Country Love

Chapter 5

Now that dad has gone, it finally dawns on me what has really just happened. I can't believe they've done this to me. My phone picks up a weak signal and pings a notification of a new message. I pick up my phone excitedly, feeling relieved that my friends care about me and want to know I have arrived safely. My shoulders fall as I open the message and read about new contract changes from my mobile network provider. Feeling disheartened, I place my phone back on the table and try to listen and join in with the conversation that Granny Pat and Grandad Rob are having but I realise that I have no clue what they are talking about. Suddenly, they both turn their attention to me as if awaiting a response. Obviously noticing my confusion and knowing that I wasn't paying attention, Grandad Rob says "so Cassie, what do you think? Do you fancy helping me out on the farm for a bit?". Thankful for the distraction from my awful life, I happily accept the offer. I can't wait to repay Granny and Grandad for still being so nice to me after my family have send me away as punishment.

Grandad Rob decides we should make a start there and then. I quickly run upstairs and change my clothes into a checkered shirt and some shorts which I bought before I left in an attempt to fit in here. I team this outfit with my converse shoes. With my hair in fishtail plaits and with this outfit, I feel like I'm looking good. I can't wait until my skin starts to tan in this heat, it will make me look even better. Perhaps this won't be so bad after all. I take one more glance at myself in my mirror and then hurry back downstairs to help Grandad Rob. I get outside to find that he'd started without me. He looks up from where he kneels at the chicken coop and says "oh you're here! Have this basket, you can help me collect these eggs. Let me introduce you to our chickens. This large white one here is ol' Daisy. Next to her is this brown one Freddo and this red one is Gerty, a real mad one!  Finally, you can guess that this patchy brown and red one is called Patchy! Would you like to stroke 'em?" Reluctantly I place my hand on Patchy's fur and she clucks excitedly. I laugh at the humour of the situation.

The next job is to clean out the stables for the horses. When I was 5, I had a passion for horse riding, so mum and dad signed me up to my local equestrian club. I loved it, until I turned 13. It fizzled out then because it wasn't cool to do horse riding any more so I quit the club. I regret that now, but I'm glad I did it. Especially now, as I already know how to clean out the stables and don't need Grandad Rob to teach me how to do it. I head off round the corner to the stables and find a beautiful black Shire horse and a cute little Palomino pony. I fall in love with them instantly and pet them both, cooing at them, so lost in the moment that I don't notice the sound of footsteps behind me. Suddenly, a man's voice startles me,  saying "Cassidy, right?" I jump "sorry" he says, "I didn't mean to startle you". I take a second to recover before responding "it's okay, it's Cassandra actually, but please call me Cassie." I take a minute to look at him and I realise just how gorgeous he really is. His blonde hair falls in tiny curls which caress his ears. He has impressive jaw lines leading up to his sea blue eyes which shine at me. His bare chest shows an impressive six pack and the rest of his defined body compliments this, showing his body is shaped through exercise, not drugs. His golden brown tan makes his skin appear flawless, he looks like he could easily be a model.  When I've finished examining the perfection of him, he replies "nice to meet you Cassie, I'm Joshua. I live nearby and I'm helping out your Grandad. I assume you'll be joining us at school?" My heartbeat rises at the thought of being able to see him every day at school and then having him helping out at the farm too. This boy who I've only just met is already affecting me in ways I never thought possible to happen the first time you meet a person.

In response to Joshua, I reply "yeah, I'll be starting on Monday. I'm a bit worried though because it's tough joining a new school in senior year. I'll have to learn all the new modules in time for examinations and I don't want this to set me back in my education". His face lights up as if he's just had a brilliant idea. "I'm a senior! You should be relieved you'll have a friendly face which you recognise to help you through your first day! Seems like you're pretty smart then" He says. My knees feel weak. It makes me feel even more nervous. Not only will I be meeting a load of new people, but I'll be doing so in the presence of an extremely gorgeous guy! How am I supposed to make new friends whilst with him? I'll probably stumble over my words and make a fool of myself. I smile at Joshua, "I'd be delighted to have you show me around! Thanks. Yeah I guess I am quite smart. Probably the only thing I've got going for me" I say and laugh at myself. He looks offended for some reason. "Damn, looks like you could do with a confidence boost. You're gorgeous! Who's been knocking you down?" He says. I look at him in wonder. He thinks I'm gorgeous? I let out a smile and his eyes beam down at me. Looks like he's telling the truth. I nearly pass out, what could a guy as gorgeous as him see in a girl like me? "Thank you" I blush "That's really kind of you. People weren't so keen on me at school in my hometown. I guess I was a goof before puberty and they never registered a change in me so I just ended up being stuck as the goofy one" I say, laughing. He laughs with me and I can tell it's at my response and not that he agrees that I'm goofy. "No way were you ever goofy. I can simply not imagine that. Hey perhaps you'd like to come check out the town later? We have a coffee shop among all these trees" He says laughing. I laugh with him. "Sure," I reply. "When?" He looks at his watch. "Perhaps I'll come meet you here at 6pm? That gives us time to finish off here and clear ourselves up and grab some food first." I nod my agreement. "Right, I'd better let you get on with your work," He says "be ready for 6, I can't wait to get to know you more". I blush again and say "yeah, I'll see you at 6".