#arnrp

There was an axe out by the wood shed, and it didn’t take but a few minutes to get the thing sharp again. Then Arn was splitting the wood that was stacked by the shed. He’d have to fall a couple trees too, make sure she had some wood for a bit. Thank yous didn’t go as far as trades did anymore. That’s why JJ had gotten up with him, navigated the place, and gone out to check out the other houses nearby. So maybe, just maybe, they could convince Lou to let them join up. Three was better than two.

He glanced back when he heard the house door open and shot Lou a smile. “Just figured you might need some of these split for winter.”

“Don’t get used to this. Dresses aren’t my thing.”

Arn was elbow deep into the engine of a Ford, damn thing had thrown a belt when he’d been driving back to camp. His group had sent him off on a run, and of course his truck threw a belt then. He’d been lucky enough to break when he was close to an old auto shop and gas station that had the belt he needed. Close being only a mile or so off. 

‘’What, do you think I’m scared of you? Because you look like the big bad wolf or something?’’

Arn snorted, a grin coming to his lips.  “I’m a big ol’ puppy.”

Arn didn’t do vacations normally, but the bosses had made it a point to tell the  CO’s that shit was about to change at their prison, so they may as well use their time. He wasn’t big on traveling, and had no strings, so Arn ended up in New Orleans, staying in a hotel that was a bit too girly for his taste, but had a damned good band that played every night.

A beer in hand, he was leaning against a column, listening to the music. He glanced over with a smile, almost shy. He hadn’t talked to anyone who wasn’t some sort of service staff since he’d arrived, it wasn’t his way to talk too much, not normally But he made up his mind then to speak up, maybe even buy a drink if she was open to it.

JJ ha done it. She’d found what could possible be the last candy bar in the south. Down in a basement root cellar. Along with a ton of canned peaches and strawberry jam. Arn was still poking around upstairs, she heard him opening and closing cabinets. JJ tucked the jars into her bag and held the precious candy bar in her hands. She’d share with him. 

Arn was picking through the cabinets, but someone had been by, and recently if the dust disturbed on the counters was any indication. He heard a noise behind him, and turned, figuring it was JJ. It wasn’t. A pale, dark haired woman was at the door, and JJ was just coming up from the basement. “Hey, darlin’. This your place?” he asked.