Mister Quaid: 1800s (WLW)

Part Two, 1879: Chapter Fifteen

November 28th, 1879, Monroe, Louisiana

Alice was asleep. Or at least, Pete was pretty sure she was as she didn't dare to glance down from her bunk and check. She'd said very little to Pete over the last few days.

They had stopped twice along the way to unload goods from the train and were in Monroe after a long day's work. They could've slept in town and gotten to rest in an actual bed, but Pete had insisted they stay on the train. On one hand, she didn't trust that Alice wouldn't try to leave her behind again. On the other hand, Pete didn't want to risk someone sneaking into Alice's room from outside of a boarding house building when she couldn't keep an eye on every entrance to her room and knew she wouldn't allow her to stay inside.

It was quite the conundrum she'd placed herself in, however, she would have it no other way. With the lack of communication between herself and Alice, Pete was given plenty of time to think of just what she was feeling. She couldn't deny it even if she had tried.

Alice was her person, the person she needed to be with for the rest of her life, no matter how hard she may try to ditch her along the way. Pete couldn't get through to her, though, and that spiteful lie she'd told her on her homestead porch kept coming back to haunt her. Every chance she had to speak with her, Alice would find some reason to run away, and sadly that happened to be into the arms of another man. A man who could give her everything she deserved when Pete knew she never could.

If she was a better person, she would do exactly what Alice demanded of her and leave as soon as her men were caught, but she unambiguously knew that she could never, and would never do that. Jack was an alright guy, she didn't know him very well, but Pete wasn't settled in the fact that Alice actually held feelings for him. She was constantly correcting Jack on how to address her and taking charge of all situations even though he really did try to dictate how every bit of their business went.

She had grown so strong. Alice had always been very straightforward and laid everything on the line in any given situation, but now she held her head high and wouldn't take anything less than what she rightfully deserved. If it weren't for the fact that Pete found it so damn attractive, she would think she was out of her league, but those looks she caught Alice sending her way set her place there in stone.

Pete thought back over the last few days. While Alice may not be one for conversing with her, she still stole glances of her every now and again. Sometimes it seemed as though she was checking just to make sure Pete was still there and other times there was such a fervent heat in her gaze that Pete felt naked under her deep brown eyes. Then, Alice would notice Pete was watching her and a deep blush would cover her tanned cheeks. She would then ignore Pete for hours on end as if she wasn't right next to or behind her at all times.

Pete smirked as she rolled over in her bunk and heard Alice murmuring about something inaudible in her sleep. She stretched out to the edge of her bunk and strained to hear what it was. Regardless of how Alice had treated her over the last few days, Pete's burning desire to be around her hadn't faded and had only grown. Now, she wanted to know more and more of her and hear about more from her than she ever imagined.

Why had she ever fought this in the first place? What good had really come from it? Making Alice not trust her and think she didn't trust her either? Making her think Pete wasn't just as in love with her as she most definitely felt?

Pete sighed into the darkness and watched as some birds perched just outside of the window, frollicking about in the rain puddles. It was so simple for them. They could be with their partner for the rest of their lives. They could just touch down to earth when necessary and fly away when they desired. They would never be alone or in fear of being alone and it was everything Pete wanted, but was now afraid she may have lost forever. Well, minus the flying away bit, unless it was with Alice. Then, she would fly wherever she wanted as long as she could stay at her side.