Outlaws to the End (HotCider & heartofcourage)

[heartofcourage]

A flurry of activity met them as two children came racing around the side of the house and shouted to get the pastor's attention. Elizabeth slipped out of the car, glancing from the two children to the woman that stepped out on the porch. She was blonde and in yellow, all of the things that Elizabeth had been such a long time ago. She wondered if this would be her life once she and Ian settled down. A little house and a few kids running around.

Coming to Ian's side, she shook Nancy's hand, giving her a smile as Ian made introductions. "Oh, thank you." Elizabeth said as she absently touched her red hair as talk turned towards the snake that had been found.

She simply shrugged as they looked towards her to get the idea of snake wrangling out of Ian's head. "He's going to do it even if I tell him no, so you might as well let him get it over with."

She gave Ian a look, shrugging as the children clambered to get his attention. When that didn't work, they dragged him to the backyard, leaving her alone with the pastor and Nancy.

 

[HotCider]

Ian flashed a grin at Elizabeth before he looked at Nancy and Pastor Davis. “She knows me so well,” it almost sounded sarcastic, but he was being honest.

Chris ran over to Ian and asked, “Are you really going to catch a rattlesnake?”

Ian nodded. “Mhm, with my bare hands.”

Nancy’s eyes nearly popped from their sockets. As Ian and the kids jogged off to the backyard, she glanced with a gaping, red-lipped mouth at her husband and Elizabeth. Pastor Davis scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. He felt a little embarrassed and nervous. He didn’t know that Ian was so…brave? Foolish?

“I uh…I guess we better make sure this turns out okay,” he told Nancy and Elizabeth. He started for the backyard and found Ian in middle of the yard between the house and another small house. It was larger than a shed and could have been a guest house. In the grass, rattling away was the snake. It was curled up in a bundle, peeking over its coiled body and flicking its black forked tongue. Ian held his arm out, presenting his palm to the kids who watched in suspense and fear.

“Keep back kiddos. He’s just as scared as we are,” Ian informed.

Ian then looked over at Elizabeth and grinned her way. He had been grinning a lot lately and was in a better mood than when they had first arrived to Utah. He told her: “If this snake bites me, are you gonna suck the venom out?”

He was joking, but it raised the anxiety of the family watching. Nancy voiced her fear: “You crazy man, you (they didn’t curse)! You better not get bit!”

Ian bent over to pick up a long stick. He held it between both of his hands, inspecting its length and sturdiness. It was a sturdy tree branch. Nancy had moved close to Pastor Davis who held his scared wife close. Ian released one end of the stick and stepped toward the rattlesnake. Using the stick, he prodded the snake out of its coil and as soon as it slithered across the grass to reposition itself, Ian pinned the portion of its neck directly behind its head. Ian then rested his foot over the snake’s head, being gentle not to crush it. He then tossed the stick aside, reached down to grasp the snake behind its head, and removed it from beneath his shoe. He then held the snake before the Davis family as though he were showing off fine jewelry.

“Ta-da!” he chimed.

“Wow! He did it!” Amy exclaimed.

“Can I touch it?” Chris asked Ian.

“Chris you stay there! No one is touching the snake!” Nancy barked. She closed her eyes, looking almost ready to faint. “Mr. Ian, could you please get rid of that snake, and quickly before I faint?”

Pastor Davis chuckled and praised Ian, “That is some skill.”

Ian smiled and walked the rattlesnake off the property. The children still curiously followed him at a safe distance. They watched Ian set down the snake and he made sure to spring clear when he released its head. The rattlesnake darted off into the brush. Patting the metaphorical dust from his hands, Ian returned to Elizabeth, Nancy, and Pastor Davis as Amy and Chris bombarded him in their excitement:

“I wanna learn to do that!” Chris yelled.

“Teach me!” Amy shouted.

“None of you are learning snake handling!” Nancy protested.

Pastor Davis grinned. “Kids, listen to your mother.”

“Aw!” they whined.

“Oh my goodness gracious, I forgot about the loaf,” Nancy batted her lashes and gasped. “Amy; please come help me in the kitchen with the pie.”

Pastor Davis looked at Hope: “I know Ian mentioned it, but did you really want to learn to cook? My wife makes a mean apple pie.”

“Yeah, Hope. Go learn how to make pie. We’re gonna be out here doin’ manly stuff.”

“Yeah! Man stuff!” Chris echoed.

Amy huffed and rolled her eyes. She was more of a man than Chris. “He’s talking about he and Dad not you. You’re just a baby.”

“Nu uh!” Chris protested.

Amy stuck her tongue out at him and Chris returned the gesture.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know you better than anyone else in this world, baby." Elizabeth countered, giving him a small, sly grin.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she watched as Ian and the kids hurried off. "He might be a little crazy, but I promise you that your kids aren't in danger."

It might have been a cold comfort for the parents, but Elizabeth knew that she could trust Ian. He wasn't about to put anyone in danger if he could help it. Soon the rest of the adults were following to the backyard where Ian was showing off his snake charming skills to the boy and girl.

"You're on your own if you get bit. I've saved your hide enough lately." She called back as he asked if she'd suck the venom out.

She stood back and watched as he showed off, taking care of the snake and playing the hero for the children. She caught his gaze and gave him a smile, knowing that he would always play the hero when he could. It was probably a strange role for a man that never had the chance to be the hero before in his life.

"Well, how can I turn down the chance to learn about baking world class pies? Maybe I'll finally be able to keep him out of trouble with bribery." Elizabeth turned towards Nancy, noting the way that the poor woman still looked terrified. "Trust me, Nancy, he won't do anything dangerous around the children if he can help it."

 

[HotCider]

Pastor Davis pecked his wife on the cheek and also reassured her: “Since we have guests, the guest house could use some firewood. I can also cut you some more firewood for the oven.”

Nancy looked between her husband and Elizabeth and nodded. “That’s fine.” She then frowned at her husband, Ian, and Chris. “No funny business okay?”

Chris motioned a cross over his heart, while Ian held up the OK gesture.

“You gotta make a mean pie first,” Ian playfully commented on Elizabeth’s bribery statement.

“All right; let’s head inside before the house burns down,” Nancy said as she briskly started walking into the house.

Pastor Davis turned toward the firewood over in the corner of the yard to left of the guest house. “Since you said you’re from the south, I suppose you know how to cut firewood?”

Ian and Chris followed behind the pastor. He rested his hands upon his hips and sighed, “Whew, it’s been a long time since I’ve had to. I could use the work out. What about you, Chris?”

Chris raised his arm and curled it to show off his tiny bicep. “I’m strong. Cutting wood is easy.”

“I don’t know if your Mom would like you holding an ax,” his father said.

“Aw, come on Dad. I can help. I promise I won’t get hurt,” Chris whined.

“Yeah Dad, we won’t let him get hurt,” Ian said.

Pastor Davis sighed despairingly as he thought, Nancy is going to kill me. He didn’t see anything wrong with Chris at least attempting to cut one log. Pastor Davis walked over to a log, picked it up, and placed it on a stump. He then grasped the ax that was leaning against the stump.

“All right Chris; the best way to cut wood is to strike the log as close as you can in its center and with enough force,” Pastor Davis advised. “Let me show you how. Line your ax up…”

He placed the wedge of the ax in the center of the log. “Imagine that line is there at all times, bring the ax back, and then give it a mighty swing.”

Pastor Davis brought the ax back, swung it above his head, and then brought it down on the log, splitting it in two. Both Chris and Ian applauded. Pastor Davis huffed and grasped the small of his back. “I don’t know if I can do this for a long time, but that’s the gist of it.”

“Lemme try!” Chris anxiously shouted.

“All right buddy, come over here,” Pastor Davis told him. Ian crossed his arms before his chest and smiled, enjoying the father-and-son interaction.

Meanwhile, Nancy was washing some apples at the sink when she saw her husband holding an ax with Chris. “Arthur Lloyd Davis, you better not hurt our baby,” she grumbled.

Amy was at the counter behind Nancy, sitting on her knees in a chair. She had ingredients on it and she pointed to each one, teaching Elizabeth about them as though she was a teacher. “This is flour; this is butter; this is sugar; this is salt—don’t get them confused, and…” She pressed a finger to her cheek in thought. “We’re not using eggs for this one. So, this is all we need!”

She pointed at the flour. “We need two cups of flour, a quarter cup of sugar, a pinch of salt, and then you just stir it all together in this bowl.”

Amy pushed the mixing bowl toward Elizabeth and smiled. “Go ahead, you can do it! It’s so fun.”

While Elizabeth learned to bake a pie, eventually wood-cutting started to bore Chris. He played in the yard, while Ian and Pastor Davis talked. Ian was cutting wood and making it look like second nature. He had a steady rhythm going, and it was taking his mind off of his appetite. He started to work up a sweat and used the back of his hand to wipe it away, and his fingers to comb back the lengthy parts of his hair. He set down the ax and his hands went to his shirt. He paused and asked, “You don’t mind if I take my shirt off do ya, boss?”

Pastor Davis laughed at Ian’s reference. “This isn’t a chain gang Ian. You can.”

Ian unbuttoned his plaid shirt and when he peeled it off, Pastor Davis frowned at the different scars that spotted his body. They weren’t normal scars. “Uh…pardon me for asking…”

Ian was smirking over at the house, wondering if Elizabeth would get a chance to watch him. He glanced over at the pastor and once again, grasped the ax. “Hm?”

“But are those…bullet wounds?”

Ian glanced down at his torso as though he didn’t even know they were there. He had been with Elizabeth for so long and she had seen him bare multiple times that he didn’t consider what others would think. He wasn’t going to lie to the priest. Lifting the ax, Ian answered, “They are.”

Swinging the ax over his head, he returned to cutting. Pastor Davis frowned in contemplation. “Huh…how a…”

Ian kept his attention on the next log and his expression became solemn as he answered, “I’ll tell ya later. I’ve been meanin’ to ask. Do you take confessions?”

Pastor Davis looked concerned. He thought, Lord, who did I invite to dinner? Everyone has their demons I suppose. Ian and Hope are good people. I’ve seen it, and they’ve been through a lot. You brought them to me. Maybe you brought me a lost soul who needs your healing?

“I can,” Pastor Davis said.

Ian paused and smiled in amusement at him. “You can or you do?”

Pastor Davis smiled back. “I do, and I will. Your confessions are kept confidential with God. My church is just over there.”

As Pastor Davis pointed, Ian followed his gesture to a white church a few hundred meters across a flat, prairie of grass and shrubbery. “We can do it there whenever you like.”

Ian meditated over the decision for a few minutes. Dinner wasn’t going to be finished for a while, and he would rather get it over with while Elizabeth was occupied. He set the ax against the stump and sighed: “I’d like to do it now if you don’t mind.”

Pastor Davis uncrossed his arms and told Chris, “Chris. Go on inside. Ian and I are going to visit the church and you know Mama doesn’t like you outside by yourself.”

Chris sighed and rolled his eyes. He threw down the stick he was playing with and headed indoors. Ian picked up his shirt and walked with Pastor Davis to the church.

 

[heartofcourage]

"The meanest pie you've ever had." Elizabeth countered as Ian sarcastically and she went to follow Nancy and little Amy into the house.

She could hear Nancy muttering about keeping her son safe over her shoulder, but Elizabeth's attention was solely on Amy. The little girl was dutiful in explaining everything that Elizabeth needed to know about the art of pie making. It seemed that Amy was an expert even being so young. It made her realize how much she had missed out on in her life. Her mother had never cooked as they had always hired a cook to make their meals. It wasn't up to Elizabeth to learn how to keep a home. She'd end up marrying someone who would hire her a cook and a housekeeper. That all made Elizabeth incredibly sad as she mixed the bowl of ingredients that was placed in front of her.

As she was helping Amy to shape the dough in a pie tin, Chris entered the kitchen to wash up. "Where's your dad and Ian?" Elizabeth asked as the little boy told her that they were heading to the church.

She didn't like the sound of that. Ian was unpredictable and she wasn't sure that he would keep quiet around the pastor. She looked nervously over at Nancy who seemed to be ignoring the situation.

"Do you think someone should go with them? What if they miss dinner?" She asked, hoping that maybe Nancy would stop the two of them before they got too far away.

 

[HotCider]

Nancy was cooking and seasoning the apples on the stove when she overheard Elizabeth’s concern. “They will be all right. They’re just going to the church. It’s not too far away and they won’t miss dinner. Arthur knows I’ll be cross with him if they do.”

Nancy then paused in her reassurance to think. “You haven’t seen the church, have you?” she realized. “It’s just over yonder. The only big, snow-white church around. You can go look at it with them if you want. I can have Chris take your place.”

Chris threw back his head and groaned, “Do I have to~?”

Amy shook her head. “What a baby.”

“Stop calling me that!”

“If you want to eat, you’ll help prepare dinner,” his mother scolded.

Chris sighed.

 

[heartofcourage]

The children bickering drew her attention. Amy and Chris reminded her of growing up with Junior. Older than herself, Junior had freedom that she would never experience. They often bickered until their nannies had pulled them apart. Scoldings had come from their father and all of that changed when Junior was sent off to school. Elizabeth had begged to go as well, but she wasn't allowed. Instead, she was stuck at home, trapped in their townhouse with a tutor and bored to tears.

"It's not meant for you, Lizzy." Her mother had admonished when a ten year old Elizabeth had asked about going with Junior or at least playing with the neighborhood children. "Be happy with your life the way that it is."

She had never understood why Junior had freedom and she didn't. It wasn't until she met Stephen that everything made sense. Her family lived beyond their means and needed her to marry up in society. Keeping her under educated and away from the world would make a very enticing prospect for any man. Stephen had been one of man that had been introduced to her at the country club. He was the only one that was close to her own age and at first she was dazzled by him. She thought he was incredibly handsome and funny. Junior had tried his hardest to warn her away, telling her that she could do so much better. The guilt of letting down her parents weighed on her, however. Within a year she was engaged. Within months of that she was on the run with Ian, a man who really was handsome, funny, kind, and protective. It left her torn and seeing the perfect family there in front of her made her rethink so many things about herself.

She was going to be a terrible housewife, one that probably aggravated Ian more often than not. When he found that out, he very well might leave her. She loved to read and devoured books, but her education hadn't progressed very far. Compared to Ian and all of the life experience that he had, she paled significantly. The last thing she wanted to do was to make Ian regret hitching himself to someone like her. When her beauty faded, would he still love her as much? Was he in love with an image of her that wasn't true? All of those thoughts made her want to cry.

Elizabeth looked towards the children and considered them for a moment. She would let Ian do what he felt he needed to do. Just as she had asked him to trust her, she needed to place her trust in him as well.

"What's your favorite thing to help cook, Chris? A man's got to know how to take care of himself. That means in the kitchen too." Elizabeth tried to encourage the young boy, giving him a smile as she left Amy to finishing up the pie's crust. "Or maybe something manly like taking care of the meat? You gotta help me out a little when it comes to the kitchen."

She continued to grin, hoping that he warmed up a little and didn't cause his mother more issues with his attitude. "Trust me, you gotta help me keep out of trouble. Have you seen my husband? He's a bad influence on me. My mother never taught me anything about the kitchen, so it's as foreign to me as Timbuktu."

 

[HotCider]

Ian felt his breath thinning the closer they came to the old, white church. I wonder if I really will catch fire, he thought.

When Pastor Davis opened the door, allowing Ian to go first as though he knew the threshold was booby-trapped. Ian entered the dark place, and the pastor followed in behind him, flipping a switch that got all the light bulbs flaring to life. There were rows of wooden pews, and a podium at the end on a stage. It was a typical church set up. On the right were the booths Ian was nervous about.

The pastor waved him in their direction and Ian swallowed something. It could have been his soul. He walked over to the booth, opened the door, and entered inside it, while the pastor entered the other one. Ian’s heart was beating rapidly in his chest, and the box felt tiny. It felt like it was closing in on him. He wasn’t claustrophobic, but he was afraid to talk about…everything.

Ian inhaled deeply and exhaled an abrupt breath and scratched his head. “I am absolutely terrible at this kind of thing. You’re gonna have to guide me through this.”

“Sure. Of course. Kneel and recite, ‘Bless me father for I have sinned,’ and from there, you can say whatever you want. Only I and God are your witnesses, and God holds me to secrecy.”

Ian glanced down at the floor and then slowly lowered to his knees. He glanced at the holey window and felt like a cat with its ears flat against its head. He felt so defensive. He had to have remained silent for a good two minutes before he finally parted his lips:

“Where should I start?”

“From the beginning if you want, but you can start where ever you want.”

Ian fell silent again and bowed his head as he went back, way back to when he was a kid.

“My name’s…Ian Darcy…The Ian Darcy. The Devil. I ain’t die. I survived.” He fell silent and exhaled another soft breath. “I was born in Winslow, Arizona. Over by where that huge crater is. I lived there in a shack over there with my ma and pa. My pa was a World War 1 vet. His leg was blown clean off and he was medically discharged. He saw so much during that war that he did nothing but drink. He would have episodic fits that would stress me and my Ma out. He eventually started to hurt her and me, but I didn’t care about me. I just wanted him to stop hurtin’ my ma…”

“I lied to Hope…and actually, her name ain't Hope. Her name is Elizabeth Darrow. The one in the paper that reads that I kidnapped her. I ain’t kidnap her, but I’ll get to that later. I told her that I ain’t ever killed anyone, but I have.”

Ian frowned as tears came to his eyes. He tucked his face into his arm for a moment as he panted to get his breath back. He then finally confessed, “I killed my parents. I couldn’t stand to see my pa beat me and my ma no more. I couldn’t stand to see him with that illness. He wasn’t the same man I knew before the war, and I knew I wasn’t ever gettin’ him back.”

Ian took another breath. “I found his 1911 that he always tried to hide from me. I found him drinkin’ and listenin’ to the radio. I stood right behind him and pointed that gun at the back of his head. My ma walked in right when my finger was squeezing the trigger and screamed. I never heard her scream like that before, and it scared me. I shot my father in the head, and even if I had had last second regrets, I ain’t get the chance because I was startled.”

Ian grasped his shaking hands and clutched them. “My ma was so upset. I thought she would have felt a little relief like I did, but she didn’t. I was young and dumb. I underestimated her love for him. She didn’t call the cops. We buried my pa in the backyard. I didn’t sleep that night. I was awake listenin' to my ma cry in her bedroom all night. I eventually dozed off that mornin', but I didn’t sleep long. The house was quiet. I got out of bed and I went lookin’ for my ma. She wasn’t in the house.”

Ian wiped the tears that started to profusely spill from his eyes. “I searched all around the house for her and she was nowhere. I walked over to the crater, looked over, and saw her body at the bottom. That was when I realized that I was all alone. A ten years old boy with nobody. I didn’t know how to survive, but I eventually learned that if I stayed in that house, then I was gonna die. That’s when I started stealin’. I started off small. Pickpocket. I eventually stole from stores, and then banks. That’s how I got famous. I was always on the run. Always paranoid. I thought the cops had got me that day. I drove that stolen car off the cliff, but I had bailed at the last minute, and I fell on a ledge that just so happened to be there. I felt so lucky…I wasn’t raised on Christian values, but even I suspected that someone wanted to give me a second chance.”

Ian straightened and sat up more strongly. “I still continued to rob banks, but not as Ian Darcy. It was when I robbed a bank in Chicago that I met Elizabeth.”

Recalling the memory made Ian laugh and blush. “I apparently had stolen her savings and she wasn’t gonna let me escape easy. She chased me down and beat me with a bag of apples…” Ian laughed. “And I punched her lights out. That’s how we met.”

Ian told the pastor about he and Elizabeth’s journey up until when they met him.

“I wanted to come here to see if God really does work miracles, and if he can forgive me for everything I’ve done. I intend to marry Elizabeth, but I always heard of sins catchin’ up and killin’ people. Like God was gettin’ his revenge. I just want to marry the woman of my dreams and live a happy life. We promised each other we’d go to Las Vegas, and then get a house in California. I just want this dream to come true.”

“Why don’t you get married here?” Pastor Davis asked.

Ian felt his heart skip as his eyes grew two times their size. “What?”

“I can wed you both. Weddings don’t have to be formal. We can find some temporary rings until you can find her a nice pretty one.”

Ian was lost for words.

“How does that sound? Ian?”

Ian shook his head in shock. “Wow…I don’t even know what to say.”

Pastor Davis chuckled and jested, “Say 'I do.'”

Ian cracked a grin and laughed. “I gotta do that kneelin’ stuff?”

“Propose? Yes, Sir. We can bring her here and you can surprise her by taken a knee.”

“No way. That’s too predictable. What about at dinner? She won’t see it comin'. We’ll be eatin’, and then towards the end of the meal, I’ll just surprise her by kneelin' in front of her.”

“That’s fine. That gives me a chance to talk to Nancy about borrowing her ring for it.”

Ian couldn’t stop smiling, and he wiped some more tears that fell from his eyes. “I can’t believe this is happenin'. Thank you for everything.”

“Don’t thank me. Thank God. He loves you Ian, and so does Jesus. I have a feeling that he’s brought you here to me for this moment and we’re going to make it all right.”

“Can you baptize me?” Ian asked.

Pastor Davis blinked. “Golly…of course Ian. This is such a blessed day. I haven’t baptized someone in a minute, and I’ve always wanted to. We can baptize you over in the river. Wow, Ian. You got me full of joy.”

The enthusiasm that had overwhelmed Ian was starting to get a little weird. If they hadn’t come to Utah or stumbled across the pastor, Ian knew that he would have never done this.

“I think dinner should be just about done.” The pastor motioned a crucifix. “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

“Amen,” Ian repeated.

They both exited the booths and Pastor Davis surprised Ian by embracing him in a firm hug. Ian tensed in the man’s arms. His eyes were wide. Pastor Davis told him, “I want to say this before we leave this church. It’s not your fault Ian. It really isn’t.”

The pastor continued to hold Ian as the former bank robber raised his arms to embrace him back and bury his face into his shoulder. Pastor Davis just allowed Ian to cry so that he wasn’t bottling it all up. He figured Elizabeth would discover something had happened.

“Women are smart Ian. I know you confessed this to only me and God, but one day Elizabeth—well, Hope—is going to ask. You’ll need to tell her.”

“What if she leaves me?”

“If she truly loves you Ian, she won’t leave you. You’ll just become closer.”

The pastor released him and Ian wiped at his damp eyes. “I hope so.”

“Let’s head on back.”

While Ian and the pastor took their time returning to the house, it allowed Ian to compose himself again. When they entered the house, Nancy was standing there with her hands on her hips and glaring at Pastor Davis.

“Well, you two just had a grand ol’ time didn’t you while dinner is getting cold?” Nancy scolded.

Arthur smiled sheepishly and apologized, “I’m sorry Nancy. Time escaped us.”

“Time flies when you’re havin’ fun,” Ian recited only to flinch when Nancy shot him a sharp glare.

Pastor Davis took his wife by the hip and led her away, “Hey, before we start dinner can you help me find something real quick?” Pastor Davis and Nancy headed for their bedroom.

Ian, on the other hand, sought out Elizabeth and looked around the house. “Wow, you didn’t burn the house down and the food smells great,” he teased with a grin.

 

[heartofcourage]

The house seemed to double in volume when the pastor and Ian came back into the house. The children clamored for attention, Nancy was steaming hot that her dinner had been delayed, and the pastor had things to say himself. Elizabeth tried her hardest to stay out of the way, watching everything from a corner of the kitchen as she watched over the pies that she had helped to make.

As Nancy scolded the two men, Elizabeth had to chuckle. That woman had a short fuse that was tempered with a sweetness that only a pastor's wife could have. She had to image that the woman was a hellion and had the pastor completely wrapped around her little finger. As the two of them wandered off, Elizabeth watched Ian approach.

"They didn't let me near the stove, but I did successfully help to make a pie or two. Not promising that I'll ever be able to do it again, but I definitely pitched in." She said, showing him the two pies that were cooling on the counter now. "That woman was about to come and whip the two of you for being late for dinner. I've never seen someone was...aggressive as her."

She had to laugh as she looking Ian over, knowing that he didn't care about taking risks or upsetting people when he had a mission in mind. He just wasn't that kind of person. Being late for dinner was small compared to his other sins.

"You look better." She said as she brushed his hair off his forehead. "Like you have the weight of the world off your shoulders. Maybe I need to take a trip down to that church and let the pastor work his magic over me."

He would tell her what had happened at the church if he wanted to. That much she knew about Ian. He wouldn't tell her a single thing until he was ready to tell her. It didn't do any good to press him or try and pry the information away. Instead, she kissed his cheek and turned back towards the cooking that was waiting to be placed on the table with the checkered tablecloth.

"Get yourself washed up. Then you can help me get this all to the table." Elizabeth insisted. "Because I am not going to be on the receiving end of that woman's wrath."

She moved past him to put items on the table, noises coming from the bedroom as the children gathered at the door to see what their parents were up to. She wouldn't pry but she found it a little strange. Not that there was anything about this entire experience that wasn't strange. She wondered what had happened at the church to make the pastor pull his wife off in private.

"Is there something I need to be worried about?" Elizabeth asked as she looked over at Ian. "I don't like that they're conspiring in the other room about something."

 

[HotCider]

Ian marveled the pies Elizabeth had showed him and resisted the urge to stick his finger right in and wrench out whatever molten goodness was in it. When she shared with him her insecurities, Ian shrugged his shoulders. “I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it and you don’t have to cook all by yourself,” he told her.

She shared with him about Nancy and Ian just gave her his most nonchalant, uncaring look. Elizabeth’s laughter made him smile.

You look better.

“Oh yeah? It’s that much of a difference, huh?” At her mention of visiting the church, he joked, “It’s pretty far away and it smells like old people. I don’t recommend it.”

The kiss she pecked against his cheek put a lopsided smile on his face as she told him to get washed up like a Mom and started to set the table. She cared about Nancy. Ian didn’t, but he cared about Elizabeth, and so he would do as she requested. Ian had turned away from the kitchen only to watch the children run away to spy on their parents. He whirled back around and snuck up behind Elizabeth to cross his arm about her waist, and hug her firmly from behind that she might have felt his crotch against her bottom.

“Don’t fret over these little moments of opportunity,” Ian whispered into her ear before he kissed the side of her neck. He gave it a few more slow kisses before he told her, “Orderin’ me around like you own the place and settin’ this table, it’s makin’ it hard for me to be a good boy.”

Without another word said, Ian left her with the lingering heat of his body against her back and backside as he sought out the bathroom. He remembered his promise. He wasn’t going to sleep with her at the pastor’s place, but he wasn’t going to make it easy for her. Oh no; it couldn’t have been easier for one. If he had to suffer, he was going to make her suffer too.

After Ian had taken a wash cloth and wiped the sweat and salt from his face, neck, and underarms. He washed his hands and returned to Elizabeth to help her set the table. By then, Nancy and the pastor returned with the kids trotting ahead of them.

“All right; I’m sure we’re all hungry so let’s get this table blessed,” the pastor announced with a smile.

Ian didn’t complain too much about blessing the table. Even his family had said grace once upon a time, and they said grace at Ma’s place. They held hands, the pastor said grace, and then they took their seats. Nancy sat across from Ian. Pastor Davis at the head of the table. Nancy had Chris and Amy to her right, with Amy sitting across from Elizabeth. Ian sat closest to the pastor with Elizabeth at his left. This was where things became a little uncomfortable.

There was a full chicken on the table with potatoes, gravy, and some steamed vegetables. Not to mention, the two homemade pies. Ian kept his hands in his lap as though touching the food would cause all hell to rain down on him. He was starved, but he knew he was a fat boy when it came to home cooking. Nancy was making Arthur’s, Chris’s, and Amy’s plate.

Ian turned to Elizabeth and informed quietly, “You might wanna make my plate because you know if I serve myself…” Did he need to finish? He smiled innocently at her. It had been discreet, but Ian had slipped his other hand behind his back and the pastor deposited the rings beneath the table into his palm. When Ian straightened in his seat, he tucked the rings into his pocket.

The pastor looked at Ian and Elizabeth with concern. “Don’t be shy. There’s enough for everyone…”

No there ain’t, Ian thought. He was used to a much larger southern spread. He was going to be going to bed starved in two areas. It made him cry on the inside—at least there was pie. It would have been him versus the kids fighting over the last piece, but he had a feeling Nancy was going to regulate how many pieces they were going to have. The dinner made him miss Ma’s house where he could just eat until he could burst, and even then she’d still try to serve him more.

 

[heartofcourage]

When he pressed against her back, arms around her waist and bulge pressing to her bottom, Elizabeth actually let out a gasp. The bastard was enjoying this, she thought to herself as he whispered against her ear and then kissed her neck. He was causing trouble to simply cause trouble. He wouldn't be Ian Darcy if he didn't.

"Ian, I said we're not going to do this here." She murmured as he continued to kiss along the length of her neck then he was gone like the ghost that he always proclaimed to be. "Can you please behave yourself at least until dinner is over?"

She knew he wouldn't. He would do the opposite of whatever she asked of him. That was simply her lot in life now, attached to someone like Ian. It actually made her grin to think about trying to introduce him to her mother and father. She could just imagine taking scruffy Ian to their beautiful Chicago townhouse. Her mother would be scandalized. She hope that one day she got the chance to do just that.

Ian was back after washing up, behaving himself as he helped her to set the table. By the time the rest of the family had returned, everything was ready. Taking Ian's hand, they blessed the door and then Nancy started dishing everything up. When Ian turned to her and asked her to make his plate, she raised an eyebrow.

"Are your arms broken?" She asked him, that innocent smile on his lips telling her that he was about to eat everything in sight if she didn't.

She took his dish and made him a plate, glancing at the pastor as he encouraged them to eat as there was more than enough. "You might want to talk with him about self control. I find it's one of the things that my dear beau is lacking in."

Elizabeth gave a soft smile to Ian as she placed his plate back in front of him and then started in on her own. It was a modest meal, but she couldn't ask for more. They had been kind enough to feed them and give them a roof over their heads. She'd keep Ian from devouring everything in thanks for those simple things.

 

[HotCider]

Ian blushed when Elizabeth put him on blast. What a jerk. He suspected she was getting back at him for kissing her. He hoped he made her uncomfortable. Pastor Davis merely chuckled, while Nancy said, while setting Amy’s plate in front of her. “An appetite like that might be handy to have around. ‘Knowing these three, if dinner isn’t finished tonight, then they won’t eat leftovers tomorrow. Instead, they’ll want to waste food and desire me to cook something else.”

It was Pastor Davis’s turn to blush. Chris with a mouthful of chicken was quick to protest, “Nu uh! I ate the leftovers last time.”

Amy wrinkled her nose and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right out of the pan. You stuck your fingers in it and didn’t even put it on a plate to eat it like a gentleman.”

Ian lowered his face to his plate as though to hide his remark. An amused smile quirked on his face as he muttered, “Sounds like my kind of kid.”

“Excuse me, Ian. I don’t think I heard you with your face in your plate,” Nancy prodded.

Ian sat up with an innocent smile as he chewed on a piece of chicken. “I was just saying how great this meal was.” He then looked over at Pastor Davis with a face glowing so bright that even the pastor cringed from how fake it was. “Thank you for having us.”

Ian was avoiding the probing stare Nancy was giving him across the table, while Pastor Davis forced a sheepish smile. “It’s a pleasure having you and Hope here.”

“Hope at least,” Nancy muttered in a similar fashion Ian had as she took a bite of chicken.

“What was that?” Ian asked Nancy.

“I said I hope you like the pie,” Nancy jokingly lied.

There was a moment of silence at the table before Ian and the Davis family started laughing. It was fun while it lasted. Toward the end of his plate, Ian was discreetly glancing between his empty plate and Elizabeth’s. She hadn’t gone for seconds. He didn’t want to go for seconds if she wasn’t. He could have used more of the chicken and potatoes, and of course the pie. Ian leaned over in his seat until his shoulder touched the red-head’s and he said quietly, “I know you’re hungry. They said we could get a second plate.”

While Ian was trying to twist Elizabeth’s arm into going for seconds, Pastor Davis rose from his seat and said, “Did you hear that? I think someone’s at the door.”

Ian immediately stopped and watched the pastor start out of the kitchen and around the corner into the main room. He frowned suspiciously and whispered, “I didn’t hear anything, did you?”

Ian straightened in his seat and listened. Pastor Davis returned to the kitchen with a concerned look on his face. “There are some policemen outside. They said they’re looking for an Ian Darcy.”

Ian’s eyes widened, and he looked as though his head could have burst with sweat. “F-” he glanced at the kids and held back his curse. He looked uncertain what to do at first, but then he shook his head. He firmly grasped Elizabeth’s hand and stood from his chair almost jerking her along with him.

“There ain’t no Ian Darcy here,” Ian growled at the pastor. He then ordered to Elizabeth, “We need to go. Now!”

The kids and Nancy looked scared. She pointed at the back of the house. “There’s a door in the back that’ll take you to the yard. You can head for the church!”

Ian didn’t even say thank you. He was so focused on getting them out of the Davis house. He wasn’t going to let Elizabeth protest or drag her feet. They needed to go, and they needed to go quick! With her hand tightly in his, she could feel his palm starting to sweat. He ran through the house as though he knew it like the back of his hand when really he had just gotten lucky. Once in the back, he was quick to undo the latch, the lock, and then wrenched open the door to burst through the screen outside.

The sun had long set. It was dark, cool, and he could feel the grass hissing beneath his feet as he ran with her. Ian then slowed down as he noticed the guest house. It was where they had their things. He stopped and stared at the house for a moment, his hand leaving Elizabeth’s. She might have known what he was thinking about, or what he figured she would have thought he was thinking about. With his back to her, Ian stood there for a moment, gathering the moisture that left his mouth, gathering his scattered and panicked thoughts. It was after that brief moment, Ian turned around to face Elizabeth with the most nervous look she might have ever seen on his face. Behind her, the Davis family was watching from the back door.

Without words, Ian took a knee and removed the ring from his pocket, holding it up to Elizabeth. The entire time, Pastor Davis was holding Nancy as she repetitively muttered under her breath, “Say it. Will you marry me. Will you marry me!” It was as though she was trying to project the words into Ian’s head, but he was so nervous that his mind was blank. All he could do was act.

 

[heartofcourage]

The dinner was nice and easy. A true family experience. She had eaten her fill and simply watched the rest of them talk and eat. Then Ian came sniffing around. He bumped his shoulder against her own and she turned to look at him, chuckling as he encouraged her to go for seconds because he wanted more.

"Babe, if you want more, get more. If I eat anything else, I'm libel to bust." She said as he kept trying to convince her to fill her plate again. "I suppose you want me to make this plate too?"

"You big baby." She whispered as she reached for his plate to dish him out some more food.

When the pastor stood at a sudden noise, Elizabeth ignored it. It wasn't until he was coming back with the news that police were at the door looking for Ian Darcy did she look up and Ian's plate dropped out of her hands. The sound was almost deafening as it clattered against the other dishes and she felt like she couldn't breathe. All of the air was sucked out of her lungs in that instant and her chest burned. This wasn't suppose to happen. Not right now. Not when they were finally feeling safe and Junior had promised that he would help. Had Junior betrayed her?

She was snapped back into the present as Ian grabbed her hand and jerked her from her seat, demanding that they go now. How were they going to outrun the cops? They didn't have a car and they were in the middle of nowhere. Her head was absolutely spinning as Nancy gave them directions to get out of the house discretely and Ian was pulling her behind him without a second thought.

The moment that they ran into the outdoors, she felt her fear heighten. What if they had guns? What if they opened fire? Elizabeth couldn't help to look over her shoulder towards the house as Ian ran for the both of them. She didn't see cop cars or flashing lights. Had they come without them? Nothing about this was making any sense.

When he stopped in his tracks, she nearly slammed into the back of him. "Leave our things." She murmured as he looked towards the guest house and she thought that he was losing his mind.

"Ian, come on." She couldn't understand why he had stopped so suddenly.

Then everything narrowed in on that single moment as he turned and went to a knee with a ring in his hands. She stared at him dumbly, her mind a million miles away from what he was asking of her. They simply stared at each other as the Davis family gathered in the doorway to watch them. She could hear Nancy muttering something but the words didn't quite reach her.

"There's no cops?" Elizabeth asked, shaking and panting. "Ian...."

She realized now that all of this had been planned. The family had been in on it. Ian had been in on it. Now she was standing there in the middle of their yard, scared out of her mind, and trying to figure out what was happening.

"I'm going to throttle you later." She muttered as she hit her knees and wrapped her arms around Ian tightly. "I'm absolutely going to ring your neck."

 

[HotCider]

Ian was wondering at first if she was going to be angry when she realized it had all been a prank. When she dropped to her knees, throwing her arms around him, Ian smiled in amusement when she swore to throttle him. “I’m sorry, I wanted to surprise you. I told him everything, and he’s okay with it. Well, I guess they are both okay with it,” he apologized.

Nancy cupped her hands before her mouth and shouted, “If you don’t ask her to marry you, then I’ll throttle you myself!”

“Nancy!” Pastor Davis exclaimed in embarrassment.

Ian’s brows rose as he realized he stupidly forgot those golden words. “Oh shit, will you marry me?” Ian asked. He then realized how casual he had said those words. There hadn’t been any feeling in them. He said them as though they were lines in a script he had to memorize. “I mean…well, I guess we both know that we want to spend our lives together. I just wanted to make it known sooner before we get to Vegas. I’ve said it many times before that I live and I’d die for you, Elizabeth Darrow. I want you to be my woman for life. So…will you marry me, not as Mrs. Darcy—I’ll probably come up with a different name. Just. For now…”

 

[heartofcourage]

"You told him everything?" Elizabeth asked as she pulled herself back and looked at him like he had gone crazy. "Ian..."

She was interrupted as Nancy yelled across the yard to the both of them, telling Ian to ask her to marry him. Elizabeth actually blushed deeply at that, glancing over at the family and then back at Ian. He asked, a bit lackluster, but then he tried again with more feeling.

"I'm only saying yes if I'm Mrs. Darcy." She said softly, reaching up to take Ian's cheeks in her hands. "No aliases. No made up names or stories. I'm going to be Mrs. Ian Darcy or nothing at all."

 

[HotCider]

Ian was slightly speechless when she demanded to have his surname. He feared his own name, but he supposed The Devil was long dead. The fact that there could be another Ian Darcy could have been completely coincidental. He still didn't feel comfortable with it, but he figured she was tired of his numerous aliases and cons.

"All right; but you can be Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy and not Ian Darcy," he teased. He grabbed her hand down from his cheek and slid the ring on her finger. "This ain't the ring I'm gonna get you. I'm gonna get you something better later."

"There isn't a better ring!" Nancy irritably yelled.

"Nancy stop interrupting them," Pastor Davis gently scolded.

Nancy crossed her arms before her chest. "That Ian Darcy is grinding my gears."

Ian bit his lip mischievously knowing he had upset Nancy. He then revealed to Elizabeth. "The pastor said he could marry us. I know this ain't how we both imagined it but...we could get married while we're here if you want. Before we leave tomorrow."

 

[heartofcourage]

Elizabeth glanced down as he slid a simple gold ring on her finger and she wondered just where he had gotten it. Had he picked it up along the way without her knowing? When he promised that he would get her something better and Nancy yelled that there wasn't a better ring, Elizabeth knew that the reason that the pastor and his wife had disappeared earlier was to get a ring.

"Well, I guess if you really wanted to marry me while I was wearing a lampshade and with a borrowed wedding band, I wouldn't mind." She said with a small grin of her own. "Vegas can be our honeymoon. We can live it up as long as we want."

 

[HotCider]

Ian smiled in excitement and relief that Elizabeth was willing to marry him without the formalities. He cupped her cheek, brushing his fingers back through her red hair. "You make me so happy," he told her before he leaned in and kissed her lips.

Amy interlaced her fingers and swooned while Chris hid his eyes and uttered, "Blegh. I'm going back inside."

Amy chased after him. "You just want another slice of pie!"

"You two better not touch that pie!" Nancy warned.

Ian broke the kiss and announced to the Davises, "She said yes!"

Pastor Davis raised a fist. "Yes! We'll do it first thing tomorrow!"

Nancy immediately turned to her husband and shared with him her thoughts about Elizabeth maybe wearing her wedding dress.

Pastor Davis blinked. "That old thing? Could you even still wear it?"

Nancy struck his arm and stormed inside. Pastor Davis's eyes widened in shock at his own bluster. "Wait! I didn't mean…"

"Nice one pastor," Ian laughed. He watched the man run inside after his wife, and then he rose to his feet willing to help Elizabeth up if she allowed him. "I'm not goin' back into that house or I'm gonna keep stalking that pie. I think I'm gonna turn in."

He also had no interest in helping with the dishes. He was too tired and tomorrow was going to be a long morning. Wedding, baptism, and then another train ride.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't need to borrow a wedding dress." Elizabeth tried to answer as the pastor and Nancy went back inside and Ian helped her up to her feet.

"I'll go help Nancy clean up and then I'll meet you back at the guest house. It's the least I can do after she loaned me her wedding bands." Elizabeth murmured as she stole another kiss from Ian and gave him a happy grin. "Nothing's going to tear us apart now, babe. Nothing."

One more kiss and she was moving away back to the house. She glanced over her shoulder at Ian and grinned before she disappeared into the backdoor. Helping Nancy to clean up was her way to thank her for everything that she had done. The kids and the pastor were banished into the living room to stay away from the pies, but Elizabeth managed to talk her out of at least one slice for Ian. Anything to make her now fiance happy.

The main house was quieting down when Elizabeth left with the plate in her hands. The guest house was much smaller and quaint, but it was clean and enough for her and Ian.

"I sweet talked you a piece of pie." Elizabeth called into the darkened house, chuckling as she heard him moving around. "Come and get it before I decide I'm not going to share."

 

[HotCider]

Ian made a disappointed face when Elizabeth told him that she was going to help Nancy. He had been hoping to just (-fuck) cuddle up with her in bed. It was like a commitment reward or proving everlasting love…right? As she stole her two kisses from him, Ian watched her leave into the house and sighed. Who was he kidding? She meant it. They were not going to have sex on yon sacred ground. He raised his hand before his eyes and gazed at it pathetically, "It's just you and me again old friend…"

Ian retired into the guest house, and he took advantage of the privacy. Thankfully, it had soap for some lubricant and towels. He couldn't remember the last time he had blown his load, and he was well overdue. Sorry Jesus.

By the time Elizabeth had returned, Ian had been knocked out, bare-assed with his pants at his thighs and a towel beneath his hips. He had passed out asleep still holding his cock and drooling on the mattress. Elizabeth's voice had sounded like a radio's volume cranked to max. His coffee bean eyes cracked open, and he blearily moved his cheek out of the drool spot on the mattress. He wiped the corner of his mouth dry on the pillow before he slowly started to sit up. The first thing he noticed was that his arm was asleep, and he noticed it because he tumbled out of bed with a thud on the floor.

"Aagh fuck," Ian groaned as he rolled onto his side grasping his numb and tingling arm that was starting to painfully return to life. If it hadn't been so dark, he would have looked so pathetic, struggling to pull his pants up with his one good hand.

"Why'd you wait so late?" Ian complained. He then yawned. "I was already asleep."

He could have slept there on the cool floor. It felt so good against his hot skin.

 

[heartofcourage]

The sound of a thud had her glancing up, frowning as she went to find what he was doing. She definitely didn't expect him to be ass up with his pants to his hips. He was dramatically rolling around on the ground and whining like a child about already being asleep.

"Ian Darcy, you couldn't wait an hour for me?" She asked him as he tried to hoist his pants back up with one hand. "Were you really that worn out?"

"Fine, you lazy bones." Elizabeth poked him with her foot and turned to leave him alone. "I'm going to start in on that pie and you can stay right there on the cold and lonely floor."

She turned and left him alone again, glancing over her shoulder before she left the room and smirking. "You're not the only one with willing hands and fingers, you know?"

She left him with that verbal warning and mental image. If he followed, she had no idea. He could very well fall back asleep. She didn't really care as she went back to that piece of pie that she had so artfully talked Nancy out of.

 

[HotCider]

Ian emerged a moment following behind her. His brown hair was cowlicked as his eyes squinted against the light of the main room. “If I waited an hour, it might have been two hours, and then a day, and then just never,” Ian grumbled as he gave the last two tugs to his pants. He plopped heavily into a chair next to the table where Elizabeth had placed the pie.

He then commented, while his waking arm lie limp in his lap, “You ain’t touchin’ my dick. Hand jobs are what whores do. I can jerk my own chicken. You’re my woman. You only deserve full love and attention provided by yours truly.”

Ian then glanced at the pie and muttered under his breath, “At least I’m gettin’ some sort of reward for endurin’ this shit…”

 

[heartofcourage]

“Who says I can’t be a whore?” Elizabeth asked as she placed a fork beside Ian’s plate as he grumpily groused and muttered. “If I want to learn to give a handjob, you can be a happy and willing participant.”

She leaned down and kissed his cheek before she took the seat next to him at the table. “And stop being so mean. We’re getting married in the morning.”

Married. She never would have guessed that she’d be married that quickly, even when she was still with Stephen. It just felt right with Ian. No hesitation came to mind as she sat there and looked at his cow licked hair, his bleary eyes, and his disgruntled expression.

“You want me to add to our vows that you won’t have to go more than two days without sex?” She asked innocently enough.

 

[HotCider]

Ian actually blushed at Elizabeth’s counter question. He hadn’t expected the cage bird to say such a thing. It was dirty…it was…hot. Ian grasped the fork and cut a modest piece into the pie. He took into consideration that he was sharing it with his beautiful wife-to-be, which made it special. He brought the piece to his mouth and happily munched on it before he responded. He shifted the food to his cheek and answered between bites, “When we’re married, the gloves are off.”

 

[heartofcourage]

“And what exactly does that mean?” Elizabeth asked as she watched him eat, her chin resting on a balled fist. “What could you possibly do to me that we haven’t already done? And why do we have to have a piece of paper and some silly gold bands to have waited this long to do it?”

She felt feisty as hell after he had pulled that stunt to propose. She enjoyed watching Ian Darcy squirm just a little bit as she chipped away at that cool exterior. He had a temper but it never lasted long. Like a summer storm that sprang up and then disappeared just as quickly. When he told her something, she believed that it would happen just as he promised.