Into My Own

Eight

Tuesday dawned  bright and sunny.

When I left the house at 7:30, it was already seventy degrees.

Oakley was there early once again. I liked her punctuality. It was refreshing.

"That's quite the outfit," I nodded towards her cut off tee, shorts, and fat baby cowboy boots.

"It's too hot. Leave me alone," she whined jokingly.

"Little bit different from yesterday." I teased.

"Yeah, 'cuz today there's nobody to impress!"

"Honey, there never was," I patted her back reassuringly.

"Well I didn't want you to think I was a total slob. You know how awful and judgmental girls can be..."

"Yeah, I know that firsthand." I muttered.

"Your Facebook didn't have too many photos of you and girls on it," Oakley commented.

"You stalked me?"

"Heck yes," she grinned proudly.

I shot her a wink. "You creep."

"I bet you stalked me too."

"I'll admit I did. By the way, you and your brothers look a lot alike."

"So I've been told," she cracked a smile at the mention of her three beloved role models. "You have some cute friends."

"Yeah, they're alright. A bunch of idiots though," I laughed.

"We should do something with them!" Oakley squealed.

The morning was pretty busy. People drifted in and out asking for swather and baler parts. We were almost sold out of twine string and bale net.

Most people around here made round bales which they fed all winter, and a lot of the others did idiot squares. That meant the high school kids always had work if they wanted it. Charlie worked for some big farmers in the area. He did a lot of tractor driving and swathing, while the younger kids he worked with had to load trucks with idiot squares and stack the barns.

Oakley informed me that her brothers also worked for local farmers and they were well into haying season over in Starton.

She said they didn't do much hay, mostly just grain. The Meisners didn't run any cattle, so it wasn't necessary, although they did have horses.

"How many horses do you have?" I questioned curiously.

"Seven. One for each of us when we go on trail rides, plus an extra."

"That's a lot. Do you guys do family things often?"

"Yeah, we try. We're all really close. Do you ride? Maybe you could come over tonight and we can hang out?" She suggested.

"I'd love to! Too bad it's so damn hot." I complained.

"Ding ding ding! Idea!" She started bouncing on her toes in excitement.

"Tell me."

"Night ride! Or we could go camping!" She gasped, excitement radiating.

"Tonight?" I asked, unconvinced.

"No, we can't tonight. We have work. But how about this weekend?"

"That sounds awesome! Where would we go?" I agreed enthusiastically.

"My mom's family has property up in Joseph. We could road trip up there. Maybe bring the horses!" The ideas flowed out of her mouth like a waterfall, the speed increasing as they hit the atmosphere.

"Wait!" Her eyes got huge. "You could have your friends come too!"

"Oakley, I don't know if that would fly with my parents. I mean, go camping with a bunch of teenage boys? Seriously?"

Her eyebrows squished together in thought.

"We could bring our brothers. Would they be okay then?"

"I don't know. But I can try."

"Great! I'll ask mine tonight! Honestly, I don't know if they'll be okay with it either, but I think the brother thing could win us some points," her face lit up once again.

We spent the rest of the day chatting about the potential trip--working out details such as food, sleeping arrangements, carpooling, etc...

She informed me that there was a pond we could ride out to and spend the day at, or we could just camp there.

I found that Oakley was one of those people who constantly radiated enthusiasm and energy.

I'd always thought of myself as a pretty happy, energetic person. Then I met her. She was like the freaking energizer bunny--constantly moving. Her attitude was forever positive. And she was full of awesome ideas.

Oakley sure was something.