Storage of the lighter within his handling becoming the Athens flame of interest, it continued to spin on its bearing as the stalk of tightly contoured leg and connected pelvis initiated it’s pursuit. Abnegation not meant to instill hostility had Boyd immediately push forth a wall when the thin silk of his personal space was invaded with the most cruciate of precision. Had it been different circumstances he would have welcomed the heat of her advancement. Burning the element ring hot, a spice most delicate, changing state to fume as incense overtook all of his senses in full invasion. Worship it as one would in a dystopian temple, the deadly sins being cast off for more iniquitous thoughts. Breach of contact at his shoulder, a rub at the cuff attempting to extract tension wound tight had his head roll in a languid reaction. A cautious view through the cusp of sagging eyelids, a side glance that had flecks of light strike through in a miniature eruption his only indication of her touch.Her manipulations rolling focus away from the lighter still present in his tepid grasp allowed her mission to be completed with the utmost ease. Snatched as it was, bird beak absconding a jewel from padded receptacle with a speed and attitude attributed to an animal much the same. Boyd felt the pull away from him, the sleek cheap plastic slipping through the rind of calloused prints. Void created leaving trace residual notes of her scent, relived from the night before from where he had been forcefully guided into the home. Spinning on her heel, dance revolving around a victorious entrapment, robes piled and swung around in a superfluous display of her grace.
Hand remaining suspended, now lacking purpose, it hovered limply at the pronged end of ulna and radius. Waited patiently as its partner came to join in a union of heavily set knuckle and weave. Laced so that the plate of digits acted as one over-arcing tent, pegged securely before his facial profile. Outer surface of his index finger making contact with the cushioning of lower lip gave Boyd’s overall demeanor one of withdrawn contemplation. As if the importance of transgressing through the lanes of Ava’s words was to be given the greatest lamentation with only one right answer. All others worthy of drowning in the river of mistrust due to the histories of their family, a family that Ava was now using as her only favorable reach to continue allowing Boyd in her presence.
Ready to explain, to begin the particular hymn of his innocence, of his service to her in these times of destitution, all voice was shut down with a simple word. God.
Phrasing being the key culprit to the immediate flip in constitution, Boyd noticeably churned, adam’s apple sliding above the trachea in discomfort, rolling through a marble of swallowed fluid. “You’re right, you don’t have no reason to trust me, considerin’ my amicable deeds are few ‘n far between when placed up against the board.” Finally parting the tide that was still positioned before him one hand descended to the table in a crawl so glacial it could have been misinterpreted as always being at rest. The other though, remained with elbow still nailed directly into the shellacked rosewood. Morphing, repositioning, falling in on itself the hand formed into a severe point, a single index pointing directly at the papers clutched at Ava’s chest. Line of sight fallowing through from length of separated bones, over the hill of a thumb knot directly into the bullseye of pupil meant there was no way she could deviate from him, his weight in this moment, as offset as he was.
“How long has is been Ava? Two days? Twenty-four hours since they went about harassin’ you on the phone? You and a whole whack of folk who don’t deserve the aggression of people in the business of takin’ good people’s hard earnin’s. Makin’ stress where there rightly aught to be a free and clear mind for things of more viable importance. Maybe havin’ another ghost in the house with the ability to garner a lil’ bit of cash might outweigh the poltergeists more…unsavory traits?”
Incessant interruption of range claxon announced ardent mug readied for the taking, but she made no efforts to move as the outlaw’s steely gaze cornered pensive blue oceans. The shift iof his tide was abrupt; precisely the reaction she was trying to provoke. It was cruel to duress him into awareness, make him feel the irritation writhing within her, but in the end, acerbic palaver brought about communication. While a plea for assistance, they’d met somewhere in the middle of desolate deserted road where Ava would happily accept his incentive into consideration. “Businesses are hirin’ ghosts now? That’s gonna be some mighty serious competition for employment.” She retorted with a smirk, bruised supurbia primary motivator behind shoddy quip. “I ought’a watch the news more often.” While Boyd’s monetary contributions could alleviate pecuniary heat of urgency precipitating sudoric bullets and transit cultivating rains necessary for temporary prosperity, the concept of allowing any male to assist in any sector of her life again was… unsettling.
Tenuous limb extended to microwave and raven accented door burst open. Drawing out steaming ceramic cup, sultry sweet liquid slowly consumed would not go wasted. Tip of tongue grazed lower pout and teeth gently scuffed tenderness in suit. “Seriously though, Boyd. I’d appreciate havin’ someone splittin’ the cost of livin’ here with me, but are you even capable of workin’ a respectable occupation?” Ashing cigarette in idle glass tray, curious gilded arches rose. It was a fair question. “Cause while I understand you’ll be stayin’ out of my hair an’ all, I can’t be havin’ any funny business goin’ on. I’m, finally free of your brother an’ your daddy, so I’d really like to keep things legitimate around here.” Ava wasn’t naïve to his metaphors, despite the commentary sass contributed in lightening the mood, her nodding indicated she felt she held valid argument.
“You ain’t the only one lookin’ to start over, Boyd and last I checked neither one of us have the best of reputations,” she reminded him, “I go into town and people still look at me like I’m some kind’a lunatic ‘cause I murdered my husband.” Months later, the majority remained blind to the grand scheme of things. She may have taken the life of another, but ridding the world of a woman beating piece of shit was just cause in her eyes. Bowman said it himself, it was either him or her, and she wasn’t anywhere near ready to die yet; certainly not by his hands neither. After ring leader’s demise, she was sure any ties with the Crowders were severed, but boy was she wrong. Ava didn’t even want to begin mulling over what the people of Harlan would whisper if she gave Boyd the green light to take open residency in her home. Quelling undesirable premonitions with another haul of nicotine, she smothered lit end, reserving bisected tobacco product for car ride later.
Limbs retreated and folded over chest as ceruleans swept over the sullen male seated at her kitchen table. Lungs expanded in requite, drawing pronged breath and exhaling past loosened lips. Visage canted, crystalline indigos sharpening, granting him their attention undivided. “You think you could find an honest job within a week’s time?” Voice challenged, bent knuckles tightening their vices as shoulders straightened to enlarge her presence. She wasn’t going to simply allow Boyd’s guile to submit her into accommodating his needs. There would be rules, commandments, which he would have to abide by if she conceded. If he failed to do so, defiled or disobeyed her in anyway, he’d reap the consequences. Ava would make the barrel of a twelve gauge look more appealing than the fiery abyss the she-devil contemplated tossing him in. She was exhausted of being taken advantage of.
Just plain tired.
Vowing silently, alpha female promised in the event of possessing the smallest, instinctual suspicion the outlaw was going about his old ways, she would sentence him to exile. There would be no chances to follow, no forgiveness to give; just the harrowing absence of magnanimous flames and heartening shelter once offered. Harder times would await him beyond her den; bearing sharp teeth and howling hymns of judgment beneath spotlight of the full moon, the unforgiving world salivated with waxing impatience to swallow him whole. It was a solitary path Crowders were seemingly foreordained to take, — perhaps even her, — but until summoned, concentration would bide on veering Boyd away from peregrinating that particular road.
“I got errands to run, you need anythin’ while I’m out?”
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