The Taming of Willow Fear....Chapter 3.
Tara sat back on the flat bed of her truck leaning against a bale of hay. She let her feet dangle and swing, she let her mind wander. She was thinking of Willow, again. A week had passed and it was time for Willow's return. All week long Tara had waited, all week long she had thought of Willow. 'I'm her teacher' Tara would try to remind herself, 'I shouldn't get involved.' Yet Tara could not get Willow off of her mind. Something about Willow had moved her. Something beyond Willow's beauty or fear. There was something compelling about the lithe red head, something connecting, something completing.
Tara rose to her feet pulling her gloves from the back pocket of her jeans. She needed to occupy herself while waiting. She needed to distract herself from the fear that Willow would not come. Working always helped Tara, it was in her work that Tara felt most at home and balanced. She lifted a bale and swung it easily off the end of the truck onto the pile on the ground. She loved the way her muscles felt when in action. When she did this kind of labor she loved the feel of her body as it moved. Tara was never one for sports, she always felt too uncoordinated. She could never join a team, she was too shy. Tara liked individual physicality, she preferred her own quiet activities like horsemanship. She liked to feel close to nature. Here she was her own master, here she could do anything.
Willow and Xander saw Tara on the back of the red pickup as they pulled up into the yard. In blue jeans and a white tank Tara's muscles tightened and shifted as she easily tossed a bale onto the ground. Willow was mesmerized, all she could do was stare. Tara's hair was back today and she looked like a goddess standing a top her mountain stopping only to wave a gloved hand, her tanned skin shining in the sun.
"Wow" said Xander.
"Yeah" said Willow unable to take her eyes away. 'She is more beautiful then I remember' Willow thought biting her lip.
"Hey, aren't I supposed to be the one who is all with the wow, I'm the guy here. You never told me she was so, uh you know, hot... in an outdoorsy, horsy, girlie kind of way."
"Yeah" said Willow again not really listening. Tara was jumping down from the truck. Willow was awestruck, her heart pounding. She wanted Xander to shut up so she could concentrate on the vision now coming towards her.
"Introduce me Wil" said Xander.
"Huh?"
"Introduce me".
Willow shook her head snapping out of her hypnotic state. "Huh? What? Uh, no, sorry no, uh, I gotta go, can't be late. Sorry. Bye".
"But Wil..."
"See you later Xander, bye." Willow said rushing desperately to get out of the car, closing the door quickly. She wanted to get to Tara before Tara reached the car.
Xander was confused. Willow had always helped him with his girl quests before. All this horse stuff sure had her addled. 'Yeah' he thought, 'it must be the horses'. Xander shrugged his shoulders and put the car in drive. Xander had learned to be patient with Willow's eccentricities over the years.
"Willow, hi I am glad you came back" Tara said smiling as she approached. She stopped several steps away to appraise the new and improved Ms. Rosenberg.
Willow was wearing boots, riding boots. She had on Levi's and a western style shirt buttons open down to almost reveal her cleavage. Willow was grinning from ear to ear. She was clearly proud of herself.
'Oh great goddess' thought Tara, 'why are you testing me so?'
Willow looked adorable again, and sexy. She was more beautiful then Tara had remembered. Willow had such spirit, such light. She was gorgeous and cute, sexy and vulnerable all at the same time. Tara's heart began to pound, her hands began to sweat. She needed to think of something to say, quickly.
Willow thankfully beat her to it. "Howdy partner" Willow drawled swaying forward and tucking her thumbs in her belt loops.
Tara laughed. "Well howdy there Miss Willow, you sure are looking fine today in your riding clothes. Where's your six-shooter?"
"Left it back at the jail Miss Tara, didn't think I'd need it now that Black Bart's in jail. No more stealing your horses ma'am, his horse stealing days are over. So no more guns for me, I'm retiring now that your girls are safe."
"Oh thank you Sheriff Willow" laughed Tara again marveling at how silly Willow could be, "How about you and me go visit the girls so you can see for yourself what a wonderful thing you've done".
Sheriff Willow took a deep breath and went a little pale, "visit the girls?" 'Uh oh, not working as planned again'.
Tara smiling reached out and took Willow's hand. "Good, I thought you would want to go see them."
"Tara, I uh..."
"That's right Willow it is always better to get these things over and done with first."
Willow found herself suddenly mute. There was no joking her way out of this, she saw the determined look in Tara's eye and instinctively knew not to protest. She followed quietly as Tara led her by the hand towards the stable. She could just barely smell the scent of fresh air, hay and spice coming off of Tara's skin. Willow focused on a freckle on Tara's shoulder. 'What is it about this woman?' Willow wondered feeling she could do almost anything for her.
Tara's eyes flickered, she had heard Willow. 'She's thinking about me' she smiled.
Tara led Willow to the stable and with little to no bravado this time quietly walked her through simply holding her hand.
Willow wanted to close her eyes but didn't. She focused on the feeling of Tara's warm hand in hers. She liked touching Tara, it was comforting and safe. As Willow walked through she realized that her panic was not nearly as great as the first time. She didn't want to run but she also did not want to let go of Tara's hand. Was it the fear or was it Tara?
Tara turned and looked at Willow as they exited the other end of the stable. It was another one of those moments coming all to frequently now.. A knot was forming in Tara's chest, she was proud of Willow. Tara was compelled and touched by Willow. 'I hardly know her' Tara thought, 'we just met'. "You did great Willow" Tara managed to say in a low voice.
Willow nodded and smiled. Her heart was in her throat. "Yay me" she said in a breathy voice.
"Yay you" echoed Tara wondering if she should let go of Willow now.
"Look at me now all rough and ready and doing the deed right away" Willow said changing her tone and puffing out her chest.
Tara coughed at Willow's choice of words and fought to turn her eyes away from Willow's proud breasts. She blushed in spite of herself and let go of Willow hand. 'Goddess Tara... stop it, control, control, control'. Tara's brain felt like it was short circuiting, it was clearly trying to separate itself from her body or vice a versa.
Willow frowned unmistakably at the loss of Tara touch. She dragged her foot in a circle in front of her considering what to say next. "So teacher, what now?" she asked peaking up at Tara.
"Well you just took a big step Willow" said Tara finding her voice again, "how do you feel?"
Willow thought about it a moment and then grinned her best Willow grin. "Great, I feel great".
"Good, are you ready to go back in and just be in there?"
"Uh, no, I like the drive by thing...don't you think I have done enough for today? I am satisfied."
"I hardly feel like I am teaching you Willow, if this is all I do."
"But you are, look how far I've come, you are doing great. I couldn't imagine doing this without you. Actually I don't think I could." Willow reached out and touched the cool skin of Tara's arm to emphasize her point. It was also a good excuse to touch her again.
Tara felt Willow's fingers warm her body immediately. It was like the completion of a circuit complete with electrical charge.
"Show me your garden."
"Excuse me?" Tara eyes grew wide, she was blushing again.
"Your garden, you know flowers and herbs and such. You know the fruits and vegetables of your labor" Willow grinned.
Tara was about to drop. Day two and everything was already all about the touching and the energy between them. Tara was attracted to Willow. How could she teach her when she wanted her so much. This was not a casual attraction, not just the appreciation of a wonderfully interesting and sexy female, it was something so much more.
Willow noticed the change in Tara's demeanor. "Did I say something wrong, are you feeling okay? If you don't want to do the garden thing I understand. I can just be done for the day. I will wait here until Xander comes back to pick me up.
Tara shook her head no and tried to move her feelings back into check. "No Willow everything is fine, its okay."
"You sure, Xander will come, we can be done." Willow was worried.
"No Willow, really it is fine. Who's Xander?" Tara could not help but ask.
"My friend."
"Your boyfriend?" asked Tara unable to help herself.
Willow laughed, "Xander my boyfriend? No no no, he is my kindergarten buddy. It is hard to take someone seriously who you have seen in their underoo's."
Tara smiled at the thought of a grown man in underoos. "Underoos?" she said.
Willow grinned again, it was a silly smile. "Yes, underoos. There was somebody once but he uh...we uh..well, I have kind of sworn off men for awhile. It did not end well."
Tara was not sure whether to be happy or sad.
Willow was looking at Tara, she wanted reciprocation."You?"
"Me?"
"Yes you, is there anybody?"
This was getting entirely to personal for Tara. She shifted her feet and tried to think of something non-committal to say. "Men, I mean man, no, no man, I mean nobody. I guess you can say I've kind of sworn off men too." For Tara there had never been any men.
"Oh," said Willow, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay Willow, I am happy."
"I can tell" said Willow looking at Tara intently. "I wish I could be happy the way you are, I get lonely sometimes. I often wonder if I will ever find love again."
"I am sure you will Willow, you will find love and love will find you."
Willow sighed and looked sweetly at Tara as Tara struggled once again to curb her impulses and quiet her mind.
"Garden?"
"Oh yes" Tara said turning towards the house. This was against her better judgement but she could think of no other way to keep Willow near. So many secrets, would Willow know? Willow seemed to sense things without knowing them. What would she say about Tara's garden?
Tara led Willow through the house and straight towards the back. Willow had not realized how big the house was or that the porch wrapped all the way around. When she stepped out of the back door she stopped and took in a deep breath of air. The back opened out onto a large garden or gardens. There were multiple beds that were laid out neatly with brick pathways in between. Flowers on one side for cutting and eating, herbs on the other for cooking and teas. Berry bushes and dwarf fruit trees further back with some espaliered along the fence. There was a dovecote in the center where the paths met and the colors were vibrant, the smell delicious.
"Wow" said Willow stopping to take it all in, "just wow."
Tara was pleased, she was proud of her gardens but did not share them with many. "This is where I do most of my work. The riding I do because I love it, but it is the jams and jellies, the soaps and the oils that make money."
Willow stood silently on the steps taking it all in. "I want to see" she said stepping down off the porch, "show me."
Tara talked her through the garden. There were common herbs such as rosemary, basil and mint. Then vegetables like tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce and carrot. Willow could not identify them all, there were too many. Berries and flowers, herbs and vegetables they all looked so beautiful and tasty.
"What is back there?" asked Willow pointing to a far corner.
Tara had hoped that Willow would not ask but was not at all surprised when she did.
"Those are my specialty plants that I use for remedies and other things."
'Other things?' thought Willow. "Show me" she said her curiosity peaked.
Tara took a breath and went on faith. She was a terrible liar and she hated secrets. She hoped that Willow would not recognize what she had or perhaps not realize what it meant.
'Gay and a witch' she thought. Time and time again it had proven to be too much, but this time...this time she hoped it would not matter.
Willow scanned the garden and she smiled as she began to recognize the few plants and herbs she had used before. "Witchhazel, feverfew, goldenseal, leopards bane, horehound and coltsfoot." She said gently caressing some of the leaves. She looked at Tara then back at the bed. "Witches broom, wormwood, yarrow, burdock, shepherds purse, angelica, eyebright and lady's mantle." The collection seemed endless. Willow straightened and looked at Tara her eye's wide. Either Tara was a chemist, a botanist, a pharmacist or a witch, Willow voted witch. "Lady's mantle... alchemilla vulgaris in Latin. Alchemilla means magic doesn't it?" Willow asked tipping her head and looking at Tara slyly.
Tara nodded her head slowly watching Willow with wonder. 'She knows,' she thought, her stomach tightening, 'she knows.'
Willow looked back at the bed then to Tara again sensing her anxiety. She smiled broadly and nodded her approval. "This is wonderful Tara" Willow said, carefully measuring her words. "Thank you for sharing it with me." She looked deeply into Tara's eyes feeling her heart open more for this woman. 'I knew there was something special between us, I knew we had a connection. She is a witch, a witch like me.'
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Ooooo this is fun. I hope you like it. Ahhhh what to do in Chapter 4? That is the question. I promise to be back soon with the answer.
Thanks for reading,
Athame.
by Blue Athame 1 » Sat Apr 12, 2003 1:59 pm 
and I hope Willow gets to ride something else than a horse.. somebody should I say 
more 
Fear? Frogs? Horses? Boots? Relationships? The Journey? Whoops...shhh, don't tell anyone. 
why doncha?;
hehe i like the part with the horsies 
it. 
&
are so cute.
-out
