Scared of love

25

~Keiran's POV~

~Two weeks later~

"Look at how beautiful it is!" Poppy gazes out of the window with Kano leaning over her.

We are finally on the final leg of our journey to Texas, the grueling three hour car drive, and I have never seen someone so happy to be in a car, under the heat of the Texas sun. She is sat on the back seat with Kano, while Miles and I are up front.

It was decided that I would drive. Miles used the excuse that he was working, however he slept for ten hours straight on the plane, and I wouldn't expect, or let, Poppy drive, I wanted her to be able to look around.

"You're so lucky to have lived here." She sighs and I look up in to the rear view mirror, catching her eye.

"Look up on the mountains, you just might be able to make out some people riding." I return my focus to the road.

"Poppy, look." Miles point out of his window at a few ranch hands herding some cattle to a different pasture.

"Wow.. Thank you so much for bringing me here." She says as she stares at the ranchers at work.

"It's not a problem, Darlin'." Says Miles as he pulls his cap over his eyes and leans right back in his chair, ready to sleep. I swear he could sleep for England.

****

I pull up in front of a large family ranch house and cut the engine. I look out of the window and the beautifully decorated house. About one hundred meters to the right of the house, is the large red barn.

"Oi, Doofus." I punch Miles in the shoulder and I jumps up in his seat, letting out a loud yawn. 

Jax has squashed himself in to the small space next to his feet and he has been asleep the whole journey. Jax scrambles up on to Miles' knee and paws at the window.

"You ready, Poppy?" I turn around to see her holding on to Kano's lead with a hyper smile on her face.

"Yes!" She says enthusiastically. I open the car door at the same time as Miles and Poppy follows us.

My Aunt comes running out of the house with a happy smile on her face. "It's so good to see you all." She wraps me in a large hug and then does the same with Miles.

She then turns to Poppy and gives her a hug to. "You must be Poppy, I'm so happy to meet you."

"You to, Mrs Reynolds." Poppy returns the hug.

"No, please, call me Carol." She chuckles. "And this must be your dog. What's his name?" Aunt Carol crouches down in front of Kano and rubs his neck.

"It's Kano." Poppy says shyly.

I turn towards the red barn when I see someone out the corner of my eye. My Uncle Stefan is leaving the barn, leading an old brown and white paint mare called Pepper.

"Kieran, Miles!" He says happily as he quickens his pace towards us. He's never been much of a hugger so he stands at Pepper's shoulder.

"Poppy, Darlin', how nice it is to meet you." He tips his hat forwards.

"It's nice to meet you too." Poppy smiles at him.

"I'll catch you later guys, I've got to put this old lady here out in the pasture." He begins to move off with Pepper towards the horses pastures.

"Wait, Uncle Stefan, Poppy and I will take her." He nods and I reach for her lead rope.

Uncle Stefan turns to Poppy. "How well trained is your dog?" He asks.