Thread: A Place to Hang your Hat [AnnaBeth and Sigr]

I'm a little behind, the redhead confessed, starting to turn her head but having it steered back by Alba's hand. Sorry. I could be graduating in December, but I don't have time to do my school work except at the end of the day, and if I've been out riding fence or seeing to the stock sometimes I'm just too tired. Or when I stay out overnight and can't get to it then I'm behind. Or when the snow is too heavy and the satellite dish won't pick up the internet satellite then I can't check in or get help. But they're making allowances for it and I can still get my high school diploma May after next. I'll only be eighteen and a bit, so that's not too bad, right? Beth sighed. Granddaddy and I are going to have a real come to Jesus moment soon. He thinks I'm going off to Billings to study ag and get my college degree, that's why he bought me that shirt you saw at supper. I can't go off and leave him, or that as- that snake Walker running the place. What if something happens? 'sides, I don't nohow need a fancy college degree to run this spread. I already do the books for him and if there's something about cattle I don't know then it ain't been invented yet. So, that's that and he'll just have to get used to it, she said stubbornly and leaned her head back a little bit to let Alba work on the crown. The woman's fingers felt so good that Beth went silent, almost drifting in the pleasure of it and wished it could go on forever. It had to end of course, and she blinked when Alba asked her about it. Looking towards the mirror she saw her pigtails and beamed, positively beamed then turned back. Alba kissed her forehead and Beth felt her heart swell and her eyes got super hot and wet. Words weren't the right way to reply, and Beth hugged herself to Alba, arms made strong by ranch work almost too tight as she pulled herself tightly to the older woman. It felt so good, so right and wonderful and it wasn't like when she hugged her grandfather. Alba was so much shorter than the old man, and her body was soft and felt wonderful, so wonderful, like she imagined a mother's would be. There was no way Alba was her mom, but the last ten minutes or so of pampering, of having her hair played with in a gentle way she'd never known sparked something deep inside the girl's heart and she was caught up in the emotions of it all. Almost a minute passed, Beth refusing to break the hug and Alba humoring her, before she squeezed tightly one last time and then let go, wiping at her pretty blue eyes with the backs of her hands then laughing nervously but not apologizing for it. With her hair up on either side in long red pigtails Beth looked even younger, or maybe just more innocent and feminine than she did when riding a horse and helping out strangers in distress. Thank you, she said with quiet sincerity and hugged Alba again, although this time it was brief. Um, Grandaddy would be upset if you slept on the couch, she said. And I don't mind it, it's big enough and I could just throw an afghan on it as a sheet but, do you think maybe we could share my bed? If it won't put you out any? I know we could just fuss about who will sleep where, but this way we both get the bed. Maybe sleep like spoons? Beth's bed was narrow, so narrow that the only way the two women, skinny as they were, would fit would be to snuggle up together but it would work. Promise not to snore, she said and crossed her hear then giggled. Do you think that would be okay?