going through a mid-life crisis.
The gardens in front of the porch were filled with
colorful flowers and what looked like river rocks. Behind the house as far as
the eye could see was nothing but rolling hills, grass, and trees…and a cow…or
a bull here and there. It was a pretty picture, but one that I would prefer
hanging on my wall rather than to be living in. I just cannot imagine what she
is thinking, I thought again. It has to be thirty miles to the closest
Starbucks.
I turned off the car and started to step out. I
caught a flash of blue coming towards me and when I focused on it for a moment
I completely forget where I was. Hell, I may not have even been able to
remember my own name at that very second if someone had asked. The blue was a
shirt – one of those long-sleeved cowboy things. It was hugging one of the most
impressive…if not the most impressive torso that I’d ever seen. He looked rock
hard underneath that shirt, but not hard like you get
from going to the gym. It wasn’t all bulky and massive. It was long, lean
muscle – the kind you get from years of hard work. I was shocked to find
suddenly I found that much more attractive. Who would have known? The shirt was
tucked into a pair of well-worn blue jeans holding a pair of legs that went on
forever. A pair of dusty cowboy boots poked out from underneath them. I let my
eyes travel up then and they landed on a pair of blue ones unlike any shade of
nature I had ever seen. It took me way too long to be able to draw my own hazel
eyes away. Thankfully, I was still in the car, and I still had my sunglasses
on. Wouldn’t want to get caught lusting after a cowboy…or ranch hand? I’m not
sure exactly what he was…besides hot. Anyways, he tipped the dark brown suede
hat he was wearing in my direction, and I caught a glimpse of dark curly hair underneath
the hat that totally contrasted with the blue eyes. The whole package was like
a little glimpse of heaven. I gave him a little nod back and adjusted my
rear-view mirror so I could shamelessly watch him walk away. It was as
impressive as the sight of him coming towards me.
I opened the door of the Charger and sucked in a
lungful of the fresh country air. Maybe it would calm down the hormones that
were suddenly raging. Maybe Mom knows what she’s doing after all. They sure
don’t grow them like that in the city. I thought my last boyfriend was hot.
Compared to this guy, he was a troll. Maybe I’ll take a wait and see approach
to how this would all play out. This summer might not be too bad after all.
CHAPTER
TWO
MARK
I watched the pretty little sports car coming up the
dirt path towards the house, and I knew it must be my new “sister.” I was home
for a couple of months because all of my competitions are pretty close by. I
was right in the middle of rodeo season, but there were only three important
ones I had to attend this summer in order to still be a contender.
Dad told me that his new wife Lydia’s daughter was
coming to stay for the summer. Dad also told me to be nice, like maybe I’m
still twelve and needed to be told how to use my manners. He seems to think
that since I choose not to live my life the way he thought I should, that meant
I wasn’t as mature or intelligent as I should be. He would never say that out
loud, though. Nope. Talking was over-rated as far as he was concerned – talking
about real feelings, anyways. If he wanted to spout a bunch of B.S. about how
proud he was of me at a barbecue or charity event where people were suddenly
interested in me and what I do , that was different.
All of a sudden, I was no longer the prodigal son.
I have no idea why he might think that I wouldn’t be
polite to Lydia’s daughter. I was polite when I first met Lydia. I’ve been nice
to her every time I’ve stayed at the ranch. I like Lydia and actually prefer
her company over my father’s. She’s a genuinely nice
lady, and she had gone out of her way to make me feel welcome
The gardens in front of the porch were filled with
colorful flowers and what looked like river rocks. Behind the house as far as
the eye could see was nothing but rolling hills, grass, and trees…and a cow…or
a bull here and there. It was a pretty picture, but one that I would prefer
hanging on my wall rather than to be living in. I just cannot imagine what she
is thinking, I thought again. It has to be thirty miles to the closest
Starbucks.
I turned off the car and started to step out. I
caught a flash of blue coming towards me and when I focused on it for a moment
I completely forget where I was. Hell, I may not have even been able to
remember my own name at that very second if someone had asked. The blue was a
shirt – one of those long-sleeved cowboy things. It was hugging one of the most
impressive…if not the most impressive torso that I’d ever seen. He looked rock
hard underneath that shirt, but not hard like you get
from going to the gym. It wasn’t all bulky and massive. It was long, lean
muscle – the kind you get from years of hard work. I was shocked to find
suddenly I found that much more attractive. Who would have known? The shirt was
tucked into a pair of well-worn blue jeans holding a pair of legs that went on
forever. A pair of dusty cowboy boots poked out from underneath them. I let my
eyes travel up then and they landed on a pair of blue ones unlike any shade of
nature I had ever seen. It took me way too long to be able to draw my own hazel
eyes away. Thankfully, I was still in the car, and I still had my sunglasses
on. Wouldn’t want to get caught lusting after a cowboy…or ranch hand? I’m not
sure exactly what he was…besides hot. Anyways, he tipped the dark brown suede
hat he was wearing in my direction, and I caught a glimpse of dark curly hair underneath
the hat that totally contrasted with the blue eyes. The whole package was like
a little glimpse of heaven. I gave him a little nod back and adjusted my
rear-view mirror so I could shamelessly watch him walk away. It was as
impressive as the sight of him coming towards me.
I opened the door of the Charger and sucked in a
lungful of the fresh country air. Maybe it would calm down the hormones that
were suddenly raging. Maybe Mom knows what she’s doing after all. They sure
don’t grow them like that in the city. I thought my last boyfriend was hot.
Compared to this guy, he was a troll. Maybe I’ll take a wait and see approach
to how this would all play out. This summer might not be too bad after all.
CHAPTER
TWO
MARK
I watched the pretty little sports car coming up the
dirt path towards the house, and I knew it must be my new “sister.” I was home
for a couple of months because all of my competitions are pretty close by. I
was right in the middle of rodeo season, but there were only three important
ones I had to attend this summer in order to still be a contender.
Dad told me that his new wife Lydia’s daughter was
coming to stay for the summer. Dad also told me to be nice, like maybe I’m
still twelve and needed to be told how to use my manners. He seems to think
that since I choose not to live my life the way he thought I should, that meant
I wasn’t as mature or intelligent as I should be. He would never say that out
loud, though. Nope. Talking was over-rated as far as he was concerned – talking
about real feelings, anyways. If he wanted to spout a bunch of B.S. about how
proud he was of me at a barbecue or charity event where people were suddenly
interested in me and what I do , that was different.
All of a sudden, I was no longer the prodigal son.
I have no idea why he might think that I wouldn’t be
polite to Lydia’s daughter. I was polite when I first met Lydia. I’ve been nice
to her every time I’ve stayed at the ranch. I like Lydia and actually prefer
her company over my father’s. She’s a genuinely nice
lady, and she had gone out of her way to make me feel welcome
Similar Books
