Wrapped around your finger - Post Malone

33

By the time Hazel has changed back into her dry underwear and clothes, her muscles are not so painful but she has another problem. She is so cold and she is shaking so much it feels like her ribs and knocking together. She leaves her bush and makes her way up to the camp, sitting as close to the fire as possible. She stretches her hands out letting the amber flames dance around them, heating them. Evelyn has cooked the fish already and presents her with a plate proudly. "Thank you," she says taking it, trying to suppress the churning of her stomach. She hates fish. But she is starving so it's better than nothing. She takes a bite and has to do a double-take. It's amazing. "This is amazing, Evelyn," she says taking another bite. Evelyn giggles and sits down next to her. "It's the water. Dad says because the river comes from a spring in the mountain, money-hungry humans have not had the chance to get their grubby paws on it and fill the water with toxins. So the fish just tastes better," she says. "Your dad is a clever man," Hazel says and takes another bite. "The fish back in New York tastes like metal and sh,...poop." Evelyn giggles again and starts eating the fish on her plate. Hazel looks around and sees the cowboys are busy with what looks like a very serious discussion, Austin in the middle of it. "They are planning the move tomorrow. There are a lot of cattle to move tomorrow. It will be a hard day," Evelyn says. "How many cattle?" Hazel asks. "Five hundred."

Hazel's eyes budge and she turns to look at Evelyn like she is crazy. "We are one of the biggest ranches in Utah. My great-grandfather started this ranch with only ten cattle and by the time he handed the reins over to my grandmother, she had ten thousand head. My grandmother grew the herd by another thousand and then when my dad took the reins he managed to build it to one hundred thousand...they say he has all the business savvy," Evelyn explains. "They are split into herds of five hundred or one thousand and dotted all around our ranch. I added one hundred and fifty cattle to our ranch this year so far," she says proudly. "How big is this ranch?" Hazel asks. "Two hundred and fifty thousand acres," Evelyn answers. Hazel's eyes buldge again. "Holy crap, that's insane."

Evelyn giggles again and nods. "And you want to take over from your dad one day? Be the head rancher?" Hazel asks. "I am already head rancher, he just doesn't know it yet," Evelyn says with a giggle. Hazel can't help her laugh, Evelyn is amazing. "Is that what you have always wanted?" she asks. "I wanted to be one of those girls in the magazines Linda reads...they look like you. Beautiful clothes, pretty nails, makeup, and hair that falls like a waterfall onto their shoulders. But they all live in cities. I can't live in a city and I am not pretty like them...or you," Evelyn says. "Those girls also only have air in their heads and eat bland boiled chicken. You would run circles around them, Evelyn. And just so you know...I think you are very pretty. Do you want to know what my favorite thing about you is, besides your beautiful kind heart?" Hazel asks. Evelyn nods. "Your spirit, you have such a lovely spirit, I smile just thinking about you. I hope you and I will always be friends because even though I have only known you for a few days - you are one of my favorite people. My life is better with you in it, Miss Evelyn," Hazel says and she means every dam word.

Evelyn's smile is so wide it must hurt her cheeks. She drops her plate and throws her arms around Hazel's neck, squeezing her tight. "You are my best friend," Evelyn says into her neck. "Don't let Christmas Dinner hear that," Hazel says pulling her in tighter. "Time to turn in, Evelyn," Austin's voice comes from behind Hazel. Evelyn pulls away and stands. "Good night, Miss Hazel," she says with a smile. She turns to her dad and kisses him on the cheek when he bends down for her.

"Good night, dad. I love you."

"More than the all stars in the sky?"

"More than all the stars in the sky," she repeats then runs off to her already-made bed on the other side of the fire next to Zip, who is lying on his side like a dog. "Is that normal for a horse?" Hazel asks. "No. But it is for Zip," Austin says sitting down next to her and handing her a cup of hot coffee.

"Thank you, Hazel."

"For what?"

"Being so kind to my daughter."

"It's easy. She is amazing...you have done a wonderful job with her, Austin. Truly."

Austin smiles then takes a sip of his coffee and looks at the fire. "I was so afraid of having a baby. I was sure I would have no bond with her. Just a kid...then I held her for the first time. I was done for."

"She had your heart..."

"She is my heart. I love that girl so dam much it hurts."

Hazel can feel a panic attack start to rumble in the pits of her stomach. She excuses herself by telling another lie about needing the toilet. She flops down behind the bush Austin had pointed at and buries her head between her legs. She is a horrible person. Not only is Austin going to hate her for being who she is and bringing that nasty-ass Cathy with her but he is going to hate her for disrupting the beautiful innocent life Evelyn is living. Evelyn's beautiful blue eyes that mirror her father's will too turn cold when they look at Hazel. She will deserve every ounce of hate they have for her. What if she never tells them? What if she can build a life here? Be part of all this, add something good to both their lives. Would that be so bad? Austin and Evelyn's faces flash in front of her and she feels sick - she chucks up the fish she had eaten and forces herself to take deep breaths. She looks up at the sky. "I am a bad person and I am sorry for the pain I will cause your family," she whispers to Austin's mother.

"Darlin'?'' she hears Austin say as he walks closer. She wipes her face and gathers her shit. She stands and sees Austin on the other side of the bush. "City girl...not used to all this fresh air," she says with a fake laugh. Austin does not look convinced but he waives her over anyway. "Sleep," he says pointing to a makeshift bed near the fire. Without another word, she climbs in and rolls onto her side burrowing into the blanks. She feels Austin lie down next to her and when she chances a look she sees he is lying on his back with no blanket and his ankles crossed, hands resting on his chest, his Stetson pushed down over his eyes. He looks like one of those cowboys in those western movies - a real-life tobacco-chewing cowboy.