“I guess that doesn’t make me feel all that bad, then.”
“Why is that?”
“You can’t judge me for this…” I could tell she was a little hesitant to share.
“This is a judgment-free zone.”
“I haven’t been on a date.”
“Never?” She shook her head, smiling slightly.
“Not unless you count a boy coming over when I was sixteen to sit on the couch with me and both my parents to watch a movie as a date, then never.” I laughed.
“How is that possible? And no, that is not a date.” I looked at her. Her beautiful brown curls extended past her shoulders. Her eyes were the darkest brown I had ever seen and instantly grabbed my attention. She had the prettiest smile, one that I would do anything to see, even if that meant making myself look like a fool, which I did in the past on more than one occasion.
“I’ve just been more career driven I guess you’d say. My mom passed that same year, and I was depressed for a while. I stopped riding and stopped wanting to hang out with anyone or do much of anything. I graduated and kept my plan to study art at a community college in the city to expand my horizon…that’s what my mom always called it.”
“And you graduated, got a job, and never looked back?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“And no one in the city even looked your way?”
“Well, maybe a couple, but I wasn’t interested.” I looked at Daisy. Part of me couldn’t believe what I was hearing and was really questioning if she was telling me a lie.
“You could’ve fooled me.” I looked back at the TV for a moment. What did I just say to her? She was off limits. My dad made that clear when he told me he was going to do this for John. I told him he had nothing to worry about. “I think I’m going to shower and head on to bed. You want me to turn the TV off orleave it on?”
“You can leave it on. I think I’ll stay up for a few more minutes anyway.” I nodded, then headed to my room.
What did I mean by that comment? What did ‘You could’ve fooled me’ even mean? The way I have seen Daisy today has been different. Even the way I have talked to her has been different. I opened up to her about some things- things that I never talk to anyone about - and she did the same. Was this all too much? Daisy is beautiful, I will admit it. Her big, brown eyes and brunette hair that always seems to fall to her face have caught my eye more than a handful of times. She is also off limits. I can’t go back on my word…not to my father…can I?
Chapter Eight
Daisy
Iwas back to the same routine that I had every day of the summer, minus a few days when Walt decided there was something else that I needed to do around the ranch. I was a little distracted by Colt’s comment last night. I didn’t understand why he said I could’ve fooled him. I told the truth. I had never been out on a date. Even after I finished what chores I had to do around the ranch, I made sure to find something else to do to occupy my mind so I wouldn’t think about Colt. Our conversation had left me a bit confused.
I saw Colt around the ranch a few times throughout the day. I wasn’t sure what to say to him, but I figured I’d just let him lead. He had been all over the ranch today, and I knew he had to see me when he walked from the fence where he had the cows to the house. He didn’t speak, though. He didn’t even look up at me. I brushed it off, assuming he was probably just busy or tired. When he came into the barn, though- where I was rubbing Domino’s head- I knew there was no way he would see me. He was purposefully ignoring me, and I didn’t know why. Did I say something wrong last night? I mean, I don’t think I did. I scooted over in front of him when he turned to walk out.
“Can you move?”
“Can I move?”
“Yes. I need to get this back to my dad. We’re moving the cattle.”
“Oh…uh, yeah.” I moved back over toward Domino’s stall.
“Thanks. I’ll be back to saddle up Shadow. I’m going to need him to help with the cattle.” He nodded his head up in the way that men do. I looked back at Domino.
“That was weird to you, too, wasn’t it?” Now I'm talking to a horse. I brushed my hand against Domino's nose.
When Colt got back in the barn, I wanted to ask him what was wrong, but I didn’t know what to say, especially if he was mad at me for something. Saying the wrong thing could make things worse. “Colt?”
“I don’t have time to talk right now, Daisy. I have to get Shadow saddled up so I can get out to the pasture to help my dad.” I walked away and went into the house for something to drink instead. I knew how Walt could be, so maybe Colt was in a bad mood because he had spent the whole day right alongside his dad. That was a lot easier on me than my brain tossing and turning over the thought that I had something to do with Colt’s strange behavior today. Still, it reminded me of a time when we were younger, and I was 14 and he was 16.
? ? ?
“Colt, what is wrong with you?”
