Canyon Love

Chapter seventeen

Dinner was going quite civilized. Dad had kept his glares down to ten and mom kept the conversation lively but not too personal.

Still though I couldn't have been happier when the waitress brought us our food. Dad order some fish like normal, me and Skeeter with a hamburger, and mom with some kind of sandwich. The food killed the conversation and I had no problem with sitting in silence.

"So how'd you ask my baby out?" My mom gave Skeeter a motherly look as she took a big bite out of her sandwich. Wether Skeeter had taken too big of a bite or was just nervous he swallowed extra hard.

"It just sorta happened" the whole table glanced at me as I nodded and took another bite.

I hated eating in front of people for some reason but today that was not my problem. Skeeter was a big boy and could answer any questions i was sure. Yet every time the boy answered both my parents would glance at me as if he was lying. Sighing I took another bite.

"So Elizabeth...how's life been out here?" My farther was the one to speak up.

The hairs on the back of my neck shot up and my skin danced alive. Me and my father had trouble through my teen years. Although he too went to college for horses he wasn't a big fan of that being my major. My father had made it clear in some areas where and when he'd help or not help me. Most of the time it was not help.

Wiping my mouth with a napkin I sent a questioning smile to my farther.

"Good"

"Eating dirt yet?" I watched as my father cut his fish.

Just like every time we talked about my life and how I run it my blood started to boil. I'm normally the kind of girl that it takes a while to get angry but my dad had figured out how to make me blow up quick. 

Out of the corner of my eye I could spot Skeeter move unsteady in his seat. Sure enough  mom gave dad a tap with her fingers as she knew all too well the air was getting suffocating .

"Well Liz and Adam have been taking good care of me and Brandy" skeeter placed his hand on my thigh under the table as I sat back waiting for my farther's next words. Raising an eyebrow up at his food he gave it a shrug before glancing at me.

"I guess you wouldn't be smart enough to get rid of that mare" the whole table fell silent at those simple words. Skeeter's hand squeezed my leg in attempt to calm me but I lost it.

My barrel racing mare that I've had since sixth grade had got into an accident with me at one of our last rodeos we went to. We both went down on the second barrel and she ended up tearing a tendon in her left hind. Since then I've been nursing her back to health hoping to get her back out to the rodeos. I don't see barrel racing as a profession in my little mare's fuctur anymore but I still won't give up on her.

Dad on the other hand wanted to put her down as soon as I made the phone call to tell him what happened. We didn't see eye to eye on why to keep a mare like her around but Brandy helped prove me wrong.

Within half a year I was back to walking and trotting her. Soft riding was still required for a year but by the time we came out west Brandy was able to be cantered. She showed improvement more then the vet and me both expected. Even dad seemed shocked but never mentioned it besides a good job to me.

"She taught me a lot dad. I've also had her since she was 2 and a half. She never gave up on me why should I have given up on her" my words hissed off my tongue making my dad give me a challenging look.

Mom's hand moved to dad's forearm making his muscles relax a tad with one look at her. Nodding his head he went back to taking a bite out of his fish. Letting out a huff I went back to focusing on my food. Picking up a French fri I glanced at Mom hoping she could get the awkwardness out of the air. 

"So skeeter have you meet Elizabeth's old barrel racing mare yet?" Mom's voice chirped like a morning bird making me smile. Skeeter glanced towards me with an award winning grin.

"I don't think I've had that pleasure yet" smiling with a fri between my lips I chewed softly before looking at Skeeter.

"Tomorrow at noon? Liz's?" My offer simple. Skeeter's lips turned up even more as he placed his hand on mine that rested on the table.

"It's a date"