AN: Thanks again to Amita4ever for proofreading and giving feedback. Thanks to all who reviewed and sorry for the long delay. I have most of the next 2 chapters worked out. I hope to upload them soon.

Chapter 7

Paradise: Making Plans

Violet wailed into her pillow and beat her fists like the petulant child she was. She knew she shouldn't cry... it wouldn't do to have puffy eyes and a blotchy face.

Not that it mattered now! She thought and renewed her crying for several minutes.

When he father had returned from his visit with Dinalla, he had grilled Violet on the slight Dinalla had supposedly given her. Violet had been forced to admit her reasons for visiting Dinalla in the first place.

Her father's wrath had been unstoppable, and Violet went from victim to instigator. To make matters worse, the scene at Dinalla's had made her father look bad in front of his men. That was more inexcusable than the fact that Violet had a crush on Larsen Garrett. Her father had been madder than ever... mad enough to forbid her from going to the spring dance. HER! Violet Matthews!

And, yet again, Dinalla had rejected his proposal. That witch doesn't deserve my father's attention!

Violet sat up on her bed, sniffling and wiping away the tears from her eyes. She had NEVER EVER been forbidden from doing anything that she wanted to do. If Dinalla hadn't bewitched her father, none of this would be happening to Violet.

It’s all that woman's fault! Violet thought, derisively.

A slow smile twitched at Violet's thin pink lips, but it porcelain beauty was interrupted by a hiccup. Dinalla would pay for this insult to Violet's pride. She wasn't sure how yet, but Violet would have revenge and eliminate her father's desire to marry her at the same time.

Riddick sensed the tension in Dinalla after the encounter with Matthews and noticed the way she seemed to attack her normal chores with a distracted viciousness. She constantly looked at the road as if keeping a lookout for approaching horses. She tried to keep herself light-hearted and smiling in front of Puck, but Riddick could see past the thin-lipped smile. He made sure to keep his shivs handy... you could never be too careful.

One evening a week or so after the Matthews incident, Dinalla sat near the fire after supper and waited until she was sure that Puck slept curled in his bedroll. Then she nodded to Riddick and left the cabin as quietly as she could; Riddick followed silently.

A bright white moon was waning to a crescent. A secondary moon hung low and full on the horizon. The silvery light reflected in Riddick's steely eyes. The light of the moons cast a glow like the sun in daylight to Riddick. Dinalla's footsteps traced a well-worn path to the bank of the stream where she stood for several moments without speaking. Riddick, never one to talk much anyway, simply stood listening to the sounds of the night.

It was a rarity that he was planet-side long enough to notice all the different sounds around him. He heard a small animal trying to stealthily make its way through the bushes to his right. Various insects chirped and chittered to one another and some kind of bird made hollow caws infrequently in the night. Under all this, the stream’s voice was constant and lulling.

Dinalla's intake of breath was loud in Riddick’s eyes as she turned to him. "I promised you I would help you get off planets" she said quietly in the night.

Riddick didn't respond. He knew what was coming. How could he not?

"I think that time has come. I would have liked you to heal more before we traveled, but..." Dinalla's voice trailed off and she looked uncomfortable.

"Don't owe me an explanation. I'll get outta your hair as soon as I can git a ride off this rock," Riddick said matter-of-factly.

But, there was a piece of him that panged even as he said it. This had been about the most normal his life had ever been. Just like everything and everyone else in his life, though, it wasn't going to last.

Dinalla turned to smile weakly at him. "I'm sorry. Things have become... complicated. Tomorrow we need to start gathering what we can from your wreck. But, we'll have to wait a few days before we to travel to the Oldtimer."

Riddick's glittering eyes remained on Dinalla until she sighed and looked away.

"The spring dance... If I don't make an appearance... Well, people would expect me there or come looking for me if I don't go." She squinted her eyes as if looking past an old memory. "We don't need anyone else snooping around right now."

Riddick nodded and clenched his fists. He was used to being in charge, but being thrust into Dinalla's life had thrown him off, made him soft. He should have worked out a plan to get far away from here long ago. But, this low-tech planet meant he had to give over some of his usual control to someone who knew how to navigate things better than he did. A rarity since Riddick prided himself on being able to handle himself anywhere from a young age. He didn't like this… this relying on someone else.

"Lots to carry... Don't suppose you have anything with a motor, do ya?" He smiled at how ridiculous that sounded.

Dinalla grinned herself. "Nope. No hover crafts or lorries. Good ol' mule power."

The sound Riddick made was between a laugh and a scoff as he eyed the sad donkey standing in his pen. "... Someone’ll hafta carry the mule."

"I have made other arrangements." She sighed heavily. "A friend is coming tomorrow to loan me his rig. Meanwhile, the dance is three days away. We gather what we can beginning day after the morrow."

Riddick straightened his back and nodded once before walking away.

The sun had barely risen over the fields when Riddick sensed more than heard the low rumble of a wagon approaching along the dirt road. Dinalla was already awake and outfitted in dress, apron and bonnet. Riddick emerged from the bedroom pulling the shirt over his head one-handed and stepped behind the door to watch carefully, expecting more trouble. But, Dinalla smiled brightly and waved from the middle of her yard where she had gathered large sacks of seed around her. The huge red-headed man smiled and waved a paw back from the driver's seat. This must be the friend she spoke of. Hopefully, Riddick could trust the man as well.

Dinalla motioned to Riddick to join her. He reluctantly stepped out from behind the door and into the bright yard, goggles already protecting his eyes. He walked slowly, giving the appearance of being relaxed while the whole time tense and ready to attack at the slightest threat. The tension made the stitches along his guts quiver.

"That's Amos... Vera's husband, come to help with my spring planting and loan me his wagon." Dinalla picked up the hem of her dress and hurried to greet the big man.

Riddick hung back, silvery eyes surveying the newcomer. He felt a little annoyed that his idyllic retreat was being invaded. He knew he couldn't hide forever, but it had been nice being anonymous for awhile. This man was an unknown entity as yet.

He could see Dinalla talking to the man who had registered the stranger's presence and almost immediately gone into a protective stance as he hopped down from the wagon. His melon-sized hands balled in fists and his back went ridged.

Riddick smirked; the man was almost a full head taller than Riddick, who was by no means short. The man was as big as a bear… from what Riddick remembered learning of bears on Earth. He had the giant biceps of one who did repetitive hard labor. If he did decide to challenge Riddick, he was sure the man would crush him in his grip if Riddick got close enough. The only thing to do would be to kill the behemoth quickly before he had a chance at a bear hug. Riddick would feel a moment of remorse at the necessity of killing someone who Dinalla seemed to be friends with.

Soon enough though, Amos' stance relaxed a little as Dinalla seemed to be explaining his presence there. What exactly she was telling him, Riddick couldn't be sure. Dinalla led the way back to Riddick and the big man lumbered alongside her.

“Rick… this is Amos. Amos… Rick.”

Although Dinalla was smiling cheerfully, Riddick could tell that Amos was sizing him up and making the same assessment that Riddick had. Neither moved to shake hands; rather they nodded at each other.

Dinalla ignored the men's animosity and instead said brightly, "Rick can help you with some of the planting today."

Since the mishap when Riddick had needed to be restitched, he had steadily improved to be able to handle more and more chores. Dinalla said it was good for building up his strength, and Riddick had to concede that the exercise felt good on his atrophied muscles. There was something to be said about the usefulness of simple, hard work.

It took nearly an hour to unhitch the mules from the wagon and set up the plow. Dinalla and Puck had been working for weeks on clearing the rows of overgrowth and now pulled a few sparse weeds as Amos guided the team along. Riddick took up the rear with the bag of seed and strew them down the deep troughs. Dinalla and Puck doubled back and tamped the earth over the wheat berries.

A little after mid-day the majority of the few acres were seeded and they stopped for a meal of bread, some kind of cheese and fruit that Dinalla had stashed in a sack. She retrieved pottery jugs of cool brook water from under a group of shrubs bordering the field.

After the meal, Dinalla suggested that Amos let Riddick have a hand at the plow. Riddick raised an eyebrow at her half-smile but didn't protest. The big man positioned Riddick behind the plow and hollered instructions as the mules plodded along. Actually, the simple motion and physical exertion felt good on his body that was used to constant working out. If he was ever going to get off this rock, he would need his strength and speed back to fend off any mercs. By the end of his third row, Riddick earned a pat on the back, which almost knocked Riddick over, and gruff 'Good work' from Amos.

With everyone working as a team, the work was finished just before sundown and Dinalla invited Amos to stay for dinner. She dished out the hearty stew she had made for supper and fluffy biscuits. Everyone was starved from the hard work and gorged themselves. Amos, Dinalla and Puck ate with much laughter and reminiscing. Riddick kept his goggles on and made few comments.

In truth, he felt out of his element. Obviously, Amos and Vera were close to Dinalla and Puck and accepted them. Dinalla had midwived for Amos' five sons and the big man seemed to deeply respect her. Something panged deep in Riddick's belly, but he pushed it aside.

It was late into the night when Amos finally picked up his broad rimmed hat. "Vera will have my hide for being out so late," he said, teeth showing through his red beard.

Dinalla had to stand on tiptoes to hug him. "Give my best to Vera."

"Keep the mules and wagon as long as you need 'em. My plantin's done. I can walk home in the full moonlight," Amos said. He tipped his hat at Puck and Riddick and slipped out the door with Dinalla on his heels.

She followed Amos to the road where he turned and looked down at her with a look of concern on his broad face. "That man... Rick. There's something funny about him. You said he worked on a mining planet?"

Dinalla smiled and put her hand on Amos' arm. "I told you. He crashed, and I’m helping him until he can get off planet. He hasn't been anything but helpful if not a bit gruff," she reassured him. “Just… don’t mention him to folks. You know how they treat strangers sometimes.” She gave Amos a lopsided smile.

Amos patted her hand but didn't seem convinced. "Well, alright. But if you need anything..." His voice trailed off and he gripped her hand gently in his paw.

"I will..." She leaned up on tiptoes to kiss his stubbly cheek. "I promise. Get home now or Vera'll send out a posse for you."