Beneath the Country Sky

Chapter 13: Unburdened by the Sea

The sun was already high when Cooper wiped the sweat from his brow, his hands sore from the morning's labor. The fields were quiet, save for the steady rhythm of his work. He bent down again, focusing on the task at hand, trying to keep his mind from wandering to Isabel, or Lola Victoria, or Scarlette-all the things that had weighed him down in recent weeks.

As he straightened up, a familiar sound broke through the silence-a vehicle rumbling along the dusty road. Cooper looked up to see a pickup truck rolling to a stop near the edge of the field. He squinted, confused, as Scarlette stepped out, wearing an easy smile that seemed to brighten the world around her. The sight of her was a shock-he hadn't seen her this carefree in a long time.

"Scarlette?" Cooper called out, wiping his hands on his jeans as he walked toward her. "What are you doing out here?"

Scarlette, still smiling, leaned against the truck and motioned for him to come closer. "You've been working too hard, cowboy," she teased, her tone light and playful. "I thought you might need a break."

Cooper blinked, caught off guard by her sudden cheerfulness. For weeks, Scarlette had been avoiding him, barely saying two words when they crossed paths. But now, here she was, acting like everything was back to normal.

"I'm fine, really," Cooper replied, feeling a mix of confusion and reluctance. "There's a lot to get done here."

Scarlette shook her head, her smile unwavering. "Nope. Not today. You're coming with me."

Cooper crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. "Where exactly are we going?"

Scarlette grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "That's for me to know and you to find out. Now, come on. Stop being stubborn and get in the truck."

Despite himself, Cooper felt a small smile tug at the corner of his lips. He could see the determination in Scarlette's eyes, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he was curious. With a resigned sigh, he tossed his gloves aside and climbed into the passenger seat of the truck.

As they drove, the breeze through the open window felt refreshing against Cooper's skin. The tension that had been building inside him seemed to ease just a little, though he couldn't shake his curiosity about what Scarlette was up to.

They pulled up to the coast, where the sound of crashing waves greeted them. The beach stretched out in front of them, vast and open, with the salty scent of the ocean filling the air. Scarlette hopped out of the truck, her enthusiasm contagious as she walked toward the shore, her bare feet sinking into the soft sand.

"You brought me to the beach?" Cooper asked, his voice tinged with surprise.

Scarlette turned back, nodding. "Yeah, I thought you could use some fresh air. I know things have been... tough lately. So let's take a break. Just for today."

Cooper hesitated, staring out at the horizon where the sun glittered off the water. "I don't know, Scarlette..."

"Come on," she coaxed, her tone soft but insistent. "You've been carrying so much lately. You deserve to let go, even if it's just for a little while."

There was something in her voice that struck a chord with him. It wasn't just the usual teasing or sarcasm-there was an understanding, a sincerity that made him pause. With a deep breath, Cooper relented, following Scarlette down to the water's edge.

They spent the afternoon walking along the shore, the waves lapping at their feet as they talked. At first, the conversation was light-Scarlette made jokes about the beach vendors and their overpriced trinkets, and Cooper found himself laughing more than he had in weeks. But as the day wore on, the conversation shifted into something deeper.

Scarlette stopped walking and turned to face him, her expression serious now. "I want you to know that I get it, Cooper. I understand why you didn't tell me about Lola Victoria."

Cooper's breath caught in his throat. He hadn't expected her to bring that up, not after how distant she'd been since Victoria's passing. "Scarlette, I-"

She held up her hand, stopping him. "No, let me finish," she said, her voice steady. "I was angry before, but I know now why you didn't tell me. You were honoring her wishes. You were trying to protect me from something she didn't want me to face."

Cooper looked down at the sand, feeling a lump form in his throat. "I didn't want to keep it from you, Scarlette. But she asked me to, and I... I couldn't go against her."

Scarlette nodded, her gaze softening. "I know. And I'm not angry anymore. If anything, I'm grateful that you were there for her when I wasn't."

There was a moment of silence between them, the only sound the gentle crash of the waves. Cooper felt a weight lift from his shoulders-one he hadn't realized he'd been carrying all this time. For the first time, it felt like he could breathe a little easier.

They found a spot on the sand and sat down, the sun beginning its descent toward the horizon. Scarlette pulled out a small cooler she had brought, offering Cooper a cold drink. They sat there, side by side, sipping their drinks as the colors of the sunset painted the sky in vibrant hues of orange and pink.

The atmosphere was light, yet something unspoken hung between them-a shared understanding of the losses they had faced, and the weight of everything they had gone through.

"You've been through so much, Cooper," Scarlette said quietly, her voice carrying over the sound of the waves. "But you don't have to carry it all by yourself."

Cooper glanced at her, surprised by the softness in her tone. There was no bitterness, no resentment-just genuine care.

"I guess I just got used to keeping everything inside," he admitted, his voice low. "With Isabel pulling away, and then Victoria... it's like every time I try to catch my breath, something else knocks me down."

Scarlette nodded, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "I get it. Life doesn't seem to give us much of a break, does it?"

They both fell into a comfortable silence, sipping their drinks as the sun sank lower, casting long shadows across the beach. Just when it seemed like the day was winding down, a sudden burst of light filled the sky-a fireworks display, bright and vibrant, lighting up the night.

Cooper blinked in surprise, turning to Scarlette. "Did you plan this?"

Scarlette laughed, shaking her head. "Nope. Total coincidence. But hey, I'll take the credit if you want to give it to me."

They watched in awe as the fireworks exploded overhead, their vibrant colors reflecting off the water. For a moment, everything else seemed to fade away-the heartache, the loss, the uncertainty. In that brief moment, it was just the two of them, sitting together on the sand, watching the sky light up with brilliant colors.

As the last of the fireworks fizzled out, Cooper felt a warmth in his chest-something he hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe it was the drink, or maybe it was just the fact that, for the first time in weeks, he didn't feel completely alone.

"Thanks, Scarlette," Cooper said softly, turning to look at her. "For today. I didn't realize how much I needed this."

Scarlette smiled, her eyes soft. "You don't have to thank me, Cooper. I'm just glad I could help."

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Cooper smiled back, a genuine smile that reached his eyes.