Untamed (REWRITING)

24

Grey and pitch black. That was the theme the sky chose for the day meaning there was storm brewing, the angry clouds moved slowly towards the Ranch moving tiny branches whilst the wind howled in agreement.

Shelby winced a remembering her last memory of the storm, she saw Bran and some ranch hands running around, hauling equipment out of the way and double checking the stalls.

"You need to relax Bran and we need to leave very soon, I don't want the storm to meet us here."

Bran wiped his sweaty hands on his jeans throwing a nasty look Shelby's way. "I'm not taking chances for some woman to become a super hero."

"Can we just forget about that?"

"We can, once I'm done double checking the stalls and assigning storm duties to someone just in case something goes south and-" Bran raised his hand halting the words he could just hear falling out. "I'm not picking you so give it a rest."

"But-"

"No buts Shel, you're going home with the rest of us when I'm done here and so help me God Shelby, I'll tie you to your bedpost if I have to."

Shelby clamped her mouth shut not wanting to call his bluff, "Can I at least check-"

"No"

Shelby played with the rocks beneath her boot waiting patiently for Bran to finish up secretly concocting a plan in her head.

"You ready?"

With a sly smile on her lips she said. "As I'll ever be."

Bran drove a few meters behind her till she got to her house before he zoomed down the dirt road leading to town, it would take him ten minutes to get home if he drove fast enough.

Shelby cursed when the wind slammed the door behind her, she walked round carefully locking all the windows then fishing out the candles and torchlights, she didn't want to spend her time in the dark not that she planned on staying home anyway.

She ran outside to check the standby generator in the garage thankful it was still working, when the wind almost swept her off her feet she knew it was time to move her plan to phase two.

Her bag was filled with spare clothes, another boot and a torchlight, a novel she wasn't sure she would read but she prayed the storm was nice and didn't cause complication, halfway through her packing she heard a knock- more like pounding.

Bran wouldn't drive back if he needed something, he would just call her phone in fact anyone would just call her, she threw the bag under the bed just in case she was wrong.

Boy was she wrong. "Heather?"

"In the flesh" Heather was standing on her porch with a wide smile on her face like she knew what Shelby was planning to do.

"Why're you here?"

Heather shrugged "You know, just checking in."

Shelby squinted her eyes hating how perfect her stupid smile was. "No Heather, I do not know and you don't need to check on me in person, that's what phones are for."

Heather poked her bottom lip out. "I just wanted to see you Shel, is that so bad?"

"Yes" Shelby pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance, her frown deepened when droplets started hitting her roof. Her perfect plan was ruined.

"Okay, do you want me to go?"

Shelby rubbed her eyes trying not to voice out her frustration, she couldn't send Heather back into the storm. "You're already here so make yourself comfortable."

Heather watched Shelby stomp into the house, Bran had called her to keep an eye on Shelby because he knew she was going to try to run back to the ranch before the storm hit and by the look on her face he was right, she hid her smile when Shelby punched a pillow, she didn't want any part of her body to be next.

"So..." Heather rubbed her hand together "What can we do while this storm has its way with the land?"

"How about nothing." Shelby was still sulking so she wasn't feeling up to anything.

"How about a drink?" Heather raised a brow.

Shelby sighed standing up to get Heather a drink, "We have red wine, fruit juice and water."

"I'll have the red wine please."

"Alright" Shelby uncorked .... About to pour when Heather's hand on her wrist stopped her.

"You need to let it breathe first."

Shelby blinked. She couldn't remember the last time she heard that, after running back home for her father and away from her life, beer had replaced wine not like she drank much of it but they didn't let beer breathe, how could she have forgotten something so basic?

"Earth to Shelby" Heather had a look of worry on her face as she stared at her.

"Uh- sorry I got lost there for a second." Shelby laughed suddenly feeling awkward.

"Hey it's fine, you can pour it if you want." Heather said with a small smile.

Shelby poured a healthy amount in her glass tilting it towards Heather before taking a sip. A trip down memory lane wasn't something she ever wanted to do and wine wasn't a good choice but good choices weren't something she made.

Heather watched Shelby carefully, wondering when the mood shifted from bad to downright sour. Shelby was staring into her glass of wine completely lost to the world. Heather just watched, watched the woman she was beginning to love.

The realization hit her harder than she expected so she drank the rest of her wine in one gulp wheezing when it went down the wrong pipe.

Shelby rushed to Heather's side patting her back gently as she coughed violently. She had been so lost in her own world she didn't hear her till a few seconds later.

She pushed a glass of water to her lips encouraging her to take a sip, "I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention."

Heather nodded trying to catch her breath. "I'm glad you weren't."

Shelby cleaned Heather's head with a napkin stopping cold when she saw the look in her eyes, it wasn't the usual stare that made her body hot or wright with need, it didn't make her want to drag her to bed. It was new and scary, she was looking at her like she knew all of her, like she wanted to know all of her.

Shelby was afraid because if Heather crossed the fence holding her life together, she would break it down and Shelby would be too weak to stop her.

She wouldn't be able to deny the beauty who would rip her heart to shreds.

°°°
kinda_crack thank you for your comments. hoelitdays I might actually put out a search for you 😅😅😅