Wild Horses

Consequences

Callie couldn't believe her eyes as she looked stood there looking into familiar hazel ones as well as brown ones along with her father's green. How was this possible? She thought her plan was airtight, but then again, she kind of slipped up when she decided to run off from her father after he tried to give her the truth.

Any outsider looking in would see a stand still as Stef stood with her arms crossed, Lena, her thumb on the strap of her bag, Russ, hands in pockets, Jarrod, opposite of Lena, hat in hands, and then, Callie, fingers nervously playing at her side. Hard glares were being passed back and forth, and for a moment, you could cut the tension with a knife.

"YOU have a great deal of explaining to do, young lady, but first, thank you, Jarrod, for keeping my baby safe," Stef reverted her attention to the nervous boy twirling his hat in his hands.

"No problem, ma'am," he cleared his throats nervously as he met her intense stare. "I should've spoken to you first...it's my fault, ma'am. I...I wasn't thinking taking a minor on a trip without so much as...as speaking to her folks. I am sorry...ma'am.."

"Call me Stef. And yes, you SHOULD have spoken to me. You could get yourself in HUGE trouble with her being a minor! Do you get that? Hmmm? It's a good thing your father, Hiram, and me are such good friends..." she trailed off as she could clearly see Russ trying to hold back from saying something. Russ felt that Jarrod should be punished, but Stef did not. They were at an impasse on the subject, and honestly, she was just so thankful that Callie hadn't been alone.

"Are we going to just stand here or get on with it?" Callie asked with an attitude for she knew she was in deep water and that she would have hell to pay for taking off like she did.

"I'll take Jarrod on down to get something to eat," Russ looked towards the nervous boy, and he nodded knowing he pretty much didn't have a choice.

After Jarrod and Russ left, Lena turned to walk away, but Stef grabbed her hand. "Stay....please..."

The curly haired woman knew that Stef had a quick temper, and the very fact that she asked her to stay was proof that she wanted her with her while she spoke to her daughter. This warmed her heart so much because Lena was just beginning to feel like a major part of this little family. She only hoped with time, Callie would see it as well, and that she'd see just how much Lena had grown to love her.

The family walked away from the tent towards a grove of trees away from everyone, and Stef finally turned towards Callie as she licked her lips, her eyebrows furrowed. "Start from the beginning, and DO NOT tell me ONE SINGLE LIE. Is that understood?" Her voice was already raising, but Callie was just as quick tempered, making Lena wonder how this would play out.

The young girl rolled her eyes, "Relax, Mom. I have a head on my shoulders, and I was and am fine!"

"This isn't a good start, Callie! You better start talking and fast!" Lena reached out and gently placed her hand on Stef's arm which seemed to help as she took a deep breath even though her face was a crimson red.

"I had to get answers on my own, Mom! You never would come out and give me straight answers! You always tried to change the subject, and even when I confronted you about the letters I found, you wanted to blow it all off! As if that part of your life didn't matter! That my life didn't matter back then or now!"

"You know that's not true, Callie..."

"Stef..." Lena once again interjected as she knew Stef was ready to blow a gasket.

"What, Lena?" She snapped at Lena immediately. "What's she's saying is false! You are the absolute first love of my life, Callie! I wanted to protect you!"

"To the point of keeping me from my father? You know he told me Grandpa Frank threatened him?"

Stef looked at the girl wide eyed as she folded her arms. "He did no such thing..."

"That's what he told me! And something tells me he's right, Mom! Why is it you never pursued Emily?" The young girl was now crossing lines she knew was dangerous, but she needed to clear the air with all of the questions that have been swirling around in her head.

The blonde's face was an even deeper red now as Lena looked at her puzzled. "Emily?"

"Yes, Emily! The vet tech I caught you flirting with that one day," the young girl was remaining brave despite how nervous she really was.

"Now, you're chasing a rabbit that has NOTHING to do with why you thought it'd be ok to impersonate me to meet a total stranger and doing so with an 18 year old, who might I add, is still very immature!" The veins were sticking out on the side of her neck now as she moved closer to her daughter.

"It IS linked, Mom! All this time, YOU thought Russell didn't want to be a father still to me! You thought he stood me up, and yes, I was too young to remember, but the fact Grandpa Frank scared the hell out of him so he left us alone? And the fact you wouldn't date who you wanted?" Tears were now running down the teen's face as her voice began to shake. "HE did this! And all these years, I thought my dad didn't want me!"

She covered her face with her hands now as sobs shook her small frame, and Lena stepped in wrapping her arms around the girl and kissing the top of her head. "Shhhhhh, baby, shhhhhh...."

But Stef stood there, frozen, as the realization hit her like a freight train: she had always feared confrontation with her father, and what Callie was saying confirmed all that she had feared for years. Her face had gone white now as she ran her hands through her blonde hair.

"I....Callie..." was all she could say as she turned away. "I need to think...." she muttered as she walked off leaving Lena to comfort a sobbing girl.

Lena's heart was breaking into a thousand pieces seeing both of her girls' heart shattered like this. Moving to cup Callie's cheeks so she could look at her. "I understand why you did this, but it was very irresponsible, honey." Leaning in to kiss the girl's forehead, she blinked back her own tears. "Your mom loves you so very much, and so do....so do I..."

Callie sniffled and wiped her tears as she looked back at Lena with a realization the woman her mother loved was being honest and true with her. "I...I love you, too....Mama.." she whimpered shakily to which the woman quickly pulled her to herself in the tightest hug ever.

"Oh, Callie..." she began to cry. They hugged for a while before Lena pulled back. "There will still be consequences, you hear me?"

The teen shook her head as she quickly resumed her hug. Maybe what she did wasn't right, but maybe now, both she and her mom could heal and move on.