Tacoma Falls: Wild Horses

I got a bone to pick with you

Amber

Maury started to move when I stopped him.

Shep stalked toward us and stopped as he seethed. "What the hell, Maury?" He flung his hand out to the side. "You don't tell me you took time off work to host company! Then you don't answer your phone!"

Maury shifted beside me and averted his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"I didn't hear that. How about you speak up instead of mumbling?" Shep stood with his hands on his waist.

Maury lifted his gaze to Shep and opened his mouth.

I stopped Maury from answering Shep and looked at Shep. "You're a bully, Shepherd Shaw."

"Excuse me?" Shep stared at me in disbelief.

I hopped down off the porch and stood before him. "You heard me. You're a self-righteous bully. And you're a selfish prick. Tell me something. Does it make you feel good to browbeat Maury constantly?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You heard me, and I didn't mumble." I folded my arms and arched my brow.

"Our relationship has nothing to do with you so stay out of it."

"Actually, it has everything to do with me since my relationship with Satan started the same way before it turned physical."

Shep stared at me but closed his mouth.

"Maury is my friend, and I refuse to let you or anyone else run over the top of him. Now, if you can't act like a civilized adult and respect him, you best be on your way." I waved Shep off.

"Amber."

"Shoo, fly. I'm sure there's shit that needs you more than Maury does."

Shep's mouth dropped open in shock. I turned around, marched up the steps, and dragged Maury inside before locking the door. Maury might have tolerated Shep's behavior, but I didn't.

"Maury, please talk to me," Shep said.

I looked at Maury. "Do you have a blow torch?"

Maury's eyes widened. "What do you want with a blow torch?"

"I want to scare the bejesus out of Shep."

"Why?"

"He needs a lesson on how to treat you. I'm going to give it to him. Now, hand it over." I held out my palm to Maury.

Maury sighed, grabbed a small propane tank with a blow torch from the back door, and handed it to me. "Promise me you won't hurt Shep."

"Nope. I'm going to scare him a bit. Lighter."

Maury grabbed a lighter from a bowl on a shelf and handed it to me. I turned on the tank and lit the torch before busting out of the house. Shep's eyes widened when he saw the crazed look on my face. I started walking toward him as he hauled ass to the truck, jumped in, and took off like a bat out of hell. I kept the torch lit until Shep's taillights disappeared.

Maury exited the house, descended the steps, and stood beside me. I released the button and handed Maury the tank. He glanced at me and shook his head. I smiled and shrugged.

*******
After dealing with Shepherd Shaw, I started feeling like myself again. It felt good to put someone in their place again.

I stood behind the house and gazed at the sunset on the horizon. The orange, red, and golden hue shone in the dusk sky.

"Pretty, isn't it?" Maury asked beside me.

"No, it's peaceful." I glanced at  Maury and smiled before returning my gaze to the sky.