Heck of a kiss

Chapter Seven

Present day

Blaring music out of the stereo, I drove toward Lesley’s homestead ready for to spend a long day indoors, eating chocolate and relaxing.

Absent mindedly I began singing along with Carrie Underwood as she vandalized her cheating boyfriend’s car. I had moved on from Jabe, so I could listen to break up songs without crying. At least to I thought I had.

            I had successfully been able to avoid him for two years despite the fact that the fact that I saw him occasionally at the rodeo. Of course he never realized I was there, my alter-ego Jed had been perfected and now I could comfortably transform myself into shy Jed when necessary.

            Pulling into the gravel driveway, I drove up to the garage, grabbed my purse, turned off the truck and bounced into the house.

            “I’m home!”

            Instantly Mila came rocketing out of the kitchen and grabbed me around the legs in an enthusiastic hug. Patting her back I grinned. “Hey baby girl, where’s your momma?”   “I’m in here.”  Was Lesley’s reply.

When I entered the kitchen Lesley was putting lasagna in the oven. Brushing blond hair out of her face she asked, “What are you doing home so early?”

Smugly I put my purse on the linoleum counter top. “We finished early; the boss said we could go home.

Lesley smiled. “I’m glad; you have the whole evening off?”

“Yes Ma’am. I’m goanna go take care of the horses, and then I’m goanna take a shower, do you think I’ll have time before dinner?”

“Definitely, could you do me a favor and take Mila out with you? She’s been dying to get out.”

I agreed and soon I was walking down to the barn with my squealing niece hanging onto my back.

After feeding, watering, and bringing the horses in for the night, we tromped back into the house and I headed upstairs to take a shower leaving Mila bubbling about Dancer and Ginger.

In the shower I leaned against the tile wall and let the water pound on my tense body.       Vigorously, I rubbed the shampoo into my waist length hair, coating the long strands thoroughly.  

Stepping out of the shower ten minutes later, I wrapped a towel around my torso and leaned on the counter.

            Downstairs, I heard the doorbell ring and frowned. Lesley answered it but I couldn’t hear any words. Seconds passed and I heard the door close and Lesley’s wheelchair go into the kitchen.  Assuming it was the postman delivering something, I busied myself with drying off. Still keeping the towel around chest and thighs I began to brush my teeth. On most days, this would give me enough time to stop dripping so I could get dressed properly, that done, I ran a brush though my hair, and quickly inspected myself. Underneath my eyes, a black smudge was left from my mascara, but instead of taking it off like any sane person would, I left it, deciding I would deal with it later.   I had put on my favorite jeans, the ones that had a straight leg with a slight flare. A black tank top, underneath a white button up shirt witch I left unbuttoned, completed the outfit.   

Opening the bathroom door, I bounced out of the bathroom feeling thoroughly refreshed. I hopped down the stairs my bare feet slapping the wood steps loudly, my green toenails peeping out from beneath the hem of my jeans.

“Lesley who was at the door?” I entered the living room and stopped dead. Sitting on the couch was a dark haired man in a grey button down, faded blue jeans and old ropers. When he looked up I felt my mouth drop open as I recognized Josh from the rodeo. Admittedly he wasn’t sweaty and he didn’t have face paint on, but I could have recognized his chocolate brown eyes anywhere. Seeing my surprise he stood up smiling.