Home is where the heart is [Rip Wheeler]

14

Briar's hair was wetly flopped to the side as she bent down to rub lotion into her legs. She had stayed in the heat of the shower long enough to turn her tanned skin red. She had been thinking over her interactions with the people in her life.

The problem was she was not just thinking it over. At this point, it had become almost obsessive, her over active mind had peoples words twisted up. Simple conversations now had her heart hurting. She felt like she was drowning. Continuously struggling with having logical thinking and irrational thoughts of how people perceive her. She struggled with rationally knowing that people didn't mean their words the way her mind had made them seem versus how they now made her feel. Lookin up at her self in the mirror, she leaned over the sink. "You're spiraling out of control. You need to get it together. Nobody wants to see you emotional. Nobody deserves to see your tears..." Briar paused, her words stopping just short of what her brain continued to say. "...because no one cares." Sniffling Briar splashed her face with cold water and finished up getting into her pj's.

Rip had long sense left the bathroom and was now perched tensely on Briars desk chair.

He really didn't know what to expect. He didn't know what Briar he would get tonight. The softhearted just wants cuddles and forehead kisses Briar, or the damaged heart breaker with a mean right hook, or maybe the southern belle with a lashing tongue.

He wasn't sure it really mattered. They were all Briar. Every little thing about her made him love her that much more. He loved the crazy, almost black in color curls, the way she was finally filling after being gone for far too long. Her taller frame had gained some well trained curves. He knew the other wranglers and hired hands had noticed too, even if she hadn't noticed them.

Soon the bathroom door opened and out walking Briar. Her mop of dark curls tossed loosely into a low bun. An oversized t-shirt hung tightly on her now moisturize skin. The curve of her waist and ass were just covered by white cotton shorts dotted with bright magenta hearts.

She put her dirty and lightly bloodied clothes into her dirty clothes hamper. Shutting off her beside lamp before she pulled back the covers. Sighing she walked over to her window seat and pinned back the curtains so she could see the moon. Turning Briar looked at Rip who nodded, slipping off his boots, jacket and hat.

"You can take your belt off and hang it behind the door with your hat, if you'd like?" Briar offered to Rip as she walked back to the bed. Taking down her hair as she leaned over the bed to grab her phone cord.

"Yes, ma'am." Rip politely agreed

Briar inhaled sharply and let out the breath slowly. Briar was struggling with wanting to chastise him for his misuse of manners but also knowing he really didn't have another term of endearment to give her. Briar turned to look at Rip with a raised eyebrow, seeing him with a cheeky grin had her biting back a smile.

"Such childish cheek for such a grown man." Briar spoke softly as she sat her phone down to charge.

"What was that?" Rip asked, walking over to where Briar stood bedside closest to her bedroom door.

"Hmmm?" Briar quickly snapped her eyes up to Rip. "Oh, I said Such childish cheek for such a grown man. Sorry, took me a second to process your question."

"I don't know what I thought you said but that was not at all what my brain registered."

"Rip?" Briar asked as she fumbled with the ring on her thumb.

"Yes?" He asked in return.

"Can you takeoff your work pants before you get into bed? I mean as much as I love my horses and the cattle. I love my white sheets that much more."

"Whatever makes you the most comfortable, Darlin."
Briar sighed out a relieved breath. "Had she been expecting me to fight her on this?" Rip thought to himself as he slipped his jeans off and folded them neatly into a square.

"Thank you." She told him quietly as she pulled off her ring, and twisted her necklace until she felt the clasp, undoing it she laid it onto her night stand. Taking out her small stud earrings, she massaged her earlobes.

Rip walked around the bed and pulled back the blankets. Briar's pout going almost unnoticed by Rip, her sigh catching his attention.

"What wrong Darlin?"

"I refuse to ask him for a hug and cuddles. Asking him to stay was already too much. I've showed too much weakness today as is." Her inner monologue protested as she turned to look at Rip. Wet, bleary hazel eyes met sympathetic brown depths that reminded Briar of a chocolate river.

Rip opened his arms her. Briar crawled across the bed into Rip's arms. Her thighs straddle his hips as she tucked herself against his chest. Her left ear resting over his heart as it hammered away.

Rip covered them both with Briar's comforter before wrapping his arms around her. His girl was finally in his arms. She had finally started to let down her walls and let him in.

Moonlight soon began streaming through Briar's sheer curtains, but it didn't bother either sleeping occupant. Both felt contented and peace being so near the other. Briar felt safe in Rips arms, comforted by his warmth and lulled to sleep by the beat of his heart and the smell of his cologne.