Wild Horses

Moving Forward

*STEF*

"Not long after that, I cut things off with her, and it's only because I knew that I would not have a place on the ranch if I pursued it. Maybe I was wrong, or maybe I was right. Either way, I was a coward for not coming clean to my dad, yet if I had and pursued her, would I have even met you?" This conversation is one of the hardest I've ever had with Lena, yet my heart knows that she would never ever judge me. She loves me unconditionally, and she listens intently showing me she really cares.

I wipe the tears that fall down my cheeks as she squeezes my hand. "I don't know, Stef, but I do know that moving forward is the only way in life. Closing doors and looking into the future is the only way you can keep going on a good path. If you keep looking back, you'll eventually crash or you'll even prolong your happiness."

My eyes look into hers as the sun sets in the western sky: red, orange, purple and blue, painted with a wide stroke across the mountainous horizon. This is the very spot where I first kissed her, and she ran. It was in this spot my heart told me I loved her. "I love you....so much, Lena Adams...."

She smiles widely as she leans in and this time, it's her lips that brush mine softly, making me shiver from head to toe. We both are beyond exhausted, yet being here, home on the ranch, sitting on my big wrap around porch and watching the sunset together makes me feel at peace.

She sighs softly as she lays her head on my shoulder, "I'm so thankful all of that is behind us. Callie is in for a long punishment, but at least she is now safe and under your roof again."

"Our roof, babe..." I kiss the top of her curly head softly as my eyes close. I love my little family, and soon, I want to propose to this woman. We both are silent as twilight nears, and I remember all that transpired before we got back here just last night.

*FLASHBACK*

"So, you mean to tell me you thought it was okay that you were this deceitful? Because you needed answers? No way, Callie! I raised you better than that!" My face is on fire as is my temper, and it doesn't matter that Lena is squeezing my thigh under the table trying her hardest to keep me calm. I'm angry, and I will not back down from my rebellious daughter.

"I think I made bad decisions, but I refuse to regret it!" The teen sits across from Stef, folding her arms, her face stubborn.

"Callie, I'm sure you could have sat your mom down and asked her to get in touch with me. It wasn't fair you pretended to be her to get to me," Russ is sitting next to the girl and is trying to help out. This is all new to him, but he doesn't forget being a stubborn teenage boy, especially when it came to wanting to get with Stef.

"Why are you all ganging up on me? I said I'm sorry! What else do you want? I refuse to regret it. And Mom, you didn't make it easy to talk about dad! You shut down every time!"

"Young lady, I sat and talked to you about those letters! You could so talk to me," Stef isn't backing down either, and the tension feels like it can now be cut with a knife. The teen's leg is bouncing up and down, arms folded, Stef's face is red, Lena looks worried and upset, and Russ is darting his eyes between all three.

"Ok, you guys, there's no right or wrong to what you're all saying. BUT, Callie, it was wrong to use deceit as your tool. You deceived Jarrod, Russ, your mom and even myself," Lena now chimes in calmly.

Several moments of silence happen before Stef stands and places both hands on the table, "I don't care if you think you're wrong or not, you are grounded indefinitely, Callie Quinn Foster. No ifs, ands or buts. So, get in the truck. We're going home..." She turns and heads that way, leaving the rest in stunned silence.

Russ looks at Lena then Callie before everyone stands. "Callie..." he tries to get her attention, and the girl turns to looks at him. "We'll figure something out, kid. I'm not walking away this time."

"Ya, whatever," she picks at one of the holes in her blue jeans as she scuffs her boot in the grass.

"I'm serious, Callie. I want to try and make up for all the time lost." Russ places her hand on her arm making her look at him. "You are so much like her, kid. Just try to see her side of things....she is right more times than you know, and she may come across really harsh, but you know deep down inside, she's scared you could've gotten hurt...."

Callie sighs making him trail off, and she just stares into his green eyes. She can't figure him out at all. Why did he want her mom so badly if he knew she was gay? "Can I ask you something, Russell?"

The girl's dad nods as he drops his hand. "Anything, Callie."

"Do you still...I mean, why her?"

"Why Stef? You mean why did I want her?" He plays with his hat in his hands. "Honestly, I didn't know back then. She always was the toughest, sexiest, most athletic girl in the school. And she was always so kind..." he laughs a little as it remembering something from the past, but shakes his head. "Anyways, that's in the past. Go on, ok? I'll call soon."

Callie nods and hurries to get in the back seat of the truck, but as they begin to pull off, she looks out the window, looking towards where Russ stood a few moments before. Maybe she would try to form a relationship with him. After all, he was her father, and he's the reason she started all of this in the first place.

*FLASHBACK ENDS*

The screen door shuts quietly alerting both women, making them turn to see Callie walking towards them sheepishly. She had come home last night and refused to come downstairs for the entire day, even to eat. Lena had put food on her desk, hoping she'd get up from her bed and at least try to eat, and she had refused that as well. Stef had told Lena tough love is what brought her through her own teen years, and tough love will break through to her daughter.

"Mom? Mama?" she pads her way to stand in front of the pair. Her messy bun makes her look so young as she stands there in bare feet, a small tank top and pj shorts.

Looking at her baby, Stef can't help the melting that is going on inside her own heart, and although she knows she has to stand firm, she can feel the love for Callie erupting all over the place. "Come and sit, my baby," she pats between her and Lena as she scoots over.