A Country Romance

Chapter 2

I woke up on the cold hardwood floor trying to remember what happened and why I was in the living room but it was kind of difficult since my head was pounding and my whole body was sore.
    I finally put all the pieces together and remembered what happened. I looked at the time and almost passed out again when I saw that it was only five minutes till I had to be at work.
    I ran upstairs and threw on a clean pair of overalls that were cutoffs and threw my hair up running out the door after making toast for my parents. I'd rather be late than beat. I got there fifteen minutes after I was scheduled to sign in.
    I walked in to clock in and someone was in there talking to my boss and I couldn't tell who it was but whoever it was looked new.
     They had broad shoulders and was very masculine but not too much that it was unattractive. It was obviously a man. He had a black cutoff shirt that showed off his sleeve tribal tattoo showing off his very tanned skin and dark blue jeans paired with a cowboy hat. He turned around and I just about dropped to my knees at the sight of this godly man. He had sharp facial features and dark brown eyes.
    He looked so handsome.. Wait Adrian you can't think like that. I scold myself for thinking of him in that manner.
     I think he caught me staring because when I looked back up he was walking towards me smirking.
    "Hi, My name is Jackson and it looks like I am going to be your new partner." Jackson said while smiling.
    I walk over to my boss feeling kind of mad and whispered, " I thought you said that my new partner would be here in a couple days, you know I needed time to adjust especially considering he was a guy!" I emphasize the word couple.
    "Adrian, turtle head, it's alright, I have already checked everything out and I promise you he will be a gentleman and if not I will neuter him myself." He said looking at me with knowing eyes since he is the only person who knows about what happened.
     I looked down and nodded an okay and went to start my daily routine. I walked past Jackson and motioned for him to follow me. He did as told and we went to the stables so that way we can take the horses for a ride.
    I straddle Maddy, our walking horse, and Jackson straddles Jamie, our male walking horse. We set off on the path that leads to a huge waterfall and the ride is peaceful and quiet.
     I notice that Jackson keeps looking at me but doesn't utter a word. I would love to know what he is thinking right about now.
    "Penny for your thoughts?" I ask.
"I was just thinking about the beauty I am looking at."
    " I know, nature really is beautiful isn't it." I say
     " Yes nature is beautiful but I seem to focus on the one most beautiful thing I have ever saw... And that would be you, miss." He says smiling and showing off his pearly white teeth.
     I blush and turn back around and start paying more attention to where I am going. We near the waterfall where the horses can take a break and have a cold drink. I was leaning over a rock splashing water on my face since it was a really hot day and I feel something on my shoulders and I am suddenly submerged in water. I rush up from the water glaring at the culprit and start to fume when I see a doubled over Jackson laughing so hard his face turned red.
    I push myself on a rock and pull myself out of the water. If he wants to play that way then we can play that way. I grab a bucket off of one of the horses that would be filled with food and fill it up with water looking over to see if he has noticed that I've even gotten out yet.
    He hasn't. I dump the freezing cold water on him and his laughter instantly is replaced with him yelling. He looks at me and lordy if only looks could kill.
    "What in the heck do you think you are doing you brat!" He yells at me.
     " Uhm, excuse me? You are the one who pushed me in the water first! All I did was play at your game you peckerhead!" I yell back.
    He gets up and pulls his hand back as if he is going to hit me. I can feel my eyes widen and I instantly drop to the floor and put up my defence position with my knees covering my ribs and my arm up trying to soften the blow. I didn't notice I was crying till a tear drop falls on my hand.     When the blow never came I look up and see Jackson almost in tears.
    "That move, it is obviously not something you just do, did you really think I would hit you Adrian?" Jackson says.
    "I don't really know you so I wouldn't know if you would really hit me or not." I say still cowering away but only slightly.
    He reaches down to help me up but when I take it i get a flashback of a time I have tried so hard to forget.
He reaches down to help me up, I haven't seen his face yet but his voice sounds so familiar. His hood comes off to reveal that he is just a graduate that was only two years ahead of me, Noah.
   "Hey beautiful, you shouldn't be out here at a time like this, there's bad people out here." He says with a mischievous smile.
My flashback ends and Jackson is looking at me like I was crazy.
    " Why are you looking at me like that?"
    "You just spaced out when I touched your shoulder and wouldn't answer me when I was calling your name. Are you okay?"
    "Yes, I'm fine, just please drop it." I say in a quiet voice.