Chapters 4&5

Chapter 4
The visit with Jeff was a waste, she had spent Saturday babysitting while Jeff and Sabrina worked. Not expecting much since they had just started dating she hoped for a little more than her sleeping on the couch and being a built in baby sitter maybe a kiss, hand holding or even a date to the movies, but there was nothing. Jeff spent more time with Sabrina then he did her after 2 days she couldn't take it anymore it wasn't feeling right. Sabrina had said a few things about Jeff that were eating away at her, she just didn't know how to bring them up to anyone so she kept them hidden. The trip was supposed to have lasted another few days, her only vacation she'd get the next few months but she couldn't stand it there, she needed to get back to the country where she belonged. "I got to go Flossie, when the time is right I'll be back to tell you okay." Nodding Flossie watched her walk away.
Stormy pulled into the driveway, the familiar log cabin ranch home waiting for her, held happier memories of growing up. Throwing her bags on the front porch, she ran to the barn and saddled Moonshine, her daddies mustang he'd brought up from Arizona So many years ago, " Take me away big man." Moonshine, took off at a slow pace, moving into a fast trot, he stopped at the river that flowed at the west end between the 2 ranches. The saddle swing her daddy put up when she was 5 was still there, climbing on she faced the water and thought about all the things going on in her life usually taken back to Curtis and the way his presence made her heart flutter and her knees want to give out those thoughts usually took her to a different time, a memory of past years. Curtis always took her to school once he was old enough to drive, she sat there looking out at the passing fields, wondering what it would be like to be holding his hand or feel his arm around her. She was only 15 but the feelings she had for him started young and was so real. The daydream continued to the day he offered to take another girl to the senior dance...the tears had flowed, her eyes turned puffy and read and she remembered her mom telling her that he would see the error of his ways, he never did. Hearing a whistle she was brought back to present day. "Damn it Curtis you should have said something."
"I did, Moonshine agreed with me." Trying to hide the tears she looked away. "I was just ridding the fence line for damages and saw your horse I was worried about you." A smile crept up to her lips and she relaxed, always a knight, now in dusty boots. "Jack called he didn't know you were home, he won't be in tomorrow, his dad past last night and he is flying home, I told him it wouldn't be a problem, I would be over to cover for him."
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
"What time do you want me here tomorrow, I need to cover jacks work."
Ŝam would be fine thanks, turn in your hours and I'll cut you a check." Curtis snorted at her and turned Jasper toward the ranch, cut the check for him, he didn't need the money and she should have remembered what a strain it was to pay for a funeral..
"Cut the check for Jack he's going to need the money for the funeral." He didn't mean to get sharp with her but she needed to have some cowgirl cooth about this situation, especially when she knew how it felt to lose a parent. Curtis turned the horse around and Jasper broke into a full gallop, before long he was gone and Stormy was still sitting in the swing blushing at the thoughts going through her mind. Curtis rode Jasper hard, finally bringing him to a slow trot; he stopped under a shade tree. "God Jasper she is so beautify!" Jasper nodding as though he understood, finishing the ride home in a slow trot, he brushed the horse down, attended the other horses and went inside, smiling at the picture that was burned into his memory. Those full lips, naturally colored, he knew she wore some color on her lips maybe a tinted lipgloss but not usually the bright lipsticks most women wore these days. Hair that when left to hang free touched the bottom of her butt and had a hint of a curl to it, those jeans, hung on every curve, leaving a man to dream of what he would be holding if he ever got her naked. Not able to take the ache she stirred in him, he took solace in a cool shower before settling in for the night.




Chapter 5
Jeff was hurting inside; he couldn't take it anymore, Stormy was to special to be treated the way he was treating her, it had been 5 months and he had to be honest, Stormy deserved so much more than what he was capable of giving her. Dialing the number he heard her sweet voice, "hey sweetie" The line went silent as Jeff broke the news to her. "You like men? That's why you never tried anything." Jeff thought Stormy hung up, but she soon came back on the phone, "I hate you, it's over, go back to your men, please forget I ever existed." The phone went dead and Jeff knew that she had hung up. Stormy looked around for something to do, giving up she ran to her truck, peeled out and headed to Bones.
Curtis stood on the porch, drinking a tall glass of iced tea watching the Chevy peel out and throw rocks. With the concern of a lover or husband he tried calling her when she didn't answer the phone he headed to the bar. " Rach, I need another drink!" Rachel shook her head with a frown. "Come on please don't make me beg."
" No and on top of that I'm going to say, I told you so. All you had to do was stop with the foolishness and tell the man you love him and have since 1st grade, sorry babe I don't feel bad for you. Jeff was a loser and didn't deserve you, but part of me doesn't think you deserve Curtis either." Rachel hadn't realized that Curtis had walked in but there he was. Being the knight to Stormy was easy for him, that's what he lived to do, take care of her and protect her. Stormy laid her head on the bar, hoping the world would stop spinning but she knew the minute he took the seat next to her. "Go away Curtis. Let me be"
"What is it honey?" Lifting her face to him, he saw the tears, "It can't be that bad can it."
"Really, try this on for size mr. it can't be that bad, Jeff, he likes men, never gave much thought to wanting me or needing me, he used me just to see if women appealed to him. He said he loved me and he lied, nobody loves me and their never going to." Pulling her to him, the warm embrace felt so good but she tore away, "you're never going to love me either so just leave me alone!" Getting up, she tried to get to the door but all she saw was blackness.
"I'll take her home, will you make sure her truck is safe." Nodding Curtis picked her up while Rachelle opened the door, she grabbed his arm, " I know Rach, but I can't just tell her how I feel, she's been hurt and you know what down deep this cowboy, he's been hurt to." Rachel nodded and watched as a great man carried that stubborn filly out of the bar.
The room was dark; Stormy woke to a throbbing headache and very few clothes. Knowing this wasn't her room; she wrapped the blanket around her and went in search him, she knew where she'd find him, standing in the kitchen with the newspaper spread out and a cop of coffee in his hand " Morning sleepyhead. How are you feeling?"
"Morning, how bad was I last night?" Curtis laughed tenderly and told her about the night. Turning her to the mirror she saw the bruise on her face. "I'm sorry you have to save me from myself all the time, but thank you very much."
"You're Welcome, now go get you beautiful butt dressed and I'll take you to your truck, would you like to have some breakfast first." Shaking her head, she made her way slowly up the stairs. Turning the light on she finally noticed the over stuffed couch with a pallet layed on it, leaning over she smelled him, his scent lingered on the couch, what she wouldn't give to have that smell on her all the time. Looking for her clothes, she looked at her shirt, there was the blood from where she ate dirt last night. " Your so stupid Stormy Dawn, letting a man do this to you momma would kick your tail" she said to herself, going through the closet she took one of his button down shirts. It was too big on her, but she loved the feel and knowing he had worn it only made it better, he was never going to get it back.. Tying a knot at the waist she buttoned the sleeves, slipped on her boots, pulled her hair back and headed downstairs.
Curtis nearly choked on his coffee when she walked down wearing his shirt, that shirt was not one of his favorites until that very moment, she looked beautiful in it. Stormy noticed the look on his face but couldn't tell if it was agrivation or something else. "I'll give it back after I wash it, my shirt has blood all over it."
"No problem, so are you ready." Nodding she followed him out. The drive was quiet; all she could do could was look out the window to ashamed to look at him for fear she'd cry again.. "I'm really sorry about Jeff." Stormy gave a weak smile, shrugged her shoulders and continued to look out the window; her heart ached far to much for the one thing she couldn't have not for the thing she lost.
Pulling into the bar , Curtis put the truck in Park and turned to her there was much to tell her, he just had no way of starting.. " Rach and Billy took care to lock the truck for you. She gave me your keys last night." Handing them over he slid out of the truck, walked over to her door letting her out; he was such a gentleman, there wasn't many men left like him Stormy thought as he escorted her to the truck.
" Curtis you are really great. Thank you. How about coming over for dinner tonight. Steak, Potatoes, a hearty meal." Accepting the invite he waited until she left to pull out behind her. Tonight, maybe tonight they both could stop being so stupid and tell each other they things they had held in all these years.