Barnes Ranch

5

"Delilah, come here!" I yell at the dog from the other side of the barn.

Delilah comes running over, sitting beside me as I get the horse feed ready. I shake my head, laughing as I do.

"Honey how you doing today?" my momma asks.

I sigh, "Momma, I don't want to talk about the dinner."

She frowns, "If you need someone to talk to I'm here baby," she reassures.

I nod, I sigh as she leaves.

Grabbing the horse feed I pour it into a bucket then carry it out to their pasture. Why is horse feed obnoxiously heavy?

I open the gate then make sure to close it behind me. Setting the bucket down I hear the horses come trotting. I already put out the older horse's feed so I don't know why he's coming.

"Logan stop, you already ate," I tell him as I redirect him letting the younger one Harry eat.

The female horses are separated from the male horses, my dad is feeding the female horses right now.

I feel my phone buzz so I leave the pasture. Then take out my phone and look at the notification.

It's Georgia, I was hoping it would be Dakota.

Last night we were up super late texting each other. After I texted him I got home safe we continued to talk for hours. He's real nice, I like him. I'm very excited for our date.

He even texted me this morning, it was only good morning but that has to be a good sign. Right?

I open the text message, she asked, "Are you home?"

I answer, "Yeah, why?"

"Buck just texted me complaining about you," she says.

I groan, "How about I take you to get ice cream and you tell me everything," I offer.

She responds, "Deal, you're paying."

I laugh, "Got it!"

I slip my phone back into my pocket then look around for Delilah.

"Delilah!" I yell.

I hear paws hitting the ground then see her come around the corner of the barn.

"Come on lilah, we ought to get some lunch don't we?" I question.

She wags her tail as she now waits beside me. I smile as I start walking toward the house. Hearing her paws on the dirt following me.

As I walk inside I grab my car keys. I'm gonna pick up Georgia then we can go get food and ice cream like I promised. I'll probably go shopping for a cute outfit for my date tomorrow too.

Georgia lives with a roommate only about 20 minutes from here so it shouldn't be that bad. I'm excited to see my baby sister. She is, obviously, my favorite sibling and my only younger sibling; I'm happy to see her.

"Where you going?" my dad asks as he walks in the house.

He's all muddy, probably played with the dogs or maybe the donkey.

"I'm picking up Georgia for lunch and ice cream," I tell him.

He nods, "Alright, be careful. Call me if you need anything."

He takes out his wallet then hands me a one hundred dollar bill.

I complain, "Dad! I can't take your money!"

I push the money towards him, "Oh yes you can, now get!"

I sigh, shoving the cash into my back pocket then hugging him.

"Thank you, I love you," I tell my dad.

He smiles, "I love you too sweetheart."

I let go of him then go back outside.

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"Here's those sweet teas for ya! If y'all need anything just let me know," the waitress says.

I nod, "Thank you!" I smile.

As she leaves Georgia asks, "So what's the deal?"

I sigh, "It's a long story but I promised I'd tell ya. Buck called me a couple days before graduation telling me the state is coming after the house."

"But they're not," she interrupts.

"I know, I'm getting there," I tell her.

"I drove home May 17th, the day after graduation and got here on the 19th. The next day Buck comes over and his wife starts cussing me out the minute she walks in. Dad and I didn't take that too well. During dinner I brought up the house situation and he denied everything. Then I stormed out of the house," I explain.

Her jaw hangs open and she looks flabbergasted.

"What in tarnation?!" she questions.

I nod, "I know!"

"What happened after?" she asks.

I shrug, "Nothing, I came home about an hour later and Buck was gone. I went right to bed."

"He's such a douchebag!" she says.

"He's just about as sharp as a bowing ball I'll say that," I say.

She starts laughing, "I missed you," she says.

I smile, "I missed you too. Stanford was nothing like home but it was good for that same reason."

She nods, "Western Carolina is too much like home."

I laugh, "Hopefully next semester you won't have to get your stomach pumped."

She gasps, "Alaska!"

I laugh, "I'm sorry, I just had to!"