wild ride, t. owens

chapter one! Feel it in Your Bones

Past.

Paisley could smell it from a mile away. Rain. She had picked up on the sense of smell when she was younger, back when her father used to sit her out front of their porch, have her close her eyes and repeat everything she could smell, feel, and hear.

He used to say, "Someday you're gonna need to use these details. You're gonna look at those clouds," —he pointed to the dark ones growing off in the distance— "and know exactly what's gonna happen."

Paisley didn't believe her father. She thought he was crazy and was just telling her some stupid myth to satisfy her little mind.

But that night should have been the one night she trusted his instincts and stayed in the house. Instead, she raced for the barn, a wide smile on her face as the wind blew through her hair, almost tearing her hat off her head.

A laugh echoed through the air as she flung the doors open, the horses neighing wildly. Thunder boomed in the distance, the clap back ringing in her ears.

"Ah, don't worry, Sugar," Paisley cooed, walking up to the chocolate colored horse and running her hand along his mane. "Storm's still a couple miles out, we'll be okay."

Her brown leather Tecovas clacked against the ground, the sound like music to her ears. The dim lights overhead tinkered on and off, making her raise a brow in wonder what its final decision would be.

Paisley walked through the barn, making sure things were locked up and sturdy. The more she trucked through the mud, the more her boots quieted down, the sound becoming softer with each step.

She then opened the doors on the other side, her eyes coming in contact with a beautiful creation of the world. It swirled in a big funnel, lightning cracking a little ways in front of her.

Excitement danced through her body as she ran towards the open field, the tall wheat brushing against her arms and tickling her pink.

Paisley spun in circles, the light rain pattering against her navy blue flannel and dampening it enough to send shivers down her spine. The ends of her jeans got muddier the more she moved, but that was nothing that a simple wash couldn't fix.

This was one of her favorite times of the year. When she could feel it in her bones that something was going to happen. She wanted the action, the thrill. The adrenaline running through her veins was something she lived for.

But her mother on the other hand, she worried for Paisley. From the porch, she yelled, "Paisley Grace, you get your butt inside right now."

Paisley barely heard her. She welcomed the winds almost knocking her down. She closed her eyes, holding her head up towards the sky and allowing the smell of rain to flood her senses. It was like being rejuvenated—like a character in an arcade game when they get a power up.

"Mama!" she called, "Do you feel it? Do you feel it in your bones?"

"Paisley!" Her mother yelled again, taking a step down into their front yard and staring at the horror barreling towards them at a rapid pace. She wouldn't get there in time. Not with a bad hip and broken wrist.

Paisley squealed, her boots getting tangled together and sending her down. Her laughter still rang loudly, but was soon ambushed by the sharp winds. Her voice got caught, the cold air making her throat dry.

For a second, Paisley's face changed to a look of terror. She saw the beautiful creation charging in her general direction, but as she looked closer, she noticed that it was heading straight towards her. The gray's and black's were swirling together, sweeping up everything in its path. Thunder boomed nearby, and Paisley wondered how long it had taken her mind to realize the lightning had struck only a couple feet in front of her.

Quickly picking herself up, Paisley swallowed the lump in her throat and raced towards her house. She had one hand on her head holding her hat down, and the other moving back and forth, using her momentum to propel herself forward.

"Mama!" Paisley cried, sounding more shaky and worried than she had before. The realization of what was happening had hit her and she knew she had to hurry up if she wanted to live. The adrenaline was there, now she could only pray that it would be put to good use. "Mama, go inside! I'm gonna be right there!"

Paisley's mother hesitated for a second, her body standing in the doorframe, before limping inside and hopefully towards their safe room.

The winds whipped around the young girl, the sky growing darker with each passing second. Looking back, Paisley saw the storm coming. She should have known that it would have been bad today. Her father was right.

Paisley could see the front door. She was close. Fifty feet. Thirty. Ten.

She bust through the door, the wood creaking under her boots. But she didn't care about that.

"Mama!" Paisley called, walking as fast as she could towards the bathroom. When she opened the door, she found it completely empty. She tossed the shower curtain to the side, her actions becoming rash as she searched for the only parental figure in her life.

Tears formed in her eyes, blurring her vision. How could she have been so naive to not come in sooner? She should have known.

"Mama!"

When Paisley heard the winds getting louder, the sounds of the ground tearing up around her, she made a quick decision to hop in the tub and curl her legs to her chest, rocking back and forth.

She didn't know where her mother was. Paisley's heart raced at the possibilities, and only hoped that she was okay and was hiding in a different space.

Glass shattered, the lights shut off, and Paisley was stuck by herself—rocking back and forth and listening to the greatest creation she had ever seen, destroy everything she ever loved.