Pony Girl

Chapter 4

      I don’t know why I had snapped at Cade. I just got so mad that he brought up me riding horses. I let that little hobby go in the past. The night Nana passed away I no longer wanted anything to do with horses or anything. Why cant people let it be in the past and just leave me alone? I bet he thinks I am a brat. I will have to apologize when I see him again. I was actually wondering why he was on my Granddaddy’s farm. So I went down to Granddaddy’s study and knocked on the door. “Come in”, Granddaddy said behind the door. I opened the door and stepped in the room. “Hey there pony girl. Pony Girl is Granddaddy’s and Nana’s nickname they called me ever since I could remember. I think is was a nickname they gave me cause I was so attached to my pony Bluebell. I got Bluebell when I was three years old and we were joined to the hip. Bluebell also died the night Nana died. I quickly got rid of those horrible memories and looked in Granddaddy’s direction where he was sitting being a big oak wood desk.

What you up to?” Granddaddy said. “Nothing really. Um… Who is Cade?” I asked him.

“Oh, Cade he is my worker. The one who trains the horses, clean the stables, you know whatever I need him to around the farm.” Why is it you ask?” I quickly blushed cause he was giving me a confusing look. “Oh no reason. Just saw him training a horse and was just curious.” “oh ok, well Cade is a very hard worker and helps me out a great deal around here.” “So what you cooking for dinner Granddaddy?” I asked changing the subject. “That’s a good question. Lets go find out.” Granddaddy replied.

    As soon as we walked in the kitchen my mouth dropped open. Cade was standing over a the stove cooking away. I was very surprised and Granddaddy must have seen the look on my face cause he just laughed. “Lilly, you surprised that a young man like Cade can actually cook?” Granddaddy asked me. Cade turned to look at me and tipped his hat to me and gave me a big grin. “I was just surprised, I guess, I figured you would cook Granddaddy.” I said finally looking away from Cade and talking to Granddaddy.

“Ha! Mr. Collins try to cook. Is the most craziest thing I ever heard of. Your Granddaddy here cant cook for his life!” Cade said to me. “Hey I can cook when I have to, I cooked for myself before you ever came along to work,” Granddaddy said to Cade. “I don’t think cereal and sandwiches really qualify as cooking Mr. Collins” Cade said shaking his head and laughing. 

Granddaddy just laughed and sat down at the table. “I smell something good cooking up in here.” my mom said as I turned to look at her. “I got some spaghetti, garlic bread, and made up a salad for us. Hope ya’ll are hungry.” Cade told us. I gave him a small smile. “Very hungry”. I replied.

    After dinner I helped Cade clean the kitchen up and once the last dish was put up I really wanted to apologize to Cade for snapping at him. “Cade can we go outside and talk, please?” I asked him. “Sure lets go.” We walked out of the house and went to the back porch and sat in one of the wooden swings. “Look I am sorry about going off on you earlier. I shouldn’t have gotten so upset. It’s just I don’t ride anymore and it’s a touchy subject that I really don’t want to talk about.” I looked over at him and he was just looking at me with a blank expression on his face. He finally replied, “I don’t know what you went through that made you so against horses but I will respect your wishes. I just want you to know I am here if you want to talk about it. Your going to be around horses a lot around here and your Granddaddy always talks about how much you use love to ride. I hope you can find a way to cope with whatever it is but just know I am here whenever your ready.” I smiled at him and leaned my head on his shoulder and he put his arm around me. We just sat there for a while swinging in the swing. It was so nice of him to say that to me and it felt so good to sit beside him. Even though we didn’t say anything for a while it wasn’t awkward, it was a good kind of silence. For some odd reason this boy made me feel comfortable and at ease with him. I have never felt that way with any other guy. It’s crazy cause I don’t even know Cade but here I am feeling things I never felt before.

    After  a while me and Cade both got up and said we were tired and ready to go to bed. “Goodnight Lilly and don’t forget what I told you.” He walked me to the door and leaned against the wall. Man he was so good looking and I couldn’t help to just stare and admire him. “I wont Cade. Thank you for understanding.” Cade nodded his hat to me and started to walk away. “Hey where do you stay at? Do you have your own place or live with your parents?” I asked stopping him. “No I don’t live with my parents anymore. I stay here on the farm in the little house near the trees. Your granddaddy let me clean it out and stay there. He said if I just cooked supper on the weeknights I could stay there and wouldn’t  charge me . All I have to pay is lights and gas.” I thought about that and I remember a small house right beside the woods that Granddaddy just used as storage. He always told me his daddy built that for him when he turned eightteen. But unfortunately his parents died and he never got to live in it. “Oh ok well goodnight Cade I will see you tomorrow.” I said to him. He smiled at me once more and walked away.

    I went to my bedroom and was thinking about what Cade had told me. I barely know the guy and here he is being so sweet and caring. All the guys I was used to were jerks and only wanted one thing. I never really dated anyone serious back home. I mean I went on dates and hung around guys but never had an actual relationship. I just never found anyone I was interested in. But laying on the bed looking out the window at the stars I couldn’t help but think of how good it felt when Cade has his arm around me. I wondered what it would be like to be with him and to kiss him. I made myself blush with the thought of kissing Cade and quickly pushed the thoughts aside and eventually I fell asleep dreaming about the handsome cowboy.

Cade’s POV

     I couldn’t help the feelings I was having about a certain blonde head beauty. There was something about Lilly that made me want to be near her. The talk we had on the porch was good and when she lay her head on my shoulder I felt tingles overcome me. I never felt this way about a girl especially one I don’t really know. I wanted to get to know her and to help her with her insecurity about riding. I don’t know why she is so uptight about it but I knew in time she would come around and be able to talk to me. Until that time comes around I will just try and get to know her better.

    Walking up to the little house in the woods I noticed that there was a light on. I opened the door and low and behold Megan was standing there in one of my button down flannel shirts with nothing else on. Megan Wright was the only girl I really been with. We never had a serious relationship; we just slept together. Usually I would have already gone to her and taken her to my bed. But I felt nothing looking at her and the only thing I could think about was Lilly.

“Megan, not tonight. I am tired and don’t feel like no company.”

“Cade Baby come on. I done got all hot for you and now you want to tell me no. You never tell me no. Why is that?” she said to me pouting her lips. “Megan I am just tired. It has been a long day and I just want to go to bed.” I replied. Megan placed her hands on her hip and went to grab her clothes off the floor. “Fine then I can tell when I am not needed. I will go find someone else since you are being like that.” she said heading out the door. “Whatever Megan, do whatever you want to. We are not together anyways.” I said getting agitated that she thought I would care.

She didn’t say a thing just stormed off in the night. Thank God she left. I was just ready to take a shower and hit the sack.

    After my hot shower I laid in the bed and thought about Lilly. I wish I could know what went on in that pretty little head of hers. I don’t understand how someone could practically grow up around horses and then suddenly turn against them. But I know she still loves them cause she was so gentle with Midnight when we washed him after training. I don’t know what her problem was but I was definitely going to find out. I rolled to my side and stared out at the trees and drifted off to sleep.