Chapter Seven

Night had fallen and the desert began to cool. Eugene had lit a nice, small fire for them. He didn't want to make something that would gather attention, so he kept it to one log.

He laid on his back, staring at the stars. Was it possible that just a couple of days ago, he had been under these same stars headed to Gaston's? It felt like a million years ago to him. It felt like a different world, somewhere far away that he had never experienced.

Just a few feet away from him, Rapunzel stirred. She rubbed her feet together, her eyes softly shut. Eugene rolled his head, watching her. Why was she stuck in his head? It felt like someone took her picture and glued it everywhere. All he could think about was her.

And it felt so wrong to him.

She wasn't in love with him. She thought he was Jack, her husband who shipped her away after she accidentally ended her own child's life. How could he possibly love someone who didn't love him for himself? It felt like he was taking advantage of her, really.

Her green eyes batted open. He opened his mouth to speak, then stopped, looking back up at the sky. He was never good in these awkward silents.

"I'm cold." Rapunzel said, getting his attention.

He looked her up and down. "Well, you got the blanket." He said. She was complaining about being cold? He was out here exposed to the elements. He was freezing!

"Well..." She smiled, sitting up. She leaned forward, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders. "Maybe we could share it tonight." She whispered.

Eugene's eyes widened as she kept talking. "There's something I wanna talk to you about."

Eugene paused, tapping his fingers on his chest. What was he supposed to say? "If we do," he began as he studied her. "There'll be something I wanna talk to you about."

She smiled, rising to her feet then rushing to his side. He sat up, his face just a few inches away from her's. She grinned at him, leaning close to his face. He slowly laid back, resting on his elbows as she removed her corset.

She laid it to the side, still grinning at him.

He opened his arm, showing her that he wanted her to lay in his arms. She happily sighed, diving into him. Her cheek rest on his chest, his beating heart pounding in her ear. He held his breath as she moved up, settling in his neck. His lips were nearly on her forehead.

He wasn't sure what to do as she hand rubbed on his chest. Before he could speak, she lifted her head, looking into his brown eyes. "When summer comes, let's drag up some wood for a real cabin." She softly said. His hand fumbled through her silky hair as she went on. "'Cause, Jack, sod walls and-" she mumbled, her lips just brushing his.

"Eugene." He said.

He couldn't kiss her.

Not like this.

Not with her thinking he was Jack.

Her eyes shot open as his hands grabbed her arms and slightly pushed her away. She shook her head, confused by his actions. Didn't he want a cabin? Didn't he want to kiss her?

Eugene sighed, seeing the confusion on her beautiful face. "Eugene Fitzherbert." He said. He laid back, crossing his arms as he stared at her. "I ain't sharing my bed till I'm certain you know who's in it. Now say it." He declared.

Rapunzel paused, tsking her tongue before she spoke again. "If we had a wood cabin we could get glass windows." She said, smiling at him.

Eugene had to resist the urge to drop his jaw.

He sighed then nodded his head. "We'll see." He said.

xxx

As soon as the sun rose, the two of them packed up and left. They had to gain most of their ground before the hot sun heated the earth. They didn't want to wear out their horse, so they walked for most of the time.

After walking in silence for a bit, Rapunzel spoke up. "The sea's gotta be west. That's how we're headed, but you sure wouldn't know it."

She suddenly winced, yanking up her dress. "Ow!" She exclaimed, looking at her leg. "Hell!" She swore as she slapped her leg. Eugene stopped, watching her scratch at her new bite. She turned to him, showing him her leg. "Did you see that?" She asked.

"I sure did." He said. "Biggest ant I ever did see."

She scoffed, throwing down her dress again. She began marching forward, ahead of him and the horse. Eugene watched her, slowly following her as a question bubbled in his head. "What's my name today?" He asked.

"Eugene Fitzherbert, same as any other day." She said, glancing over her shoulder. Why was he asking her about his name? That was such a silly question to be asking while they were wandering in the desert.

"How's about you and me taking off all our clothes and going swimming?" He asked. The question was extremely ridiculous, but he wanted to see her response. Was she partly here sometimes then back in Texas during the rest of day?

She stopped in her tracks, him catching up to her. She paused, narrowing her eyes up at him. "What are you? Crazy? There ain't no water."

Eugene grinned, watching a smile grow on her face. Maybe he was implying something else as well. "Why, shame on you!" She said, trying to stop from smiling.

Eugene blinked, glancing around. What? "Well, you..." He stuttered, trying to think of how to word what he was thinking. "What about last night? You..."

"I what?" She asked. She was lost at what he was saying. It was clear to Eugene that she had no recollection of what she said last night.

"Oh, never mind." He said after a pause, beginning to walk again. He might as well forget what she tried to do last night. Clearly Australian Rapunzel didn't have the same feelings for him as American Rapunzel.

She marched ahead, swinging her arms widely, making him smile. But just because she didn't like him didn't mean he didn't like her.

xxx

A gun shot echoed across the ranch, sending chickens flying in fear. The boy let out a sigh, a faint of a smirk on his lips as he looked at the men behind him. "Well, how's that, then, Mr. Myers?"

"Pretty good, Varian. You've improved." Gaston said. He was impressed with the boys skills. When he had first began, the boy couldn't shot a tin can three feet in front of him. Now, he was looking like an impressive asset.

Varian nodded, a smile on his face. He was glad he could impress Gaston. "Wear your holster a bit higher. Then you can grab your gun on the way up." Gaston said.

"Well, I'm faster, aren't I?" Varian asked, twirling his gun around his forefinger.

"Yeah."

Varian quickly put his gun in his holster and smiled at Gaston. "Think I'll ever be as fast as you?"

"What you mean, if you practiced at lot?"

"Yeah."

"No."

The smile fell from Varian's face as the older men began laughing. Unsure what to do and feeling a bit awkward, Varian joined in with the laughing. He couldn't look like he was hurt by Gaston's comment, even though he was.

Off in the distance, they heard a horse's hooves pounding against the ground. Everyone turned their heads, watching to see who was pulling up onto the property. The older men rose from their spots and stepped in front of Varian.

"Not again." Gaston mumbled, seeing who it was. The group rushed to the man on the horse, unsure what to think. "Where are the others?" Gaston asked.

The man hopped off his horse, his face covered in dirt. He held onto his horse's reins, exhaustion clear on his face. "Dead. All dead." He said. He stumbled forward, his legs weak. "Fitzherbert. He was everywhere."

Gaston whipped around, his eyebrows furrowed deep over his brown eyes. "Four more." He said, stomping through the group of men. "I don't believe this." He said. He stopped, turning around while he stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Did you see him?"

"It was too far away." The man said.

"How far?"

"Three-quarters of a mile maybe."

"That's impossible." Gaston scoffed, rolling his eyes. "How long from the time the bullet stuck until you heard the report of the rifle?" He asked, his voice growing louder. There was no way Eugene was able to hit from three-quarters of a mile away. He was good, but not that good.

"Two, maybe three seconds." The man shrugged.

Gaston shook his head, his teeth grinding together. "Eugene Fitzherbert is really beginning to annoy me." He growled.

The men licked their lips, watching their leader with cation. "Dobkin." Gaston said, startling them. "How many men can we send out there?"

"Theses and two others." Dobkin replied, removing his pipe from his lips. "Six men are still on a hunting party." He explained, walking closer to Gaston.

"All right." Gaston said. There was a pause, the men realizing they would have to go against Eugene. Gaston saw the concern in his men's eyes and knew just how to bride them to do what he wanted. "There's £50 in gold to the man who brings Fitzherbert in."

He leaned forward, staring at Varian. "So keep practicing." He spat.

~~~~~~~~~~