Coming Home (Laramie Fanfic)

Chapter 5

((A/N- This scene is particularly emotional and sad, and it was super difficult for me to write, but it goes with the storyline. I'm so sorry if it's too emotional for anyone. I just wanted to let readers know. Thanks.))

Charlotte was beyond exhausted and overwhelmed by everything that she could barely manage to stay awake. She just lie there, in a broken state. Feeling shy and ashamed, Charlie hid her face in the pillows, when she heard the door open and Jess's voice. "Charlie?" He began as he started walking towards the bed, but he, too, was stopped in his tracks by what lie before his eyes. She heard him inhale sharply and mutter a curse under his breath. "Oh my gosh! Charlie!" Jess's voice broke off, as he quickly made his way over to her. Charlotte was too upset to lift her eyes. She buried her face deeper into the pillows and started to cry. "Oh, Honey!" Jess grated through clenched teeth, as he suddenly, unsuspectingly, sank down to his knees beside the bed, and just stared at the awful sight before him. Charlotte began to tremble with anxiety and she continued to cry her heart out.

For a minute, Jess just sat there in silence, not even knowing what to say. His eyes sorrowfully traced the countless deep, dark purple welts and stripes covered across her small, poorly battered back. Most of the welts inflicted upon her from the many of brutal beatings endured from her Pa's cruel belt. There were even spots of dried blood on her. "Charlie, I - Oh, God!" He yelled out. It took her a moment to realize that even Jess Harper had been brought to tears over her state. "I never would have imagined that it was this bad. I mean, how the heck are you even managing to stand upright? You look like you been beaten like a doggone prisoner! Just a little girl.." He said bitterly. Charlotte couldn't even respond. She was touched, however, hearing the great amount of compassion they all seemed to have for her. "I don't know, Jess." She whimpered in a muffled tone. She was deeply disturbed by the dark, haunted look that crossed his face. Although, she still didn't know him too well, she figured that Jess likely wasn't one to really cry or get emotional in front of others. But, at this point, he didn't hide it. That made Charlie feel very bad too. "Your father did this to you..." Jess's voice had hardened like steel. "Yes." She whispered. Charlotte could sense the tension building inside of him. That made her a little uncomfortable. Yet, oddly, she realized that she didn't feel like she was in any danger with Jess around. "Charlie, please tell me. And, please, give me the truth. Does anyone else know? No other family, nothing?" He asked, making sure to keep his voice down, so as not to frighten her. "No sir. I never really had anybody. I guess that's another reason why I left. There was nobody I could turn to to help me. Wait. I take that back, mister." He looked at her. "God knows..." He looked deeply grieved. She opened up some to him. Then, she also thought that this may have been her one and only chance for freedom from it all. She just wanted for it all to be over..she wished that it was all just one bad dream.

"And, what about your mama? She still alive?" Charlie shook her head, sniffling. "Died when I was four. Drowning accident." Jess nodded regretfully. He sighed weakly, as he carefully got up from the floor and sat down next to her on the bed. "Man, that's gotta be tough. Not havin' anybody..No one to look out for ya." He mumbled, shaking his head. "It is, mister. But, I reckon everybody goes through some kind of painful situation, at some point, in their life. And it don't matter where you come from..whether you're black..white..whether you're rich or poor." Charlotte said sadly. Jess seemed to be at loss for words for a moment. He buried his face in his hands, struggling to control his own deep breathing. "Honey, I'm sorry. I know this has to be extremely painful and difficult for you. But, I need to know. Because, I don't really know enough about you." He spoke with such sympathy to her. She nodded again through her tears. Jess looked her over carefully. "That doesn't look good, Charlie. We may need to get you a doctor. I don't want those lesions gettin' infected." Charlotte's heart sank at his words. "Ohh." She sobbed. "Don't you worry, kid. As long as I'm around, no one will ever dare to lift a finger to you again! I'll make sure of that." He vowed. She could easily hear the sincerity behind his voice. She tensed, hearing the raw anger also there in his words. Just his tone of voice was enough to convince her that he truly meant every single word that he said. It was as clear as day to her that Jess Harper was a man of great integrity.. A man who would go to any measure to stand firmly behind his words. "If there's one thing in this world that I won't stand for, it's any ill committed against a child." He said coldly, though more so to himself. Charlotte felt bad; but, at the same time, she couldn't help but to admire Jess Harper. "Um, you seem like a good man, mister." Charlotte actually told him. Jess shifted awkwardly on the bed. He appeared appreciative of that, but he didn't seem to agree with it. "Well, thank you, Charlie. But, I wouldn't really go so far as to say that." Charlotte turned to look up at him in question. "Why do you say that?" She dared to ask him. He gave her a wry smile. "Well, it's nothing for you to concern yourself about, Charlie. You just worry about yourself right now, kid." He told her softly. Charlie saw that he had no intention of discussing this any further with her at the moment. And, she was too tired to ask him anything further about it anyway. She nodded in understanding. "Hey." They both looked to see Slim standing in the doorway. "Slim." Jess said, sounding broken. Slim's eyes widened in utter shock and he looked just as appalled as Jess did, when he laid eyes on her. "Oh no..." He said, as he came over to where they were. He paused to look down at her. Charlie briefly noted the way Slim's boots clicked when he walked. "Poor kid." He muttered in one breath. "Slim, we need to get the Doc out here. Somehow." Jess whispered to him. Slim nodded, folding his arms across his chest. "We probably need to find out a little more about her before we do." Slim whispered back. Charlotte heard them, but she was very tired out by now. She didn't want to move. It hurt too much. "Charlie, Sweetheart, can you tell me? About how long ago did this happen to you?" Slim questioned her with ease. Charlie tried to think back. "'Bout three days ago." She answered him weakly. "Those welts definitely look fresh. Skin's broken." Slim commented with a dissatisfied frown. A deep hint of fury flickered in Slim's eyes as well. "Where's Daisy?" Jess asked Slim quietly. Slim regarded him. "She's sittin' with Mike in his room right now." Charlotte felt very bad for upsetting Daisy like that. "I didn't mean to hurt Miss Daisy's feelings, Slim." She said. "No!" They both told her at the same time. "Charlie, no. Don't think like that. Don't go blamin' yourself!" Jess warned, slightly stern. Slim shook his head arguably, as he leaned down some beside the bed. "Charlie, Honey, you listen to me now. You have nothing to be sorry about. I don't wanna hear you talkin' like that. You hear me?" Slim's tone also became fairly stern, as he was talking to her. Charlotte buried her face even deeper against the pillows. "Y-Yes sir." She stammered, feeling a little nervous by their more stern voices. She knew, somewhere, deep down inside of her heart, that these two meant her no harm. But, it was kinda an instinctive reaction to her now. Slim and Jess briefly met each other's eyes and then turned their attention back to her. Jess seemed troubled by her reaction to them. "Now, Charlie, please don't feel as though you have to duck every single time we speak to you. I know, you're hurt and confused right now.. But we only want good for you, Darlin'. You'll come to realize that. I promise you will." Jess said soothingly to her. Slim exhaled. "I'll go see if I can find somethin' to put on that for her..for now. Then, I'll go find the doctor first thing in the morning 'cuz I'm not sure he'll be able to make it this late." Slim said quietly. "I know she's in a lot of pain." He looked at her pitifully. Jess nodded at him. Slim shook his head. "Thinkin' about it, last I heard, Doc was gone out of town." Jess groaned, rubbing his temples. "Yeah. Sounds about right." "Jess, Slim? I'm so tired." Charlotte murmured. "You wanna go to sleep, now, Honey?" Slim asked, concerned. Charlie nodded. "Please." "Alright. It is getting late." He replied. Jess reached down to stroke her hair in an affectionate manner. Even in the unpleasantness of this situation, Charlie's heart filled with warmth at his gentle touch. In fact, it was almost like a fatherly gesture. "Will you let us put some medicine on for you and then you can get some rest?" He asked in a soft spoken voice. He was not harsh nor forceful with her..but, tender and sweet. "Okay." Charlotte agreed. "Might help you a little bit, at least." Slim added, trying to comfort her ailing mind.