Creatures of the Night

The life of a socialite wasn't all it was cracked up to be. So many things were expected of you. You were to be a proper, well spoken and educated lady. Being a young woman, everything you owned was technically your father's until you were married off. Then everything you owned belonged to your husband. Women were prized possessions. And even though that wasn't the case all the time, it was still common amongst men. Their belief that women were just delicate flowers who couldn't and wouldn't be corrupt by evil society. They were the children bearers and housekeepers. The only point of them learning anything was to pass on that knowledge to the children. It was a world that Annabelle didn't exactly agree with. However who was she to fight centuries of tradition? It wasn't really easy to find other women who felt the same way. And those that did were definitely not in Buffalo Creek. They were all in the urban cities like New York and London. Places that Annabelle had only been to several times.

Today, was just like any other day. Annabelle had gone out for a walk around her father's land. She enjoyed the spring morning and read several chapters of her book. Some lemonade was enjoyed as well. It was even warm enough to practice some target shooting. However she was already fully dressed and didn't want to bother getting out of it to change into appropriate attire. She only looked forward to one thing; the night. It was the only time she was allowed to really let herself go and just enjoy being herself. Not that she wasn't herself during the day. However sometimes a girl just didn't want to wear a corset all the damn time. It was during the nights when she would sneak over to the stables and take her horse all the way out to the lake. It was her nightly ritual; something she could revel with herself and just be alone with her thoughts. No one watched her or judged her. It was just her and nature and the sound of crickets and still water.

Tonight, Annabelle was looking forward to it more than ever. Her father was really riding her about the coming out party. As much as he loved her and wanted a perfect life for her, she was still not married. And her reputation, as good as it was, started to gain some cracks due to her "old" age and not having a husband yet. Several male suitors wondered if she was previously married and therefore wanted to cover that up with another marriage. Others didn't even care since she was so attractive to them. Annabelle was as pure as an angel. She was just a smart angel as well. She didn't want to just marry for money. She wanted a man to love her for whom she was. Someone she could just be happy with. Someone who made her laugh and made her feel comfortable all the time. Zeb was like that with her. He was someone she considered a true friend. A man who knew how to treat a woman like her. But it just wasn't reasonable. In fact, she didn't really understand or know why she even thought of him that way. It wasn't exactly appropriate. He was her friend... nothing more.

Annabelle and her father had gotten into a heated debate. He wanted to push the party up to the coming weekend. She was outraged, unable to understand why he was being so insistent. Although her father claimed it was for her own good, Mr. Mason couldn't help but slip out the fact that people were talking, especially his co-workers and people around the town. It wasn't as if the time she spend with Zeb recently was a secret. People would talk, and eventually the news got back to her father. She and Zeb never did anything to make people assume, except talk and take walks in town together. She loved his company and she believed he enjoyed hers. At least she hoped he did.

Opening her door, Annabelle quietly sneaked out of her bedroom. She made sure to keep her socks on and her dirty work boots off before leaving the vast house. The rug covered the sound of her steps too well and she made a mental "thank you" to the workers for installing it the previous month. Looking around to make sure her father had finally left his study, Annabelle stealthily crept down the stairs just as the grandfather clock in the foyer rang three. Right on time as usual. Now all she had to do was scatter across to the back of the house, and get out through the window since the lock on the doors had to be kept that way until dawn. She did as she did almost every night and closed the window before putting on her boots and walked to the stables. Her riding coat was there and thankfully the night was offering a cool breeze rather than the bitter wind from the last winter. Spring was Annabelle's favorite season. Everything grew back prettier than before, at least to her eyes.

Now it was time to ride out to the lake. It was where she could think about everything. Her eyes were still puffy from crying all night. Her father had really upset her. He told her things that she really didn't understand. Things about her mother and who she really was. Annabelle was a mess and she just needed to think. Without hesitation or care if anyone saw her, she grabbed her horse by the reigns and escorted the beautiful mare out to the front gate before finally climbing aboard. It was safe distance to ride without waking anyone up, and Annabelle headed straight for the lake.

Having already been living in Buffalo Creek for well over a year, Zeb had yet to make any sort of impact on the small town or any of it's people. Hardly anybody could even put a name to his face. Now normally Zeb was an outgoing sort of guy. Very loud and always joking around in one way or another. Sometimes even committing a few pranks here and there. All in good fun of course, but sometimes he could go a bit overboard. However, soon after Zeb had moved to Buffalo Creek his attitude had calmed down to a certain degree. He was more interested in establishing some sort of life in the small town. Before, he'd move from town to town picking up small jobs here and there only to pay for his food and perhaps a night to board down and have a bath before picking right back up on the trail.

To be honest he had grown weary of all the traveling after so long. Therefore when he came across Buffalo Creek, out here in the wild west, he decided it was finally time to lay down some roots. Zeb now had himself a decent job working at the Hellfire Ranch for Mr. Helm as a live on ranch hand. For reasons unknown to him Zeb had been hired on with very little experience and had been smart enough not to raise questions exactly as to why. Thus far he was doing great. In the beginning when he had first been hired on he had made a few mistakes here and there, but he had learned from those mistakes. Zeb figured that he'd keep this job for a few years, build up a good amount of money and then someday buy his own piece of land in which to build a house.

Now he had his eyes on a particular young woman in town. Annabelle Mason. She was young and more beautiful than any of the other ladies he'd seen walking around town. Her social status was a bit high up, but that did little in stopping him from talking to her. Whenever he ran into her while walking the boardwalk Zeb would stop and engage in conversation with her. By now they were friends although secretly Zeb wished for her in a way that was more than just friends. He doubted he had a dying chance with how poor he was, but that didn't mean he couldn't try. Waiting for the perfect opportunity to say or do something to show her that he looked to her as more than just a friend never seemed to have some along, but when another job opportunity with her father had opened for him, Zeb jumped at the chance and went right to work during his off hours from the ranch.

On this particular day Zeb had been asked to stay overnight due to an injury one of the other men had suffered, and it was just as Zeb was retrieving the horses from one of the pastures that he spied the young Miss Annabelle herself walking out of the barn and towards the front gate with her own mare. He knew something was up as her father never approved of her leaving so late in the evening - or so early in the morning really - and all alone at that. Still, he went about his own business, finishing putting up the horses to board and feed the horses for the night. During all that Zeb had watched to see if her father would take notice of her absence and go search for her himself, but once he had finished the job and there had been no sign of the older gentleman Zeb decided to do so himself.

At first Zeb had had not a clue as to where the young woman might have gone off to at such a dark time of day. It really wasn't safe, especially without some sort of escort, but then he thought back to previous conversations they had shared. Often times she had talked about the lake just out of town a ways. It was his best bet. So on Zeb rode with his rowdy horse until they came to the edge of a clearing. He dismounted and tied the beast off on a low hanging branch before making his way towards the water. At first he spied and heard nothing, but as he continued on soft sniffles reached his ears. He followed the sound and soon saw her silhouette off in the nearby distance. "Miss Mason?" He called out to her properly as he was still on her father's time, "It's me--Zeb." Cautiously, so not to scare her, he made his way closer and closer towards her. "I'd seen ya leavin' earlier an' .. " He heard yet another sniffle as he finally reached her side. "Is everythin' okay?"

Her eyes were glossy, red and puffy. The lake was her haven, the only place where she was able to be alone and completely let go. Even being in her room, she needed to muffle her cries if she ever felt the need to express her deepest feelings. Tonight, she wasn't able to understand much of what had happened earlier with her father. However she wasn't a stupid woman. Annabelle's brain was racing, reiterating the conversation with her father. She could see his angry features, the corner's of his eyes aged with crow's feet and freckles. I don't want you to end up like your mother! That statement shocked her, and he finally said it after hours of arguing about the party. It's a silly, stupid party, Annabelle defended. Why are you so obsessed with having it sooner? Just let the date remain! It was all simple to her. And yet her father kept insisting. You keep spending time with that boy, he argued. I know I shouldn't worry Annabelle but people talk. And when people talk, people start to think. And when people think, they assume. That made Annabelle furious. Her father always taught her that people were the same. Heck the darn Bible said that everyone was a child of God. That meant everyone was the same, poor or not. What boy? I only associate with men father. It was then her father's voice grew irritant. Annabelle that's even worse!!

The fight continued on to talk about Zeb and how much time she spent with him. After she brought him to her father for a job offer, her father was more than happy to help him out. However Mr. Mason also did it in order to keep an eye on that Mr. Hunt. Mr. Mason was a man, and he could see what Zeb saw in his daughter. It was what many men saw in his daughter; and that wasn't a good thing. He made sure to bring that point up to which Annabelle simply thought it outrageous and malicious that he even had such a motive when hiring Zeb. It finally reached to a point where Mr. Mason mentioned her mother. I don't want you to end up like your mother! It grew Annabelle silent, and nothing but confusion spread on her face. Her father was exhausted, tired of coming up with reasons why she needed to be married and happy. But primarily married at her age. He didn't want her mother's reputation to fire back at them any time soon and it was still possible for someone to find out. Lineage was so important.

Annabelle stroked back her long dark brown locks. The sound of the wind making small ripples in the lake trickled through her ears. The familiar smell of fresh wind and grass comforted her. Her cries were still audible though. Her horse wandered nearby to drink from the lake and knew her routine. The mare simply waited and enjoyed the view as she always did, listening in the distance for anything threatening. Her head turned, alerting Annabelle of someone nearby. This scared her slightly and made her stand up in fear hoping that it wasn't a danger; or worse, her father. She she heard Zeb's voice, Annabelle's stomach knotted up and her heart sunk. How did he know she was there? She kept silent, not really sure why. She was so upset and wanted to really be alone. But after realizing Zeb was there, she felt as if she needed him to be. She liked that he found her in a time of need and she couldn't help but feel a warmth as the idea grew.

As he got closer, Annabelle stood there in the moonlight. Zeb finally got close enough for her to see his silhouette dissolve and his physical features appear. He was as handsome as ever, and Annabelle allowed her tears to come back full force when he asked her if everything was alright. "No Zeb," she replied. Her voice was barely audible. "I don't know what's happening." With that, she wrapped her arms around his waist. She needed someone to talk to, to just listen to her side and help her understand why she was so upset. Zeb was always a good listener, and he was just an amazing friend. But he and Annabelle were always formal. She never hugged him or came any closer than arms length. But she didn't care anymore. She was tired of formalities and tired of politeness and being proper. It was three in the morning and she was wearing her undergarments, a riding jacket and her stable work boots.... etiquette deserved a darn break sometimes. She pulled away, realizing that she probably made him uncomfortable but her arms were still around him. "I'm so happy you're here," she continued as she pressed her head against him again. "Please stay with me." The fear in her voice was so vulnerable; more than anything she had ever displayed to anyone who wasn't her father. It was a completely different side of Annabelle that Zeb was finally going to meet.

Although Zeb was a drifter and mostly cared only for himself, he couldn't help but feel for Annabelle. He had no idea why she appeared to be so upset and distraught, but for some unknown reason he wanted to make everything better for her. Now how he was suppose to go around and do just that Zeb had not a clue. Women of all ages were confusing in that way. He'd seen it happen many of times before where a man tried to apologize or in the least tried to fix whatever it was that was wrong with their lady. Sometimes things went their way and at other times their actions only made matters worse. But before Zeb tried anything of the sort he needed to figure out just what it was that was bothering the striking young woman.

Zeb shifted his weight as the two stood there in the moonlight near the water's edge, silently searching for the right words in hopes of not upsetting her. His lips moved and began to form into the first syllable of his chosen word, but the initial shock of Annabelle throwing herself around him had caught him off guard. At first he just stood there, his arms held out and away from her, as he peered down at her from beneath the brim of his stetson. They had never been so close to one another as they were now and to be honest Zeb had wondered what it would be like to hold Miss Mason in his arms, although he had hoped the circumstance would have been a bit more.. cheerful.

Thankfully, It didn't take long for Zeb to come back down from the invigorating rush. Once his arms dared to move, with hopes that his hold around her would bring her some comfort, she pulled away somewhat. With a frown he still went ahead and placed his hands gently upon her shoulders. "I'll stay," Zeb flashed her the tiniest bit of a smile, "and I'm here if.. if ya need to talk or uh.." Zeb was a bit out of his element but there was nothing else he'd rather do at the time other than being here with her.

OoC: I am so so sorry this took so long and that it's not a great post Dx. Hopefully my next one will come out much better~!

"Thank you Zeb," she replied with quiet sobs. She looked into his chocolate brown eyes, yearning for his aid. She silently pleaded that everything would just go away and that he was the person who would be able to do that. As she looked into his stare, Annabelle noticed the familiar kindness that always associated with his eyes. So warm, non judging. Zeb was her dear friend that she was more than thankful to have ever met. Always a gentleman and although he wasn't educated, he was intelligent. Perhaps his intelligence wasn't common to how society would call it, but Annabelle knew that he had a heart and a mind that was pure and good. Zebadiah Hunt was a real man. A man she was able to see herself falling for. It was slightly odd and frightening that she ever considered feeling that way for him. But at that moment, that split second of looking into his eyes, it felt like an eternity of long lost love.

Annabelle lowered her head, pulling herself back into his embrace. "Ah'm so confused," she continued. "Mah father was very course with me tonight. More than Ah have eva seen him with me... or anyone!" Her tears poured down her face. The night replayed in her mind over and over again. What did he mean? How was she going to end up like her mother? Was Annabelle to die? She just didn't understand and still couldn't. All Annabelle knew of her mother was that she died giving child birth. The truth had never been revealed to her. And Mr. Mason was starting to regret it as he saw his young daughter spending too much time with Zeb. Stop associating yourself with "THAT BOY", he said. To Annabelle, she didn't care how unladylike it appeared. Zeb was a good man, a christian man. And that was all that mattered.

Feeling weak in the knees, Annabelle's weight gave out from under her. She needed to sit. Her exhaustion grew from mental to physical. "Ah'm sorry," she whimpered. "Zeb Ah just need to rest a minute." Her cries muffled slightly and she positioned herself so that Zeb could still hold her as she kept her arms wrapped around his waist. The lake was in front of them now. Her horse was still nearby, eating the grass and keeping watch. Annabelle sniffed, feeling more calm and at ease. The sensation of a warm body comforting her was something she hadn't felt in so long. Her father was never cold to her, however once she matured and reached puberty, he didn't feel as comfortable hugging her for too long or anything that seemed inappropriate. Annabelle didn't have many friends compared to male suitors. This was the closest feeling of comfort she had received in years.

Her eyes closed, sighing deeply and breathing Zeb in. It was intoxicating and Annabelle felt a stab in her stomach as it began to turn and twist in a seductive dance. She looked up at him, readjusting herself so she could really see him. The moonlight framed his face perfectly, expressing every crevice of his head. He was handsome, which was something Annabelle didn't really notice when they first met. He was charming in a silly, goofy way. But handsome never came across her mind. Not until right then. "Zeb," she finally said in barely a whisper. "How did you know Ah was here?"

It was an amazing thing for Zeb to have such a beautiful and young woman of high society wrapped up in his hold, allowing him to be her comfort. Never had he imagined before that he'd be here now, standing in the moonlight consoling someone like her. If only his brothers could see him now! They'd be jealous for sure, not that Zeb was interested in Annabelle just to shove it in anyone's face. He had only pursued her in the beginning just looking for some form of friendship. Well, to be honest he had seen her as just a pretty face, but after that first day he had known there more to her than just her looks. Annabelle showed him that she wasn't some sort of clone, like the rest of the woman who held onto a large sum of money, who stuck her nose up at anyone other than those like herself - Zeb definitely fell into that category. She was something else alright, that was for sure.

Things went silent for a moment after her simple 'thank you'. Their eyes met and with his usual crooked warm smile and a nod, Zeb offered her a silent message in understanding. Whatever it was that was bothering her he wanted to know. He felt a strong need in making it all better for her, but without knowing there was nothing he could do. So he patiently waited in silence, in case she felt comfortable enough to share with him her thoughts and feelings on whatever it was that had her so shaken up. As he waited Zeb cast his eyes downward and let them roam over her delicate features. The light shining off of the moon cast shadows which danced across that of her pale face which was not hidden against his chest.

Annabelle spoke then, confessing that it had to do with her father. Zeb respected the man greatly for his accomplishments in life and for raising such a beautiful kind-hearted daughter. Surely it hadn't been easy. Zeb couldn't imagine having to own up to a task so great. But then that was all she said. Nothing more. Just that her father had been harsh with her. Zeb frowning wishing to know more, but he didn't push it. The last thing he wanted to do was appear nosey, although he was curious to say the least. He felt her give way then and swiftly held onto her a bit tighter to keep her from falling to her knees. Zeb was stricken with worry as he looked back down at her. She must be awfully upset with her going near limp within his grasp.

"Annabelle?" It was the first time Zeb referred to her using only her given name, although his voice was worrisome as he continued to hold her. He could have spoken up trying to use words of comfort to accommodate that of his presence, but all Zeb could think to say was that surely her father had some sort of reason. He was her father and was looking out for her, only wanted the best for her. But Zeb wasn't quite sure if those words were appropriate. The last thing he wanted to do was upset her further or worse, have her be at upset at him. So instead Zeb held his tongue as he had never really been good in situations such as this.

She changed the subject a bit, which now allowed for him to speak without regret. "Oh, I uh.. I saw ya leavin' the house while I was out checkin' on the horses. I guess I was curious as t'where ya were goin' at such an untimely hour. I didn't follow ya here.. I just remembered ya talkin' 'bout the lake so many times before. This here was the first place I looked." Zeb shifted his weight onto the opposite foot before looking out towards the water. "Say.. I've got an idea. How's 'bout we go swimmin'. It'll be awful chilly though." He knew she wasn't feel quite up to par so if she refused his offer he truly wouldn't mind. "We don't even hafta swim. Just run in there an' back out. Will help clear ya head I'm sure."