Wrapped around your finger - Post Malone

40

Relief floods her body when she sees Evelyn riding toward her but it is short-lived when she sees that Evelyn has no intention of staying put. She pulls Zip up next to her and moves forward in her saddle.

"Get on."

"Your father said to stay here, Evelyn."

"We are ranchers. We fight for our land."

"Evelyn-"

Both go quiet when they hear a gunshot ring out. Hazel thinks she is going to faint. "Get on or I will leave you," Evelyn warns. Hazel pulls herself up and is not even seated yet when Zip bolts forward down the house. Evelyn slows Zip down then hides them behind the house and dismounts. She rushes to the side of the house but Hazel jumps down and stops her, pulling her back and hiding at the side of the house. "Let me go," she hisses but Hazel holds her tight against her. "Evelyn. I am not stupid enough to think I have any right to hold authority over you but for the love of  Cottonwood will you just do as I say," Hazel whispers as sternly as she can to the little wriggling girl in her arms. Evelyn stops and relaxes in her arms. "Ok, miss Hazel," she whispers. "Ok then. We stay here and peep out around the side of the house. We have a clear view and then if anything happens we can decide what our next move is," Hazel whispers. "Ok," Evelyn whispers back. Both of them then creep forward and peep out. Hazel's stomach drops at the sight before her.

Austin and his cowboys are all standing with their rifles in their hands. Austin, though, has his rifle up and aimed at a group of men in very expensive suits. They look like they are having a standoff.

"I said get off my land," Austin growls out, his voice like thunder. One of the suited men holds his hands up in an attempt at showing peace. He has a large white envelope in one hand and his other hand is shaking. Hazel can see dirt splashed onto his shoes and pants, a little gouge in the earth before him. Hazel suspects the shot she had heard earlier has been a warning shot from Austin.

"We just want to talk. Read our proposal...you are sitting on a gold mine, man. We will compensate you and-"

"My land is not for sale."

"We don't want the land just the mountain," the suited man says, "we can -" he is cut off by a loud bang as Austin lets off a shot at the ground before his feet. He jumps back as dust and gravel hit his expensive pants. "The next shot is aimed at your fucking head," Austin growls. "Ok. Ok, man. I am just going to leave this here," the suited man says dropping the white envelope onto the ground. Then he turns with the rest of the suit men and climbs into their expensive black cars. Austin lowers his rifle and turns to the cowboys. "Make sure they leave this fucking ranch," he instructs them. They jump on their horses and ride behind the black cars as they drive down the ranch road. Austin then glares at the corner of the house where Evelyn and Hazel are peeping out. "Oh, we are done for, miss Hazel. Prepare yourself," Evelyn whispers. "Should we run?" Hazel asks in a panic. Austin is stalking toward them and his face is a storm. "No use in running, it will only make things worse," she says.

By the time Austin reaches them both Hazel and Evelyn are shaking. Austin is a giant of a man and somehow he looks even larger as he stands, looming over them. "I told you to stay up there, Evelyn," he speaks sternly to Evelyn. She bows her head and nods. "I know but-" she tries to explain but Austin cuts her off. "You disobeyed me. Placed yourself in danger as well as all the men who now had to think not only for themselves but for you too," he says. "I am sorry, but-" she tries again looking up at her father but Austin's next words stop her short. "A good rancher would never think so poorly," he says. Hazel watches as Evelyn's head drops, her stetson falling over her wet eyes. "Take Zip to the stable and tomorrow you will not wear your hat," he growls. Evelyn's head shoots up and Hazel can see she wants to protest but she stops herself. She wipes her tears, squares her shoulders, and looks up at her father, "Yes, sir," she says. "Go," he demands and Evelyn turns, grabs Zip, and walks off with him to the stables.

Austin turns his stormy face and glares at Hazel with his hands on his hips. Hazel looks back at him, blinking back tears as she bites her lip. Austin stares her down and lets out a heavy sigh and turns on his heel, walking away. "I am sor-" her words evaporate in her mouth as Austin turns back and stalks up to her. "You put my daughter in danger, Hazel," he says with clenched teeth, his body vibrating with anger. She reaches for him but he pushes her away. That hurts. But he is right, Evelyn is just a child - this is on her. He moves closer to her, back straight as he stands over her looking down at her over his nose. "There ain't an inch of this world that would not burn if something ever had to happen to my daughter, miss," he says, his voice cold. "I left her in your care. I trusted you," he says then turns and walks away, down to the barn with Lightning following slowly a few meters behind him.

She turns back to the house and sees Mags and Tina standing, watching her with sad faces while Jan smirks. "You don't belong here, you have overstayed your welcome. If I was you I would make sure to be gone before he gets back. No one wants you here anyway," Jan says. Mags and Tina shush her at the same time. But she is right, it's true - she should not be here. She should listen to her head and go inside, pack, write a note and leave Cathy on the kitchen table. It's only a matter of time till the truth comes out and if Austin ever had to look at her like that again she knows she will curl up and die.

But her mother always said she had her head in the clouds and followed her heart more than her head as she looks back at the barn that Austin has disappeared into.