T/W:

****

Rafferty blinked several times as he rolled over. He couldn’t remember a blessed thing. He struggled to sit up, desperately trying to recall WHAT THE HECK had taken place. His left leg ached with unbearable pain. He tossed the blankets aside so he could examine where the pain was coming from. He gasped as he saw the white, medical bandages wrapped halfway up his left leg. There was some blood that had soaked through.

Rafferty quickly torn at the bandages, causing the wound-which was quite large-to begin bleeding. He swore loudly as he tried in vain to rewrap the wound. The door opened, slowly and cautiously. A young woman, who couldn’t have been more than twenty three or twenty four, stood there, scowling at him. Rafferty tried to stand, but gasped in pain.

"What do you think you’re doing?” The woman demanded as she marched over to him.

Rafferty scowled, still gripping his leg. "I think I should be the one asking the questions here!”

"Oh, goodness! Your wound is bleeding again!” She rushed forward, kneeling in front of Rafferty, moving to rewrap his wound. Her touch was firm but gentle.

"That should hold.” She looked up into Rafferty’s face. She had kind brown eyes.

"What-what happened to-me?” Rafferty asked.

The woman hesitated. "You were attacked by a Grund. It-it tore part of your leg off. I-I sewed it back on the best I could.”

"And you would be…?” The woman smiled.

"Everly Sloane.” She moved to stand and leaned over to readjust the blankets for him.

"Lie back down. You should rest.”

"I-I’d like to-know what happened,” Rafferty insisted. Everly just smiled.

"Rest. We can talk later.” Then she was gone, leaving Rafferty both puzzled and somewhat flummoxed.

****
Everly didn’t blame the man for being suspicious. He didn’t know her. As she peeled potatoes for supper, she reflected on her decision to assist him. She could have just allowed the beast to...kill him. But no. That wouldn’t have been right. Nobody deserved the fate of the Grunds. Jackson wouldn’t have agreed with her. But then again, she and Jackson rarely agreed on too much of anything. He was so stubborn and head-strong. She’d admired that about him. He was tough, where Everly was soft. She wondered how they’d even gotten along as well as they did.

Everly turned her head ever so slightly, catching a whiff of Jackson’s...cologne. It came to her when she least expected it. She thought of the man lying in bed. Was he stubborn and head-strong? Would he think she was soft? I’ll find out, Everly thought to herself. He’ll be here a long time, since his leg needs time to mend properly again.

****

Rafferty couldn’t go back to sleep. His leg throbbed painfully and he couldn’t stop thinking about the woman. Who was she? Why had she brought him here? Did she have ulterior motives for helping him? Was she here alone? Why was she living out here in the middle of nowhere? What had really happened to him? What the hell was a..Grund? Rafferty had too many unanswered questions. He shifted uneasily, wishing the woman would come back. He decided to take a chance.

"Hello? Can you come back?” he bellowed. A few minutes passed before the door once again opened.

"Did you need something?”

"Yeah,” Rafferty said, struggling to a sitting position. “A whole lot of answers.”

"We can talk during supper,” Everly replied. “I’m cooking some potato soup.”

"I’m more interested in answers than food,” Rafferty said.

"I promise to answer all your questions in time. Right now, you need rest and food to get your strength back up,” Everly said. She turned to go.

"I-I guess I should thank you, Everly.” She turned back to Rafferty.

"You’re most welcome.” She pauses. “I-I don’t even know your-name.”

"Rafferty Greer.”

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Rafferty Greer. I’ll bring you some soup when it’s finished.” Everly leaves. Rafferty just shakes his head in befuddlement, unable to form much of an opinion about Everly Sloane.

***
“This is some pretty decent soup.” Rafferty dipped his spoon into the thick, creamy liquid and lifted it out, slowly savoring the taste of the soup. Everly flashed a brief grin.

"Thank you. It was my husband’s favorite meal.” Rafferty studied the young woman, trying to read her expression.

"Where is he now?” Rafferty asked.

"Gone. Would you like some more lemonade?” Everly changed the subject, Rafferty noticed.

"Sure. Thanks.”  Everly took his cup, left the bedroom and returned a moment later, Rafferty’s cup filled with more lemonade. She handed him the cup back and  took her seat on the folding chair she’d brought in from the kitchen.

"I believe I promised you some answers,” Everly said.

"Yeah. Let’s start with what happened to me.”

"I told you. A Grund attacked and tore part of your leg.” Rafferty frowned.

"What exactly is a Grund?”

"A huge, hideous man-eating beast. It’s kind of a cross between a lizard and a bear,” Everly replied.

Rafferty frowned. He had a vague recollection of something huge chasing him. "Um. okay.” He ate some more of his soup.

"Why did you decide to help me?”

"Because I never would have forgiven myself if I hadn’t,” Everly replied. Rafferty didn’t expect that response.

"So, you live out in this wasteland all alone? Whatever for?”

"This is my home,” Everly replied. "Where else would I go?”

"Don’t you have someone you could go live with?” Rafferty asked. Everly shook her head.

"What about you, Rafferty? Why were  you out there all alone?”

"I was driving a shipment of supplies to the capital. I got ambushed by some rogue militia. They stole my truck, beat me and left me for dead.” He stopped, going back to eating his soup. A look of shock crossed Everly's face.

"How awful!” Rafferty shrugged.

"I’ve endured far worse.”

"So, you just continued on foot until the Grund attacked you?”

"I guess so.”

"It’s lucky I came along when I did. Or else…” Everly’s voice trailed off. She gave Rafferty a faint smile.

"I still can’t believe you wanna live out in this wasteland all alone. Especially with those beasts lurking about,” Rafferty commented.

"I don’t have much of a choice. Besides, I can handle a few hideous beasts.”

"I don’t know,” Rafferty said. “If they can tear my leg clean off, you wouldn’t be hard for them to.." Rafferty stopped abruptly. Everly just laughed. Rafferty scowled, wondering if maybe she’s loony.

"Don’t worry. You aren’t the first to mention it,” Everly said.

"Well, it still seems like a strange place for a woman to live alone,” Rafferty remarked. He finished his soup, passing the empty bowl to Everly.

"Would you like some more?” she asked. “I made a big pot full.”

"Sure. Thanks.” Everly left the room, returning the full bowl to Rafferty, who happily accepted it.

"You may think this place is desolate and lonely, Rafferty. But I’ve grown to love it. I find beauty in the most unlikely ways,” Everly said softly, a small smile on her face. Rafferty scoffed.

"If you say so.”

"It’s true,” Everly insisted. “Yes, it can seem harsh and unforgiving. However, it has it’s perks.”

"Such as?”

"The sunsets here are magnificent! And it never gets too cold. And there’s this small grove of trees only a couple of miles away and they bloom these huge, orange flowers in the summer that smell heavenly!” Everly said.

"Uh-huh.” Rafferty looked unimpressed. Everly just laughed.

"You men never appreciate those sorts of things.”

"No offense, but that isn’t anything to make me want to stick around this wasteland,” Rafferty said.

"It’s still my home. I love it here.”

"I suppose that’s all that matters.” Rafferty finished his soup. “Say, how long was I unconscious?”

"Four days. I was beginning to grow concerned,” Everly said softly.

"Why the heck would you give a crap if I lived or died?” Rafferty asked somewhat angrily. Everly gave him a soft, sad smile.

"You’re still a person, Rafferty,” she said quietly. “A life that deserves to live.” Something horrid came alive in Rafferty.

"What we’re doing isn’t living! It’s merely existing!” He expected Everly to lash back. However, her response surprised him. A lone tear slid down her left cheek.

"It can seem that way sometimes.” She quietly collected Rafferty’s bowl and cup, slipping from the room. Rafferty released an explosive sigh. There was something seriously wrong with that woman.

****

“I know this might sound damn near impossible, but I’d really like a bath. Or something to that effect,” Rafferty told Everly. She nodded, looking solemn.

"We must figure it out.”

"Well, uh, I suppose you could just bring me a bucket of hot water, a wash cloth and a dry towel. I-I can mostly manage otherwise,” Rafferty stammered, feeling embarrassed.

"If you could manage that, it’s probably the best idea,” Everly agreed. Rafferty cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably.

"Uh, yeah. That-that sounds like a plan.” He cleaned his throat once again.

"I-I really need to use the-toilet, too.”

"One second.” Everly disappeared and a few minutes later returned with a pair of crutches.

"These should come in handy, I think.” Rafferty moved to ease himself to the edge of the bed, wincing slightly in pain.

"Those will definitely come in handy.” Everly allowed Rafferty to hold on to her as he carefully eased himself to a standing position.

"I can walk next to you, if you’d prefer,” Everly offered.

"That might be a wise choice. Thanks.” Rafferty didn’t realize just how excruciating the pain was until he tried walking. It felt like someone had rammed a knife into his leg and each step he took, the knife blade dug deeper and deeper into his flesh. He stopped at the doorway of the bedroom just to try and ease some of the pain.

"I should have given you some painkillers. I’m terribly sorry,” Everly said. Rafferty looked over at her. She looked so forlorn that he had a strong urge to-comfort her.

"I-I didn’t realize just how bad it was until now. It’s not your-fault,” he said gruffly.

"I’ll get you something as soon as you finished in the bathroom,” Everly said. Rafferty just nodded. It took everything he had to just keep going. If he hadn’t needed to use the bathroom so badly, he would have just stayed in the bed.  After several minutes, Rafferty reached the bathroom and went in.

"I’ll be right out here if you need some help,” Everly told him. Rafferty nodded again, managing to maneuver into the bathroom, closed the door and undo his pants. It felt good to relieve himself, even though his leg was throbbing so badly, he almost couldn’t see straight. His head was spinning and he could hardly stay upright as he slowly hobbled out of the bathroom.

"Rafferty!” Everly caught his left arm, almost going down herself. She clutched Rafferty’s arm tightly as she struggled to keep upright herself. They made it to the bedroom, where Rafferty collapsed on the bed, the crutches clattering to the floor. Everly rushed out, returning a few moments later with a syringe full of-something.

"This might pinch a little,” Everly said, swabbing a spot on his arm before plunging the needle into his arm. Rafferty was already in so much pain, he couldn’t even muster enough strength to cry out.

"That should hopefully stop the pain quickly. And it’ll make you drowsy. So let’s get you more comfortable.” Everly helped him so at least he was lying on the bed. She pulled the blankets up over him.

"Rest.” Then Rafferty closed his eyes and gladly surrendered to the effects of the medicine.

****

Everly hadn’t stopped weeping since Rafferty fell under the effects of the medicine. She shouldn’t have made him walk to the bathroom. It was too soon for him to be up and around on that battered leg. She was so angry with herself. Poor Rafferty must have been in a great deal of pain. It was no wonder Jackson considered her soft and weak. But it was so much more than that. She just didn’t think sometimes. She should have just brought him a bucket instead of forcing him down to the bathroom. Would she ever learn?

Everly curled up into a ball on the couch, pulling the blanket over her head. She squeezed her eyes closed, trying to conjure up a mental image of-Jackson. She ached for him. She ached for him, wanting him here with her. She was so weary of trying to hold it together. Everly opened her eyes and more tears leaked out and her nose ran. She wondered if Rafferty had anyone OR if he felt as lonely as she did.