to mclaggens gang she would of pictured the valley in her head and kept it there until she had a chance to draw in her sketch book. unfortunately, in reality she was leading two men who she loved very dearly to their death or near death. depends on what happens when they get there.

she turned her attention to the man riding next to her. he caught her eye contact and smiled his dimpled smile she loved so much.

"how much further to do you think it is?" she asked.

"we should be there in about two days"

two days..... their time together was growing shorter and shorter. she looked around her and studied the blue bonnets. she missed just laying on the mossy ground, looking up to the stars, blue bonnets circling all around and waking up to a brown haired,brown eyed,dimpled cowboy. she was going to miss his smile. his lingering touch on her skin... his kisses, his embraces. everything about him she was going to miss, even Thaddeus she was going to miss dearly. she had grown to think of him as a brother. he was so sweet and loving. she was glad she had saved his relationship with katelin. unlike her relationship, which probably would be shattered in two days.

the thought of katelin and her friendliness made her want to cry. she had promised she will see her again soon but that wasn't going to happen. once her parents were redeemed from their kidnappers they would take her away south to the school she was meant to go to before all of this happened. it doesn't feel that two months had gone since that terrible day. the day her life took flight.

she glanced at the horizon. the sun was slowly slipping down the mountain,sinking into its bed. she rubbed her eyes. she hadn't slept well last night. she had been to nervous for this day to begin and now it was here. she fumbled with the material of her dress. she had chosen a lime green dress which flowed right down to her ankles. it wasn't easy riding in a dress but all her blouses were being washed and she had no trousers or britches.

"could we talk about something? because if not I'm gonna end up falling asleep in the saddle" she piped up.

"what do you wanna talk about?" Joshua replied without turning round.

"anything" she thought for a moment. "how do you stop a train to rob them?"

"well its actually quite easy. we just blocked the railway which stops the train. at first we used to blow up part of the train track. we did that a couple of times but law men heard the explosion from miles away and would come out looking to find out what happened so we quit doing that. sometimes we would just jump onto the train and force the driver to stop the train but the best way to get them to stop is to place a boulder or something on the track which forces them to stop. its the safest way" Joshua replied.

"I'm glad you became an outlaw because if you hadn't I would never of meant you"

Joshua smiled at her. "I'm glad I met you to"

Maddy laughed then stopped. he wouldn't be glad he had met her in two days. he would be angry. she shuddered.

"are you cold?"

"no, just shivered that's all" she rubbed her eyes again.

"I think we should stop. you look tired" Joshua stopped his mount and dismounted. he walked over to Maddys horse and helped her off.

"thank you" she kissed him gently on the cheek.

~~~~

that evening she read her book to the boys by firelight. Joshua was leaning again a tree, twirling her hair round his fingers.