Kissing Cowgirls (girlxgirl)

Chapter 15

Ally

I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and popped the cap open, taking a long drink of cold water. I had worked out this morning, going for a short run and some stretching. I was sweaty and tired but I felt good. The best I had felt in a long time. At least physically.

The mind and heart were more difficult to pin down. We've been here for two nights and one full day and I've yet to mention anything about it. I know my sweet girlfriend wanted to help me and talk about it but I couldn't do it yesterday. The day had been too nice. We were in a new area, around new people, who already seemed more welcoming than I'm used to I might add, and I wanted to enjoy a day without thinking seriously.

So I avoided it. But I wouldn't do that today. Today was our last day here and I needed to address some things before we returned. I wanted to tell Rily that I loved her. I didn't want to keep it to myself anymore and I wanted her to know just how much I cared for her. I wanted to build a life with her but I had no idea how to proceed. So I needed to start talking.

I walked into the bedroom to find Rily putting on her boots. I leaned against the door frame, sipping the cool water, and watched her strong forearms move. She peered up at me and smiled.

"Whatcha doin', cutie?" I asked, matching her smile.

"I'm just running up to the store, grabbing something for dinner later. I want to cook you something nice on our last night here." The tall rancher stood and grabbed her keeps from her pocket.

"Oh, okay. Are you going to tell me what's for dinner?"

"Not at all. But I guarantee you'll love it." I tossed the now empty water bottle at her but she caught it and winked at me. Rily came up and wrapped me in a half arm hug around my waist and kissed me deeply. When we parted, I was a little breathless. "I'll be right back. Maybe 30 minutes to an hour. If you need me, just call."

I smiled at her, "Okay, you got it. Be careful."

With a little nod and a smile, she was gone. I heard her truck outside turn on and soon the noise of the engine was fading away as she pulled out. I glanced around the space, still in awe of this hidden gem she had. I absolutely loved this house and would be sad when we left. I shook my head and grabbed some of my things. I needed a shower.

About ten minutes later, while in the bedroom, I kept hearing these strange noises coming from under the flooring and I figured there might be an animal down there or something that needed help out. Rily hadn't said anything and though I loved the house, I didn't get an official tour. I didn't know where the basement door would be, so I quickly dressed and went in search of the door.

After a few minutes of looking, it turned out to be a hall door near the kitchen. I stood back, staring down at the stairs, hands on my hips. Well, if that wasn't straight out of a horror movie. Steep stairs leading into darkness. The moment from last night when I thought I saw a man suddenly rushed back to me, and I felt a tinge of fear crawl down my spine. I shook my head, trying to remove the thought. There was no way anyone was in the basement. It was most likely an animal that found its way inside.

I glanced at my wristwatch and saw that it had been about 30 minutes since Rily left, she should hopefully be on her way back soon. I could either wait for her or just take care of it myself. I nodded to myself and headed down the steep stairs. I wanted Rily to know she could depend on me, even when she wasn't around.

It was dark in the dank humid space, little bits of light sneaking in from an old thin window but it wasn't enough to see much. I blinked, trying to adjust my eyes to the lack of light. I didn't move from the bottom step, just stood there waiting until I could see. After a moment, I could make out little things, like a couple of boxes in the corner, a dresser, and maybe something like shelving. Looking around for some kind of light source, I found a string that looked like a switch. I pulled, waiting for the light to fill the room when it clicked but nothing. I pulled it a few extra times but nothing happened. Shit. I frowned but continued to look around the room.