Because of you, I'm home

Chapter 5 - One last song...

A content sigh left Claire's lips as she fell back into the unbelievably comfortable sofa in the McMoore's sunroom. She had spent the last few days taking care of the stunning horse – Rogue. He was so accommodating and gentle with her that she had a hard time believing that she was the first person he had let touch him, without a fuss, in years. Apparently as a colt a few teens had treated him poorly, leaving small injuries and resulted in the beauty to have a reservation towards people.

Unfortunately, Claire had yet to muster the courage to actually mount her new friend, not for fear of the creatures' temperament but rather the fact she had never ridden a horse in her life.

Mercifully, though, the anti-social, pig-headed man residing on the same floor as her hadn't appeared in front of her; he was avoiding her, or she was avoiding him – either way she wasn't fussed. She even managed a few spare moments to play around with her little friend, Ally, when the beast in human form wasn't home. Though she was careful to keep a little distance between the younger and herself, even if she thought Mr Mean was being a little unreasonable, on some level she had to respect him as the beautiful girls father.

As for the mystery woman that had accompanied Maggie to the stable, Claire learned her name was Laura and both her and her family had been close friends with the McMoore's since she was a child. Laura was extremely easy to get along with, she was a country girl with the heart of a city girl where Claire was a city girl with the ideals of a country girl – each found the others tales of childhood and growing up fascinating.

Feeling the suns' rays beating on her body through the clear glass walls of the sunroom, Claire's tried muscles relaxed and eased. Should it have been possible, she's would have become one with the sofa but just as she was about to fall off the edge into a deep sleep, she felt the atmosphere shift suddenly in the room. It felt as if someone had just entered but before she could pry her heavy eyelids open her chair was yanked back at full force. Jolting in shock, Claire flailed in attempts to save herself before she hit the tiled floor – which would no doubt cause injury – but attempts at saving herself were futile, yet the backbreaking pain she had expected to riddle her body never came. A hysterical and extremely amused laugh filled the confines of the sunroom and Claire's deep brown eyes narrowed as she located the reason for her almost heart attack standing above her, still holding her chair suspended in the air. Daggers in her eyes, Claire simply waited for the offender to compose themselves.

"Are you finished?" She prompted.

"Aw, come on Claire, it was funny and you know it." The thick southern drawl of Laura cooed.

Sure it would have been funny, Claire thought, if she hadn't been the butt of the brunettes 'oh so funny' prank.

Rolling her eyes at her new friend, Claire just shook her head as a small smile crept to her mouth, she wouldn't – well couldn't – remain angry at the brunette; Laura was just too full of life and happiness for anyone to be annoyed in her presence. "Alright, it may have been a tinny bit funny."

"You mean a lot funny." Laura 'corrected' but before Claire could protest her friend was righting her chair and forcing the blonde out of her warm comfort. "Anyway, hurry and get dressed we're going out."

Claire's brow furrowed as she stared at the woman yet again, though this time with confusion written all over her face.

"Since when?"

"Since I decided we were." Laura stated matter-of-factly, ushering her friend through the building and toward the stairs. "You've been cooped up in this place long enough, you need to get out and act your age a little."

"What do you mean act my age?"

Laura huffed getting slightly impatient, Claire knew she was annoying her with questions but frankly she didn't care. "Where are we going?"