“Listen, Colt. Make sure she doesn’t dig herself a deeper hole with her dad, you know? I’m sending you to look after her and make sure she doesn’t give him any of that attitude to make things worse. If I go, she will know why I took her along with me, so I’m sending you instead.”
“I got it.”
“She needs to finally talk to him, and this may be the chance to do that.” I nodded and walked over to where we had left Daisy standing. I could hear my dad start the side-by-side and head out.
“Are you ready to go?” She nodded.
* * *
I knew John had been struggling a little bit lately and needed some help from time to time. My dad usually went over there when he needed someone. I occasionally went alongside him or in place of him when needed, but my dad usually liked to go. John and he were friends from way back. John hired help from time to time, but that doesn’t come cheap. I was glad to have Daisy along for the drive out to John’s, but I could see the nerves on her face. I hadn’t seen this look on her face in a while, and I was concerned.
“Daisy, are you okay?” I waited a minute, and when I didn’t get an answer, I repeated. “Daisy?”
“Hm?” She turned quickly towards me.
“Are you okay?”
“Oh. Yeah.”
“I can tell by the look on your face that you aren’t okay. Tell me the truth. What’s going on inside that pretty little head of yours?”
“I’m just dreading this a little bit.”
“Going back to the ranch or seeing your dad?”
“Um…”
“Both?” I nodded. “I haven’t seen the ranch in seven years.”
“You didn’t see it when you came in for my mom’s funeral?”
“No. We ate after, and that was it. He offered for me to stay the night there, so I didn’t have to drive back to the city, but I turned him down.”
“Oh. If you don’t want to go…I mean, if it will be too hard for you…If you’re not ready yet, you can fake getting sick, and I’ll take you back, and you can go to bed and rest instead. I can handle helping your dad.”
I made the offer because I wanted Daisy to know that she could count on me…that she could lean on me.
“I’ll be okay. I need to do this.” She nodded, and I placed my right hand on her inner thigh. She looked at my hand, placing hers on top of mine.
“Daisy, you don’t have to hide it from me.” She smiled, knowing I saw her trying to hide her tears. “Are you sure you’re okay?” She nodded, and we got out of the truck.
I walked behind her, knowing how nervous she probably was after not being back here in so long. I knew she had spoken to her dad only once since being back here this summer, when he had come over one evening and joined us for supper. I knew she didn’t feel the best after that conversation. I felt bad for her, knowing their relationship was a little strained, but I was glad I was here to help her in any way she needed.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Daisy
“Daisy, are you okay? Daisy?”
“Hm?” I turned to face him.
“Are you okay?”
“Oh. Yeah.” I was such a bad liar. I wasn’t okay. I was dreading every bit of this visit. I didn’t want to go back there…I didn’t think I could do it just yet. I didn’t know if I was ready, and I had no reassurance of whether this would go well or not for me. What if it made things worse? What if I made things worse?
“I can tell by the look on your face that you aren’t okay. Tell me the truth. What’s going on inside that pretty little head of yours?” I wanted to take delight in the fact that Colt had just called me pretty, but that feeling just couldn’t outweigh the heaviness of seeing my day today.
“I’m just dreading this a little bit.” A little? Who was I kidding? I was freaking out at this point.
