Everyone split up when they had packed enough supplies to get them through the storm, Bran had attached a deflated tent to Heather's horse along with a backpack that contained blankets and other necessities.
"The tent is for emergency situations only, if the storm is too strong then mount it, the horse can also fit in it so it doesn't get frightened or sick from the cold." Bran said tightening the rope that was holding the equipment, they couldn't afford to be sloppy, if anyone tied a loose knot and the pack got blown away by the strong wind, their problems would just keep piling up.
Bran and three other ranch hands kitted up with Heather; they all agreed that Sage would stay behind just in case Shelby wandered back on her own.
Heather eyed the storm while the men saddled their horses, she wanted to be scared, she wanted to chicken out, she wanted to just put everything in Bran's able hands but she couldn't, for the first time she wasn't thinking of herself, the thought of Shelby being alone or trapped in this storm erased all the doubt from her mind.
"You ready Heather?" Frown lines decorated Bran's forehead. "You can stay back if you need to, no one is going to judge you."
She knew how serious this was, she also knew she had to do it, she just didn't know why so she put on the bravest smile she could muster. "I'm ready Bran, just hope I don't see her before you do, first come gets killing right."
They all shared a laugh sobering up seconds after. It was time.
Everyone went separate ways, they agreed it would be better if they stayed separated, Bran wasn't of the notion but they didn't have a choice, everyone would cover more grounds alone.
Heather tied one end of the rope to the fence before she went towards the direction they had picked for her, the horse walked beside her anchoring her when she lost her footing, the mare was calm even when raging thunder clapped, that was one thing Heather was grateful for because if the horse felt the way she did, she would definitely make a run for it.
Heather's legs cramped after hours of walking but she couldn't stop, Shelby's life depended on it.
She wouldn't know if anyone had found her already so what if she was just walking for nothing? She shook her head filing her anxiety away, once she made it to the other end of the fence she would camp there and wait but then again the rope was running out, she was looking for where to tie the rope and make camp when she tripped over something.
She cursed when she fell on a branch that slashed her palm, she applied pressure on it till it wasn't bleeding as much, she was about to tie the rope to what she tripped on when she realized it wasn't something but someone.
"Oh my God Shelby!' Heather checked for a pulse first sighing in relief when she felt it, she was alive but barely.
Heather mounted the tent in record time, she guided the horse inside before she started unpacking the bags, Heather removed Shelby's wet clothes first opening her mouth in shock when she saw her badly bruised mid-section, it was black and a very angry red, Heather was certain she had a few broken ribs too.
She covered the ground with the leather sacks Bran put in the bag before putting the blankets on them, she found several heat lanterns too which she placed at the edges of the tent, the storm was giving it a hell of a beating but the tent pegs were sturdy.
She also found some medicine in the bag, Shelby would have to wake up before Heather knew what to give her, as if she could hear her thoughts, Shelby stirred awake.
"Hey sleeping beauty, you gave everyone one hell of a scare." Heather smiled softly as she caressed Shelby's face.
"C-old" Shelby mumbled and winced.
"What happened?" Heather checked Shelby's bruises carefully.
"S-ugar, it w-wa-was Sugar." Shelby managed to get out.
"Alright, it's okay, you don't have to talk. We need to get you warm and dry before anything else, the storm is crazy out there bu-" Heather's eyes widened when she realized she didn't tie the rope. "Shit!"
"C-c-cold"
Heather blinked Shelby's shivering form into focus quickly covering Shelby with the spare blankets. "What else do you need?"
"Y-y-yo" Shelby swallowed and tried again. "Y-y-yo-yo"
Heather waited patiently as Shelby spluttered on. "I w-want you" she finally voiced out.
Heather didn't think twice about shedding her clothes, she shivered when she wrapped her arms around Shelby, she was so cold Heather wondered how she was still alive, the only thing she could do was hold her as tightly and loosely as she could.
Heather listened to Shelby's laborious breathing, it was croaky yet soothing, it meant she was still alive and kicking. Her temperature was normal now but she needed medical attention soon or her health would spiral downwards.
she plagued herself thinking of worst possible scenarios, her stomach churned whenever her mind conjured up disturbing images, her chances of sleeping flew out the tent with every thought.
Shelby could literally hear the wheels turning in Heather's head when she came to the second time, her mid section burned, she assessed the injury by trying to take a deep breath, she wheezed painfully when she let the air out, she definitely had several broken ribs.
"Hey princess, you good?" Heather checked her temperature.
"Yea" Shelby cleared her throat. "It just hurts to do anything at all right now, to top it all I sound like a bull frog."
Heather chuckled lowly; Shelby smiled curling deeper into her warmth as she felt her body vibrate beneath her.
"You do sound like a fr-" Heather laughed when Shelby slapped her arm.
"Don't even think about it" Shelby squinted her eyes, deepening her voice in a playfully threatening manner.
"I was just going to say you're sound like frost."
Shelby snorted and winced. "Was that honestly the best thing you could think of?"
"With a voice like that" Heather wiped her forehead dramatically. "I was about to break a sweat."
Heather and Shelby joked for a while before Shelby dozed off again with Heather a few hours behind. Heather would hold her for now, they could deal with everything else later.
YOU ARE READING
Untamed (REWRITING)
RomanceShelby MacLean is a woman of many secrets. Secrets that haunt and rule her life, all of which tie her to the ranch she inherited from her father after his death. Shelby creates walls and hides behind them. But when Heather Salvatore, the heir to a...
