“Ella!”

She swung around, looking over her shoulder between the mess of assorted trailers, “I have to go, Trix.”

The girl she stood with nodded.

“Daniella!” Continued the faint calls of her aunt.

“I'll text you!” She called over her shoulder.

“You should really come tonight!”

Turning towards her friend, she smiled, shuffling backwards, “Yeah, I'll ask, but don't hold your breath!”

“Sneak out!”

She laughed and started to run towards the big white gooseneck four trailers over, skipping behind an open truck door, she got to the back of the red pickup, “I'm here, Abi.”

“Where have you been?” Her aunt stepped from the inside of the trailer, locking the side door.

“Around.” She shrugged.

“Uh-huh. Let's go.”

Spinning on the ball of her foot, she skipped up to the passenger side, kicking off her cowboy boots.

“So, did you clean out?” She asked her aunt.

Turning the truck over, Abigail looked to her, “Not bad, first in the 2D.”

“Oh yeah.” Ella looked out the window, “Not bad.”

“Not for that baby, no, she's doing well. Did you even watch the runs? Or were you watching something else?”

“Ha.” She held her smile, “I was just hanging out with Trixie and some people.”

“How's she doing?”

“She's good.” Ella shrugged, picking at the hole in her jeans, “They're having a bon-fire at the river later.”

Abigail nodded.

“I was thinking of going.” Ella added.

Her aunt gave her a look, “I'm not getting you into that one.”

“Oh, come on!” Ella begged, “I'm eighteen.”

“Not till the end of the year you're not.”

“I'm graduating next week! They're all going to have fun. It's not fair.” She dropped her head back to the rest.

Abigail smiled, “Ella, you know-”

“I know.” She breathed, grumbling.

“I'll ask him.” Abigail said in a soft voice.

“Are you serious!” Ella beamed.

“But.” Abigail started, “Only if you promise to behave.”

“Pft. I always behave.”

Abigail lifted an eyebrow, “No, you do not. Which is why you're in this pickle with Colten.”

“Go have fun once and you're whole life is ruined.” She exasperated.

“Ella.” Abigail sighed.

“Fine but he can't tell me what to do for the rest of my life.”

Abigail smiled, “He'll try.”

“Argh.” She huffed.

“Did you hear from that college yet?”

Ella paused, “Uh, no, not yet.”

“Well, that's weird.” Abigail pondered aloud, “We should call.”

“Nah.” Ella brushed off, looking out the window and hoping to avoid the subject further.

“You need to at least go to one year of post-secondary.”

“I will.”

“You don't seem very interested, hun, gonna be honest.”

Ella rolled her eyes, wishing they'd just drop the post secondary thing and let her do what she wanted for once.

“It's not that. I just don't... want to go to those schools.” She explained.

“So, you've picked out other schools?”

“Well, not directly-”

“Ella.” Abigail laid it down, “Do one year, somewhere. Plus, there's tons of good looking boys in college.”

“Yeah.” But boys weren't exactly what Ella was the most concerned about and as they drove, she began to fester in her thoughts. An hour later and they finally turned into the driveway of the ranch.

Ella jumped out once the vehicle stopped beside the big red barn and she walked to the back to help her aunt unload.

In the trailer, she untied one of the horses, leading it out into the sun, waiting as Abigail got the other horse off.

She followed her aunt into the barn aisle and put the horses in their stalls, making sure each had hay and water.

“I think they're still out back.” Abigail looked down the isle, “Let's go see how it's going.”

Ella shuffled behind her, losing distance, not that interested in going to see how her uncle was doing with the branding but once she saw one of her friends, she picked up her pace.

Abigail stopped at the gate, looking in at the few calves still waiting for the Red Valley Ranch brand on them.

“Hey, Brant!” Ella smiled at the cowboy up on the horse as he passed by the fence.

“Hey, Ella.” He smiled back, “How was the race?”

“I knocked second. The ground was sort of iffy.” Climbing the rail, she sat to the top.

“Too bad.” The boy commented, fixing the rope in his hand as his horse did a circle in front of Ella.

“You knocked second? On that old mare?”

Ella looked up, squinting in the sun as her uncle let the ties off on a calf and walked over to the fence.

“Bad ground.” Abigail told him, “Looks like you got a lot done.”

“Most of em'.” Colten ran a hand over his brow, “How'd you do, beautiful?”

“Second in the 2D.” Abigail smiled, “And she's not even running yet.”

“Mm, I told you she'd make up for being a little prissy sometimes.”

Ella watched her uncle lean into the railing to give his wife a kiss and she looked away, her eyes falling on Brant as he tossed the rope in pretty circles on each side of him, “Well, aren't you a rodeo clown.” She joked.

Brant smiled, “Oh, shut it, daisy.”

“You're just jealous you're not pretty like me.” Ella stuck her tongue out at him.

He laughed, “Yep, you got me. Always wanted to be pretty.”

Colten clapped his hands, “Get the next calf, Brant.”

Ella rolled her eyes at her uncle's need to interrupt her every conversation with a boy, she swung her legs back over the fence and jumped to the ground, “Get em' clown-boy!” She called to Brant before walking away.

Abigail joined her and they headed to the house, “Those poor boys, Ella. You torment them.”

“Brant likes it.”

“He likes something.” Abigail pointed out.

“But he's human.” Ella sung, grabbing the door handle on the log home.

“There's that.” Abigail pointed out, shutting the door, “You'll figure it all out, Ella. I'm not worried.”

“Colten is.” Ella said under her breath.

“Hey.” Abigail smiled, “Just don't go getting a mate tomorrow and your uncle will be okay.”

Ella rolled her eyes, “Yeah. I'm just gonna wash up.”

“Alright. I'll start supper.”
Ella moved towards the stairs, “You're gonna ask him, right?”

Abigail paused, looking up to her, “Oh!” She nodded, “The bon-fire, yes, I'll see what I can do.”

“Thanks!” Ella smiled, jogging the stairs to her room to clean up and hopefully for a bon-fire.

#

Supper time came and Ella tucked herself into a chair at the large oak dinning table as Abigail finished putting the last of the food on.

She scrolled through her phone, catching a glimpse of the texts that had piled up on her phone.

Trixie

You have to come out. I'm serious.

Ella went to reply as Colten walked in, cleaned up for supper but still in his dusty old jeans.

“Okay.” Abigail walked back in, condiments in hand, “We can eat.”

Colten sat, “That means put the phone away.”

Ella rolled her eyes, dropping her phone into her lap, “I was just reading a text.”

Colten grunted and the three of them started to dish up.

Abigail started to chat, how the woman found so much to say to her husband, miffed Ella but usually, it distracted Colten enough to keep him off her back.

They talked about horses and cows, then the truck and the tractor, then returned to horses and by the end of dinner, Ella was in suspense for Abigail to ask about the bon-fire.

“Um, so...” Ella piped up as Colten finished his steak.

Her uncle leaned back in his chair, “That was a good supper.”

Abigail smiled, “Thank you.”

“Yeah, it was great.” Ella bustled, “So...” She stared at her aunt.

Abigail tilted her head as Ella gave her a pressing glance, “Oh! Oh, right.”

Colten looked between them, “What?”

“Ella wants to know if she can go hang out tonight with some friends.”

“Oh, yeah?” Colten leaned forward, grabbing his beer.

Ella stared at him, watching his face show no emotion good or bad towards an impending decision, “Yeah, just a few people.”

“Where?”

“Down at the river.” Abigail told him, “I can drop her off.”
Colten paused, “I don't know about that.”

“Please.” Ella begged, “It's like a grad thing.”

“Sounds like a party.” He grunted.

“Hanging out.” Ella corrected.

“At the river, with booze.”
“Colten.” Abigail narrowed her eyes.

He grumbled, looking away from the two women, “I feel like you should still be grounded for the last time.”

“That was two months ago!” Ella burst.

“And you haven't been doing your chores.” Colten pointed out.

“I did most of them.” She shot, furrowing her brow.

“Most of them, isn't all of them.” He corrected, “How am I suppose to trust you not to take off again, if you can't even follow simple instructions, like feeding a few cows.”

Ella ground her teeth, “Why does it matter if I feed the stupid cows? I don't even like cows.”

“Well, that's funny,” Colten's face hardened, “Considering you have bigger responsibilities coming and you want me to feel good about letting you go out and party, when one day you'll-”

“Yeah. I get it, one day I'll inherit this stupid ranch and Forenone!” Ella stood, “It's not my fault you can't have kids!”

The table went quiet, particularly the face of her aunt, who's obvious guilt towards the situation plagued her.

“Sit down.” Colten's voice darkened.

Ella honed in on her uncle, not backing down, but fighting her conscience, “No!”

“Ella, sit down!” He pointed at her chair.

“No!” She headed towards the stairs.

“Ella!”

“Let her go, Colten.” Abigail's faint voice was the last she heard as she ran the stairs to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Her tears and pent up rage towards her uncle consumed her and she slipped down into her bed of mangled blankets, feeling more like a scolded seven year old than a seventeen-year-old that was about to graduate.

It was minutes until she heard her door open, much to her dismay, it was Colten.

“Daniella.”

“I don't want to talk about it.” She grumbled into her blankets, hiding her eye rolling from him.

“Well, that's not an option.”
She mumbled, nothing in particular.

“What you said downstairs, upset Abigail.”

She sighed, “I know.”

“Well, why did you say that?” He pressed, “Can you get out of the blankets?”

She sat up, staring at him, “I just want to go the bon-fire.”

Colten shook his head, “No.”

She ground her teeth, throwing herself back into the blankets.

“You need to apologize to your aunt.”

“Can I go then?”
“No, Ella.” He exasperated.

She shot back up, “Why do you want to keep me locked up?”

“Because you don't think about things before you do them!” He boiled over, “You don't understand-”
“What's there to understand!” She snapped, “I'm not your beta, you can't boss me around and tell me what to do all the time.”

Colten tensed, “I'm a bit confused on where you got the memo you could talk me to me like this?”

She shrugged, “Maybe because I'm never allowed to do anything.”

“You mean; you're not allowed to go out, get drunk and put yourself in obvious danger, yeah, that totally makes no sense.” He snapped, “When you decide to be a normal person, you can come downstairs and apologize. Otherwise, don't bother.” He walked out of her room, slamming the door.

She gritted her teeth, dropping her back into the blankets and staring at the ceiling, “Screw this.” Her anger towards everything was enough for her to do something else that would likely drive her uncle to another level of pissed, but she was past caring.

Grabbing a fresh pair of jeans and a new shirt she'd yet to take the tags off of, she threw them inside a random bag and collected a few more items she needed. She pushed open the window, climbing out. Not caring if she was caught, cause at the end of the day, she'd be caught either way.

She slipped out on to the ledge, putting the plastic bag of clothing in her mouth and jumped, shifting into a tawny wolf with a white nose and muzzle.

She dipped her head, clutching the bag between her canines as she scooted beneath the bay window of the front living room and trotted her way behind the property, stopping in the shadows to check for random ranch hands.

By the time she got to the river, she could hear the faint partying around the bend starting. Shifting back into her human form, she changed into the articles of clothing she had brought and fluffed her hair.

“No makeup... awesome.” She breathed and started to bushwhack her way to the party.

Peering over the top of a bush, she tucked her hair behind her ears and saw Trixie and Brant, along side many of her other graduating classmates drinking around the bon-fire and socializing.

Making her approach casual, she stepped from the near shadows and jogged over to Trixie, dodging in between a few people as she did and covering her friend's eyes.

“Boo!”

“Ah!” Trixie freed herself, grappling her into a hug, the girl already on her way to being fairly intoxicated, “You're here!”

“I'm here.” Ella giggled.

Brant smiled at her, “You made it, dasiy.”

“I did.” Ella sat down beside him as Trixie handed her a drink.

“Who'd you get a ride with then?” Brant sipped his beer.

“I walked.” Ella shrugged.

“You walked?” Brant blinked at her.

“Yeah.”

“I would have come and got you.”

“I walked.” She brushed him off as a truck rolled up, music blaring and a set of brighter than bright headlights blinding them all.

Brant held up his hand to block the light, “Idiots.”

Trixie giggled, “Oo, boys.”

Ella looked squinted as the lights were turned off, but the music kept on, the boys getting out of the truck were hot, or that's the only way Ella could describe them.

Trixie made a soft howl and Ella elbowed her.

She sipped her drink as they started to mingle, one catching her eye and he winked at her.

Trixie burst into a giggle fit, “Oh my gosh, he's staring at you.”

Ella bit her lip to hide her smirk and looked away, “Shut up.”

The tall, built boy made his way over to them and soon stood right in front of Ella, “Hey.”

Ella looked up at him, “Hi.”

“I'm Tanner.” He smiled.

“Ella.” She got out, drinking more.

He glanced at Brant next to her, “Dude, you mind?”

Brant creased his brow and stood, “Yeah, no worries, dude.”

Ella watched as Brant walked away and Tanner took his spot next to her.

“How's it going?” He asked.

Ella shrugged, “Going.”

“Sort of bored?” He asked.

“Sorta.” She agreed.

He smiled, “Are you a one word type of girl?”

“No.” She held in her smile.

He laughed, “What are you drinking?”

Trixie leaned into her, “A good drink. I made it.”

“And you are?” He smiled.

“Trixie.” She held out her hand, “Trixie Daniels.”

“I see.” He smiled, “Nice to meet you.”

She giggled, “And you.”

“I brought some other stuff in my truck, you girls want to try it?”

Trixie was the first to jump on the offer but Ella held back.

“What sort of stuff?” She asked.

“Does it matter?” Trixie chewed off.

Tanner stood, “Just some whisky.”

It was good enough for Ella and she stood, following him to the truck. Somewhere between the booze, Tanner and the booming country music, Ella found herself lying on the river bank, staring up at the clear sky, laughing.

“I have to go...” Trixie grumbled.

“What! No!” Ella reached out for her, grabbing her.

“I have to, my Dad will kill me if I'm any later...” She let out a hiccup.

Ella let her go, rolling her eyes, “I'm in way more trouble than you.”

“What sort of trouble?” Tanner asked from where he sat in the rocks next to them.

“All kinds.” Ella laughed, “My uncle, he might hang me for this one.”

“He won't hang ya'.” Trixie rambled, “Can't kill the only alpha line left...”

Ella lashed, hitting her, “Awe, shut up.”

Tanner watched them, “What you talking about?”

Both girls looked to him, blinking.

“Nothin', nothin'...” They both got out, mumbling and Ella shoved Trixie away, “Go, Trix, go home!”

She stuck her tongue out at her.

Trixie returned the gesture, “See you later!”

“Later.” Tanner said and watched her leave.

Ella glanced over at him.

“So, you're not suppose to be here?”

“Oh, no.” She laughed, “I'm not.”

He smirked, “You like trouble?”
Ella paused, “Nah, I just like to feel like I'm not in a cage.”

He leaned in towards her, “Wanna go for a drive?”

Ella blinked, thinking through her options, “If you drop me off at home.”

“I can do that, babe.” He helped her up and they made their way back to the party.

“Ella!”

She looked up to see Brant stumbling towards her, “Brant.”

He came to her side, “I've been looking everywhere for you.”

She winced, “You should go home, Brant.”

“Yeah.” Brant looked up to Tanner, “You going with him?”

Ella shrugged, glancing over her shoulder as Tanner waited for her.

Brant swayed in his drunkness, “Don't do nothing dumb.”

Ella shoved him back playfully, “Do I look dumb to you?”

“You comin'?” Tanner called to her.

“Yeah.” Ella nodded, stepping back from Brant, “See you later.”

“Ella, Colten won't like this.”

Ella smiled at him, “Colten doesn’t like anything, except my aunt. See you later.”

Brant gave Tanner a weary glance, “See you, daisy.” He slurred, stepping back as she got in the truck, hands on his hips.

Ella sunk into the leather seats of the lifted truck and closed the passenger door, everything about the situation said bad. But she blamed that on her uncle, he'd taught her to be weary of most things and to avoid all others. And that, well that just made her want to do the bad more.

She looked to Tanner, “Let's go for a drive.”

He smiled at her, “Sounds good.”