That Handsome Country Boy

Chapter 2

I finished saddling Yankee and grabbed a bottle of water to take with me. I patted my pocket and silently swore when I realized I didn't have my phone. That meant I'd have to go back to the house to get it and risk running into Shane. And that's the last thing I want to do after the kitchen incident. I was getting ready to tie Yankee up to go get my phone when Rob came around the corner holding it up in his hands and said, "Looking for something?" "Yeah, thanks so much!" I smiled widely at him which he returned with apparent glee. "I'm gonna take Yankee out on the mountain trail," I explained, "I should be back in a couple hours and then I'll get ready for our date." He smiled again and said, "Alright, I'm going to work on bringing the horses up from the back pasture." "Okay," I responded, "Have fun!" He rolled his eyes and helped me up on to Yankee so I wouldn't have to struggle with it myself. Yankee really was too big for me, but I loved him so much and I could care less if I had to hop like an idiot every time I wanted to mount him without a boost.

 Yankee was a pretty Appaloosa horse, one of the few we kept. We mostly breed and train Paint and Quarter horses. Yankee is bay and white, the white cascading in gorgeous splotching down his back and hindquarters. The majority of his powerful shoulders and face were bay with the exception of the distinct markings on his face. He has a very smooth gait and is generally easy to handle. He's the best horse I've been given, the last two being disasters.

 With a last smile to Rob, I urged Yankee forward, headed to the mouth of my favorite mountain trail. On the way I passed Liam who was working with a yearling. I waved and then noticed the devil himself perched on the fence of the corral. He dramatically waved at me, and I childishly stuck my tongue out and swiveled around in the saddle without waving back. I urged Yankee into slow lope before Shane decided to come after me. Once I got on the trail I had to slow Yankee to a trot, the ground being too uneven for a faster gait. We made our way up the incline, picking our way across the rugged terrain. I had one spot in mind. A spot that no one but I knew of. After about another quarter mile we made it to the hidden grove with a small swimming hole that I loved to swim in. Luckily I had thought to grab my bathing suit I kept stashed in the tack room before riding out.

I dismounted Yankee and removed his heavy western style saddle, knowing that he'd be hot at this point. I tied him up to the low branch of the large tree at the water's edge so that he could graze comfortably. I looked around, suddenly paranoid, and quickly stripped down and put on my bathing suit. I threw my clothes by my saddle bag and ran like a mad woman to the water. I jumped in and kicked my way back to the surface after a moment under the water. That felt good, I thought. The water was refreshingly cold and I began swim out a little furthur, keeping my eye on Yankee.

 I was totally relaxed for once that day. As much as I wanted to, I knew I couldn't stay forever, that soon I'd have to head back so I could get ready for my date. I'm not sure why I finally agreed to that date with Rob. He's been relentlessly trying to get me to go out with him for eight months now. Rob was a regulation hottie in our grade at Mountain View. He had dark hair and was decently built, standing at about 6 feet. He was tanned from laboring in the Tennessee sun and was overall a handsome boy. We'd been friends for about two years at this point, and he'd worked for my dad for about a year. He was sweet guy, always the gentleman. I knew that he had had a few girlfriends in the past, but never anyone that I knew, so I couldn't compare notes. I wonder what Shane meant about Rob not being a "nice guy?" And there I go, thinking about Shane again. What was it about that obnoxious ass that made him so appealing? I have no idea, but forget him. As far as the date with Rob goes, I wasn't tripping over myself with excitement. Sure, I want to have fun, but honestly I can't really see my self with Rob aside from a casual date or two.

 Deciding to head back a few minutes early, I began swimming to the shore, hoisting myself out of the water. I would have to either lay out for a minute to dry or just ride back in my bikini. I was getting ready to lay down in the sun when I heard a shuffle coming from the bushes near the entrance to the small grove. I flicked my eyes nervously to the sound, hoping it wasn't an animal of some sort. Yankee could spook and I didn't want that to happen. He looked relaxed at the moment but that could change in an instant. And then the noise maker made an appearance, Liam and Shane came riding through into view. I snapped up in an instant ready to confront them for trailing after me. But, they looked just as shocked to see me as I was to see them. Liam finally spluttered out, "How in the world do you know about this place, Victoria?" I scowled at them both and retorted, "How do you two blithering idiots know about it?"

 Shane scoffed and shrugged, while Liam got angry and said, "Quit talking to me like that." "Whatever," I responded while moving to tug on my shorts and t-shirt. I pulled my boots back on and lugged Yankee's saddle up into my arms. Shane dismounted and tied up his Paint mare, Indie. He moved towards me and I huffed and turned around to saddle Yankee. "Stop being stubborn and let me help you," he said. I sagged my shoulders forward in defeat, giving in, and letting him help me. He placed the saddle on Yankee with ease and leaned down to grab the girdle, fastening it to its fixed hole. I clipped my saddle bag back to the saddle and turned to thank him. Liam had dismounted Jigsaw, his Quarter horse gelding, and tied him up as well, removing both Indie and Jigsaw's saddles. Shane bent down to help me up into the saddle and then said the unexpected, "I'm sorry for earlier, in the kitchen." I gasped in disbelief and practically melted into a puddle at Yankee's hooves. Shane had never apologized to me for anything. I stuttered out an "It's fine" and murmured goodbyes to them both. As I rode away, Liam yelled, "Be careful tonight, Vic!" I waved my hand in response and began my ride back to the barn.

 By the time I got back and untacked Yankee, my long dark blonde hair was completely dried. I had to hose Yankee off, he was caked in sweat and a brush down was not going to get that off. Once he was slightly dried off I returned him to his stall, by then Rob had gotten most of the horses to their stalls. I kissed Yankee's muzzle and ran off back up to the house. I waved to Trevor, another one of the hands, who was also a good friend of my brother's, and then ran into the house. My mother's high pitched yelp greeted me instantly, "Get those muddy boots off of my clean floors now! I just washed them." I laughed quietly and yelled back, "Sorry, momma." I left my boots outside the front door on the porch and then hustled up to my room to shower and blow dry my hair. I planned to straighten it out.

Once I was out of the shower and my hair was dried, I pulled my robe around me and began digging through my closet. I didn't know what we'd be doing so I opted for light, ripped skinny jeans, some strappy black sandals, and a flowy red top. I pulled on a black cardigan that had three quarter rolled sleeves and sat down at my vanity to begin straightening my hair. I glanced at the clock and realized I had about fourty five minutes and Rob tended to be an early bird. I rushed through my makeup after taking about twenty minutes to straighten out all my hair. By the time I was done I had about ten minutes to spare so I checked my purse to make sure I had everything I needed and slipped on some pretty stud earrings with a matching bracelet.

 I grabbed my purse and made my way downstairs, coming to the front door just as it rang. I smiled and pulled it open, greeting Rob with a hug. "I didn't even hear your truck pull up," I exclaimed. "I'm not to early am I?" I smiled to that and said, "Nope, just finished up. My dad wants to speak to you before we go." I could visibly see him swallow nervously as I hollered for my dad. My dad entered bearing his shot gun and I mentally rolled my eyes. "Daddy, quit being ridiculous and put that thing away!" Rob looked ready to bolt through the door. When dad began with, "What are your intentions with my daughter, young man?" I knew I should leave for a few minutes so I pranced out the front room to the kitchen and sat with my mom for a few minutes while she baked cookies.

A few short minutes later my dad and Rob came through the hall and into the kitchen and Rob was sweating bullets but shook my dad's hand when we were leaving. "Have fun kids!" My parents said as we walked to Rob's Chevy. Personally, I was a  Ford kinda girl, and even Dodge was okay. Rob opened the door for me and I waved to my parents one last time before climbing in and buckling myself up while Rob shut the door and ran around to the driver's side to get in. He shut the door and turned to me and smiled, saying, "Let's go have some fun!" And for the first time, I was excited to see how this date turned out.