A nightmare from the past (Editing)

Chapter 19

Darkness had fallen, the moon was almost full and the sky clear and starlit. Inside the Nolan house, the silence hung thick in the air like a thunder cloud, ready to ignite.

After putting Chyenne down on Millie's bed, and after being stripped of all their coverture, Heyes had continuously been pacing back and forth and for every turn he had made, he had checked on her and her breathing. Cup after cup of coffee had been consumed, and he was starting to look a little weary.

"Can you please sit down for a while Heyes, you're making me dizzy." Curry told him.

The lamp on the dresser was put on low, making the atmosphere in the room more pleasant.

"She should be awake by now " Heyes said anxiously, ignoring the gibe from Curry.

Lorne sat leaning back in his rocking chair in the far corner of the bedroom, still a bit amazed over seeing that much caring and love in the infamous outlaw. Even mr Curry seemed genuinly concerned for Chyenne.

"She'll come around soon " he said with the certainty of his profession. He knew this would be a longer wait than he had told them, but it could also have been a shorter one.

Millie stepped inside, coming from the kitchen, she was holding a tray that was loaded, to the breakingpoint, with food.

She put it down on the dresser next to Curry, giving him an affectionate glance.

"You have to eat some, both of you, " she said with a concern close to a mothers, her glance also falling upon Heyes, " Hannibal! Jed! "

Both Heyes and Curry gave her surprised looks. How long ago had it been since someone had called them their real names? Too long ago. Their childhood. Their mothers.

Heyes closed his eyes at the memories. Okay, he did not count that time he'd gone back to the Devils hole, meeting Big Jim Santana. He had the nasty habit of always calling him Hannibal, instead of Heyes.

Curry cleared his voice and smiled beguiling at Millie."Ma'am, we'd rather you called us Joshua and Thaddeus, if it's okay with you. We have sort of gotten used to them names " his eyes was drawn to the tray filled with food."Thank you so much, I'm starving!"

Heyes shook his head, smiling, as he saw Curry starting to feast on the mountain of food.

He, himself, didn't feel like eating. Not just yet. Chyenne had to wake up first, then he could relax and maybe have a bite or two. Right now he felt like he was falling apart from the inside. Since this woman had come into his life, he'd been miserable, scared, that was what he felt right now, unsure, tongue-tied, edgy to name a few of the least elevating moods. But also, he had never ever felt this happy, tingly, full of expectation, and he had never ever been this much in love before. Well, he had never been in love before, end of story! But now he was, and it was killing him slowly from the inside.

"Hannib...sorry, Joshua " Millie whispered and touched his arm hesitantly, " you too! You need to eat some. I'll keep an eye on Chyenne for you " she gently pushed him towards the tray.

The scowl he showed her, made her smile a little. Her hand was gently put to rest on his arm, her smile was warm, caring and understanding.

"When she wakes up, she's not gonna feel too well. That's a side effect of the poison that we didn't quite share with you " she watched to see a change of reaction when saying that, but he still looked the same way at her, "She needs you to take care of her during the night "

Curry grinned maliciously between chews.

"Don't you worry, Millie, I bet he's gonna do just that "

Heyes threw him an annoyed look as he almost was shoved down on a chair by Millie.