“Colt, I’m just…worried. I don’t want you to feel like you can’t tell me things or need to hide stuff from me. I want to be here for you. After last night, I thought there was something between us.” When he didn’t give me a response, I continued. “Was it only a one-time thing? Was it just a way for you to get a little action since you don’t get much? If you were just using me, then at least be man enough to tell me.” He turned quickly, his expression dark.
“You know dang well that I’m not like that.”
“Then tell me the truth.” He sighed.
“Will you please just let this go? I don’t want my dad to see us talking like this.”
“Like what? We’re just having a conversation.” I was so frustrated, but I tried to keep calm and not raise my voice to where Walt could hear.
“Yeah, but if he saw this right now, he would be able to see that this isn’t a friendly conversation. He would know something’s up, and I’m not ready to deal with that. I still haven’t figured out what to say to him…how to explain this.”
“Explain? Can’t you just tell him that we’re seeing each other?”
“You don’t understand. It’s not that simple.”
“You’re right. I don’t understand. I don’t understand because you won’t tell me anything.” I paused, trying to catch my breath. “Colt, you have to know that I’m just worried about you.”
“I know, Daisy.” He rubbed the back of his neck.
“So? Are you going to tell me?”
“When my dad told me he agreed with John to let you stay here, he made me promise him something.”
“Okay?”
“He told me you were here to learn hard work.”
“I’m so sick of hearing that.”
“Will you let me finish?” I nodded. “He told me that he was doing this as a favor to your father, one that he owed him. I told him he had nothing to worry about.”
“That still doesn’t explain this…”
“He told me to leave you be.” I could feel my blood boiling. Was Colt saying what I thought he was saying? “He told me that I was to leave you alone…I wasn’t supposed to let anything happen between us. This was supposed to be strictly business.”
“So, let me get this straight. Your dad basically told you to keep your hands off me? Is that it?” He nodded.
“Daisy…” He reached out to touch me, then stopped himself.
“Tell me one more thing. Did you agree?” He nodded. No. It couldn’t be. How could he do something like this to me? He swore he’d never hurt me and now look at this. Look at what he’s done.
“Daisy, I’m sorry.”
“Are you sorry that your dad told you to do that,although he had no right to? Are you sorry that you agreed? Or are you sorry that you asked me out last night and things ended up getting heated between us?” He didn’t answer. All he could do was look at the ground, keeping his eyes off me. I felt tears swelling in my eyes. I wasn’t weak and I wasn’t going to let him see me like this. I took off toward the house, not looking back.
Chapter Fifteen
Colt
The whole drive with my dad, I was trying to figure out what to do with the situation I was in. I tried to talk to him, but I couldn’t find the words. He spoke a little to me, only to give me orders to grab this and load that. I didn’t mind. It was the only thing keeping my mind from racing with all the thoughts. I was dreading seeing Daisy when we got back because I knew she would want to talk, and I wasn’t ready.
* * *
When we got back to the ranch, I got out and started helping my dad unload everything from the truck bed.
“Take that box and bag to the barn and put that stuff away.”
“Right on it.” I heard hooves approaching us, and I knew it could only be one thing. I didn’t look up, though, keeping my mind on the task at hand. I carried everything into the barn, my dad going toward the fence. I saw Daisy hopping off Domino. She looked stunning on the horse. She didn’t notice me, and I waskind of hoping she wouldn’t. It would make this a lot easier for me because I wasn’t yet ready to make any decision.
