In which the daughter of famous storm chasers, Jo and Bill Harding, loses herself after a monstrous twister attacked her town... that is until she meets one tornado-wrangling cowboy and his cameraman who remind her that life doesn't have to end with...
CHAPTER EIGHT "Storms make trees take deeper roots..."
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The aftermath of that unexpected storm was catastrophic—the arena, the motel, homes, family establishments, it was all gone. The tornado had left nothing but death and destruction in its wake.
Fallon, at the moment, was sitting in the back of an ambulance after an EMT had cleaned and wrapped the wound on her arm. She'd removed her brown flannel and discarded it as it had gotten ripped up, leaving her in just a black camisole.
"Does it hurt much?" Boone asked, glancing at the bandage on her bicep.
He and CJ had stayed with her by the ambulance while Kate and Tyler were over by the pool, explaining what had happened to Lily and Ben.
"More than it did earlier," Fallon sniffed, forcing a smile. "But I'll be all right."
Boone titled his head as he stared down at her. She hadn't let go of his hand since he helped her over to get fixed up. Her face gave away her affliction, however, the tears she'd been fighting were due to relief not anguish.
"Nah, you ain't," Boone lifted his other hand, using his thumb to wipe beneath her eye. "You're crying."
Fallon released a tremulous breath as she grabbed ahold of his wrist. She couldn't help but lean into his touch as more tears fell. "They're happy tears," she admitted.
Boone stared in disbelief, a crooked smile forming. "I ain't ever seen someone cry happily before."
Fallon couldn't refrain from laughing. "It's 'cause I'm glad you're okay. I don't know what I would've done if..."
She couldn't finish her sentence. Her body had moved on its own, the warm blanket slipping off her shoulders as she stood and threw her arms around him.
Boone staggered, eyes widening slightly, his body stiffening. Though, slowly but surely, he snuck an arm around her shoulders and waist, not sure whether he was the right choice for giving comfort. But he certainly tried his best.
Fallon felt an unfamiliar warmth permeate through her as she clutched his shirt. Something inside of her didn't want to let go, not even when there was another set of eyes on them, observing from afar.
However, when CJ gave a resounding bark, Fallon looked over Boone's shoulder to find him wagging his tail while watching them. She chuckled as she drew away and wiped her face clean of tears.
"Kate!"
Boone and Fallon both turned as Javi came running over to the destroyed motel after pulling up with Scott and a couple of other StormPAR men.
Fallon watched as Kate and Javi embraced each other for several moments before breaking apart. Fallon thought she was witnessing something she wasn't supposed to when Javi cupped Kate's cheek, scanning her for injuries.
