Chasing Ghosts

Ch. 5

Analeigh checked her phone again, growing more impatient by the minute. Dinner with mama and Tanner had gone well. There weren't any inappropriate comments from Tanner to make her squirm or any heated glances cast in her direction, but now it was time to get on with the rest of her night, and, as always, there was one major hold-up: Scarlett Grey.

Scarlett promised that she would be at Analeigh's house on time to get ready for their night out, but the clock was currently showing that Scarlett was almost an hour late. Turning her gaze back toward the bathroom mirror with a huff of irritation, Ana carefully outlined her eyes with charcoal and coated jet black mascara on each set of lashes with a heavy hand. The ever-changing color of her eyes was usually an attention-getter and tonight would be no exception. She stared at her reflection and took in the stormy sea of grey and green swirl of her irises; she looked like a woman with secrets. With one more deep sigh of agitation, Analeigh took to curling her long strawberry blonde hair and left it hanging loose, the wild ringlets flowing down her back. Honestly, she'd been too busy for a haircut, but she decided the long locks would stay for now and tried to embrace her new look. It made her look older, edgier even, and she bent at the waist to give it a few shakes before calling it good.

She was dabbing her trademark Lucky Brand perfume behind each ear when she heard the screen door swing open with a loud clang.

"Analeigh Rose, where are you, woman?" a loud perky voice called from below.

Ana could hear a rumble on the stairs and moments later Scarlett appeared in the mirror behind her, squealing.

"Your hair is so long," she gushed, "I love it!"

Scarlett stood a great big five foot nothing, but she made up for the lack of height with spunk and charisma. Her glossy red hair and ample curves turned heads whenever Scarlett Grey walked into a room.

Analeigh couldn't suppress a grin despite her annoyance with Scarlett's propensity for tardiness,

"I can't believe I am dolling up for The Tavern like we're sixteen again."

Scarlett grinned coquettishly,

"You and I both know that everyone is back in town this weekend. Those boys have grown up since high school..." she added with a suggestive wink.

Ana automatically rolled her eyes,

"Let's not pretend you'll be looking for anyone but Tanner tonight."

Scarlett flushed.

It was no big secret that Scarlett and Tanner were an item. The farmer's daughter and the rancher's son: Harper Creek royalty getting together. There'd been some ladies of a certain age sharing high hopes of a royal wedding and royal babies down twittering around the downtown beauty parlor. Waverly had rolled her eyes while re-hashing the details with Analeigh over dinner while Tanner looked to be a mix of embarrassed and ill at the story.

"I don't know," Scarlett disagreed with a frown, "He will probably want to see you tonight, Ana. He missed you something fierce."

Ana grinned to conceal her discomfort, 

"Tanner is the other pea in my pod. But something tells me you wearing that," she gestured to Scarlett's green sundress that offset her red hair beautifully, "will definitely trump the best friend."

Scarlett winked at Analeigh's reflection as her wicked grin returned,

"That's the plan. Now, what about you? You're fresh off a breakup with that John something-or-another, you need to look hot."

Scarlett wandered into Ana's room and began rifling through her closet.

Ana trailed in behind her,