Babette's Story (Lawless Fanfic)

Chapter 20: The Company You Keep

For the next few weeks I noticed that Forrest kept close. He made it his business to drive me home or at least have one of his brothers do it, to ensure my safe arrival. It didn't take much for me to figure out that Richie had told him about Deputy Rakes, but I knew that- that wasn't the only thing that was said between the two. Neither of them wanted to tell me what else was said. Forrest only said what he felt was necessary and Richie got a kick out of me harassing him for answers. It was useless to keep trying.

I had a late start to the morning. I kind of felt under the weather. I managed to drag myself out of bed and get dress. I didn't feel up for making a trip to the station with the way that I felt. Angie was already out no doubt, probably on a 'secret' outing with Howard. My brothers and pop were at work. So it would just be me and aunt Gillian taking on the daily house chores and errands. It was almost noon when I finally made my way downstairs. Aunt Gillian must have went into town early because she wasn't home. I poured myself a glass of water. Staring out the window I noticed the weather was just as gloomy as I was.

"You, are a looker sweetheart." I turned around in a panic dropping the glass cup from my hand. It shattered to pieces on the floor. Only to come face to face with the smirk of Deputy Rakes. This had to be a nightmare. He stood at the threshold of the kitchen eyeing me greedily.

Just then my aunt walks in holding grocery bags. "Oh, good you're finally up honey." She takes a look at my expression and the mess on the floor. "What happened here?"

"I'm afraid I frightened your niece." Deputy Rakes spoke up, his voice sending chills down my spine. "My apologies. Didn't know you city girls scare so EASILY." I felt as though he was assessing me. Aunt Gillian may be oblivious as to how dangerous this man can be, but I knew better.

"Hey Baps, can you start unloading these bags?" Aunt Gillian asked with a bright smile. Taking my eyes off of the deputy I gave her a nod with a forced smile. "I'm just gonna grab something from upstairs. Then I'll start on lunch." I got to work on the grocery bags completely ignoring Deputy Rakes. Whose eyes I felt on me. I shuddered at being in such close quarters with him.

"You know, it's getting so much easier to get you alone nowadays." I ignored him as I continued stocking the pantry. A sudden wave of heat rushed down my back. I knew he was standing behind me and I was scared to turn around. He sniffed loudly. "Mmm, sweet." I flinched at how close he was to my ear.

"You get your kicks out of harassing me?" I hissed. He chuckles.

"I simply find joy in watching you squirm." He replies pompously. "It's quite a sight to see how vulnerable you are away from those hicks. Seems as though I may have found the chink in their indestructible armor." He tries to brush my hair off of my shoulder, but I turn in an attempt to escape this close encounter. He blocks my path. "You're still a fragile lil' thing, but judging by the company you keep I would say you have a bit of experience now." His eyes gleam with lust.

"And by the looks of my company I'd say they're capable of handling you." I say angrily. He inhales sharply. He's practically snarling at me, when aunt Gillian's footsteps are heard coming our way. His expression changes to a devious grin. He steps out of the pantry just before aunt Gillian reaches the kitchen.

I can hear him striking up a conversation with my aunt. "How do you little ladies manage without the men around?" Aunt Gillian giggles.

"We're city girls at heart." She answers. "We can manage pretty much anything." I can't help but feel sick to my stomach. I take a deep steady breath stepping out of the pantry.

"Um, aunt Gill, I think imma head out now." I say staring at the ground but I can feel deputy Rakes gaze on me.

"You don't wanna eat lunch before you go?" She asks worriedly. I shake my head.