Chapter Text
It was a warm summer afternoon spent in camp in the Scarlett Meadows of Lemoyne, just west from the town of Rhodes. You sat on a fallen tree, a dime romance novel in hand. A warm breeze rustled through the trees, billowing your red hair from your shoulders. When was the last time you were able to actually rest and spend some time alone? Without the shrill voice of Ms. Grimshaw beckoning you to some chore or Uncle telling you about a stagecoach robbery that was most likely a set up.
This was your favorite spot, just along the shore of Flat Iron Lake. Situated on the outskirts of camp, not too far if someone needed you but not too close so you could be in silence. The view was beautiful. Small islands dotting the horizon over the lake, trees sprouting from the ground with outstretched arms reaching to the warm summers sun. The heat left your cheeks and shoulders a sunkissed hue of a light pink that emphasized your freckles.
You flipped through the pages, engrossed in your story. A tale of two lovers not destined to be because of their separation of class, despite their burning desire for one another. You couldn’t help but loving cheesy books like this, no matter how stupid they seemed to others.
Disrupting the silent afternoon, a voice as smooth and sweet as honey interrupted your thoughts.
“Beautiful day, huh?” said the dark-skinned native man known as Charles Smith.
Charles had grown to be a dear friend of yours, one of the only people in camp with a brain and steady head on their shoulders. He was smart, wise beyond his years, and funny when he wanted to be, but most of all gentle. You rarely saw him angry or ever raise his voice. In the rare instances you two had been caught under gunfire, he remained calm and collected, never rushing out in a fury like you had many times, and paid the price of a new hole or two.
“Oh yes, beautiful weather” You replied, dog earring a page and closing your book, looking out across the lake.
“You mind if I…?” Charles motioned to the empty space next to you.
“Not at all” You smiled at the man as you brushed a piece of hair behind your ears
The space beside you was quickly filled by Charles’s large stature, he was a bulky man. Made entirely of muscle, with forearms and thighs resembling that of a tree trunk. While sporting a fair share of muscle, he had a generous ring of love around his mid-section, perfectly plump in all the right places.
This was a scene you two had found yourselves in too often. Sitting in a comfortable silence together, a quick word spoken every so often. But recently things have felt off, your time spent with Charles had left so much more to be desired. You couldn’t lie and say that you haven’t noticed Charles in a different way. Your eyes lingering on his plump lips for too long, his stocky arms and what they would feel like wrapped around you, and luscious raven locks that sculpted his face. The way pieces of his braid would sometimes come loose, and perfectly curl across his forehead and face. You imagined entwining different flowers in his hair, what a sight for sore eyes the man would be.
A cough from the darker man had broken the now awkward silence, snapping you out of your daydreams.
“So um, what are you reading there?”
You picked up the book resting on your lap, almost hiding the cover.
“Oh its just some silly romance, nothing intellectual.” You said with a tinge of embarrassment.
Charles smiled at your now shy demeanor, taking notice of the small blush that formed across your face.
“What so silly about love?” Charles asked teasingly, a smile spreading across his face, “Here let me read the back.”
He grabbed the book from your clutch despite your desperate pleas for him not to. His dark eyes skimmed over the short description on the back cover, eyes flicking to you and smiling when he read a particular interesting part. He flipped the book over and examined the cover before opening the book and flipping through the pages.
“You mind if I borrow this? When your finished that is.”
You were taken aback by his words. You didn’t expect for any man, let alone Charles, to be interested in some forbidden love story. Maybe a nature book or some philosophical texts, but not some trashy romance novel.
“You can take it, I’ve read it a million times at this point.” You smiled sweetly, your embarrassment lessening now that Charles had shown some interest in it. The native man hummed his thanks before tucking the book by his side.
“I can’t believe you would want to read some tripe like that.” You laughed
“Just cause I got some blood on my hands doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a silly love story from time to time”. He teases, earning himself a playful swat on the shoulder.
“So you do admit it’s stupid!”
“Silly, not stupid.” He corrects you, “Clearly you like it, why be embarrassed.”
He reassures you, his eyes softening as he glances over your features.
That earns a soft laugh from you. Once again, you two settle into a comfortable silence. The soft waves of the lake splashing against the shore and nearby dock. Some meaningless argument in the background probably started by Micah or a drunken Bill. Grimshaw nagging Karen to carry her weight. None of the distractions around you were strong enough to break the ritual Charles and you shared. It was bliss, the closest to heaven you could get. A soft sunset blooming in the distance, the soft rays beaming against the red soil of Lemoyne, a warm breeze drifting through the air, and the man you were sweet on right by your side.
You were sitting noticeably closer to Charles than when he first sat beside you, your knees almost touching his broad thighs. Before, such close proximity would have let your face ablaze resulting in you pulling away. But now, you found it to be comfortable, you felt safe and at peace. Like everything in the world made sense, that everything was going to work out in the end.
“Some high-society girl falling love with an outlaw.” Charles laughed, his oh so sweet laugh that was music to your ears.
“Charles!” You shrieked, “You best not be making fun of me!” You giggled while shoving the man away. He barely moved an inch, on account of weak force on your part and pure strength on his. Your playful actions elicited another laugh from the man.
“Or what?” His voice lowering, the words almost coming out like a growl while still holding the playful manner of the exchange.
The two of you were locked in an intense staring contest, his gaze not faltering once, only to glance at your lips. Soft and parted to allow the summers air in. You took the time to allow your eyes to examine the man. You already knew he was beautiful, but you never had the opportunity to truly appreciate it till now.
His skin was dark, with the soft summers sun highlighting his cheekbones, his skin glowing. Soft stubble peppered his cheeks and upper lip, anymore would be too much, but a light dusting was perfect. You took notice of the lightning shaped scar on his left cheek, your heart ached to wonder how he got it. His dark raven locks always looked perfect, but today they flowed down his back like an ebony waterfall, pieces coming loose to perfectly frame his face. He was a work of art, a divine being, a god amongst mortals.
Your faces were mere inches away from each other now, your breath hitching in your throat at the sudden realization Charles was leaning towards you with half-lidded eyes, his plump lips so close to crashing into yours. An all too familiar voice of another cowboy you knew interrupted your dream come true.
“Sorry to interrupt…whatever this is, but Charles we need you.” Said Arthur, breaking the intensity of the moment between you too. He emerged from camp and the trees that lay behind you two. Once again the camps workhorses were being dragged away to do some meaningless task all for the sake of Dutch’s “plan”.
You had heard talk of this “plan”. The bank in Valetine was supposedly holding a large sum of money, and security was low. Rumors said that the money would be enough to get the law off the gangs tail for a while. Why not send the two brutes of camp to do the, hopefully, easy work?
“Oh right, course” Murmured Charles, you sensed a tinge of disappointment in his voice. He quickly got up from his seat beside you and walked toward the other cowboy, but not before turning to you.
“I’ll see you later?” Asked the dark-skinned native, a glint of longing in his eyes.
“Of course.” Your gaze matching the same sense of yearning. You watched him disappear into the thick overbrush and towards the horses. You stood near your seat, clutching the book to your chest. Your eyes glued to Charles as he mounted his horse, strong legs straddling the saddle. His gaze found yours once again, and he waved goodbye, a smile plastered across his face.
A sense of emptiness filled the air, color seeming to drain from the sky as you watched Charles ride off. You knew he was more than capable of handling himself, but your heart ached at the thought of harm ever coming to him. You said your prayers, begging for protection over him, over your outlaw. But you knew deep down he would be okay, he always was.