@simonfuckingriley continued from [x]
The sun is only beginning its journey into the sky, throwing out bright orange rays across the canyon that forms a backdrop to her property.
The sight always makes her heart swell, the dusty plains her ancestral home. She’s lived on this ranch her entire life, was taught to tend and herd cattle as soon as she was old enough to sit in a saddle. Her home is generations old, carved with memories of those who came before her, the wood beams themselves etched with familiarity. Since they day her father died and left the ranch in her keeping, she’s been fighting. Fighting to protect her land from bandits, from horse thieves and even from the Mayor who seems so desperate to call her land his own.
She’d rather die than give it up.
She lives here alone for the most part, aside from her childhood friend Andy, a soldier injured in duty who now works the farm and is an extra pair of hands around a rifle when it’s needed. In truth, Lara doesn’t want to contemplate life on the ranch without him, her heart never truly cut out to be alone. She’s not the solitary type, has never truly been one to live in complete isolation, however at odds that might be with her chosen occupation and lifestyle.
She’s a contradiction, but she refuses to change, even in the face of a world that seems unable to truly accept her. Perhaps that’s why she finds so much solace in the arms of an outlaw, condemned by society and by her friends. A man Andy has threatened so many times to report to the sheriff, and yet never does out of his love for her.
Today she’s setting out to ride the perimeter of her property, to test the fences and count her herd. It’s farm hand work, but in reality Lara needs the distraction, her body feeling heavy within the saddle of her horse. She doesn’t sleep well, never has for as long as she can remember. Her dreams are always nightmares, plagued with flashing memories that don’t make sense. There are always faces of people she doesn’t remember come morning, nonsensical words thrown at her in anger. There’s often violence, pain, sometimes even torture. Sometimes she sees the people she cares for die, helpless and grounded to the spot whilst the phantom faces loom over them.
The dreams almost always end in her own death. The images are always so real in her minds eye, often places around her home and property. Sometimes it’s a quick gunshot by the perimeter fence, sending the world hurtling into black and her mind back into consciousness. Other times it’s a sharp stab to her gut, a tormenting shrill laugh as she slips on her own blood, crawling helplessly across the bare floorboards of her sitting room.
The dreams always feel hauntingly real... until they’re not. Somehow, in the light of day the phantom fade and she can forget. Until the night comes and the ghosts return.
She hasn’t got far until she sees him, riding onto her land like he owns it. It’s the confidence and swagger of a man who knows that he’s wanted, even when she sees Andy unceremoniously greet him at the fence. Unable to stop a smile spreading across her features, Lara spurs her horse into action, riding out to meet him and not entirely caring if she seems eager. It’s been months, too long even by their standards. She isn’t afraid to show him that she’s missed him, if only a little.
It’s the smirk that gets her, followed by the deep, husky voice that has been her undoing so many times before. She pulls her horse to a stop, the animal letting out a soft huff in what could almost sound like disapproval. In the background Lara can see Andy shaking his head and returning to work, but she ignores him, instead pushing an easy smile across her features.
“Mayor is just trying to squirrel away all the land he can, but apparently telling him ‘no’ isn’t exactly something he’s used to.” She shrugs, giving him a knowing smirk. “I may or may not have been holding my pistol at the time. Y’know, for emphasis.” Leaning back in her own saddle, she tries her hardest to appear nonchalant, although the flirty undertone in her voice gives her away. “Besides, you’re the one who keeps on disappearing to play outlaw. I have to fuck with someone while you’re gone.”
ellievsbear
vaporwave
pixelskylines
romaincrisis
blakekathryn
discoholicmusic
