Chapter Text
“Storm King.” She mumbled in her sleep.
“Kate?”
“Mmm Tyler.”
Cathy gave him a look as did the other Wranglers upon hearing Kate mumble his name in a sexual matter. He blushed. “Tyler Owens. Care to explain?”
“I have no idea ma’am.”
“Are we back to formalities now?” She patted his back. “I’m just teasing. I like you a lot and I know Kate needs someone like you in her life.”
“You should see your face T.” Lily teased.
Tyler had started liking Kate, but never thought about her in a sexual way. She was attractive, and they had a lot in common. He cared for her, but she had a life in New York, far from Oklahoma. He wasn’t one for long distance relationships. In fact, it had been a while since his last girlfriend. She hated his lifestyle choice of chasing storms, claimed it was dangerous and him always being on the road bothered her. Eventually she found comfort in another, and they parted ways.
“Hey, does anyone want anything? I’m going to do a coffee run with Lily.” Javi offered shaking Tyler from his thoughts.
Boone follows them. “Hold up, I’ll go too.”
Cathy sat beside Tyler. “I can tell you’re thinking about something.”
“Do you think she will go back?”
“With Kate, anything is possible. I’d love for her to stay home.”
“Me too.”
“Do you like my daughter?”
“I’ve only known her a few days, but it feels much longer. Kate is different than most of the women I meet.”
“I haven’t seen her smile the way she did when you were at my house. She needs someone like you around. After the accident it changed her.”
“If Kate wants to date me then I will do the best I can to make her happy. That I can promise.”
Cathy patted his back. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted for her.”
--
Kate finally opened her eyes a few hours later to find Tyler resting beside her bed and her mom sipping on a coffee. “Mom?” The beeping from the monitors was loud and echoed in her ears.
“I’m here sweetheart.”
“Are you mad?”
Cathy gave her daughter a look. “Why would I be mad?”
“Because I married the storm king.”
Cathy chuckled and stood to her feet moving to where she could touch Kate’s forehead. “While I’d love to hear more about this storm king you married, and questioning where my wedding invitation was, I’m afraid to tell you that you hit your head when the truck rolled.”
“No mama he’s right there. It’s been Tyler all along. He’s been making the storms.”
“Yes, Tyler did help you and he does drive into storms. I don’t think he makes them.”
“If I didn’t marry him then the storms were going to kill you and Javi like they did the others. The Wizard was making sure of that.”
Cathy began to wonder what kind of medication they had given Kate for her pain. “Sounds awful.”
“It was but then something happened, and I tamed him.”
“Honey, do you remember the story Wizard of Oz?” Kate nodded. “Same concept here babe.”
“But Tyler is…”
“Sleeping. That boy hasn’t left your side. I can see that he cares for you.”
“I think I like him too.”
Boone and Javi enter the room with Kates ESA dog Brisket.
“You got a dog Boone?”
“Actually, Tyler did. He found this little guy after the EMTs took you away to bring you here.” He placed the dog on her bed.
“He’s cute. How did you get them to let you bring him in”
“Tyler told them he was your emotional support animal.”
“Brisket.” She mumbled.
“What was that?”
“His name will be Brisket.” She turned to look towards Tyler and smiled before tossing her pillow at him waking him.
“Oh, hey Kate.”
The smile he gave made her blush at the thought of the things they had done in her dream.
—
That night she was released from the hospital where her mother took her, the dog, and Tyler home. The wranglers joined for a bonfire and beer. A celebration of Kate’s success at officially taming a tornado. This felt like her dream as she rested her head against Tyler’s shoulder.
They all raised their beers up. “To Kate… a real-life tornado tamer.”
She smiled. After a bit longer of listening to stories and telling jokes with the wranglers, she knew she needed a moment alone with Tyler. “Hey Ty, can we talk?”
“Sure.” They stood up.
“Get you some T.” He winked.
“Boone don’t make me slap you.”
Kate blushed when they all began to whistle as they walked away towards the barn.
Once they were alone, she leaned against the back of the barn. “Is everything okay Kate?”
“You tell me.” No. Things were not okay.
He stood in front of her. “You’re leaving tomorrow.” He touched her cheek and brushed a curl from her eyes. He could see tears forming. “Hey, don’t cry.”
“Yes.”
“What’s that mean for, us?”
She took a deep breath. “There never was an us Tyler…but— She was interrupted as he pressed his lips to hers.
“But what?” He whispered against her lips.
“I don’t know if I want to go back now.”
“What do you want Kate?”
“This. I want to be here, and I want you. I’d like to see where this goes.”
He smiled and pressed her against the barn for a passionate kiss. “I overheard Lily mention something about you called me a storm king. Care to share?”
“About that, I hit my head whenever your truck rolled.”
“Storm King. I like it. But it’s missing something.”
“A queen.”
“How about it Kate? I’m making you an offer you can’t resist. Stay here in Oklahoma, with me, taming storms, and be my Storm Queen.”
“Can we put this on a t-shirt?”
“Honey, I think you’re onto something. Now come here my queen. Kiss me.”
Kate pulled him to her and never wanted to let him go.
End.