Penname: Babette12
Original or Derivative (fanfiction): DERIVATIVE
Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Ranchward – thanks to 4stringqueen for the name!
Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.
Prompt: Devastation

"Wait!" I called into the cowboy's back just as he was riding off. "My wallet! I'm sure it's somewhere around, and I'll need that."

He pulled up short and turned in the saddle to look at me. "Well, now, Miss Bella, look around you." And I did, taking in the devastation made to the landscape by hundreds of running hooves. "If your wallet was on the ground I promise you it was trampled to bits. I hope you didn't have much cash, because that is now gone. You can call your credit card companies and they'll issue you new ones, and you'll need a new license as well. Trust me, you aren't the first to lose your wallet to stampeding animals."

My face fell. I didn't have the number for my credit card; it was written on a piece of paper at home on my desk, though. I would have to call Charlie. He would probably give me grief for leaving the interstate. I could just imagine him hanging his head and shaking it while saying, 'Oh, Bella,' in that condescending tone parents sometimes get.

"It'll be all right, miss," he reassured me as he pulled my hands tight around his waist. "Now hold on tight, clasp your hands together so you don't fall. We'll be back to the house in just a while." As I wrapped my arms around him again I was tempted to lay my hands flat on his stomach. I could feel the ridges of his abdomen under my fists, this guy must work out! I leaned my face against his back and took in a deep smell of his body. I knew he was sweaty from work, but he smelled divine. A mixture of musk and dust and something I couldn't quite place. He shifted a bit in his saddle after I was secured to him before he took off again at a gallop.

The landscape flew by at a dizzying pace. I knew it wasn't as fast as my car was going, but there was something about having the wind in your face, and not having a ton of steel surrounding you, or in the case of my truck a few tons, that made it seem even faster. I found myself clinging to the gorgeous man for dear life, shutting my eyes against his back as I tried to keep my stomach calm from the rocking motion of the horse. I found I was glad I hadn't eaten that bag of chips.

The first awareness I had that we had stopped was feeling him tug on my hands and the vibrations of his chuckle in his stomach. "Um, Miss Bella? You can let go now, we're here."

I looked up and saw a small smile above a strong jaw line. I probably shouldn't have looked, because now I was just as mesmerized by that as I had been in feeling the muscles of his stomach. He continued to laugh as he disengaged my hands from around him. I threw my leg over the back of the horse and began to slide down, only my camisole caught on his stirrup, ripping it further and I could feel it cut into my stomach. I pushed off quickly, fully tearing my top up the front, but sparing my flesh and landed hard on my backside.

He began to laugh again. "I'm guessing you don't have a whole lot of experience dismounting?"

"I don't have any experience mounting either," I quipped back as I gathered the tattered remnants of my top around me and pushed them in to stop the trickle of blood I could feel starting to drip down. His eyes followed my actions, reflecting appreciation over ogling me at first, but then changing to horror when he saw a spot of blood.

"Did you cut yourself?" he exclaimed as he jumped down fluidly from the horse. "I'm sorry to laugh at you, but you were a sight landing like that," he halfway apologized as he picked me up off the ground. I gave a squeak as I felt myself lifted in the air. No wonder his abs felt so good, he picked me up like I weighed nothing at all!

"I'm fine, now put me down! I'm too heavy to be carried and am perfectly capable of walking!" I shouted, mortification spreading on my cheeks at being held so close. He just laughed and carried me into the house.

"Edward! Is that you?" I heard a motherly voice call from within as we walked through the side door. "Be sure to kick those boots off, young man, I don't want to be cleaning up anything you might be tramping in!" I could feel Edward start to chuckle as he held me. I looked at him and could see the amusement in his eyes. "Now I do hope you aren't bringing any strays into my house, this is not your office!" the voice called, her footsteps coming closer to us as he carried me into what appeared to be the kitchen. "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times I don't want any, OH!"

An older woman had come around another corner and stopped short when she saw me cradled in Edward's arms. She was of average height, quite pretty with caramel colored hair, salted through with a few strands of gray, and a slim figure. Edward carried me over to a chair by the table and set me in it. "Sorry, mom, I didn't kick off my boots and I have brought in a stray. This is Bella." He gave me a grin before looking up at his mother. "Her car broke down over on the main drive and she was walking along it as we came over the hill with the herd. She was smart enough to climb a tree, thankfully." I looked over to the woman and could see that she was appraising my clothes with a raised brow. "Um, her shirt got ripped up and then caught on my spur and ripped some more. I think it cut her."

As soon as she heard that she went into action. "Well, now, go kick those boots off and clean up what you've tracked in and I'll tend to her. Then call Rose about her car." She walked over to me and knelt down to look at my cut. "I'm Esme, dear. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Now let me get a look at you." With the practice of motherhood she looked at the small cut the tine of Edward's spur had made when it caught on my skin. "I think you'll live," she said, appraising me. "I'll show you to a shower, you're covered in dust. You look to be about my size, so I'll leave some clothes for you in the bathroom once you're in, along with a bandaid and some antibiotic ointment, just in case."

I could hear Edward on the phone talking about my car as his mother led me down the hall to what appeared to be a guest bedroom off the side of the house. The bathroom was exquisite with a large shower in the corner. "Now, there's all you'll need in there. If you need any feminine products, they're under the sink and there are new, trial-size personal items in the drawers so help yourself to whatever you need. Feel free to use the towels hanging there and I'll be right back with some clothes for you and will take yours to wash." I blushed at how direct she was with me, but I supposed that came with ranch life.

As soon as she left I stripped down and hopped in. It was wonderful to be able to wash away the sweat and dust and I had to admit I probably spent longer than I should have in the cool water. It just felt so nice against my over-heated skin. There was so much dirt in my hair I had to wash it a few times before the water ran clean. When I finally got out I found my clothes gone and a fresh set in their place. There was even underwear with tags still on them, including a bra that seemed like it would work, even if the cups were a little big. I tended my cut and dressed quickly, leaving my hair in a towel to keep it from dripping down my back as I dressed. Finding a hair brush in the drawer I hung the towel back up and raked it through and then just left it hanging down my back.

I pulled open the bathroom door and jumped in surprise, letting out a squeak. There stood Edward, showered, dressed in low hanging jeans and a tight, white t-shirt that emphasized the muscles that lay beneath, with his hand raised as if he was about to knock. We stared at each other for a moment, caught up in our surprise, and for me, in how nicely he cleaned up and how beautiful his deep, green eyes were.

"Mom has fixed some supper and asked me to come fetch you to eat," he mumbled, breaking the silence. "Rose had already been on her way here and so just picked up your car on the way in." He pointed over to the bed. "I've brought in your suitcase for you."

I wondered just how long I had spent in the shower if all that happened while I was bathing! I just blushed and thanked him, glad to be able to get my own clothes when I heard a noise behind him and looked up to see a huge guy standing in the doorway to the guest room. He had laughing blue eyes and dark curly hair and barely fit through the doorway. He looked like a walking wall of muscle!

"So, Edward, you finally picked up a girl!" he laughed as he crossed over to where we were standing. "I told Jasper you weren't gay."

"Shut. Up, Em," Edward growled as he turned to the massive guy who was now standing beside him, holding his hand out to me.

"Hi Bella, I'm Emmett," he introduced himself and then hooked his thumb at Edward, "this ones big brother. It's my Rose who is looking at your car." He then turned to Edward. "Mom sent me to see what was taking you so long," his eyes raked over me and his grin split his face in two before he continued, "I can see why you might want to be alone with her though."

"You're done, Em, and we're coming now. I was just telling her where her things are," he grumbled. He grabbed my hand, surprising both of us, and started leading me into dinner. I could hear Emmett behind us making an inappropriate comment about Edward showing me where other things are, and couldn't help but chuckle as I was towed back to the kitchen.

He must have heard me because he looked down at me with amusement on his face. "The real joke is that you probably think you've met the worst of us. Just wait until you meet my sister!" He then dropped my hand as we turned into the kitchen.

Mmm, there's just something about a polite, gentlemanly cowboy, now isn't there?