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Getting a little lax on the reviews all, remember they feed the muse

Several hours later Olivia lay frustrated in bed. For the rest of the night she had played pool with Tyler, sometimes pairing up to play some of the cowboys that offered them a game. She proved that a city slicker knew how to play, a lot better than some of them did.

She had used every opportunity to touch Tyler, handing over drinks, grabbing the pool cue, brushing past to take shots. Tyler had even taken her for a couple of spins on the dance floor, much to the delight of many. The sexual tension between them had built to a crescendo and they were about to call it a night when Tyler had received a phone call. Next thing she knew Tyler's deputy was picking her up to go to a serious crash involving a bus and a Semi trailer and she was driving back to the ranch on her own. Someone upstairs hated her, she was sure. Sighing she rolled over and prayed she got to sleep sometime soon.

Alex was sitting in the departure lounge of gate 3 reading a newspaper. She had arrived several minutes ago, early for her flight, and found most of the lounge vacant. She'd located a table at the back so she could people watch and be alert if anyone came close. It would give her time to raise her head and give the well feared Cabot stare. She found it amazing the places where men tried to pick her up.

The paper was slightly boring and wasn't holding her attention well hence why she became aware of music blaring from someone's headphones. Looking up she was surprised to see a cowboy sitting at a table nearby, she hadn't seen him approach. He had his back to her and she let her gaze run over him.

Dressed in the prerequisite jeans which she had to admit he filled out nicely, tan leather cowboy boots, tan belt, blue denim shirt and white Stetson. A Denim jacket lay over a backpack on a chair nearby. She could tell even sitting he had to be several inches over six feet, was very lean with broad shoulders which told her he was young, early to mid twenties. The skin she could see at the back of his neck was a rich dark brown which told her he saw plenty of sun and the short hairs peeking out from under his hat were brown with a few lighter streaks. Sun streaks she guessed, not anything from a salon. Her interest was piqued. Of course some attention was welcome and it had been a long dry spell recently. The fact he appeared younger than her didn't faze her in the slightest. She'd had several younger lovers, they were like the energizer bunny.

He appeared to be nervous, his right leg was tapping out a stucco, his elbows were propped on the table and his hands which appeared large, long and lean were twisting together in front of his face. A nervous traveller?

The pounding music that could be heard was coming from the earpieces of the IPod shuffle that were lodged in his ears. She figured he was trying to distract himself and it wasn't working. He may be cute from the rear view but now he was just annoying her with his music. He looked too pathetic to go tell off though. Maybe if she caught his attention?

At that moment he scratched at the back of his neck as if sensing her stare and raised his head and looked around. Their gazes met and two jaws dropped simultaneously. Alex shouldn't be shocked, this was New York, but the cowboy she'd been ogling for the past couple of minutes was a cowgirl!

Tatum (Tate) Chandler was dumbstruck. Talk about a blast from the past. It was one of her old teachers Ms Carsen. She'd been her Senior year English teacher, well for the first semester anyway and then word had come that her elderly grandmother living in New York had fallen and broken her hip and she had quit to go take care of her.

She would never forget her though, she'd been going through a very difficult time in her life, it had spiralled further out of control when Ms Carsen had left. She remembered her teacher as kind, stunningly beautiful, could freeze you at 20 paces with her stare but there had always been a vulnerability about her that had intrigued Tate. She'd fallen hard for her and hadn't known what the hell to do about it.

As she looked into surprised eyes now she expected it was at her appearance not in recognition. She's always gone for the shock jock look, just for kicks. 5 years ago it had been gothic, with black makeup, clothes and enough metal in her to set off a metal detector.

These days she went for the cowboy look, not to shock but because for the first time in her life she felt comfortable in her own skin. She had a lot to thank Tyler for and so far hadn't let her down.

As she continued to stare at Ms Carsen she felt her palms start to sweat and her heart beat race. Her mouth went unbearably dry and she licked her lips in a vain attempt to produce some saliva as heat curled in the pit of her stomach. 5 years and she could still produce this reaction. Suddenly she felt a great need to speak to the blonde who now had one delicate brow arched in query.

She stood up, swearing when she forgot about her IPod as it swung off the table and the force ripped the earplugs out of her ears making them sting. Wincing slightly she hurriedly stooped and picked it up off the ground, relieved to see it wasn't broken. Why did she have to become a klutz around this woman? She was no longer an awkward teenager for God's sake.

She took a step towards her old teacher, slightly shamed by the humour in her eyes before she remembered her jacket and backpack and groaning turned back to pick them up before walking over to speak to the blonde.

"Ms Carsen, long time no see. How's your gran doing?" she asked and then cursed herself. What if her gran had died?

Alex felt the blood drain from her face and all her humour evaporated from watching the tall lanky cowgirl fumble as a past she only wished she could forget jumped up and bit her on the face. Geez Cabot, pull your shit together.

"I'm sorry you must have me confused with someone else" she told the young woman, not recognising her but figuring she had to be a student from the school she'd taught at for 6 months before returning to New York.

"I don't think so" the cowgirl grinned "I'd remember you anywhere, you shot me enough death glares. Oh" the young woman put her backpack and jacket on a chair at her table "I'm Tatum Chandler, Tate, last time you saw me I was sitting up the back of your English class dressed as a Goth and stoned out of my mind" she flashed a grin

Alex remembered the girl in question and although the woman in front of her was the right height she was about 80 pounds lighter, did not have the rings rimming her ears, well she had a stud in each and a sleeper in the top of her left. Nor did she have the silver spike sticking out of her bottom lip or the nose chain. She did however have a spiked bar pushed through her right eyebrow.

Looking at her closely she could see some resemblance but what she suddenly remembered most about the girl was her eyes, bright green eyes. Not dark like emeralds but very light, unusual eyes. That, her square jaw and high cheekbones gave her quite an exotic look. She nodded

"Yes I remember" she offered a smile, determined to get past this little hurdle. She would make small talk for a few minutes then catch her plane and could put this behind her. Deciding to be polite she offered a seat to the woman who grinned and hastily fell into it with a mumbled thank you.

"So you're a cowgirl these days?" she asked the woman. What was her name again. Tate?

"Yes ma'am" Tate nodded "Have been for the past 4 years. I live in Montana now" and Alex felt her stomach plummet again. Obviously this woman was catching the same flight as she was, which should have been obvious long ago since they were sitting in the same departure lounge. "I came to New York to see Gordon Ramsay, you heard of him?"

Alex nodded, still slightly dumbfounded "Yes I watch him occasionally"

"I'm a cook on a ranch back home, I was very lucky to get the job. I should have been doing time instead" Tate looked down, ashamed of her past as curiosity lit in Ms Carsen's eyes "I got into some heavier drugs, started doing things I'm not proud of to get a fix. My lucky night when I met the right person at the right time. It saved me" she shrugged

Alex had to fight with her curiosity, she wanted to know more but she was pleased at least that Tate had turned her life around.

"I'm glad things are going well for you" she nodded "You do sound as if you were lucky"

"Yeah" Tate suddenly seemed edgy again as she looked around, noticing more people had arrived in the departure lounge and air hostesses were doing last minute checks at the gate. They would be boarding soon and then she would have to face her fear of flying all over again.

"Are you Ok? You appear nervous" Alex asked Tate and was a bit surprised to see Tate was grey in colour and sweating

"I'm fine" Tate squeaked then cleared her throat "Just don't like flying. If we were meant to fly we would have been born with wings, you know"

"It'll be fine" Alex assured

"Sure" Tate groaned then asked "So you're heading for Montana too? You have a job there?"

"No" Alex answered shortly then seeing the confusion on Tate's face sighed "No, I have a friend there. She's on a driving holiday and has broken down. I'm flying out to join her while she waits for her car to get fixed" which would be news to Olivia as she had no idea she was coming and wouldn't until Alex got to Calling and needed directions.

"Oh, well there is plenty to do and see in Montana, it's a lovely state. Where in Montana is she?" Tate asked and Alex saw no reason not to tell her, Montana was a big state, Tate was unlikely to have even heard of Calling.

"A small town called Calling. Have you heard of it?"

Tate could only stare at the blonde in shocked disbelief. What were the chances? Surely this had to be a sign somehow

"Of course I know it, it's where I live" she grinned and with those few words Alex's heart fell to her toes. Why couldn't this be easy?

Several minutes later Alex sat in comfort in her the spacious business class chair and organised things around her. She would relax on the flight and once they landed she would do her best to avoid Tate. She had to find herself incredibly lucky that just at the awkward moment earlier the gates had opened and they had requested passenger's board.

Alex had to admit she was a little concerned by how grey Tate had gone but she had put on a brave face and standing had picked up her stuff. Alex had assured her again it would be fine and the disbelieving look that had been sent her way had her biting her lip at her ill timed mirth had threatened.

She had watched Tate stride away after an awkward goodbye and Tate's hopeful "See you on the other end"

Alex had waited for the second calling before moving forward and checking in. She was well known around the airport and was given the VIP treatment and seated in her seat. She clicked her seatbelt into place, adjusted the tightness and sat back to read the paper during takeoff.

Fifteen minutes later she wondered what the delay was and seeing a harassed air hostess she knew waved her down.

"Yes Miss Cabot?" the woman asked

"Is there a problem?" Alex asked and the woman sighed

"It's nothing, just a nervous flyer we are trying to coax into her seat and calm down". The hostess smiled and Alex's eyebrow raised. Tate?

"She wouldn't happen to be dressed like a cowgirl would she?" Alex asked and saw the surprise in the hostess's eyes before she nodded "Ok, I know it's irregular but bring her up here, I have a spare seat and I might be able to relax her. She's an old acquaintance"

She was? She could? What was she thinking? Well not a lot obviously as it seemed she was suffering from verbal diarrhoea.

"That's highly irregular Miss Cabot"

"Please, do you want to get the plane off the ground or not?" Alex shot her the famous stare "Go tell her Ms Carsen requests she sits next to her during the flight"

"Carsen?" the hostess was confused

"Just do it" Alex instructed and the hostess hurried off. Alex shook her head thinking she had to be mental but at least the next few hours would give her the chance to suss out if Tate knew Tyler and to maybe explain her own situation. She took the time to free up the spare seat beside her and waited.

A few short minutes later the hostess led a very pale Tate to her seat. Alex was quite taken back by how scared she truly was and quickly unsnapped her own belt and stood to gently guide the woman into the seat and take her backpack and jacket from the hostess before dismissing her, she had it from here.

Opening the hatch above Tate's head she pushed the bag and jacket in before shutting it securely. Sliding into her seat she turned to look at Tate who was watching her sheepishly.

"I suppose you think I'm a big baby" Tate groaned as her shaking hands couldn't do up the belt and Alex took over from her

"No. Everyone has their fears" Alex assured, making sure the belt was tight

"What's yours?" Tate asked and Alex sighed

"I have several but meeting you, or what you represent is the biggest" she told the confused woman beside her and when green eyes locked onto hers questioningly she sighed "Let me introduce myself properly. Hello Tate Chandler my name is Alexandra Cabot, I'm a lawyer. When you knew me 5 years ago I was in the Witness protection program after being shot by a hit man for a Cartel"

Tate's jaw dropped open and she stared at the blonde in front of her speechless. In fact she was so dumbfounded she didn't realise they had taxied out onto the runway until the engines screamed and they lurched forward

"Oh shit" she swore and grabbed tight onto the armrest. A warm gentle hand settled over hers and her eyes rose to meet the kind ones of Alexandra. She didn't dare let go of the armrest though in fear she would break the delicate fingers if she was to take the offered hand. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing as she tried not to hyperventilate. Finally Alexandra's calm voice penetrated.

"Tate, Tate look at me" she requested and Tate slowly opened her eyes "We're going to be fine OK"

"K" she croaked, not believing a word of it and Alexandra could tell by the look she was given "Do you get called Alexandra or can I shorten it? It's a bit of a mouthful"

"Well you know what they say, anything more than a mouthful is a waste" Alex quipped then cleared her throat when Tate stared at her in surprise "You ah, can call me Alex"

"Ok Alex" Tate nodded "Talk to me, tell me more about yourself or I swear I'm going to be very girly and scream soon"

Alex laughed, she couldn't help it. The image of Tate being girly and screaming just didn't fit. Tate forgot all about the plane taking off and could only stare at the beauty in front of her. Her heart just about beat out of her chest and she started to tremble from a whole new other reaction other than fear.

Alex had seen the look Tate was sending her a thousand different times on men, and a few women and couldn't believe she was getting it from Tate now. She was so young and so so... heck she didn't know. She decided to do what she did best with things she didn't want to face. She ignored it and hoped it went away. With her past record she should have known it wouldn't work.