#I have nothing else to add to this au lmao this is a spur of the moment thought i had because it made me laugh in my head lol | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

leoswritingcorner · 5 years

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the cowboy and the hellion

to celebrate me finishing all my essays, i wrote moonray in the western au ft some ashley. it’s long, longer than what i intended lmao why am i like this

“Red!”

Zelda tries not to flinch at the Madam’s rough shout. She takes a breath, counts to five in a quiet whisper, and stops sweeping the floor. The fading bruise under her eye reminds Zelda to reply differently than with just a snappy ‘what’ like last time.

“Yes, ma’am?” Zelda calls back, keeping back a biting tone.

The Madam nearly barks over her reply with a “Get yer skinny-self over here!”

Setting the broom aside, Zelda turns down the hallway. The reeking scent of stale tobacco and liquor fills Zelda’s nose before she even reaches the wide double doors of Madam’s office. She knocks once before entering. It smells even worse inside, with odors Zelda did not even want to know what they were.

“Ya wanted to see me?” Zelda asks as she steps into the office. She tries to look anywhere else but at the Madam.

Madam was an old woman, edging close to sixty years old but vicious as a viper. Zelda learned that the hard way over the last couple of weeks, ever since her bastard of a dad sold her off for just a few dollars.

“M’puttin y’ to work.” Madam mumbles around a cigarette.

Zelda lifts her brows. “Ma’am, I already am workin’” She says, motioning back to the parlor room. “You got me cleanin’ this place from top to bottom.”

Madam scoffs. The wig of fake dark curls she wore on her head tilted to the side as she stands up. Her face overly done up in makeup, in some vain attempt to hold off on her aging, but it only made her look older. “I paid your daddy five dollars for your lanky ass, Red. I had y’ cleanin’ cause the fellers that visit like meat on the girls. But tonight, you’ll be really earnin’ that money I wasted on you.”

Zelda isn’t sure where her voice went. There was nothing more that she wanted to do than scream, or even run. But her legs seemed locked, stuck right there on the spot as Madam continues on

“Buncha cowboys came through. More than the girls I got.” She says, walking to Zelda. She tugs on a strand of her frizzy hair. “Go bathe in Clara’s room.” Madam orders. “Borrow one of her dresses, then get into room nine, your client will be in th-”

“I can’t.” Zelda blurts. “No, no I can’t…” She shakes her head. “I won’t!” She sees Madam’s hand strike out, but there’s not enough time. The slap stings hard against Zelda’s cheek.

“Do as I said or I’ll let them boys turn y’ for free. Do I make m’self clear?” Madam’s voice is gravelly, as she swears next to her ear. Zelda swallows back the own curses rising in her throat, and keeps the gathering tears in her eyes from falling.

“Yes, ma’am.” Zelda mumbles. She pulls away from Madam, and doesn’t look back as she leaves. Her fists tremble , she could only picture slamming them into the old woman’s face.

This was a mistake.

Garrett looks at the door and wonders if still he has time to leave. It’s a small room. Drafty, but covered in silk drapes. The bed was a decent size, and looked comfortable. Well, any bed would beat out sleeping on the cold, hard ground night after night. But it’s floral scented sheer sheets that were laid across the bed that made his stomach flip.

“What am I doing?” He questions himself, tugging off his hat. He covers his face with a hand before pushing his fingers through his hair. He could have blamed it on a spur-of-the-moment deal, or how he was practically dragged into the brothel by the other cowboys.

‘You need a little female company, White.’ One of them had encouraged, pulling him inside. ‘It’s been months. We all deserve this. Hell, I’ll even pay for yours’

Garrett stiffly followed a girl up to the room, barely able to stand her constant giggling and wandering hand. She pushed him into room nine and winked. ‘Your girl will be here soon.’ She said, her eyes wandering over him. ‘Lucky her.’

He eyes the door, and pulls on his hat. “That’s it.” He decides. Just before his hand could reach the handle, it swings open and a short young woman stumbles in. Her brown eyes wide with surprise.

“Oh s-.”

“Sorry.”

There isn’t much movement. In that time, Garrett takes a glance over her. Her red hair was in quickly twisted curls, her face was slender, just like her body that was barely clad in-

“Oh.” Garrett says again, ducking his head down quickly. He feels a warmth of a blush come across his cheeks.

The door shuts, and he glances up to see her hesitantly locking it. She rubs her elbows and clears her throat. “Were ya gettin’ impatient?” She asks. He doesn’t answer right away.

“I’m Zelda.” She supplies, hoping to get a response.

Garrett finally finds his voice. “Garrett. I’m Garrett.” He replies. “And no. No, I wasn’t. Sorry, I just…” He trails off with a sigh. “This wasn’t really my idea.”

Zelda scoffs, mumbling to herself. “Yeah, wasn’t mine either.”

She turns to the bed and feels her own face warming up. Where was she even suppose to start? What was she supposed to do? Suddenly the warming in her face gives away to dread, as her blood pratically drains. This was going to be her life now. Earning money on a mattress, only to lose it to some heinous old woman with a lousy wig. This moment would lead into it all. Her first time…

“Hey. Uh, Z-Zelda?”

She jumps at the sound of Garrett’s voice. She almost forgot the cowboy was there. She whips her head around to face him. That’s when she notices his dark hair poking out from underneath his hat. How sun kissed his skin was, and the warmest looking eyes she ever saw. In them, she saw him looking at her worried, and it’s only then that she realizes she’s shaking.

He takes a step toward her, but stops himself. “You look n-nervous.” He says.

“Was I that obvious?” Zelda asks, hoping the shaking didn’t reach her voice. Garrett comes over, nodding.

“Only cause I’m feeling the same way.” He says, hoping it would ease her a bit. Her shoulders seem to relax and a tiny smile pulls at her lips. “It’s uh…” He breathes out, and says quickly. “My first time, doing any of this.”

Zelda pauses, looking to Garrett. “You...you’ve never done this?”

Garrett looks every inch embarrassed, and Zelda winces. “I”m sorry! I’m sorry.” She says, gently patting his arm. “I didn’t mean it like that. Ya should probably know that, I ain’t ever done anything like this either.” She admits quietly.

“Wait, so I’m your first-”

“In every which way.” Zelda nods. She picks up one of the sheer sheets, sniffing at the floral scent before making a face, and tossing it back onto the bed. “Uhh, I don’t- I don’t think I’m gonna be worth the money.”

Garrett lets out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. “No, I’m probably the one not worth the money.” He jokes. He hears her laugh dryly under her breath. She shoves the sheets aside and looks up to him.

“Guess we’re in a pickle.” Zelda says, shrugging her shoulders. Garrett doesn’t know if he should stay standing or take a chance and sit next to her, until she pats the spot next to her. He takes a seat next to her, careful to keep a decent space between them.

Zelda grins. “So, you’re a cowboy.” She reaches up, tipping his hat back. “Some of my older brothers are cowboys. They ain’t home all the time.”

“It’s not an easy job.” Garrett agrees. “I miss home a lot, but the money helps my mom and younger brothers…” He says, his voice going soft. He suddenly looks a hundred miles away to wherever home was. Zelda feels her heart nearly breaking for him.

“Can ya go home after this?” She asks, moving closer to him.

Garrett huffs. “One more month.” He pauses, feeling Zelda’s arms coming around his own. But she gives him a smile, one bigger and more genuine than before.

“I’ll be countin’ the days for ya then, cowboy.” She promises.

Garrett smiles back, the words he was about to speak are suddenly drowned out by the running footsteps outside the door. The sound of men and women laughing, with loud whooping echo in the hallway. Then they remembered exactly where they were.

Zelda pulls back slightly, her hold on his arm loosening. “I guess…” She starts, her eyes looks anxiously to the bed.

“We don’t have to do this.” Garrett says softly. He stands up, feeling himself missing her hold on him a bit. “I can just give you the money, you can lie, you know.” He tries.

Zelda looks at him stunned. “You’d really do that?”

Reaching into his pocket Garrett holds a few wrinkled dollars to her, nodding. “I wouldn’t want you to do anything you don’t want to.” He states, not looking at her. Zelda gets up, wandering up to him, her hands come over his and closes his fingers down on the money.

“That’s very nice of ya, Gar.” She whispers. “I’d be pretty wicked to make ya do anything ya don’t want to either.” She adds teasingly. He looks to her, to see that easy smile on her lips again. “Keep your money.”

“I can’t just do that, won’t you get in trouble?” Garrett questions. He only saw the Madam briefly but she looked every inch mean. Zelda snorts.

“I can handle it. Not like I’ve never been in trouble.” She states proudly, lifting her chin. “They didn’t call me the ‘hellion of Macon County’ for nothin’”

Garrett blinks. “They did?”

“No. But I raised enough hell I think.” Zelda laughs. This time it's not guarded or dry, and Garrett finds himself laughing along with her.

“Zelda, I’d feel bad, you gotta let me give you something at least…” He insists. He’d feel low if she were to really get into any trouble. Zelda sighs, tapping her lips in thought before pausing.

“Okay. One dollar, for one kiss.” She bargains. “Not too bad for either of us, right?” She looks to him.

Garrett nods. “One kiss.” He agrees, moving closer to her.

Zelda eases herself and leans up on her toes. Garrett leans down to meet her halfway, and both their eyes close at their lips touch. She didn’t want to pull away from him, and once she felt his hands shyly coming to hold onto her arms, she leans up further to him. Her arms slipping around his neck.

It was over a bit too soon for either of them. Zelda blinks her eyes a few time, and she feels Garrett’s lips just inches from her own. “One more kiss?” He mumbles. He’s surprised at the question he asks but doesn’t regret it once Zelda whispers a quick ‘yes’ and kisses him again, more fully.

Her hands grip tightly to his shirt, and his fall down to curiously shape the sides of her curves. They stumble backwards, the back of Zelda’s knees bumping against the bed. “O-One more kiss?” She gets out in a shaky breath. Garrett doesn’t answer verbally and instead presses another kiss to her lips, his hands gripping the curve of her waist.

Neither one of them mind the scented floral sheets one bit as they tumble back onto the bed.

Zelda holds onto Garrett’s hat, watching as he dresses. The shade of a blush still tints his cheeks as he gets ready. She smiles, placing the hat on her head when he turns to her, grinning at the sight.

“As cute as you look, I’m gonna need that.” He says.

Zelda leans back on the bed. “I know.” She hums, as Garrett leans down. Her places a few kisses around her cheeks. “I just wish I could, hold onto it for ya.” She pouts. He stops and looks to her.

They both had no idea where they would end up. Or if they’d even see each other again. Garrett holds onto her hand. Maybe, he could try and come back this way. Maybe, he might even have enough money to get her out of this place. But it was the thought of not knowing when that could be that scared him the most.

“Hold onto this for me instead, Zee.” He offers, tugging off the dark blue bandanna from around his neck. Zelda reaches for it, holding the small piece of cloth close to her chest. “Maybe…” He starts.

Zelda smiles sadly, sighing. “We don’t know when that might be, or even if we will.” She mumbles. She doesn’t look at him, her fingers toying with the edges of the bandanna. “You got a family that needs ya more than some prostitute in Macon County.” She finishes. Her hand quickly flicks up to her eyes, wiping away the tears before they could fall. Garrett feels his heart drop.

“ ‘Sides.” Zelda continues. “I’m the hellion, remember?” She adds, forcing a grin. “I’ll be okay. Maybe someday. Just maybe, I’ll give this back to ya.” She holds up the bandanna.

Garrett smiles slightly, and it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Maybe. I hope so…” He begins. The sound of the other cowboys yelling from outside breaks the quiet silence that began to fall on them.

“Any fellas still in there, finish up! We’re headin’ out!”

Garrett swears under his breath and looks to Zelda. He presses one more, one long kiss to her lips before slipping the hat off of her head. They whisper quiet goodbyes and he leaves with one last look to her. Zelda holds onto the bandanna, ignoring the money left on the nightstand.

A week drags on, and she’s able to avoid the new duties Madam gave her. But there’s always a flow of customers and clients coming through, and she knows she wouldn’t be able to avoid it much longer. When Ashley shows up one night at her window, a wagon and two horses hitched up. She’s grabs what little clothes she had, and the stash of money she never gave away to Madam, and leaves without a second though.

“Where are we gonna go?” Zelda questions. Ashley hoists his small friend into the wagon easily.

“Far away. I ‘aughta slaughter your damn dad.” He grumbles. “But we’re leavin’. I’m thinkin’ west...way out west.” Ashley says, flicking the reigns. The wagon takes off, and Zelda isn’t able to relax until the brothel is clean out of sight.

“What is that?” Ashley asks suddenly. He’s looking at the bandanna around her neck.

Zelda places a hand over it. “A bandanna.” She says simple. She doesn’t tell him about the cowboy it belonged to and who she hopes to see again one day.

#otp: moonray #garrett white #zelda stanhope #ashley rivers #ea western #PHEW #7 pages woof

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