Stone Walls Short Stories

Stranger

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The first time she saw a tornado it was as if the ground opened up beneath her, swallowed her whole and left no room to breathe, to move, to do anything other than stare.

She had been aware of the possibility this would happen when she moved to the countryside, but seeing the funnel of wind rage over the fields in the distance still had her petrified.

With all her might she shook herself from her stupor and got to work making sure she did all she could do, should the tornado hit her new country home.

She was just about to put the potted plants that adorned her front porch inside when a red truck pulled up into her driveway.

She frowned at the surprise of unexpected visitors as a blonde woman exited the vehicle. Her brown leather cowboy boots hit the ground with a soft thud, and Isabelle watched the dust blow up into two small clouds. It'd been a while since they'd had any rain.

"Howdy," The woman spoke.

"Hi," Isabelle replied, a little stand off-ish at the stranger that pulled into her driveway amidst a perilous weather situation. "What brings ya out here?" She looked beautiful and very familiar, but the timing was still a little too odd for Isabelle's liking.

The woman closed the door of the truck with a thud, and put her fingers through her belt loops as she approached just the few steps necessary not to be shouting anymore, catching onto Isabelle's vibe.

"I own the ranch a few miles over, and since you're new to town I figured I'd best check up on ya with that thing approaching," she said, nodding to the tornado that whirled in the distance behind her.

Isabelle's demeanor instantly softened. "Oh, well that's awfully nice of you." She replied.

She recognized the woman now from when she'd visited the farmers market in the nearest settlement. She was hard to miss with broad shoulders, a lean frame and beautiful golden curls. Isabelle for sure had spotted her in town before from across the stalls. She racked her brain for her name, but came up empty.

The woman looked over her shoulder. "We don't have much time so I'll make it quick. Is this your first tornado? Where are you planning to shelter? Do you have a basement? Do you have your emergency food prepared? A battery powered radio?" Her neighbor rattled off her questions and Isabelle felt a little offended. Though she was new to this part of the country she wasn't new to being self sufficient.

"Yeah, I got most of that," she said, staring the woman down. "I just don't have a basement."

Her neighbor nodded, seemingly satisfied that Isabelle was well prepared for emergency situations.

"I do have a basement. We gotta head back soon, but if you can grab your stuff and lock up in five I think you should come to my shelter."

Isabelle eyed this strange woman. Did she drive all the way over just to tell Isabelle that she thought she couldn't handle herself? Well, she thought wrong.

"Again, that's awfully nice of you. But I think I'll be just fine on my own."

"Listen, this storm ain't gonna be a light one they said, and I'd feel better having ya safe than leaving ya here. This farm used to belong to ol' Jeff, and he ain't done no work keeping this place a piece. It ain't gotta do with you not being able to fend for yourself."

The woman clearly understood Isabelle's reservations, "It's clear that you know how to take care." She concluded as she gave Isabelle an obvious once over.