Hadley walked into the kitchen to see her brother dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a grey t-shirt.
"Look at you, all country again?' She chuckled, filling a glass of water and looking out the window at the rising sun.
It was frosty out. She could see the animals breath as they breathed. Winter was coming.
"Yeah, figured my suit would get all dirty here." He spoke, drinking from a fresh cup of coffee.
"Hey, why don't we go out for a ride. Like we used to, by the water?" He asked, smiling at her.
She grinned.
"I'd love to." She slipped on her boots and grabbed a pair of gloves, considering it was cold.
When she arrived in the barn, she opened the large front door and went to her horse, petting it before she led it out.
"I haven't ridden in years, don't let me fall." Jackson laughed, tightening the girth of the saddle. He fed his horse a treat.
She led her horse out by the reins, waiting for her brother to exit the barn.
She climbed into the saddle, watching as her brother did the same.
As they rode alongside the creek, birds chirped. The leaves had fallen completely off the trees. They must be cold.
"The city doesn't give you this everyday, you know." Jackson started, looking at his sister.
"I know. I just...there's nothing here for me anymore. Sure, mom can't manage the ranch alone but people will help."
"What about Cade?"
"What about him?"
Jackson stared at her.
"Can't you tell, he practically loves you!"
"That's crazy, I've known him for only a month."
"You know, I felt the same about Faelyn. I thought there was no way I loved her after a month," He paused. "But I did. It's a gut instinct...almost."
She shook her head.
"It's impossible to love someone after a month-"
"You love him." Jackson interrupted, halting his horse and staring at her.
She stared back in shock, her mouth slightly parted. She also stopped her horse.
"I do not-"
"Yes you do. You're afraid to admit it."
She shook her head.
"I do not love him."
"Bullshit." He snapped. "I see the way you look at him, the way you look into his eyes with just as much love as he has in his."
She rolled her eyes, urging her horse into a canter.
"See you're avoiding it now!" He laughed, chasing after her.
She galloped through the fields, trying to flee her brother.
It was exciting, she felt like a little kid again.
She felt as if she and her brother were under 15 again, chasing each other in the fields, trying to catch the other with a rope.
She laughed, hearing her brother yell.
"HADLEY! I'M GONNA FALL SLOW DOWN!!!" He screamed, clinging on to the horn of the saddle for dear life.
She laughed, slowing her horse.
"Oh my god, if only dad were here to see this!" She said in-between laughs.
"It's not funny, I could have died!" He muttered.
"How would I explain that to dad," He rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah I also like totally ate shit and died while chasing after Hadley on horseback."
"He'd disown me." He laughed.
Hadley chuckled, nudging her horse's side and heading towards the barn.
"You'd be the talk of the town. 'Did you hear? John's boy died because he fell off a horse.' 'That's the one that fled to the city, ain't it?' 'Sure is' 'Fucking embarrassing'." She spoke, imitating two different old man voices.
He let out a long groan.
They walked into the kitchen laughing.
"Mama, this idiot can't ride any more!" She spoke, leaning against the counter.
"Hadley! Whyyyy." He whined, leaning against the wall and sinking to the floor.
"He nearly fell off his horse while galloping- it was hilarious, you should've seen it mama." She sighed, wiping tears from her eyes, as she was laughing so hard.
"Oh boy." Anne spoke, giving her son a plate of food.
"Hello beautiful." Hadley laughed, picking up her niece and bouncing her gently.
Layla let out a giggle, reaching her tiny hands towards Hadley's face.
Cade leaned against the doorframe, watching with a smile.
He cleared his throat.
"Morning, Miller clan." He announced, grinning at them.
Hadley smiled, setting her niece down on the floor and walking over to Cade.
He hugged her, pressing his lips against hers for a moment.
Jackson cleared his throat.
"Morning Cade." He spoke, glaring the boy down.
Hadley laughed, rolling her eyes.
"Aw Jackson, no need to be jealous."
"Me? Jealous? Have you seen my fiance, God she's hot." Jackson spoke, biting his lip.
"Woahhhhhh, tmi, tmi buddy." Hadley spoke, making a disgusted face at him.
"Oh shut up, won't you." Jackson rolled his eyes, walking into the living room and spreading out on the couch.
YOU ARE READING
Tailgates and Whiskey
Roman d'amourHadley desperately wants to get out of this small town. Then she meets Cade, a sweetheart she went to high school with. They fall in love, but was it enough to make her stay?
