I Never Thought You'd Come Along

Part 9

*Taylor's POV*

"Sam! Hold still! The sooner I can halter you the sooner you can eat, gosh dang it!" I exclaimed as I finally managed to slip the knot halter over his ears. Good things he's short other wise I'd never be able to get the stupid thing on! I thought as I led him out the gate. "Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you please close this gate for me?" I asked handing him the handle to the hot line.

"Oh yeah, sure of course."

"Thanks." I turned and led Samson (Sam) out of the way. Suddenly, from behind us a string of curses erupted from Alex's mouth. Causing both Samson and I to leap in surprise. Turning the riled gelding in a tight circle I face Alex. He was holding his hand, and the hot line was on the ground. "What the heck was that all about?!" I demanded.

"The fence shocked me!" He said wide eyed.

"Well what did you-! Wait a minute, do you not know what hot line is?!" I asked unbelieving.

"No!" He responded furiously.

I couldn't help, I just started laughing. The look on his face was just priceless! I hadn't even dreamed that he wouldn't know what hot line was! Everyone around here knew that hot line shocked you! I mean would a 1,000 pound animal seriously respect a thin white piece of wire if it didn't give them a reason to?! Oh, this was TOO FUNNY!

*Alex's POV*

"What the h*ll is so funny about me getting my hand shocked?!" I demanded shooting daggers at her. "That freaking hurt!"

"I'm sorry! I- I- it's just that practically e- everybody around here knows what hot line is! S- so when I h-handed you the line, I thought you'd just grab the handle like every other normal person around here! I f- forgot that you came from the city!" She managed to say while laughing and keeping the horse under control.

"Well still! Don't you think you could have said something like 'The fence is on!' or 'Don't let the fence shock you!'? That probably would have done the trick!"

"I'm s-sorry. I'll try harder to not let you hurt yourself any further." She said finally stifling her laughs to mere giggles. "Now please pick the fence up BY THE PLASTIC HANDLE and CAREFULLY attach it to the little metal thing right there."

"Just 'cause I'm from the city doesn't mean you have to talk to me like I'm a baby you know!"

"Yeah, I know," she snickered. "But oh well, what's done is done!" And with that she started off up the driveway.

I CAREFULLY closed the gate and followed her. I jogged to catch up.

"Please don't jog up behind this horse." She said without even turning her head. "One thing you should know, City Boy, is that it's better to NOT run up behind any horse or pony."

City Boy? Did she seriously just call me that?! "Okay, and why's that?" I inquired after finally catching up.

"Well, horses are prey animals. It's in their nature to be skittish."

"Oh." Was all I managed to say. Because the way she'd answered my question made me feel like she thought that was the dumbest question on earth. Trying to lighten the mood I continued with, "So is 'City Boy' my new nick name?"

She merely threw an amused glance over her should before coolly replying. "Well, I must say it's very fitting."

"Psshh whatever! I'm as country as they come!" I said feigning a country accent.

"City Boy, you crack me up." She responded, and I could hear the smile in her voice as she said it.

"I guess I'm just gonna have to come up with a nickname for you then!"

"Why would you bother with something like that?" We turned the corner. The barn was now in sight. "It's not like we'll be talking much..." She said, in a way that almost sounded as if that thought saddened her. Wait, why would that sadden her?

"We won't?" I said more to myself than her.

*Taylor's POV*

I actually stopped and looked at him. "Why? Were you actually planning on talking to me at school when you know full well that I'm the weird, hideous nobody, and interacting with to me would immediately kill any chance of you being part of the 'cool' crowd?. Oh, and all of the sluts that flounce themselves around you and your brother would quickly throw all of they're attention on to your brother and you would be forgotten."

He stared at me. Like I had suddenly turned into a unicorn or something.

"Yes, I WAS planning on talking to you at school. You are not weird, at least not in a bad way, and you ARE NOT hideous! I find you very attractive! And you are to a somebody! Oh, and don't let me forget to tell you that I don't give a damn about bein' part of the 'cool' crowd! Or about those sluts! My brother can have them all for all I care! I've never wanted anything to do with girls like them! Surprised much Taylor?"

I was kinda surprised actually. Though I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, I was rather expecting him to be more like the guy I assumed his brother was. "Yes, I am kinda surprised. I try not to judge a book by its cover, but sometimes that's easier said, than done."

"Well, I won't get mad at you if you make me a promise."

"Why should I care if you're mad at me or not?" I said flippantly as we continued the trek to the barn.

He paused. "Um... I uh... Don't know."

"That's what I thought." I muttered under my breath, a smug smile on my face. "Okay whatever. So what's this promise?"

"Um... Well, I was gonna say that you can judge me, but only after you get to know me. And I mean get to know me pretty good. Not just a weeks worth of talking."

I thought about it. To say yes would be taking a giant risk of getting attached to this kid, something I wasn't willing to do. And to say no could mean losing a great opportunity. Just before we got near enough to out parents that they could hear us speaking I responded to his question. "Okay Alex, have it your way." There, I hadn't promised anything, but I also hadn't missed a golden opportunity.