"Ah, see here, claw marks." Gaston gestured to a tree with large gashes down its trunk.
Belle reached out and gently ran her fingers over them. The indents in the bark tickled her fingertips.
It was the following day and just as planned they made another trip out to the woods.
"A bear?" she asked as she examined the marks.
"Yes," he answered quickly, pleased for another chance to show off his knowledge of the forest and its inhabitants. But he then found that he may have spoken too soon. Looking more closely, those were unlike any mark a bear's claws had made, or so he had seen. These were much longer and jagged. He stared at them for a moment before turning away, eyebrows drawn together thoughtfully. Belle followed him down the path.
"Has the hunt been better at all?" she asked politely.
He sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid not." If anything, it had gotten worse, but he didn't add this. Still, it had become a mysterious, complicated problem.
"Now tracks," he continued when they came across some, these ones newer than the deer tracks they had found before, therefore easier to see.
"What kind of animal are they from?" Belle asked, once again crouching down in the dirt.
"Well let's see-" He too knelt down for a better look. He opened his mouth to tell her but then closed it again, realizing he didn't recognize the paw print. Again, he had first thought bear, but again, it was different than any other bear track he had seen. Long claws he could tell. Long claws that could perhaps make long, jagged claw marks... He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Gaston?" Belle's voice gently broke into his thoughts. "Is everything alright?"
He turned back to her and smiled. "Yes, of course." Then he added, 'this certainly is a place of mystery these days."
--------------------------------
A little later they stopped to have lunch in the same clearing as before. After they ate Belle sat with her back up against a tree and opened her book in her lap. While she read aloud Gaston, with his back up against an opposite tree, cleaned his handgun.
Belle couldn't help but pause and watch him handle his weapon, with such care, once again looking so focused. He must have realized she had fallen silent or caught her watching for he looked up and they met eyes. "You stopped."
"Sorry, I was just curious-" She nodded to the handgun.
He chuckled. "Ah Belle, always so curious." Smiling at her obvious interest he motioned for her to come closer to have a better look.
"I've never seen one so up close before," she said softly, reaching out and gently running her fingers along the top.
"Would you like to hold it?" A woman holding such a weapon was silly to him, but he saw her interest. She nodded after a moment and he placed it gently in her hand. It was a little heavy and felt unfamiliar - she hadn't ever seen one so close let alone held one before.
"See, here-" He rose to his feet, she following. "First, you have to find your target." He took her hand in which held the gun and raised her arm so that it was pointing towards a nearby cluster of bushes. As the gun was a little heavy for her, his hand, which was used to holding such a weapon, steadied her own. "You've found it?" She nodded. "Now," he whispered in her ear. "Concentrate, stay focused on your target. And now place your finger on the trigger."
Belle slowly did so. As she did, she became aware of how close they were standing, their hands held together on the gun - they had never been this close before. The thought made her become all flushed for some reason.
"Always stay focused on your target..."
There was a long silence before it was suddenly broken by a loud gunshot, the bullet rippling the bushes. Some startled birds fluttered out of the trees.
Gaston looked to see Belle smiling and couldn't help but smile himself. "That was very brave. I wasn't sure if you would actually pull the trigger." She grinned proudly.
That was when both realized they were still holding the gun together. Both looked down at their hands, clasped around the gun, and then back up at each other, before Belle quickly pulled her hands away. He took the gun and returned it to his belt.
Both turned away in hopes that the other could not see them blushing.
(Awwww! ;) Haha! Also I LOVE her pink dress! Thanks so much for reading - sorry it's been a little while since I've updated! And thank you so, so much for the 500+ reads! :D that's amazing and makes me so happy!
Also, I'm thinking of possibly writing a 'National Treasure' story... I've come across some really great ones and I'm feeling really inspired! :) Thoughts?)