The Shines' Got Em Now *Lawless*

Forrest Bondurant winced when he heard the door to their small family store and diner open. He hadn't finished his coffee yet and before he turned around he immediately regretted letting his brothers convince him to put a post ad out looking for help. They men needed some general housekeeping, cooking, and help with the store and diner. Now he grumbled at the thought of having two women living at the house.

"Forrest Bondurant, Sir?" One of the women asked as she walked in. He just groaned and nodded. She smiled, "Hello, I'm Cecille. We saw your ad, looking for some help around here. Are you still looking?"

He sighed, "We are." Forrest stopped sulking, walked over and shook their hands. At that moment his two brothers came bursting down the stairs.

Jack and Howard stopped in their tracks and stared at the women. Howard took off his hat and flashed a grin.

"Hello. I am Howard." He said gently, "what can we help you with today?"

Cecile's sister, Sara, looked at Jack, "We came to answer your ad..."

Jack looked at her somewhat blankly. It was possible he was already on his way to drunkeness.

"Yes. Right." Forrest nodded at Howard. "Well, you two are the first to come by.

Howard asked the next question, knowing Forrest was the strong quiet type, "Really we just need some help all around. Housework, cooking, a little help with the business?"

"We can do that." Sara smiled. Jack hiccuped.

Cecille rolled her eyes, "Clearly this house needs a woman's touch." She joked.

"Aye." Forrest mumbled.

Sara looked around with an inaudible sigh.

"Well you two are hired." Jack said finally. He smiled and offered his arm to Sara, "Let me give you the grand tour."

Forrest rolled his eyes, normally he'd remind Jack that he was the head of the family but he wouldn't mind having Cecille around, she sure was nice to look at.

Howard tipped his hat, "Ladies..until later" and went outside. Cecille was about to follow Sara and Jack but Forrest finally coughed.

"Actually, I'll go over things with you if you don't mind." He said.

"Sure, sir." Cecille shrugged as Sara and Jack walked off.

"Forrest." He said with a tiny smile, "My name is Forrest."

*&*

"Through here is the store..." Jack said as he opened the door for her into the store.

"As I said, my name is Cecille. My sister ans i know how to keep a home and store in line. You will not be disappointed." She said softly yet firmly.



Sara stumbled and Jack grabbed her instinctively. She winced and he noticed an awful bruise on her wrist.

Sara looked at him with her large blue eyes, "I am a bit of a clutz."

Forrest let a small smile break through, "I believe you. We're simple folk. What brings you out here?" His eyes scanned her up and down. "Doesn't look like you're from these parts."

"Just time for a change." Cecille said, "Cities are so overrun with crime right now, ever since prohibition started."

He chuckled on his sip of coffee, "Well.." They were the biggest moonshine makers in the state.

"Don't worry, Mr. Bondurant." She laughed slightly, "We're well versed in your business ventures."

*&*

Jack gently helped her straighten out, "No worries. Are you okay?" He spoke, his eyes still on her bruise.

He smirked slightly, "have you ladies found a home or were you needing to take quarter here? " he felt the need to shelter the girls for some reason.

\\;\:

She forced a smile, "i am fine. Let us continue." He nodded but kept a steady hand on the small of her back. Any traces of being drunk were now gone.

"We haven't tried to look yet. Just got to town. What do you prefer?" She asked as he poured her a cup of coffee and passed it over.

Forrest shrugged slightly, "I had planned on housing whomever we hired. It's easier for work and we deal with some unsavory characters, so I'd rather not have to worry about two women off alone on my land heading home at night."

"Quarters would be perfect." Cecille smiled and took a sip. Now they wouldn't have to attain boarding or transportation elsewhere.

*&*

"The work seems simple enough." Sara smiled as he continued the tour.

Jack nodded, "Will be nice to have some company around here as well." He really meant 'female' company.

"We would prefer it that way. Leaving the city wasnt easy." She said simply. For a moment, she was lost in memories.



"Can you cook?" Jack asked hopefully. Sara giggled and nodded.

"Very well."

Forrest nodded, he wasn't the type to get into the business of others but this young woman did intrigue him. "Let me first show you where your rooms will be, we have two extra, so each your own." Forrest grabbed both the women's bags which had been discarded near the door and motioned her up the stairs.

"Thank you." Cecille smiled as she followed him. He placed one bag in the first bedroom in the hallway, it was Sara's and opened the door to the bedroom next to it and placed her bag down for her. "This is perfect, thank you."

"Your welcome." Forrest ran a hand through his hair, "Howard is at the end of the hall. Jack is the first door on the right and I'm uhh well the door right across the hall from your room. If you need anything." His stomach growled, he had only drank coffee this morning.

"Come, Mr. Bondurant I'll make you some breakfast." She smiled.

*&*

Jack smiled, "Glad to hear it. Want to see where we make the moonshine?"

"Yes!" Sara smirked.

"Well, i cannot say no to that." He replied bwfore leading her to the kitchen.

@-@_@

"Now, inquiring minds must know, have you ever had shine?" Jack asked.

Sara laughed, "Why yes."

As they entered the kitchen she asked, "What do you usually have for breakfast?"

"Coffee." Forrest grumbled as he sat down at the table.

"Men." She laughed slightly and rolled her eyes and went about cooking enough for everyone.

"I feel a bit odd just sitting here while you work." He finally spoke, fifteen minutes into cooking.

"Don't." Cecille replied, "It's what you hired me for, Mr. Bondarunt."

"Forrest." He quickly replied, "Really, please call me Forrest."

She turned and smiled at him, "Alright Forrest." Then threw in a little joke with a wink, "Was simply taught to respect my elders."

*&*

"Quite popular in the city." Sara added.

"You girls have probably had ours." Jack said proudly, "We're the biggest exporters in the state."

"Well done." She smiled sincerely as she looked around.

He laughed slightly, "it smells amazing in here!"

:

Jack grinned at her, "lets get back. Dont want anyone to get suspicious!"

"Thank you." She brought the food to the table, "Sara and I really enjoy cooking."

"Lucky us." Forrest said as Sara, Jack, and Howie walked in.

"Ah breakfast." Howard smiled, "I like this already."

The girls shared a smile. Cecille watched her sister for a moment. Sara seemed more at home in a strangers kitchen than in their fathers. It broke her heart.

She then looked down at her empty left hand ring finger. Yes, leaving was good for both of them.

"Sit with us." Forrest mumbled as he glanced at the girls lingering near the counter. They looked at each other and then took a seat at the kitchen table with the men.

As they all ate, Forrest spoke again, "Just get settled in today and take care of meals today, if that's alright. Cecille, one of us still needs to show you around and Sara, I showed your sister where you'll be staying, just right upstairs. You girls can really start tomorrow." Forrest wasn't always a man of many words, which combined with his violent way of business often led people to assume he was just plain mean. However, he was kind hearted and fiercely protective of his loved ones and business.

Three weeks later....

Howard walked into the shop silently. He quickly noticed his oldest brother staring at Cecille.

"Your too old for her, brother." He quipped softly.

`;`;`

Jack smirked as he pulled Sara toward the creek. She rolled here eyes.

"I am not getting in there."

"No I'm not." He rumbled

"You're over ten years her senior." Howard chuckled softly.

"I was just daydreaming anyway." Forrest said through gritted teeth.

*&*

"Yes you are! It's nice!" He exclaimed.

Howard frowned, "i was only kidding."



She shook her head. Jack laughed and threw her ovrr his shoulder.

"Yeah yeah.." Forrest shrugged.

Cecille had noticed their chatter but couldn't hear what they were saying. "Everything okay, Mr. Bondaurant?" She asked with a smile and she turned towards them.

*&*

"Jack William Bondaurant, I will kill you!" She laughed.

He nodded even as his brother started laughing.



"Somehow, I dont believe that, love!!" He

Laughed as he ran into the water with her.

"Fuck off, Howie." Forrest grumbled. Howard laughed and walked out.

"You sure everything is okay, Mr. Bondurant?" Cecille asked.

"Of course love." He smiled slightly, "Please really PLEASE call me Forrest."

"Okay." She sighed, "I don't mean to get so formal. Just habit..Mr Bon-Forrest." She was so endearing.

*(*

"Jesus it's cold!" Sara laughed and splashed him.

He laughed and pulled her close, "I could warm you up." He said suggestively. She started giggling and splashed him with water. The two started wrestling in the water. When Sara could barely breath she wrapped her arms around Jack.

"I am warm." She giggled. Jack smiled andhels her closely. He helped her out of the water. Hw pulled a blanket out of no where and wrapped it around her. He shivered slightly and she frowned.

:

He smiled at her, "i am feeling a little peckish. I think i will go grab a bite to eat.