12.1 Sympathy

Tilting your head you head slightly, you survey River's somewhat anxious expression, before replying, "I don't care about that." His eyebrow raises slightly but after staring into your eyes for a moment his grin slowly returns. "Maybe you can help me then." Pausing for a moment you think about what you're doing and how much destruction River has caused. "Just tell me why first." River nods understandingly but says you should go somewhere safer first. Following him out of the barn you look ahead at his lean but broad back while he walks down the dirt path. As you make your way past your house he slows his stride until he's walking next to you. The soft moon's light illuminates road before you but you don't need it to figure out where you're heading. A few minutes later you can see River's steed standing by the tree that lies some distance beyond your home. After you reach it River turns to you and you stiffen slightly when you feel his hands on your waist. After you're mounted he pulls himself up behind you and his broad chest presses against your back.

A cool breeze brushes past you as River moves his horse in the direction of the open plains to the side of your property. Leaning back into his warm torso you wonder if you're making the right decision. While you love your town you have started becoming frustrated with some of their practices. Though a recent law now allows a woman to own property, since your father died just before it was passed, you've become stuck in a bureaucratic loophole. The Mayor of the town has no problem with you selling the land and moving on but if you choose not to the deed has to be transferred to a husband. The thought of selling the property and moving on without any plan had previously scared you. But now the thought of having a man making all of these choices for you is beginning to scare you more. While your talk with Austin had been slightly more productive you just can't get over the fact that he's already dictating decisions for you. At the very least getting out in the fresh night's air might do you some good and you'll hopefully finally learn more about River.

"I hope you don't mind a long ride." His smooth voice whispers in your ear, sounding almost suggestive, before he continues. "But I have some things to take care of." You hadn't planned on being out all night but end up telling him it's alright. As you ride on into the night you ask him again why he's been setting the fires in town. There's a long silence before River begins telling you about his past life and how it led him here. His mother was the daughter of a Native American chief who ran off with a white man and had River some time shortly after. While she was gone her tribe was driven out of their original land and relocated to the area where your town now occupies. Though the land had been deeded to them by the government the towns original founders illegal stormed their reservation and mascaraed the entire tribe. River didn't find out until some years later after his mother had already passed away. He tried appealing to government as he was the last living inheritor of the land but all of his requests were denied. "I'm not usually one for vengeance but this town has blood on it's hands."

You shiver slightly at River's words but they don't disturb you as much as they once might have. The night progresses and you start growing drowsy as River's horse rhythmically gallops ahead. You feel River's arms tighten around your sides as you lean your head back into his chest. Sometime later you stir slightly when you feel him pulling you off the horse and into his arms. Still half asleep, you wrap your arms around his shoulders and bury your head into his neck. After a few long strides you're slightly disappointed when you feel him lowering you to your feet. There's a small tent like structure in front of you and he says you can sleep there for the night. "Alone?" You blush, slightly regretting the words as they leave your mouth. Unfortunately, River seems to take it as an invitation and holds the flap of the tent open, before following you inside. Sitting down hesitantly you look up at River's dark figure looming over you. You tense slightly when he moves down then stretches out on the ground beside you.

A sliver of moon light peaks in from the partially ajar tent flap and runs vertically along his muscular frame. River places his arms behind his head and his eyes lazily shift over to you. You pause for a moment before slowly lying down as far away from him as you can. The tent is relatively small so despite your efforts there's only about an inch or so of space between the two of you. You do your best to stay awake but after a while you feel your heavy eyes slowly blink close. The next morning you startle slightly when you feel a large arm draped over your side. Sitting up you look over at River and quickly pull out of his embrace when he begins to stir. The sun is just beginning to rise as you exit the tent and survey the land before you. You're surprised to find the area is slightly greener than the land you had ridden through earlier. This is farthest you've been away from your stead but strangely you don't feel as concerned as you probably should be. When you question your distance from the town he goes on to explain the rest of his plan.

The idea is to loop around the town to gain access from it's other side and once there strike. The local inn is the final target as that's where the majority of the town's cash is held. River plans on striking late at night before setting the place on fire to distract from his escape. "If they won't honor their law, I'll at least take from them what I can." You nod slowly as everything begins piecing together. Since he had already set a few buildings ablaze before hand the fire at the inn will seem like a continued streak of arson. By the time it's realized the money is missing, River will likely be long gone. You're slightly surprised when the though of River leaving makes you sad but try to shake it off. After packing up he helps you back up on the horse and you begin riding again. As the day progresses River ends up removing his jacket and rolling up his sleeves. His forearms brush against your arms as you try your best not to lean against his chest. You may have let your guard down last night but you're far more alert now that you've gotten some sleep. Sometime after the sun has set you can just barely see the outline of your town in the distance.