My Indian

A/N: Thanks for the reviews!

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Six



A strange thing happened that night. Rex joined us all for dinner.



He usually ate in his small holding after finishing up some last minute thing. However, on this night, he came to join us, bowing his head and removing his black hat. There was a murmur of cheered greetings and the foreman placed himself between Billy and myself.



“You’re oven not working again, Rex?” Bella asked kindly as she dumped bowls and plates on the long table.



“No, ma’am.”



“Franklin, can you get that fixed at some point? I’m real worried Rex is gunna go and blow himself up one of these days.” A couple of the men snorted their laughter.



“We’ll replace it,” Billy said, his fork diving into his food. With that, the conversation ended.



That was what I liked about Billy Hart. He’d listen to his family, take on board what was said and then make a final decision that they all could agree on. By the sounds of it, Rex desperately needed a new oven.



“Any news on this new beast we’re getting’?”



“Zack was sortin’ it out,” Rex said quietly, his arm reaching for molasses.



I took my cue, “He’s coming on Friday, I thought that gave us time to set everything up and get it settled.”



Billy nodded his approval. “And you got all the records?”



“Yeah, although the bill for tack’ll be comin’ with the horse.”



Another nod. Bella winked at me before spooning out mashed potato. It seemed I’d done alright, although I knew that the boss would want to check up on my work anyway.



The rest of the meal was fairly quiet, with Lyle making the occasional joke about some little thing that happened here and there. Rex stayed silent throughout the evening, his head kept low. I desperately wanted to say something but I knew he wanted to be kept to himself. No one batted an eye at his silence and so I left it.



After the plates were clean, Rex bowed swiftly and departed after having a short, hushed conversation with Billy. I watched him leave and bid everyone good night. I was strangely shattered.



“Back to work in the morning!” Wilkes said cheerfully, waving me goodnight. Bella gave me a sweet wink and I headed up the stairs.



However, after undressing I had to dress again and make my way back down. I knew I had forgotten something. My hat was still in the office. My head had been so hot I’d left the thing off to give myself some air. But I couldn’t leave it.



I wandered back down the stairs, getting puzzled looks from the others. “Hat” was all I said before walking out of the house and across to the offices.



Halfway across the yard I stopped in my tracks. Rex was getting the shit beaten out of him.



The foreman was staggering back, two tall men landing punches into his stomach and face. As a knuckle caught his cheek a scratch formed, another causing a split to his lip. Rex fought back a little, swinging forward, but they soon overpowered him.



I shouted out.



“Hey! What the fuck?!”



The two men, white and blonde, turned to me and bolted, leaving Rex curled up on the ground. My shout had alerted the rest of the house, the whole family running out to see what was happening.



Bella cried out a little and Lyle spat on the ground.



Billy walked a couple of paces then touched the foreman’s arm gently, “Y’alright Rex?”



The Indian nodded and prepared to stand.



“You get inside and cleaned up.” Billy backed away and came over to the rest of us. “He’s alright. Everyone back inside. Leave him be.”



I frowned at this and looked at Rex, hoping to maybe catch his eye. But the man simply walked into his home and closed the door behind him.



Billy touched my arm. “Come one Zack, inside.”



“I…I need my hat, that’s why – ”



“Ok then. The rest of us are heading up to bed so the lights’ll be out when you come back.” He grasped my arm suddenly. “Leave him. He’s a private man. He don’t like to talk about this kinda thing, so leave him.”



“Can I just make sure they didn’t hurt him bad? I mean he was bleeding.”



“If he asks you to leave…leave.”



With that, the old man went back to the house and left me in the dark yard.



The light in Rex’s little house was on, orange light pooling out on the ground. I wandered to the office, picking up my hat and then slowly walked to the door, knocking gently.



“Yeah?” Rex called.



I opened the door and peered inside seeing the man stood before a full length mirror, shirt off, a bruise the size of New York forming on his ribs. I bit my lip and stepped inside.



He had a sweet little place, minimal decoration but masses of comfortable furniture. The downstairs was open plan, with a kitchen to the right and the lounge on the left. A stairway was in front of the door, the passageway dark with the night.



Rex looked at me in the reflection.



“You ok?” I asked quietly. Placing my hat on a small table.



He shrugged, “Been better, slick. But I’ve been worse.”



He brought a cloth up to his lip and attempted to wipe away the blood. He winced at the pain.



“Can I take a look?” I wandered closer to him, holding my hand out for the cloth. Rex turned to me and lifted his chin to the light.



“Won’t stop bleeding,” he mumbled.



“Y’gotta apply pressure.” I folded a corner of the white material and pressed firmly against his lips. It was thrilling, standing there with the beautiful man, his torso exposed, my fingers brushing his lips. I tried to control my breathing, keeping it even and steady.



“You have a soft touch,” Rex whispered. Slowly he wrapped his fingers around my wrist. I took a sharp intake of breath. Barely moving, he kissed the tips of my fingers, those dark eyes not leaving my face.



I relaxed into his gentle hold, my body being overwhelmed by the tiniest of movements. I could see his eyes questioning me. I stayed perfectly still, allowing his swollen lips to glide over my fingers, his own hand making circles against the skin of my wrist, sliding up my arm. Instinctively, I took a step forward. Rex gave the slightest smile and dropped my hand, leaning in for a kiss.



I obliged him, sensations of warmth rippling though my spine as I sank into his chest. There was the faintest hint of blood mixed with his full richness and I drifted into the essence.



His long arms slide up and wrapped around me, holding me desperately close, his body somehow afraid that I was going to leave him – run away scared. I clung to him, reciprocating the need. Our tongues touched softly as we held on tight. Suddenly, the man broke away.



He held me at arms length and stared at me deeply. “I don’t usually do this,” he whispered, his voice husky.



“It’s ok. Just…kiss me again.”



He pulled me into his chest again and I sunk my fingers into the curls of his hair. Briefly his lips brushed mine before saying, “You’re beautiful, y’know that?”



I tried to say “look who’s talking” but the heat of the moment just forced me to kiss him hard, lips crushing against each other.



He broke the kiss again, this time moving across the room, looking out of his small, square window and shut the curtains. He leaned against the wall.



“They don’t know,” he said softly, tucking his long hands into his pockets. “I ain’t ashamed of it, but I don’t want to bring them any more trouble than I already have.”



I contemplated his words for a moment and then nodded my understanding. This wasn’t the first time he’d been attacked.



With all of his Native American grace, he gave four strides towards me and cupped my face, kissing me deeply. I instantly responded, touching the skin of his back, my index finger trailing down his spine. He gave a low growl, pushing himself closer to me, gliding his tongue across my own, his breath washing over my face.



I moved away from his lips, kissing his chin and across his strong jaw line. He moaned as I licked from the base of his throat back up. Quickly, he captured my lips again and released me. His eyes studied me for a minute, the sheer intensity flickering with a deep hunger. Without a word he walked to the stairway and began ascending the steps. He paused, glanced at me and kept walking.



I breathed deeply for a few moments, standing before his mirror.



I followed him up the stairs.