Can't Ever

Chapter 12: I Don't Know How to Describe It

Chapter 12: I Don't Know How to Describe It

Nicolas

"I brought you dinner" Cal's voice came from the barn entrance. I looked at him and took the plate with a small smile.

"Thanks, Sassy still hasn't calved but she's getting there" I explained. I knew that he hadn't asked me to stay in the barn because he was worried about Sassy and her calf. Sassy was one of our best heifers; she had calved four of the last five years and all without help. This was Cal's way of letting me know that I was in trouble and probably to keep me away from the girl.

"That's good Nic; we need to talk about the girl and what happened this morning" Cal sighed. He clearly didn’t want to have to have this conversation.

"I overreacted. She came into our home and suddenly it was all about her. Then when she got into the car smelling like you, I thought she had thrown herself at you. When she answered my question on why she smelled like you, she said she showered. The only way for her to still smell like you would be for you two to mate. I didn't even realize that I had pulled her over the seat to look for your mark until it was over, and Bry was pulling a crying girl into his lap." I retold the story. I knew i9 had taken it too far but it wasn't like I had planned it that way.

"You do realize you are really lucky she wasn't my mate because then you'd be seriously hurt, not just sent to the barn for dinner?" Cal asked. I cringed as he spoke. I really hadn't thought it through. I guess I was lucky that neither of my brothers had beaten the crap out of me.

"I don't know Cal; there is something just wrong with her. I wish I knew what it was so that I could explain it to you and to Bry but I don't know what it is" I tried to get him to understand my actions. He clapped me on my shoulder before responding.

"We'll keep an eye on her for right now, but as for you, you need to apologize and lay off her a little. I get following your instincts but try to be civil until she either proves you right or she proves herself. Okay?" Cal made sense and that calmed me. Knowing he didn't think I was completely crazy was all I needed to relax.

"Come in inside; Sassy can calf all on her own. She is probably only waiting for us to leave actually" Cal chuckled as he left the barn. It wasn't often hat Cal laughed and hearing even this small amount of humor in his voice made me smile. He was too serious most of the time.

Despite the fact that Cal told me to come on inside, I didn't leave the barn with him. I wasn't done thinking. I ate as my mind wandered to the girl, Samantha. There was something seriously weird about her. As I told Cal I had no idea what it was but it was there and I knew it. Yet I knew that Cal was right; as much as I knew she was weird, she deserved a chance.

My resolve to give her a chance set and my plate empty, I patted Sassy on the side and made my way inside. The girl- Samantha was at the sink when I entered the kitchen. She was doing the dishes.

"May I help you?" I offered, setting my plate with the other dirty dishes.

"You do not have to help" she whispered; it was clear that she was afraid of me. I grabbed a towel from the drawer and began drying the dishes already in the rack.

"I want to apologize, both for this morning and for my behavior in general" I began but stopped when I realized I didn't know what to say next.

"I would like to make it up to you somehow, if you can think of anything" I finished.

"The apology is enough for me, Nicholas. No one has ever given me an apology before, thank you" she this way of speaking as if she knew she needed to respond but didn't want to be heard. She handed me the last plate, smiled at me weakly before turning and walking away.

"I know you think there's something off about her, Nic, but I don't think it's anything that'll hurt us," Bry was leaning against the door the gi- Samantha had just left through.

"I'm starting to think you're right," I sighed. I put the last plate away before walking passed Bry towards the living room. I grabbed the remote and plopped down on the couch. Bry sat down next to me.

"I think what is weird about her is she's broken somehow" Bry continued our conversation from the kitchen.

"The way she acts is so submissive but not in a natural way; it seems forced or trained. Can you imagine growing up in a house were they train you to be submissive and formal?" he wasn't going to drop this. He was going to keep it up until he got whatever it was he wanted from me.

"I haven't seen it really, I guess I'm just seeing what I want" I may not believe every word that I just said but hopefully it would get him off my back and get him to leave me to myself for the night.

"You just need to give her a chance, Nic. Maybe if you spend some time with her you'll figure out what it is that you can't figure out about her" Bry suggested. While he made sense, I just found him annoying. Sighing I stood, threw the remote to the still off T.V. onto the couch next to Bry and went up the stairs to my room. Dropping onto my bed, I drifted off to sleep not even bothering to change.