Beneath the Country Sky

Chapter 5: Unspoken Shadows

As the sun began to dip low on the horizon, casting an amber glow over the rice fields and the distant hills, Cooper and Scarlette headed back toward the farmhouse. The air had cooled slightly, but it still clung to Scarlette's skin, sticky and warm. Cooper had wiped most of the mud off his boots and torso, though the lingering scent of earth and sweat still clung to him. Scarlette climbed into the shotgun seat of the old pickup truck, trying to ignore the nagging thoughts that had been swimming around in her mind since their visit to the rice fields.

The truck, a beat-up but resilient machine, groaned as it started, kicking up dust as Cooper drove them along the narrow, bumpy road back to the house. The countryside stretched out endlessly before them, the orange and pink hues of the sky painting a peaceful scene over the landscape. But Scarlette couldn't find any beauty in it. She was still caught in the strange whirlwind of emotions that had surfaced after seeing Cooper's bare torso, his muscles flexing as he guided the horse earlier. She hated the way her heart had fluttered. She hated even more that she couldn't stop thinking about it.

The truck hit a pothole, jostling her from her thoughts. Scarlette gripped the seat, cursing under her breath. Cooper said nothing, focused on the road ahead, his usual air of calm and composure wrapped around him like a shield. It irritated her how nothing seemed to faze him, while she felt like her entire world was constantly spinning out of control. Here she was, stuck in this rural wasteland, while her life in the city-her career, her reputation-had crumbled. And yet, Cooper carried on with his simple life, unaffected by anything or anyone.

Scarlette sighed heavily, her eyes drifting out the window. The landscape had begun to shift as they drove further, from open rice fields to a more secluded area dotted with trees and small, humble homes. It was nearing dark, the last light of day fading as twilight took over. Just as Scarlette was about to ask how much longer it would take to reach the house, Cooper slowed the truck and pulled off the road.

"What now?" Scarlette grumbled, glancing at him, annoyed by the sudden stop.

"I need to make a quick stop," Cooper said simply, throwing the truck into park.

Before Scarlette could respond, Cooper had already unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed out of the truck. She stayed in her seat, irritated but curious as to why they had stopped. She watched him walk away from the truck toward a small, simple home nestled under the shade of a large tree. It was modest, with a thatched roof and a wooden fence surrounding the yard. Flowers lined the front, and a soft light glowed from the windows.

Scarlette squinted, trying to make out what was happening. Her annoyance grew when she saw a woman emerge from the front door, smiling brightly as she approached Cooper. She was beautiful, with long, dark hair pulled into a loose braid, and a sweet, warm smile that reached her eyes. Even from this distance, Scarlette could tell the woman was glowing-radiating that kind of happiness that only comes from being deeply in love.

The woman wrapped her arms around Cooper in a tender embrace, her head resting against his chest. Scarlette felt her heart skip a beat, an unfamiliar twinge of something she didn't quite understand flaring in her chest. She leaned forward in her seat, watching as Cooper bent his head down to kiss the woman's temple. The gesture was so intimate, so familiar, that it made Scarlette's stomach turn.

His girlfriend, Scarlette realized, though she had never heard him mention her before. Of course, he has a girlfriend.

Scarlette didn't know why the sight of them together bothered her so much. After all, it wasn't as if she cared about Cooper. She could barely stand to be around him most days. But there was something about the way he held the woman, the way his smile softened when he looked at her, that struck a nerve. Cooper had always been cold and sarcastic toward Scarlette, a distant figure that represented everything she hated about her current situation. And yet, here he was, completely different with this woman-a man capable of warmth, of tenderness. It made her chest tighten with an inexplicable frustration.

Scarlette tore her gaze away from the couple, crossing her arms over her chest as she sank deeper into the passenger seat. She tried to ignore the way her heart was racing, or how her hands felt clammy all of a sudden. She shouldn't care. She didn't care. But there was no denying the uncomfortable knot forming in her stomach as she replayed the image of Cooper's lips brushing against his girlfriend's temple, the affectionate way he had held her close.

A moment later, Cooper returned to the truck, his expression as calm and composed as ever, though a faint trace of a smile lingered on his lips. He didn't say anything as he climbed back into the driver's seat and started the engine again.

Scarlette watched him out of the corner of her eye, her irritation growing by the second. She wanted to say something, to make some cutting remark about what she had just seen, but the words got stuck in her throat. She wasn't sure why she was so worked up. It wasn't as if Cooper owed her an explanation for his personal life. Still, she couldn't help herself.

"Who's that?" she finally asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

Cooper glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "That's Isabel," he said, his tone casual. "She's a high school teacher."

Scarlette nodded, trying to keep her expression neutral. "Your girlfriend?"

Cooper nodded. "Yeah."

Scarlette's fingers tightened around the fabric of her skirt, a thousand thoughts racing through her mind, none of which made any sense to her. She knew she should just drop it, let it go, but something compelled her to keep pushing.

"You never mentioned her before," she said, her voice dripping with false indifference.

Cooper shrugged, his attention fixed on the road ahead. "Didn't see the need to. My personal life isn't really any of your concern, Scarlette."

That stung more than Scarlette expected, though she wasn't sure why. She pressed her lips together, forcing herself to look out the window instead of at him.

"I wasn't prying," she muttered. "Just curious."

Cooper didn't respond, and the silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken tension. The truck rumbled along the dusty road, the sounds of the countryside filling the space between them-the distant chirping of crickets, the rustling of trees in the breeze. Scarlette hated the way the silence made her feel so small, so insignificant. She had never felt like this before, like she was on the outside looking in, like something was happening around her that she didn't understand.

But what did it matter? Cooper had his life, his girlfriend, and she had hers-or what was left of it. There was no reason for her to feel anything about him or Isabel. Still, as they drove on, the image of Cooper kissing Isabel lingered in her mind, a reminder that there was a part of Cooper she didn't know-a part that he would never share with her.

By the time they reached the hacienda, night had fallen, and the house was bathed in soft, golden light. Cooper parked the truck near the front steps, the engine rumbling to a stop. Scarlette climbed out of the truck without a word, her mind still swirling with thoughts she didn't want to confront.

"Scarlette," Cooper called after her as she headed toward the door.

She stopped but didn't turn around.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning," he said, his voice calm and steady. "We have a lot of work to do."

Scarlette nodded, still not facing him. "Yeah, whatever."

She hurried inside, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her as she disappeared into the house.