Is Love a FairyTale? Chapter 9, a south of nowhere fanfic

Chapter 9

There is no excuse for how late I am on this update, but I can give you my deepest apologies.

Disclaimer: As y'all all know I don't own SON just the story plot and a handful of characters.

Ashley POV

I stare out at the gently flowing creek from my spot on the rocky bank allowing all my worries and despair drift away with the current. I look about the large oaks thick honeysuckles, and prickly blackberry bushes with a sad smile.

I remember stumbling upon this little hollow when I was fifteen or sixteen years old; I had just partook in a full on blowout with my father over something only God remembers when I rushed out to the barn and saddled up my beloved Quarter Horse, Thunder.

I galloped full speed out of the barn yard and into the surrounding woods with the shouts of my father yelling my name fading into the distance. I don't know how long I rode through the trees but what after felt like hours Thunder jogged up to this shallow little creek encircled by a thicket of blackberries which instantly became my own little paradise quickly complete with a homemade hammock. Whenever I had to get away from something- my father, problems at school, a girlfriend, or even Shawn- I came here.

But this time it isn't any of those reasons for my presence here; it's a beautiful yet extremely tentative woman's fault. Well, I guess the word "fault" is not the right term to use here. It wasn't her fault I freaked out like the crank I am when she came into the room. It's not her fault I'm an unstable person who can't keep her emotions in check. It isn't her fault I have fucking issues.

A gentle nudge to the back of my head brings me out of my internal rant. I twist my head around to face my interrupter, offering them a slight smile in response. Thunder, still my all faithful steed, bumps my forehead with his nose and snorts lightly.

"Yea, I know old man. You're getting' too old for me to just randomly pop up out of the blue and tear down here like your tail is fire." I whisper to the huge horse, kissing the white blaze running down his otherwise black nose.

He nuzzles my face and looks down at me with soulful brown eyes. I always believed that the eyes of a horse could look deep into the darks places in a person's soul and Thunder as proved it many times over to me.

I reach up and scratch at his ears affectionately. "It's just that I messed up today Thunder, I really did. Ya see there is this really nice little family that just moved into town yesterday and I was hired to work on the lady's house which just happens to be the old Vickers's place."

Thunder's ears perked up at the name making me to nod, "Yea that's place I told you about; the really nice property up on Eagles Nest. Anyway, I went up there today and that little gal, Spencer's her name, is the sweetest little lady I have ever met. I mean, c'mon she fed me this amazin' breakfast and treated me with the most absolute and sincere kindness in her quiet way and I go ahead and flip my damn switch over to Psycho Davies all because I looked at a picture. A picture!" I drop my head in my hands.

I take a deep breath and look back out to the creek where I spot Rocco trying to catch Minos with his massive paws. "Man, Thunder, it was so real- like-like I was back in that alleyway with Shawn draped over me injured and bleeding. But then I heard a voice, a voice so soft and sweet it made the scene disappear, but I was angry. Angry, I couldn't save him again. Because of that I'm sure that poor young lady is scared of me. First, I grab her uninvited in the truck the very first day I meet her then I turn on her like a rabid stray does to an unsuspecting rabbit on the second one."

I growl in frustration. "Shit! What do I do? I know I need to apologize but what if she doesn't accept it because she thinks I'm some sorta weirdo and doesn't want me around her kids? I need this job. I want this job…and well I- well I don't really like the idea of Ms. Carlin bein' afraid of me."

Spencer Carlin. Just her name gives me butterflies and sends a shiver down my spine. I haven't had a reaction to a woman like this since…since her. And those two little munchkins of Spencer's are completely endearing and exceedingly good-natured just like their mother. There's just something about those three little Carlins that wants to draw me in and keep me there and that scares me more than anything. Hell, I just met the family one day ago for cryin' out loud! I really am a mess aren't I?

I looked up at Rocco's whine to eye the thoroughly soaked and muddy dog. He licks my face instigating a smile out of me. I ruffle his ears lovingly before he suddenly starts shaking his fur and covering me in watery river clay. "Ahhh! C'mon Rocco! Really? Oh you're lucky I love you or I'd-" He interrupted me with another kiss to my face.

I push him away to stare at the runt with mild annoyance that slowly trickles away by the second. "Humph. You two are really good at listenin' and makin' me feel better. Do ya'll know that? I bet ya do." I say looking back and forth between my horse and Lab. With a sigh I stand up, wiping the back of my blue jeans off lazily.

After grabbing my black cowboy hat off the saddle horn and settling it back on my head, I grasp Thunder's reins and the back of the saddle, hoisting myself up on the horse's back with practiced ease.

"How 'bout we go home and I'll feed you two and grab myself a beer then think of a way to apologize to Spencer in the mornin'. Yea?"

I'm answered with a bark and Thunder tossing his head excitedly.

I smile and tap my heels gently causing my gelding to shoot forward towards home.

The Next Morning at 7:46

I sitting in my truck outside Spencer's house trying to gather the nerve to go to the door. But before I can even come close to convincing myself to get out of the truck I see a little head of blonde hair peep out the window before disappearing. A moment later the front door opens and a little toddler in Spiderman pajamas comes rocketing off the porch and to the door my Chevy.

Slowly, I open my door and smile at the small child grinning up at me. "Hi Ashwe." Scotty says happily, grabbing my glove covered hand and dragging me out of my rig. I am barely able to let Rocco out of Kristy before I'm hauled up the steps of the porch. Which needs to be fixed I observe thoughtfully.

"Mommy's making bweakfast, Ashwe." He informs me cheerfully. Great just the mentioning of that beautiful blonde sends my heart on a rampage. Oh boy.

I walk into the kitchen to find Spencer in front of the oven wearing a knee length blue skirt and a white spaghetti top with a yellow apron over the top frying bacon. I clear my throat quietly as not to frighten her.

She jumped anyway and turned around hold the hand she was gripping the spatula with to her chest. "Oh. Hi, Ashley. I didn't hear you come in… um, I didn't think you would be here today…" she says trailing off uncertainly.

I blush and look down at my feet shamefully. "Yea, I, uh, Scotty kinda pulled me in before I could knock this mornin'…and about yesterday… I, um, well I apologize for my behavior. It was uncalled for and-and I'm sorry I scared you because I'm sure I did. I'm not always like that. Um, damn- I'm mean dang. Crap. I don't-"

A soft touch to my arm stops my rambling mess. I look down at her hand surprised at the sudden contact; she seems just as surprised at her action as me. Slowly she moves her hand off my arm and awkwardly lowers it to her side.

"Easy, Ashley. It's okay. Really it is. I was more concerned than frightened. I mean were you- no- are you okay?" She asks softly, eyes looking down at our feet shyly.

I swallow harshly. Wow, she is a better person than I thought. She's not scared of me but concerned for me. "Um, yeah, I'm okay, ma'am. I just had a little… problem yesterday. I'm perfectly fine now." I smile at her reassuringly.

She eyes me for a second before nodding slightly. "If you are sure, but if you aren't you can go home if you need to. I wouldn't want to cause you any problems." She tells me sweetly.

I shake my head from side to side. "No, no, I'm good. Ready rock!" I grin.

She smiles back and gestures to the table. "Breakfast?"

"Please and thank you, ma'am."

After another tasty breakfast consisting of blueberry pancakes and maple bacon I start to head up stairs just to be stopped by Spencer. "Hey Ashley?"

I stop and turn around adjusting my baseball cap so it's backwards. "Yes, Spencer?"

The blonde shuffles uncomfortably. "Do you think you could start on the shower today? The only water that will run is the cold. If you can that is?"

I grin and nod. "Plumbing is one of my many talents Miss." I say playfully.

Spencer giggles quietly making my grin wider. "One of many, huh?" she says teasingly.

I chuckle. "I have mad skills with these babies." I wiggle my fingers at her.

She blushes and scuffs her toes against the carpet. "I believe you. I'm, uh, going to take the boys for a walk. If you need anything just say so."

I nod my understanding. "Why don't ya take Rocco with ya. He'll keep an eye out for snakes and what not… oh! Right behind the house about fifteen yards back there is a blackberry bush. I kinda noticed all the bakin' stuff in the kitchen earlier and well the berries are awesome in pies and such."

She smiles up at me. "Thank you. I'll have to take the boys down there to pick some…I like making cobblers." I smile a little as she walks away. It seems she is kinda warmin' up to me. I straighten my tool belt and continue up the stairs.

Whelp it's time for work.

11:45

I'm just finishing the finally touches on the water heater when the creak of the floor boards alert me to someone walking down the hall. "Ashley?" Spencer's soft voice calls down the hallway to me.

"I'm at the end down here." I holler back to her.

A few seconds later a blonde head pokes around the corner at me. "How's it going up here, Ash?"

My eyebrows shoot up at the use of my nickname. She immediately blushes and starts to apologize but before she could I smile at her and say, "I'm done with the water heater now. Whatcha got for me now, Spence?"

She relaxes but blushes more fiercely. "Well I was wondering how you felt about subs for lunch. I'm sure you're hungry." She says shyly.

She really is a bashful little thing.

"I think it sounds great. When should I be down?" I question as I rinse my hands in the sink.

"Now if you want. I just have to finish up and get the boys from the porch. You can start on something else after lunch. Does that work?"

I readjust my hat and nod. "It's a plan."

Together we walk downstairs and into the kitchen. I slip in a seat at the table as she goes to the fridge taking out pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, and other sandwich stuff. Spencer starts chopping the veggies, humming to herself.

"Delta Dawn." I mumble.

"Hmmm." She asks imploringly.

I clear my throat. "The tune you were hummin'. It was Delta Dawn by Tanya Tucker. Right?"

Spencer smiles. "Yeah. My father used to sing this when we went fishing back in Ohio. I haven't thought of the song in years. This place reminds me so many things… I can only think of the tune. The words escape me." She mutters the last part dejectedly.

I don't know what possessed me but for some reason I start singing: