Heroes and Horses (Rough Draft)

Surprise

I grew up with him. He was always the protector. He started as the brother I never had. Then, we aged and my feelings for him changed, but he never knew. He was no longer the older son and brother of my and my mother's best friends. He was the object of my secret, unrequited love. He grew from being a short and dorky older brother-type into a tall and hunky older friend. He went from being the nerdy kid in middle school to a local rodeo legend. Then, he graduated and joined the Air Force. I saw him at his graduation, but I hadn't seen him much since. That was until the most embarrassing moment possible.

I was driving home down a winding road with a beautiful view when I got hit by a deer. No, I did not hit the deer. The deer hit me. To make things worse, when I got out of my truck I stepped wrong and fell into a muddy ditch. If that wasn't enough, I sprained my ankle when I fell. I thought I couldn't be more embarrassed than I was when I fell, but then he showed up. At that moment, I was the most embarrassed I had ever been in my life.

Normally, I wouldn't have minded him seeing me dressed in dirty jeans, a raggedy t-shirt, and a frayed ball cap. That time, covered in mud and lying in a ditch after getting hit by a deer, I did mind.

"Alex?" I heard a once familiar voice ask. "Is that you?"

I cringed into myself and prayed. Why him, God? And when did he get back? Does this really have to be the first way he sees me again? He'll never let me live this down. He never let me live anything down.

"Carter..." I groaned. "What are you doing here?"

He laughed at me as he offered his hand to lift me up.

"Um... I'm not sure I can get up," I admitted with reluctance. "I think I sprained my left ankle."

He guffawed even harder. "Same old Alex," he said, climbing into the ditch after me. Before I could stop him, he was holding me in his strong arms. I could feel the starchiness of his Air Force uniform and the hardness of his muscles underneath.

Cedar Falls was a very small town. His sister was my best friend and his mom was basically my aunt. We practically lived together since our homes were on the same property. Why had no one told me he was coming home? He must've been planning a surprise homecoming and found me on the way.

He looked down at me with his emerald green eyes and like every time before I lost my breath. I almost didn't even mind that the twinkle in his eyes was from the mirth of making fun of me.

"I was on my way to surprise y'all," he said, answering my question and confirming my guess. "This is even better than I could've planned. Imagine my surprise when I saw your little green truck on the side of the road. Then, more surprise when I found you in the ditch. It's perfect. Carter Andrews comes to the surprise rescue of Alexandra Phillips once again.

I felt his body shake with laughter as he effortlessly carried me up and out of the ditch. He stopped at the bed of his truck, held me with one arm, and used the other to open the tailgate. Then, he gently sat me down.

Again before I could stop him, he carefully slid my boot and sock off, using his fingers to gauge my injury.

"I didn't know you were a medic," I commented.

"We're all given basic medical training just in case..." He didn't finish, but I didn't need him to. I saw the shadows darken his eyes and wondered what things he might've seen while deployed.

He pressed on a tender spot and I sucked in a breath. "Definitely a sprain," he confirmed. "Give me a second."

He took a few long, confident strides to his truck and pulled out a small first aid kit. He brought it over to me and took out a bandage to wrap around my ankle. I let him and watched in silence.

"You're awfully quiet," he commented. "The Little Lexi Phillips I knew never stopped talking."

"Little Lexi Phillips isn't so little anymore," I reminded him.

He gave me an intense look and agreed. "No, you're not."

I felt my face darken.

"The Carter I knew seems to have grown up too," I commented.

The cloud returned to his eyes and said, "He had to grow up."

We sat there in silence for a few moments before he joked, "I am in my thirties now; I had to grow up sometime."

I laughed with him as I wiped some mud from his uniform, even though it sort of blended in.

Then I sighed, "I should get home and get cleaned up." I placed my hand on his chest. "And you should get home for that surprise of yours."

He stood at attention and saluted, "Ma'am, yes, ma'am."

I giggled and he held his keys out to me. When I gave him a look he explained, "You can't drive clutch with a sprained ankle, Lex."

I would've argued, but I was caught off guard and warmth ran through me when he called me Lex. I forgot he did that. No one else ever did.

I traded keys with him and we agreed to park behind the barn where he'd help me rinse off before surprising everyone.