Carolina Blue

Part 1

"Carolina! Get back here now!"

I kept on walking out towards the tattered Ford.

"Don't come crying to me if that boy knocks you up!"

Still, I held no response to her and just kept on walking.

"One day you'll wake up and realize you can do better."

I finally made it to the passenger side of the truck and climbed on in. Looking to the driver's side Cope just gave me a tight smile and asked, "Your mama at it again?" With sympathy clear in his tone.

I just did a quick nod and added, "Can we get outta here?" He obliged knowing full well it was better off for everyone's sake the quicker we left the driveway.

One hand on the wheel, Cope took his other hand reached for mine, and squeezed it. He knew this last week for me had been hell.

The only thing I hated about summer break was the extra time that meant I stayed at the Blue Ranch or more specifically the more opportunities for Ma and I to get in arguments. And with most of the arguments surrounding mostly one topic: Cope.

Mama always had an anxious soul, but I don't think I realized the true weight that held on her until I was old enough to realize she had passed it down to me.

Mama though also got real bad mood swings. And nothing would make her swing faster than the sight of Copenhagen Yeller. His name alone sounded off sirens to mama who was damn sure the only reason he was named that had to have been from his daddy having a chewing tobacco addiction.

She also consumed any gossip she could like it was her life line even if she barely left the house. With that, she had her plenty of random whispering's that the town had made up through the year's about the Yeller family.

To her, he was just some bad cowboy dating her 19-year-old daughter, but to me, he was my rock.

***

After Supper Cope and I found ourselves driving around the countryside. We ended up stopping at a run-down down mostly abandoned farmstead. Cope cut the engine and got out of the pickup. Seeing my face written in confusion when he looked back at me, he gestured for me to come along. So I confusedly followed his lead and retreated from the comfort of his truck.

I fully trusted Cope with my safety so it's not like I was worried this was going to turn into a murder story anytime soon. Cope was standing in the starting of a cotton field that bumped right up to the acreage just staring off into the distance.

Finally, he broke the silence and said, "Ever since I was young this is where I'd imagine I'd live one day. I'd fix up the house and the buildings and turn it into a real working ranch again."

As Cope said this he kept his gaze to the horizon till he finally turned his gaze towards me. I gave him a light smile.

Cope went on, "We could have chickens, cattle, and a few horses just like how you always wanted."

My heart swelled to three times its size just at him using the word 'we.'

"So what'd ya think Carolina, could you see yourself with me growin' old sittin in that porch there?" He expectantly looked up at me waiting for my answer and I could tell there was a little nervousness in his gaze, Cope wasn't the type that was good at speaking about his emotions.

I gave him my sweetest southern smile and threw my arms around him and said, "Absolutely, Cope I would love that."

Cope pulled back from our hugging embrace and touched our foreheads together. We were both pretty tall me being 5'8" and Cope standing over me at 6'2". He then leaned down and gave me a small peck on the lips.