Chap. 16: Welcome Home (edited)

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- Shelby dealing with the idea of having sex with Jake -

The early night air smelled of musky leaves and soil from the Earth

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The early night air smelled of musky leaves and soil from the Earth. Shelby kept the window of the truck slightly cracked, staring out the window in silence as they drove along the familiar sights of the countryside Shelby had memorized throughout her childhood. In her hands, Shelby held the styrofoam box of leftovers from her reception dinner she failed to eat despite the group staying at the restaurant for six hours. Six hours she had mainly remained in silence, not even looking at her new husband. Shelby had suspected that Jake had been engaged once before, given he gave her ring without having her measurements for her ring finger. However, a part of her also hoped it was a family heirloom despite how modern the ring set looked. The fact Jake had not told her of such information yet forced her to discuss her ex-boyfriend had rubbed her the wrong way. She couldn't muster up the ability to ask him about his former fiance or why his former engagement had ended, choosing to remain silent.

In the backseat, Teddy softly cried. Shelby figured it was the need to use a litter box or perhaps he was hungry. Both her and Jake ignored the feline's cries, remaining silent in the vehicle as they approached the familiar turnoff on the highway. Through the dim lighting of the sun going away, Shelby recognized the cattle farm as they turned on Auburn Road, which was across the highway from Grant's Grand Lumber Company.

The drive to the back-road countryside community was curved with many dangerous hills. Houses that had been there for decades are scattered along the left side of the road. Mr. Deaton's large cattle farm on the right. The smell of cow manure along the curved road made the brunette close the truck window, her nose wrinkling at the foul smell. Even from afar, Shelby could see the tall, metal spike like gates that surrounded the gated community. A sight she had seen thousands of times before, but yet now, it seemed like tall, spikey walls of a prison. A prison she would be sentenced to for no telling how long.

Jake pulled up into the large gate that was at the top of the hill, rolling down the driver's side window. Right beside the gate, two newer homes had been built beside the entrance gate. Shelby wondered who lived there, given someone would have to have quite a lot of money to purchase that part of the land from Mr. Anthony White and built a house within the gated community area. Shelby recalls that for the longest time when the area was nothing but a large field. Now, it was a smaller field, half bright green and thriving with Earth like life while the other half had a medium sized home with a large storage like area for a boat and two expensive vehicles. It always made Shelby sad when she would pass by this area, recalling the times that only exist now within her childhood memories.

Jake opened up the black keypad with a gold like keypad, pressing the numbers five-zero-six-nine before shutting the keypad with its cover. The metal gates began to open slowly. Shelby nodded to the houses, her light brown eyes focused on the house beside the gate which was built tall but small with large cylinder like turrets around the house.

Protecting Shelby | Chris Evans Where stories live. Discover now