Ch 4 – Shane
Thwack!
Thwack!
Thwack!
Damn repeatative noise is almost melodic. Probably cathartic, too. It certain is, just watching.
Thwack!
Thwack!
Thwack!
Snap!
Oh, victory, strays the idle thought as Shane takes another drink, the sound of the tree falling in the background.
It's a nice sound, the destruction.
Not as nice as the chickens going ham, but a nice sound of progress.
Suddenly Shane realizes it's quiet.
Looking around, Shane realizes the girl is gone.
"Why are you watching me?"
Shane is drunk enough to not be startled. He isn't ashamed to admit at flinching at the sight of a one armed axe wielding woman behind him though.
"Sorry," Shane says, directing his breath away. He's not drunk enough to be uncourteous, he is intruding after all, "was just looking to see the new neighbor. I suppose that's you, innit?"
The tall lady nods, the curl's and glasses framing her like that one mean teacher Shane had dreams of a few times. Something about the twigs and leaves caught in her hair added to that sharp beauty.
Shane straights up his drunken slouch, not offering a hand, "Name's Shane Stalwart, I live and work at the ranch just a bit south from here."
The lady smiles, "My name is Taylor Hebert. I'm… retired and farming, I guess," her voice wistful.
"Retired?" Shane smirks at the thought, looking up, "That sounds like a story worth hearing one day. I think you're around the same age as me, so you've must of had a hell of life."
Taylor's posture closes off.
Shane shakes his head, "I'm not gonna ask, I'm not callous enough for that. Got a few other folks in town that got ghosts chasing after them."
Taylor relaxes.
"So what're ya plans? Gonna keep tearing down the forest?"
Taylor frowns at that, "Well, most of my property is just overgrowth now, it'll take a while to clear it out. Also gotta get a better income so I can actually make the farm productive. Ground's fertile, though, so crops are growing well."
"What you got growing right now?"
Taylor thumbs her axe, "Parsnips. Lewis gave me a box of seed. It says it'll take just over a week to grow. Honestly though, I have no idea what a parsnip is." "It's a vegetable." "…?" "That's all I know about them." Taylor smiles. "Yeah. I made a trip down to the general store for more seed and stuff, so I'll be expanding tomorrow.
Shane nods a bit, "'Lotta work ain't it?"
"I'm managing."
Shane gestures towards his home, invisible except for the silo peeking over the treeline, "It's an endless cycle over there, check the coops, the feed and check the things for all the injuries and make sure nobody hurting nothing. Then it's circling the fences for gaps. After that, I run to town to check on Jas and finally I'm free for whatever's left of the day."
Shane puckers his lips, looking sorrowfully at his empty can. "It always sucks when the plan deviates."
Taylor is still as a statue, contemplates his words. Maybe she's contemplating the arc of the swing to Shane's neck.
It's at this point Shane realizes how still the woman is. How strong she is to get that axe to swing right into the tree, how deft at movement she's capable of being seeing as how she completely slipped his line of sight and got behind him.
Shane's can is empty.
Returning to his slouch, Shane tugs on his collar for comfort.
"Every two weeks on Friday nights, everyone goes to Gus's Tavern to socialize. I'm not saying you should go, and I'm not trying to date you, just, it's a good way to meet most of the folks that live here. Only like, three people never go, so yeah."
"Three people… yeah I don't think I go this week." "Sorry, uh, it's next week." "Alright, uh… yeah I still might not be able to go."
"I'll spread the word."
"Thank you," Taylor smiles. It's her biggest smile yet, a solid curve of her lips. He watched as her scowl turned more comfortable and now, finally a smile. Feels like a good time to leave.
Taylor shoulders the axe and fidgets, "Well, Shane Stalwart, it was nice meeting you today."
Shane smiles, "It's great finally meeting you. Don't forget to take it easy once in a while, no need to overwork yourself."
Taylor turns a bit stiffly towards her farm, departing without another word.
Shane watches her for a few steps before turning away himself.
Never turning back, Shane thinks and contrasts Taylor to his own experience with veterans and soldiers in Zuzu City. It's pretty conclusive, Taylor is some kind of soldier or warrior, and is being forced into retirement just like Abigail said. Shane, however, thinks Taylor wants to go back, and is taking her frustrations out on the earth and trees.
Either way, Shane, finally getting home at Marnie's Ranch, tosses his can in the trash and opened another can.
Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
A/N: I love Shane. I don't like him. This was fun to write.