Canyon Love

Chapter thirteen

School had started up with a bang. New classes and new professors. My head was swimming with new information and the rub mark of my pencil was already well dented in my finger.

Needless to say Montana State University was treating me well. Some where in the winter classes I ran across Kyle who to my own surprise was also taking the business classes.

We bonded over the simple things like our job, hobbies, and our favorite color being blue. Kyle had joined some frat group and got me into a lot of parties. Parties that had me begging him not to bring me and then by the end of the night I'm drunk and leaning on Kyle as he walks me to my dorm.

But I kept counting down the days till the summer season starts. I had called Liz about a week ago letting her know I was coming back. She screamed over the phone in excitement and quickly hung up on me saying she needed to tell Skeeter.

That name had haunted me all school year. Skeeter. He'd ruin any chance I had with any of these Montana college boys. None of them where sweet enough, stubborn enough, or good looking enough. My heart was set and I already knew he'd probably set himself on someone new. Clutching my math book tight I stood under one of the campus trees that me and Kyle would meet up under.

"34 more day" I mumbled to myself as I looked down at the grass.

My sophomore year of college was flying out the window and I couldn't shove it out any fast. Already feeling my anxiety build up over it I heard my name being yelled. Looking up I smiled.

Skeeter's point of view

Liz had called me a couple days ago saying Elizabeth was coming back to the corrals. I tried my best not to sound too excited and hung up the phone before I could shutter out questions.

I hadn't seen or heard from anyone about Elizabeth in months. Which then with no information on how she's been let my imagination run wild. There was no way no frat boys hadn't already made a move on her. I probably wasn't even on her mind anymore.

Truth was my ranch just didn't do it for me anymore. After working at Yellowstone I'd come home to South Dakota happy and ready to start the winter. But every waking moment at the ranch was taken up by Elizabeth.

At night I found myself watching the stars more closely hoping she was looking at the same sky. Any problem horse that reminded me of Montana made my heart ach knowing Elizabeth could have the magic trick for it. She even invaded my dreams with that one date we had. Or my nightmares of not kissing her on that last day. Some nights I didn't even sleep knowing that matter what I did she had me.

Parking my truck I stared ahead at the campus. I was crazy for thinking this plan up. Even more wild for going through with it. Hoping out my truck I grabbed the half a dozen wild flower bunch my mom told me to pick.

Call me a love sick fool I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. Hell I was here to fix a mistake that to Elizabeth might not even have been a mistake. But I figured if she turned me down then I would have a better chance of letting her go.

Stopping short I realized one of the most important things of this whole mission. I didn't know where Elizabeth was. About to turn on my heels I heard some one call out that beautiful name. Jerking my head around I spotted a female body under a tree. Her blond hair still visible in shade. Her feet where covered in muddy boots while she wore cut offs and a white t shirt.

My heart pounded against my ribs as my heart melted a little. It was her and I knew it. Taking a few steps forward I started to prepare my words.