Wild Hearts(open)

[icu1978]

I am looking to start a new thread, something a little simple to start with since i have been gone for so long. I need one guy to join me and maybe some others to join in later. I have a rough draft of the thread i would like to start. It's a romance/adventure thread.
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The year is 1865
Drake has been awoken by his one time lover Lady Whick and handed a letter explaining how his father and older brother have perished in an accident leaving him the sole heir of their estates. and to top it all off the "Lady" has just announced that they married last night. not remembering anything that happened last night he takes her word for it.

As the time passes and the one year anniversery of his father and brothers deaths aproach he decides that it's time to make a trip to the America's. being partial owner of the Whiskey ranch he has a strong desire to see the place his father had invested in before his death last year, and an even stronger need to get away from his "wife" who refuses to live under the same roof as him and wants nothing to do with him other than the money he has in his bank. sending a message to the other owner of the Whiskey cattle ranch telling them of his arrival within the next monthe Lord drake prepares for his journey into the west.


In Texas Elizabeth Chandler reads the message to her aunt who sits across the room. her father having been murdered six monthes ago by their neighbor John Phelps although she still could not prove he was behind it they all now he played a role in her fathers death. she crumpled the paper the message was sent on and tossed it into the fire. Libby as her family and friends called her didn't notice the scowl her aunt gave her as she stood and began to pace. Her mind in a whirl. finally she stops in the middle of the parlor and with hands on her hips looks to her aunt " what on earth can that old goat want out here at the whiskey.. " she had never told Lord Drake that her father had died she had simply taken over his job and was doing a right fine job of it too. she almost had enough saved to buy back the Lords portion of her land.

Standing Martha Libby's aunt takes the young woman in her arms and holds her tightly. " perhaps it is fate my child. it's about time you realized your a young lady not a cowboy. get yourself out of those mens clothes and put on a dress and fix your hair like a lady should. it's time you married and settled down."

With a heavey sigh Libby pulls out of Martha's embrace. " i have no room in my life for frilly things or for men. i have a ranch to run men to pay and cattle to get to Kansas before that snake John Phelps makes anymore trouble for us." Libby's voice rose with each word until she was nearly yelling at her aunt.

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DISCRIPTIONS OF CHARECTORS.


LORD DRAKE- 33 YEARS OLD.A LITTLE OVER 6 FEET TALL, RAVEN BLACK HAIR WORN TO JUST BELOW HIS SHOULDER. DARK GREEN EYES NICELY MUSCLED.LIGHT SPRINKLING OF BLACK HAIR ON HIS CHEST AND ARMS.

LADY JULIA WHICK- 30 YEARS OLD. 5 FOOT 7 INCHES , LARGE BUILD WITH UPTO DATE LONDON FASHION SHE TENDS TO STAND OUT IN A CROWD. DARK BROWN EYES AND DARK BROWN HAIR LONG AND THIN.

ELIZABETH CHANDLER (LIBBY) *PLAYED BY ME*- 20 YEARS OLD. 5 FOOT 3 INCHES. THICK DARK BLONDE HAIR THAT FALLS TO THE MIDDLE OF HER BACK WHEN IT'S NOT BRAIDED AND PLACED UNDER HER HAT.SMALL IN STATURE AND BUILD. TANED FROM HOURS OF WORKING IN THE SUN WITH HER RANCH HANDS.

AUNT MARTHA- MIDDLE AGED FAIR SKINED LARGE BROWN EYES LOVELY IN HER OWN RIGHT.

RANCH HANDS WILL BE UP TO THOSE THAT WISH TO PLAY THEM. ALONG WITH THE GALS THAT THEY BRING ALONG.

ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CHAR'S THAT ARE CHOSEN ARE FINE BUT PLEASE LET ME KNOW BEFORE YOU BEGIN PLAYING THEM.THANKS.

 

[Moonsword]

Drake sighs and eyes his wife irritably. "Julia, this isn't that bad," he repeats, not happy with the woman's complaints.

"You said that about Savannah!" she protests. "And most of the trip through Georgia!"

Drake raises an eyebrow. "As I recall, one of their northern generals just marched through that area just six months ago. They're doing remarkably well, given that there was a civil war here," he points out dryly. She gives him a look but Drake reminds her calmly, "I offered to let you stay in London. You said you were looking forward to an 'adventure', never mind that adventures are uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous."

"I didn't think it would be this hot!"

Drake chuckles and nods, acknowledging the point. "Well, it'll be cooler in the shade," he says reassuringly. "And I'm sure the women there will be better company for a lady such as yourself than I." He points. "There's the ranch, just ahead. We'll be there soon," he tells the brunette, smiling at her. Finally, he adds mentally. I'm looking forward to getting away from her for a while.

As much as the early days of their marriage had been quite... enjoyable, of late, Julia had been rather irritable and had taken it out on him. She was a lady of society and Drake was, well, not precisely the most social of gentlemen. He preferred scholarship and travel to her galas and initially, that had seemed to satisfy her, but not lately.

 

[icu1978]

Libby was just coming in from checking the northern fences when she spoted the wagon coming up the drive towards the house. scowling she smacked the rope that she had been holding against her thigh and spured her horse peg into a gallop, her body moving gracefully with the movemts of the horse as if they where one.

As she hit the yard she pulled on the reins and peg slowed to a stop. Jumping to the ground she tossed the reins to a cowhand that was near by. " rusty take care of peg for me will ya." nodding his head the red headed lead the horse to the barn looking back over his shoulder only once to watch Libby striding away towards the house.

reaching the yard just after the wagon came to a stop she pushed the brim of her hat back and looked up at the lady and man both overly dressed for the texas heat. her body growing tense she knew who they where and she wasn't happy about it in the least. " thought you wheren't supposed to be here for another week." sighing she pulls her hat from her head and the heavey braid that was hidden beneath it fell down the middle of her back.

" you might as well climb down and come on in. the sooner i find out what you want here the sooner you can get back to your side of the ocean." striding past them to the porch the sway of her hips enhanced by the snug fit of the denim jeans she wore. calling out to bisquite the cook to inform him they had visitors. she tosses her hat on a table near the door and instructs the bearly cook to show the man and his wife to their room when the get inside.

turning on her hills she goes into the office that her father used to use and sits behind the desk waiting for Lord Drake to make his appearance.

 

[Moonsword]

Drake watched her go for a moment, only half-listening to Julia's commentary. Once in the room, he changed into much lighter, more practical clothing, ignoring his wife's protests. "Julia, London finery might be suited to traveling but in this heat, especially if I'm going to be out riding and learning more about my property, I'm going to wear something comfortable," he answered finally.

"But why? Why did we have to come to this... place?" she asks slowly.

Drake mentally counted to ten. "Because I have to look after my own affairs," he answered slowly, sitting on his temper.

"But what am I supposed to do?" the dark-haired woman whined.

"Stay here or go out, if you want, I don't care!" Drake snapped finally before leaving the room with an angry slamming of the door. His fierce look silenced the cook, who led him to meet with Libby. Once in the office, his face softened slightly to a business-like mien. "Might I ask who you are and where William Chandler is?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow.

 

[icu1978]

Libby arched one finely shaped eyebrow at him. " my father is dead. I am your new partner.. and don'e even think of trying to push me out eithor your LORDSHIP" the last word was said with distaste leaving no doubt as to how she felt about him.

sitting forward in her seat behing the big desk she placed her left hand on a stack of ledgers. " these are the book for the last 10 years.. feel free to go over them and be on your way when your done."

standing she moved around the desk as if to leave the room then turned back suddenly to face him. " you might want to tell your lady friend that it's not wise to wear such heavy fabrics in the texas heat. i should also tell you that your not going to coddled here on the ranch the way your probably used to. you'll work along with the rest of us while your here.. so will your misses. we don't cotton much to laziness around here. not even if your the majority owner."

she was facing him with obviouse defiance. her guard was up and she was ready to fight, that much was clear but even she didn't understand why she was being so rude to the man. she may not look like much of a woman in the opinion of others but she always treated others with kindness until they deserved other wise.

she watched him closely across the room feeling slightly smug about the fact that she had been able to keep the upper hand in her dealings with this man that could destroy her and her future with very little thought to the matter.

 

[Moonsword]

Drake raises an eyebrow at her feisty tone. "I'll pass that along to Julia. I'm not sure how well it will go over with her but I'll certainly pass it along," he answers. "As for working, I'll be happy to lend a hand but I'm not quite sure what it is you want me to do. I'm a scholar and a financier, not a cowboy," he points out. "I'll try but I expect I'd be more hindrance than help trying to round up farm animals." He isn't refusing, just making an observation.

Then he narrows his eyes and continues levelly, "And, Ms. Chandler, I'll thank you to keep a civil tongue in your head. I'm sorry about your loss but that hardly gives you the right to shout at me. My own father and brother both died a year ago and I'm not being rude to you. Nor have I the slightest intention of attempting to push out anyone... especially not the lady who is running the ranch so well!"

 

[icu1978]

smiling a little to sweetly at him she takes a few steps into the room so that she is nearly standing toe to toe with him. her head tilted back slightly so she could look up at him.

" tell me your lordship... how would you act if someone came onto your land with more power and money and wanted to stay? i don't think you would take it all that well eithor. especially after only a few weeks notice of said arrival. and as for you not being a cowboy...well you will be before you leave the great state of texas."

turning on her heal she walked from the room and slamed the door behind her. leaning against the wall on the other side she took several gulps of air and tryed to controll herself. her hands where shaking and her palms where sweety. lord but he is a fine looking man..

upset with herself she stands up strait and heads for the front door. what the hell am i thinking.. i have no room in my life for a man let alone a married one at that. steping out onto the porch she enhaled sharply as she looked around. the ranch house may not be much but the land around it was breathtaking. with rolling hills of thick green grass, plenty of big tree's all over the property and a large creek running through the center of it. smilling she silently made a promise to herself that she would do anything to keep this land and fullfill her fathers dreams.

 

[Moonsword]

Drake frowned before following her quietly, moving stealthily. "I doubt I'd like it," he said, touching her shoulder gently.