An Adventure

[Lovely]

July 2, Year 1
Continued from: A Treasure


He kept up with her, lacing his fingers around hers again, letting her lead until she was comforted that they had not been followed.

She glanced down as his hand laced with hers and smiled, feeling the way her hand fit with his and then telling herself she was silly to think about such things. Ciara paused behind one of the buildings and turned to Alex, her eyes coming to take in his face, watching it melt and form in shadows and light. "From here on.. you're leading."

He grinned nearly wickedly, but that darkness faded in favor of the gleam in his eyes that nearly lit the path before him as he turned to lead her to the river, to a spot out of view and earshot from the town.

There was no question why the girls liked him so much, good and.. naughty.. both kinds alike desired Alex. Ciara felt herself falling for those famous charming ways, though she tried to keep a clear head and not let her heart take over. Her fingers curled in his as they snuck off to the river, her heart leaping and fluttering in her chest. Once at the spot, she felt a little 'safer' from being discovered and calmer.. also more excited and nervous at being alone with him.. even more alone than they had been at the shop. Very little threat of one of her brothers passing by here at this time of evening, with the show and all. She felt giddy and something else she couldn't identify as of yet.

He'd made a promise and would stick by it, but that didn't mean he couldn't explore just the same.. he just couldn't... not that and not yet, though every ounce of him longed for it. Trinkets he could buy any time he wanted and likely would still do, but this treasure would remain wholesome, untouched... though maybe viewed, he thought.. perhaps tasted and appreciated just the same without...
His eyes wandered over her as he thought and moved closer with her to the water's edge.

She followed him and held to his hand nearing the water and shifting closer to him as they did. "Alex... how cold do you think the water is?"

"Not to worry, dove... if you're chilled, I'll warm you."

"Not chilled... but, if we were to.. go in.. I was curious.. since I am warm now.. but I wouldn't swim in my dress and all."

"I'll still warm you, " he promised, raising an eyebrow in the moonlight that shone at quarter full, bright enough for them to see, but not be seen. He offered her a seat on the flat rock of choice and held his hand out to remove her shoes.

She smiled, pretty and sweet, sitting on the rock and lifting her leg to present him with her feet and shoes. "Why me? I'm not complaining.. just curious.. why you would want me.. when you could have almost any girl in this town?"

"I've heard you sing like an angel in the church, scrap like your brothers, wear the lightest perfume that smells like rain in summer and you hold many mysteries that I have yet to decipher and would willingly spend the rest of m'days trying... and no man has dared try from what I've seen... all afraid of your brothers, likely, but who better than a Carlisle to be brave.. or foolish enough to try?"

She blushed as he spoke such words about her, she shook her head in meek denial of his compliments. "Oh.." She breathed with a light chuckle. "Is that all... nothing like having to live up to.. you really think.. feel that way?"

He grinned and leaned, holding her bared toes to his lips, tempting the tips and caressing each with a deft tongue, tickling and pleasing. "I feel many ways, lass... my inspiration is to let you do as well, without endangering your chastity."

"Aeh.. oo!" She exclaimed in a soft shocked breath almost falling back as she leaned on her hands. "Alex!.. I.." She stared up at him, the shock mixing with delight in her eyes at the sensation his teasing sent through her. And he was just touching her toes... goodness only knew what else he could..do. She swallowed and exhaled a long breath.

He worked his way up to her ankle and stopped, pushing her skirt only to her knee so he could view her slender calf, caressing and massaging gently, easing away aches from minding the store on her feet all day.

Her eyes shuttered and her lips curved in a gentle smile. A low appreciative moan escaped her lips as her caressed and massaged her leg. "Oh..my.. your wonderful... "

hmmm... while her eyes are closed, Alex crawls up carefully to steal another kiss from Ciara's cool lips

"Hey!.. sneaky.."

"noooo.... Irish... " He grins.
"so kiss me again... " smiles and sits back

"Why?" Folds arms and smiles at him.

raises an eyebrow. "... for good luck?"

Leans forward, pauses just shy of his lips. "My luck or your luck?"

"Both... that we have our fun and don't get caught... yet," he whispered quietly, watching her eyes.

Her warm dark eyes gazed into his for a moment, widening just slightly as she thought over his words. Slowly they shuttered and her lips brushed his, lightly.

He stayed still, not wishing to scare her or startle her as she leaned to him of her free will. His eyes softly slid closed with her touch, opening again warmly a moment later to ensure himself it was really her and not a dream.

She brushed over his lips, gently pulling them to hers. As she leaned over him, balanced on their respective rocks, her hands found themselves resting over his thighs as she sought to steady herself and not fall. Her lips parted a little as she timidly began to explore the kiss.

A woman of mystery.. and unimagined talent to make even his heart race. She leaned on him and he shifted slightly for comfort on the flat rock, a tentative hand first testing, then holding her steady at the waist. His lips parted to let his tongue play at the edge of his teeth against her lip.

She sighed ever so softly at the feel of his tongue, it surprised and delighted her. Shyly her tongue imitated his and came past her lips to touch his.

He chuckled softly and tipped back on the rock, sliding to sit lower and lounge beneath her, letting her test and tease all she wanted.

She leaned down to him for a moment longer, then shifted to push herself back up. "Was that alright? I've never kissed a man for luck before." She teetered a little as he had shifted lower and wasn't there to balance off of. She chuckled softly as she wobbled.

He nodded, grinning slyly and shifting his hand to tip her further, quickly sliding his arm tightly around her waist to pull her flat against his chest. "More than alright, lass... t'was.. enlightening."

She gasped in surprise, nearly crying out, but only a small noise escaped as he pulled her to him. "Looks as though, you've caught something.." She blinked and looked at his face, smiling a little. "Enlightening..How so?"

"Caught.. indeed. I'm just hoping that there's no cure," he whispered, balancing her weight on top of him, his eyes beaming in bright green she could see even by the moon. "Enlightening that you're more of a treasure than'd dreamed... and I have... dreamed of you, Ciara... I have," he repeated, sounding defensive and shy.

"You.. you.. you're.." She shook her head, her eyes catching the shades of his in the moonlight and she paused, drawn into them. She didn't know how to say what she was thinking.. he seemed so different now, from the way she'd seen him act and the stories she had over heard from the girls in town, from the men as well.. people liked to gossip and in the shop was a common place for people to whisper and converse. Heck she'd even heard her own brothers talk of some of his exploits. She was slowly being drawn physically closer to him as his eyes pulled her in. Already flat against his chest her lips inched closer to his. "What could you have possibly dreamed about me?"

He shook his head softly. "Just this, lass," he murmured, feeling her solidly against his chest, his arm on her waist inching up her back and untucking the pins that held her hair, letting the ringlets fall into his fingers that danced them over her shoulders.

"And you claim I am a mystery... you're the mystery Alex.." She said softly, shaking her head slightly as her hair was freed.

"Am I? Bold and rash is mysterious?" He chuckled. "I merely follow my heart... alright, when other parts aren't speaking louder," he grinned, seething back the raw words so as not to offend her. "But it's m'heart speaking now, lass... loud and clear."

She nodded and pushed against him with her arms and hands to hoiste herself up and off him. "What was I thinking?" She murmured to herself as she attepmted to untangle and stand.

"What did I say?.... Ciara?..."
He let go so she could move, not wanting to tear anything or let her tip into the mud.

She nearly fell trying to get her balance and move off the rocks. Stooping to find her shoes, she chided herself for getting caught up in his charms. "You didn't say.. anything.." She held one shoe in her hand as she spoke. "Well not anything.. I didn't or shouldn't have known.. I just got caught up.. in you.. thinking..you.. and wanting.. " She sighed and pulled the other shoe off, instead of putting the one she held on.

[Lovely]

He stood and followed, much more sure footed on the stones from practice, lithely skipping ahead of her and holding a hand out to steady her. "I made a promise, dove... not to trick you or goad you into forsaking your most cherished treasures... I still won't... and I wasn't lying... about the dream."

She hit him in the arm with her shoe. "Get out of the way, Alex."

"Why? What happened?... Ciara?" He voiced his concern perhaps a little louder than he should have, moving aside to let her step or slip as she would, rubbing his arm slightly. "Ciara Palmer... you might be the only woman on this earth to make an honest man of me... don't walk away... please?"

She started past him, slipping and then stopping as his last words hit her ears. She turned unsteadily to face him, brushing a stubborn tear from the corner of her eye. "Right.. till your other parts lead you some place else."

He shook his head, "Not likely. Ask... ask anyone... even the girls if you dare, Ciara. Eighteen times I've been to see you, gorged on penny candy as an excuse to see your smile.. and haven't set foot toward Tessie's place since I started. That's not what I want... not being an Irish rover the rest of my days. I've found a girl I want and that girl is you, Ciara... God's honesty if he were awake now to hear it and I'll swear it on Sunday to the congregation if you don't believe me... I've fallen in love with you."

She was shocked into a moment of silent, staring at him. "You..." She chewed her lips. "Would you stand in front of.. all my brothers and tell them that?"

"With m'brother's own bible given him by our great-grand in hand, I would."

She nodded at him and reached her hand out to him. "Good... you can tell them tomorrow when you come for supper."

"Su... tomorrow?" He lost his words in a wash of panic. Sunday he'd have time to work up to, but 'tomorrow' was a few short hours away. "Alright... tomorrow... supper.. and I'll borrow Gully's good book, so there's no question." No question a't'all, he reminded himself, feeling the butterflies bounce madly.

"Is tomorrow too soon?" She arched a brow in his direction.

"For them to hand their sister off to the likes of me.. more than likely," he said softly. "They don't like me... not one of the Palmer boys cares for me... even my own brothers don't like me much for what I've done to most.. my... my ways, that you know about. But if I don't, they'll never believe me or allow me to see you. Tomorrow, then.. is fine."

She looked down and reached further to take his hands. "You don't think.. they'd.. just out right shoot you.. do you?"

He looked up, a sad quirk to his expression, "They might. I've taken worse gambles. Worth it for y'dove... willin' to try."

"They might?!" She had been some what joking.. they wouldn't.. would they? Stepping closer to him, she searched his face a long moment then whispered. "I guess you'd better kiss me quick then.."

"For luck?" he smirked, steading her on the rocks. He stood with her in the moonlight, held in the kiss for long moments before he pulled her back toward the water. "Come on... no tricks, just a little moonlight swim. After I tell them, they'll watch us too closely, you know. I won't be able to breathe.. just this one adventure. Come on..."

She dropped her shoes back to the side on the ground and followed him. Ciara nodded and held to his hands, her mind working and becoming worried. How closely would her brother's watch them.. watch her?

Ciara looked down at her dress and sighed, tugging on his hand and giving him a look as she motioned to their clothes, questioning.

"Up to you... long walk back in wet skirts... or... you can wear my clothes back if you want," he said, sliding out of his trousers. She'd seen him already, so what was there to hide anyway. "If you want to keep yourself covered, I understand."

She put her hand on his arm and gently pushed him to turn away from her. "You enjoy.. making things difficult for me, don't you?" She teased softly as she pulled herself free of her dress.

He laughed softly and turned away to save herself gazing at him, but also for the courtesy of not making her more nervous. He stepped to the edge where the water stilled in a pool before traveling further to eddys and sharp rocks. There was plenty of room to enjoy here as he poured himself into the water, ducking his head under to refresh himself. He looked back to watch her in the moonlight.

She bent and pulled her legs free, tossing the rest of her under clothes to rest on top of her dress. Bare as could be, she straightened and made her way into the water. The moonlight illuminating her ivory smooth skin and the slight night time chill was evident. She dipped and gracefully slid under the surface, coming up several feet from where she'd gone under.

He looked around to find her, hearing her surface not far from him. He could touch the bottom where he was, but chose to lounge and float, keeping the chill of the night off his shoulders. He rose his hand above the water and smiled. "Can't adventure all the way over there, lass.. come here..."

She smiled spurting a stream of water from her lips. A few swift strokes and she was before him, her legs moving gently in the water.

She caught him with the stream as it shot out at him in the night. His hands pooled water and shot back a stream at her as he moved closer, her leg brushing his as she kicked to stay afloat. He touched the bottom below her feet and anchored, feeling for her cautiously in the water where he'd catch her waist, touching softly to her bare, wet side.

His hand on her side had her smile turning soft and shy as she moved closer. Letting his hand guide her to him, her legs brushing and curling around his, to keep her close to him. Her arms floated out from her sides and slowly came towards him, her hands resting over his shoulders.

"Careful, lass... lead us not into temptation... I won't break my promise, but lord as my witness... I may come damned close," he warned honestly and crassly, pulling her against him into a passionate kiss, deeper and more insistent than before.

Her eyes widened for a moment as he spoke and then as he kissed her. She stiffened briefly as his kiss was more intense than before, but quickly melted into it. her mouth pliant and accepting, lips parting to let him explore and eagerly returning the affection. She made a soft noise in her throat, clinging to him in the water, her slim form pressed against his more muscular and defined form.

Every inch of her was soft and inviting, leading him to the very temptation that he feared. He kept her pressed closely against him, though in the water, his eagerness likely made itself known. She couldn't see him to be embarassed, but could certaintly feel him against her navel where he rested himself solidly and twitching with the excitement she wrought in him.

She pulled slowly away from the lengthy kiss they shared and gazed deeply into his eyes. As she shifted she became very aware of how he rested against her.. She gasped softly. "Alex!?" Her eyes glanced down, with out thought, though nothing could be seen. "I.." She stammered a little. "..should... I move away..? " She was unsure what to do.. and what he'd said about the promise, she didn't want
to make things more difficult.. by encouraging.. or.. dare she say teasing him? Here she was.. not a stitch on and in his arms..

He shook his head, reaching for the rest of the pins in her hair and grinned. "Don't move." He pulled the pins free and her strands fell in dampened curls about her shoulders. His hand burrowed beneath them to cradle her head like a tiny babe and held her to his lips.

"ohh." She breathed as he undid her hair further and felt as though she could burst as he kissed her again. Her arm wrapped around his shoulders and her other hand rested on his chest. Her heart was racing as he awaked sensations she'd never felt before.

"Here's to adventure," he cooed quietly, wrapping around her tightly and dipping into the water a little to keep the chill from her shoulders as well.

"Alex.." She spoke a little breathlessly as they dipped into the water and she giggled softly. "Would.. you be offended if.. I asked you not to come to dinner, tomorrow?" She smiled and touched his cheek softly. "It.. seems such.. a shame.. to only have this one adventure.."

He chuckled softly. "Still afraid they might shoot me? I could die a happy man tomorrow, knowing the taste of your lips today," he trilled, rubbing her neck lightly. "If you wish to wait, I'd however, be much obliged... finding the adventure much more appealing than boiled potatoes with your siblings."

Ciara smiled sweetly, nodding her head. "Yes.. I'd like to wait. Perhaps.. till we have a few more.. adventures?"

He nodded in agreement. Settled. His grin washed over him, much less nervous now and spinning her in the water as he chuckled.

She had always loved his smile.. since the first time she'd seen it. Ciara returned his grin, finding it contagious as she lay back in the water. Her arms floating out to her sides, she wrapped her legs loosely around him as he spun her. Her body arching and bobbing a bit at the surface as her shoulders moved out and away from him, letting her skim the surface.

He spun her fast as he could manage with his foothold on the bottom, mindful of letting her stray too far to the edge or near the rocks. Her satin thighs around his waist were heaven and the temptation to let her slide further made him ache with longing for her, but he held to his promise. She rode precariously close to taking him of her own accord if she wished as she bobbed and arched through the water in front of him, his hands holding her suspended at the waist.

She closed her eyes, the content smile on her face as she trusted him to not let go. As he spun faster she couldn't help but tighten her legs around him pulling them closer at the waist and tipping her just so.. Nearly poised to be taken as she arched to keep her head from going under.

Spinning her further in the water, she clung tighter, close and tempting, but he'd made promises if he could live by them. The wake from her shoulders and hair left a thin layer of white bubbles that tickled as he moved through them, sending him more chills than that of her perch at his hip.

"Alex.. alex.. stop.." She laughed, softly, feeling the dizzyness of his spinning as she slipped below the water, and came up sputtering. Her legs curled around him as she flailed lightly, trying to regain her self.

Very aware of how she clung to him and even more aware of what would happen if he moved forward so much as an inch, he spun her away from the rocks and let go his hands to kick away from her carefully, being careful not to let her drown in the process as he pressed her knees away. "I'm sorry," he came back quickly as she spluttered.

She wrapped an arm around his shoulders as he came back. Holding him as she choked a little more water out. She shook her head, not quite laughing, but smiling a bit as he said he was sorry. "It's okay.." She gasped, nodding her head as she finally caught her breath. "A little too dizzy was all.."

"You didn't... I mean... just now... do you even realize ho...," he smiled gently, trying to let her know what she was doing to him and what had nearly happened.

"Realize? Oh.. what.. did I do something wrong?" She looked slightly bewildered and concerned that she'd done something to offend him.

He shook his head and held her closer in the water where he could touch bottom again, holding her afloat against the 'problem' that wasn't a problem so much as a distraction that was beginning to cloud his better judgement.

She bit her lower lip and looked into his eyes, a shy and playful smile on her lips. "Sorry?" She shrugged slightly as it dawned on her, his pressing against her helped her realize. She felt something... him.. against her, a moment before she'd felt so dizzy. She blushed darkly and glanced away, not at all knowing what she should do.

"No apology necessary," he grinned, dipping to kiss her, his fingers cradling her back beneath the water.

She returned the kiss eagerly, relieved that he wasn't angry with her.. for coming so close to him like that. She bobbed in the water and came up to lean down into the kiss, tipping his head back with her movement. Her hands held lightly to the sides of his face, her lips tugging at his.

He chuckled and leaned back into the water, reaching back to swim them to the shore, keeping her close with his other arm. "Seems I'm forgiven as well?"

She giggled and shook her head. "Forgiven for?.. Was I angry with you?"

"You were likely to be," he winked, bobbing and skimming the surface to get them closer to their clothes.

"Was I?" She smiled and pulled him to her. "What were you planning to do to make me angry with you?"

He looked away with a chuckle, biting his lip gently as he touched bottom again, keeping them close to the surface under the moon's glow. "Nothin' intentional," he nodded. "Not that I'd have minded one bit."

It took her a moment to put his words together with what had happened and she gave him a stern look. Her eyes narrowed and she wagged her finger at him. "I have no doubt that you would have..." She found she could not be stern with him as she swam naked with him under the moonlight.

He laughed lightly, listening to her tone change. "S'what adventurin's all about, right?" He nodded.

"About enjoying yourself?" She smiled and started to nod, but her thoughts drifted and she paused. "Not always.."

"You don't think so?" He looked at her sideways a little, letting her go and moving to the shore to pull himself out of the water.

She shook her head. "No.. it isn't always about enjoying yourself.." She followed him to the water's edge and moved to climb out.

"What's adventure in book of Palmer, I wonder?"

"It's not.. no place for it.. " She replied quickly curling her arms around herself as the water dripped off her to make the ground around her damp and muddy. "Besides.. girls aren't allowed to have adventures."

He looked her over in the moonlight as the water flowed away. Her words hit him strangely but didn't dim the appreciation he held for her form or her opinion. He stepped away from the water's edge tossing her his shirt to use as a towel. "Then maybe y'oughta start writing a new book, hm?"

She caught his shirt and started to wipe herself down with it. "I have all the adventure I need... I'm a woman.. and women are supposed to be at home tending their families and living a good life. That's what I am supposed to do.. so that's what I do.. what other choice do I have? Ruin my family's name by running off wildly?"
She growled with frustration and threw his shirt back to him. "It's not as if I haven't thought of it.. of things.. "

"What ... 'things'? You sound old hat at this as if you've been running off wild... beyond my being here, Ciara," he noted, catching his shirt and wringing the water from it gently as he sat bare on the smooth rock, letting the breeze dry him.

"I.. I never said ..I did such a thing!" She huffed slightly. "And what if I did? hmmm, would you walk away, thinking me some sort of brazen scandalous woman? Because I rode bare back across the country side one night?" She put her hands on her hips, showing him more of the fire that blazed inside and mixed with the sweetness and softness that she was.

He laughed lightly again, folding his arms over himself at the chill and the sound that was louder away from the safety of the water. "Never said... now look, miss Palmer..," he shook his head, offering her a hand to come sit by him. "I'm not walking away.. and you're no scandal... told you that and I'll tell you again."

Her eyes were on his hand for a long moment before her hands left her hips and one reached out to take his. Ciara moved to sit next to him, leaning towards him, seeking his body heat as hers cooled from their swim. "Of course I'm not.. I would never do such a thing.. I'm a good proper young lady." She smiled. "Who'd never even consider swiming in the moonlight with a man of reputation.. and with no one there to make sure he was behaved.."

"You'd never do such a thing. What might that man of reputation do? He might let his eyes stay too long or let his hands wander or worse," he teased. "What with no one making him behave, except that very man himself, bet he's an honorable sort, but just tends to get carried away, is all" he nodded, scooping her closer into the crook of his arm, the shadows and moonlight dancing over his bare skin.

[Lovely]

She watched his eyes mostly, but the way the moonlight and shadows played over him, was not lost to her. He was handsome, strong, and masculine ..and she was aware just how close he was to her. She smiled softly leaning her head to his chest. "They say.. he's no good.. a wild man.. roving ways, a heart-breaker, a gambler, likes the ladies.. he'll never settle for just one, has to have them all."

She lifted her gaze back to his eyes. "I think their wrong... well alright, maybe some of it is true.. you do gamble and drink." She chuckled. "I think.. maybe he just needs someone who sees him.. really sees him and understands that there's more to him than that."

He hummed his words softly, almost a lyric to them as he brushed her damp ringlets away from her face. "Be careful now, Ciara, you might be starting to write some of those new chapters... about a man you don't even know. Or at least.. that's what he says, but she understands enough... might be right.... probably is."

She licked her lips and bit the lower one for a moment as she looked at his face. Taking a chance and showing a bit of boldness, she slipped her hand to the back of his neck and pulled his lips to hers. The kiss was tender and slowly exploring, Ciara pulled away after a few moments. "Maybe he needs someone who will believe in him, trust him and give him the chance to show that he is so much more than people see."

"Perhaps," he said in a whisper, a gently crooked twist and a near blush highlighting the gleam in his eye as he returned to the kiss, pulling her gently into his lap.

"I guess we'll see.." She slid softly into his lap, curling and nuzzling to him, then bringing her mouth back to his. She'd let her guard down enough to relax in his arms, enjoy the attention and shyly begin to explore him. Light soft fingers traced over the muscles in his arms, which held her so gently.

He let her explore and learn, let her trace her fingers over his arms and chest as he held her, watching her move them and how she reacted. "More to him than they know, you say? Tell me what you think that might be, hm?"

"Honest.. I think he may be more honest than some of those who look at him crossly. Their so busy judging and assuming because he does what he wants to, that he's bad, and bad men are dishonest.. so even if he's telling them 'hey I like to gamble and drink.. that they can't see past their own selves to notice that he's not lying about what he is or does or wants..." Her eyes watched her fingers moving over his skin as she was speaking. She glanced up and caught his eyes, blushing a bit.
"I think you could tell them the sky is blue and they'd call you a liar... too busy looking at what they think is bad, to see all that's good."

He grinned at her words and looked up and around them at the slow paling of the horizon. "Mmm... not blue, but a lighter shade of night than it was. Best we be getting inside soon.. your brothers are early risers, you know. And there's something in all those words... thinking you're right.. he does what he wants to.. they hear what they want to... but every once in a while," he kissed her rose tinted cheek then brushed his own past to whisper in her ear. "Someone listens to something beyond what they hear, lass."

She smiled and shivered with the chill his breath in her ear and on her neck, sent through. Ciara nodded and turned her face just enough to nuzzle his cheek and neck, softly bestowing a kiss to each. She looked at the sky with a slight pout and a sigh. "You're right." She chuckled lightly. "And I have been undressed in your pressence for long enough.. and before I am ruined and you're strung up.. we should be getting home."

"Hasn't happened yet.. though some folks keep promisin'," he chuckled with a sigh. "And I could stand with a mite bit longer, what with the chill and all." He grinned, his eyes glancing down to the evidence that she was chilled. He reached for her undergarments and offered to help.

She blushed and moved her hands to cover herself as his eyes cast over her. With a shake of her head, she tapped his arm with her hand. "See.. like I said.. honest.." Her cheeks were still warm and pink as she smiled at him and allowed him to help her get dressed again.

He chuckled and moved to help her with her lacings then moving to slip into his own trousers and boots, not rushing to be modest. The sky was getting lighter faster, storm clouds moving away over the coming sunrise to indicate it was later that they'd thought.

She looked to the sky with a mild panic and then back to him. "Alex.. it's better, that we.. don't go back into town together.." She whispered, her eyes turning back to the sky. "I don't think my brothers will be too keen if they happen to be up, to see you escorting me home.."

"Unless you're escorting me," he winked. "One prone to drunkenness and gambling, losing all track of hours.. maybe even walking it the wrong house..." he mused, pausing and nodding. "Perhaps that's too much adventure."

"Either that or it might be crazy enough to work.." She turned to him, looking him up and down. "You're not drunk though.. barely even smell of it.. I imagine you had some drink before I came upon you.. but I know you've had nothing since.. I.. " She chewed her lip, pondering and perhaps planning.

"Don't think I'd ever hear such a thing as me not bein' drunk enough," he mused more, lacing his boots and standing up from the rocks. "Have a little stash I can find along the way, but acting drunk ain't too hard to manage. Don't intend to let 'em smell me, miss Palmer. "

"I suppose.. I thought.. better safe, in case they get close enough.. so it's agreed? I'm escorting you.. too drunk.. " She shook her head. "Perhaps I shouldn't be encouraging the taint of your reputation further?"

He gave her a look and a raised eyebrow, slipping into a convincing stagger with a wink, "Na.. preddy lady.. thinkin y'all jus better come over here an' ... keep me from... fallin' over."
Or just 'falling' altogether, he thought, the more time he spent with his treasure, the more he was feeling he didn't want to take her home.

She smiled, chuckling as she reached her hands out to 'steady' him. "Whoah there big boy, take it easy.. you don't want to go knocking me off my feet, now.." She winked at him and teased him a little, while she still could, knowing soon she'd have to be all proper.

"Sweepin'.. was more what I had in mind," he said, partially holding her up as well so they didn't fall on the rocks.

"Plenty of time for sweeping later." She grinned as they slowly moved off and away from the rocks. "And since you seem to like the idea so much.. you can come help me sweep out the store in the afternoon. We'll say it's payment for my being so kind.. in your drunken state.." She giggled softly. "And then none of my brothers can say a word about you being around me."

"Sounds like you got yourself a fine hand to play, there... mind anglin' me past the back of the school house.. and don't ask no questions now, but that's where that stash'd be."

"Alright... " She smiled and kissed his cheek before they were close enough for anyone would see them. She 'led' the way, 'helping' him along, she was careful and made sure to get them to the back of the school quickly and quietly..

The morning was spreading quickly and the sounds of dogs and horses kicking into movement played a quiet backdrop against the crows from coop by the livery in town as they passed around the back of the school house at the town's edge. A discarded hoe and broken wheel behind the building marked a line to a patch of soft earth he paced to then dug around, uncovering the cider jug that he pulled free and uncorked, splashing a bit on his shoulders over the still-damp shirt.. only enough for the scent to carry, but not waste.

She watched him with a small amused smile, which she quickly hid, and replaced with a look of slight annoyance. She was known as a kind a sweet girl, but very quiet and kept to herself. So slightly annoyed but compassionate and willing to help was how she'd look to escort a drunkard home. She hid a small yawn behind her fingers and knew today would be a long day for her. Though her father and brothers also knew she had a habit of staying at the shop all hours of the night and taking care of nearly every aspect of the inventory and the books. So they would most likely chalk her tiredness up to another late night, since they'd gone to the show. "Ready?"

"How do I lo...er... smell?" He chuckled, keeping an eye out for Miss Murphy who tended to like to arrive early for her lessons.

"Like.." she sniffed and then shook her head. "You smell.. like you should.." She slipped her arm around his waist and slung his arm over her shoulders. "Alright.. here we go.."