How To Save A Life - Chapter One
Title: How To Save A Life
Chapter: 1/?
Pairing: Miley/Demi
Rating: R (Mature Content - Not Graphic)
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of these people. Did this happen in real life? Well, is Miley immortal and over 100 years old? Didn’t think so.
Word Count: 1,296
Summary: Demi is a carefree saloon girl whose dreams never included anyone but herself. She didn’t think she would ever love somebody else until she met a strong-willed and reserved cattle rancher who seemed to only live for her family.
Author's Note: This is an AU story that takes place in the 19th Century American Old West. Just a crazy idea I had one day. Although, if you’ve read any of my other stories you know that pretty much all of them are rather… unusual. Anyway, I’ll try to update it weekly. And thanks to biohazardnerd for being such an awesome beta! ILY! <3
It was a stuffy room that smelled of liquor and cheap perfume. A couple mirrors on the walls and one small wooden table cluttered with jewelry, makeup, and perfume bottles in front of each one. Frilly dresses with full skirts were hanging all around the small dressing room and colorful feather boas scattered everywhere.
A knock on the door ceased the chatter in the room. An attractive young man with thick eyebrows and messy black hair peeked with his head inside.
“Five minutes, girls,” he warned with a smile. The five girls nodded in acknowledgment and went back to their chatter. Before he left he looked at the beautiful brunette on the farther left and winked. “Looking good, Demi.”
The girl let out a chuckle and rolled her eyes as she fixed a red feather in her hair. She didn’t look away from her mirror when she answered him. “Thanks, Joe.”
He smiled and left the room. It was just another night at The White Horse saloon.
The saloon was very spacious. It had a small stage with a piano, a medium sized bar and wooden tables and chair were distributed around the room. A couple oil paintings, shotguns, and animal horns decorated the walls. The place was loud and the smell of tobacco was strong. After the long years, it felt as if it was imprinted in the old plank walls. People were gambling, drinking, and talking animatedly.
Joe was back to playing the piano and drinks were being consumed quickly, one after the other.
The girls were now on stage, dancing to an upbeat tune Joe was playing. They were lifting up their skirts and performing provocative dance movements. The men cheered loudly and raised their drinks in approval.
After their routine the girls left the stage and walked around the room, flirting with the men. Demi made her way to a table of poker players and was quickly pulled into the lap of one of them.
“Whoa there, cowboy!” she greeted amidst laughter.
“Looking good as always, Miss Demi,” the man under her complimented. “May I buy you a drink?”
“Aww. Always the charmer, Cody. And yes, you may,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“The usual?” She nodded. “Hey Doug! A sangaree for the Miss,” Cody yelled over at the bartender.
As she sipped her drink and flirted with the men at the table she let her eyes roam the room. She couldn’t help but notice a creepy looking cowboy on a table not far from hers. He was undressing her with his eyes, which Demi was used to, but this man and his black cowboy hat gave her the chills. He wasn’t remotely attractive either. He looked like a horse in Demi’s opinion.
“Are we boring you already?” joked one of the men sitting at the table.
“Oh, you know you boys never bore me,” Demi answered in a seductive voice and turned her attention back to the game.
Not long after, the batwing doors of the saloon swung open and when Demi looked at the entrance she felt the air leave her lungs for a moment and had to take in a deep breath. What had to be the most beautiful creature in the world walked in the dingy room.
She had eyes like the sky. Her skin was a creamy color and her cheeks were tinted a light pink. Her chestnut colored hair was up in a messy bun and a few loose strands were framing her face. Demi let her eyes fall from her gorgeous face to her perfect body. Her full bosom was almost completely covered by the dirty beige cotton of her sleeveless dress, but to Demi’s eyes, they were almost begging to be set free. There was a wide piece of leather going around her slim waist, starting right under her breasts and ending just above her hips, making it seem almost like a corset. A flowy skirt followed and ended mid-calf, with a layer of ivory colored ruffles showing underneath, most likely from her undergarment. Dark brown knee length boots adorned her feet. Demi was mesmerized.
The girl’s outfit was nowhere near as fancy as Demi’s strapless burgundy and black one. It was too simple actually, like a work dress. Which meant the girl probably lived in one of the ranches around town. But nonetheless, she was a goddess. It was a natural kind of beauty. The kind you didn’t see very often.
The girl was clearly looking for someone as she stood there, scanning the room. Her eyes darkened with anger as they locked on Horseface - as Demi decided to call him. She hastily made her way to his table. ‘What would a girl like her want with… that?’ Demi thought with disgust.
The girl angrily yanked the drink from his hand and slammed it down on the table. She was saying something to him but Demi couldn’t make up the words with all the noise in the room. She tried to help him get up but he pulled his arm from her grasp, however, he was too drunk and fell off his chair. That seemed to upset her even more as she helped him up and practically dragged him out of the saloon, shooting the bartender an apologetic look to which he returned with a nod.
Demi immediately got up from Cody’s lap, muttering something about the ladies room and turned to go after the girl.
As soon as she stepped outside she could hear the yelling.
“-and I can’t take care of the ranch, the kids, the cattle, come to town to do business and take care of your drunken ass!” The girl yelled as Horseface threw up next to the animal’s water container. “Trace, you know we’re in trouble and instead of helping, you come to town to spend money we don’t have to spare! I’m running that ranch alone! Braison is helping in any way he can, but he’s just a kid. This is your responsibility!”
“Just shut up,” he muttered after he stopped throwing up. Demi wanted to push him in the dirty water. How dare he talk to an angel like that?
“No, I won’t shut up! You need to step up and be a man for once in your sorry life. You’ve been nothing but trouble since you came back! Now get up on that horse and let’s go home!” She tried to help him up but he pushed her away.
“Don’t touch me, you bitch!” he yelled but got up anyway and, after a couple tries, managed to get on the horse. He kicked the animal harshly and sped down the dusty street. The girl let out a tired sigh, skillfully mounted her horse and went after him.
Demi could only watch as she galloped away into the dark night.