Montana Sky

Chapter 3: Open Arms

I can't unfeel your pain
I can't undo what's done
I can't send back the rain
But if I could I would
My love, my arms are open
– The Script: Open Arms –

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The sky was just endless. Absolutely endless.

It curved over the vast fields and breathtaking landscape, deep cobalt blue and completely clear, not even a wisp of cloud visible anywhere. Utterly unable to tear her eyes from it, Stefani stood by the window of the beautiful bedroom that had been assigned to her when she had arrived to the ranch a couple of hours ago; it was now mid-afternoon on her 32nd birthday and despite the traumatic circumstances that had led her here, she really couldn't think of a more special place to spend the day in. The house was large and utterly gorgeous, touched by age here and there in a way that only added to its charm, all decoration and furniture stylish and very thoughtfully placed; sighing, she brushed her hand against the heavy velvet drapes on the side of the window, the soft fabric soothing against the scrapes the accident had left onto her palm. A small part of her longed for the safety and familiarity of her house in California, her Malibu gypsy palace, the very special place she loved so much, but here she had a similar feeling, secure and warm, cared for, relaxing and reassuring. Somehow Bobby, her guardian angel so many times previously too, had once again known exactly what she needed.

She had just ended a very emotional phone call with her parents, Joe and Cynthia restless and worried for their eldest daughter's wellbeing; she had been supposed to head to New York in a few days for some birthday celebrations, to see family, but right now she couldn't see it happening. Her parents had been fine with it, reassured and calmed above all by the fact that Natali was with her; her boyfriend Christian had been slightly more annoyed, wanting to know where exactly she was and how long she would be gone for. Stefani hadn't replied to either question and they had had a rather heated argument on the phone; she groaned slightly to herself, leaned her forehead against the cool window glass, unable to suppress the feeling of calmness she felt when she was away from him, the same slight relief she had felt when Christian had needed to depart Big Sky a couple of days early for a work meeting. She cared for him, maybe even loved him on some level, but they had drifted into a relationship far too quickly after her painful split from her former fiancé; it was the perfect definition of rebound and lately she had wanted out more and more, knowing he didn't share any of that desire, eager for them to get more serious instead.

Bradley drifted into her mind, making her swallow as she stared onto the front yard, tracing the window glass with her forefinger; she hadn't seen him since he had left her hospital room very early that morning, but the incredible blue eyes hadn't been far from her mind for one moment today. Her thoughts flashed back to her gaze landing on him for the first time, in the ambulance, him watching her with a very worried expression, her sister sleeping against his shoulder like they had known each other forever; she had recognized him almost immediately, her mind making the connection after hearing his name, wondering if she had drifted into some bizarre alternate universe but a terrible wave of pain had claimed her before she'd had the chance to ponder about it any further. She had been scared, so scared for what had happened to her, for Bo and Bobby's fate, remembering the terrifying feeling when the warm, comfortable, safe car had suddenly transformed into a spinning death trap with breaking windows and twisting metal, her consciousness filled with dark and cold; somehow Bradley's eyes had reassured and steadied her and the relief she had felt when he had told her everyone was fine had been immense. Natali had been full of praise for the man she had only just met but obviously already considered her big brother and a friend for life; Stefani's emotions had been far more complex, confusion and curiosity laced with shivers of attraction that had only strengthened since that first look.

A blonde woman called Sarah had picked her up from the hospital, together with Peter and Ashley, her bodyguard and assistant looking very relieved to see her doing okay. The doctors and nurses had helped her leave the building via a back door so no one had seen her; Bozeman was an attractive city surrounded by snow-covered mountains in the distance, stunning against the blue sky and the drive to the ranch in the sunny afternoon had repeatedly brought tears into her eyes by its beauty, Sarah's excited chatter going mostly in from one ear and out of the other. Upon arrival she had encountered a bunch of unfamiliar faces and thankfully also some familiar ones; quite obviously most of the people living and working on the ranch had gathered to meet her but thankfully no one had stared at her like an exotic zoo animal, only greeting her with big smiles. Still she hoped Bobby's words about her presence there being kept completely confidential were true because the last thing she wanted to do was to bring the paparazzi to destroy the serenity and peace of this place, and she truly yearned for some quietness for herself, for some time to think; somehow she had lost herself over the difficult past months, her mind quite low and unsure about everything.