Return to Tacoma Falls

Dalton Fuller

Harper's POV

I walked home from Cassidy's house after seeing her older brother Dalton. A guy I liked for so many years. There was no way I was going to sit through a dinner with him there.  I just couldn't do it.

As I walked I could feel the warm breeze ruffle my skirt and hit my bare legs. It was still pretty warm in September since it was Georgia. Tacoma Falls never became freezing. Sure we might have had snow once or twice but being the south we were always blessed with relatively warm weather.

I thought about Dalton as I made the trek home along the isolated road. I had liked him for so long but he never saw me. Heck I don't think he even knew my name. I was just Cassidy's friend, his little sister.

Then I found out he was dating Christy Mills. I couldn't blame him. She was every guy's dream. Tall, thin, blonde.  I was not. I was petite with brown hair and brown eyes. A plain Jane if you will. I was nothing special.

Cassidy told me not to worry. That one day I would meet that guy that would sweep me off my feet. I doubt it.

She was lucky. She looked just like her mom and her mom was beautiful. Then there was Sawyer. The middle boy. He was just as good looking as Dalton. Considering they look like Payton, it was no wonder.

I let out a deep breath as I walked.  That family was lucky. They had it all. Where as I was just some ordinary girl who grew up on a farm. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents, I just wish I would have inherited something from them. Like looks or confidence.

As I reached the front steps to my house I sighed. Another night home alone, lost in my thoughts.  I walked up the steps and opened the door.

"Harper?!  Is that you hun?!"

"Yes momma!"

Mom came out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a dish towel.

"I thought you were eating at Cassidy's?"

"Dalton came home."  I said simply.

"Oh," Mom said with a surprised look.

"They probably wanted to catch up and don't need a third wheel or sixth," I said trying to hide my disappointment.

"Are you sure?  That doesn't seem like Payton and Ember not wanting you there," she asked with concerned.

"I don't want to be a bother. Plus, I have homework," I said trying to end the conversation. The more I talked about the Fuller family, the more I wanted to cry.  I walked away, making my way up the stairs to my room.

"Was that Harper," Dad asked.

"Yep."

"I thought she was with Cassidy?"

"Dalton's home."  She said with a look.

"Oh."

                            ******
I walked into my room hearing the wooden boards squeak under my shoes. I tossed my book bag down to the side of my bed and dropped down onto the floor.

Underneath my bed I pulled out a box. A box of private thoughts. Opening it I pulled out a picture setting the box next to me on the floor. I ran my finger over a picture of Dalton. He was standing next to a horse, leaning against the railing of the stables, wearing a cowboy hat, jeans and no shirt. He was beyond gorgeous.

It was a picture I took last year when he was home from the circuit.  Dalton had left to travel on the rodeo circuit, riding horses a few years ago. He became a big name around town but he only stay for a while until it was time to leave again.

It didn't matter, he didn't know I existed anyways and when he was home, he was always focused on Christy Mills. My face contorted at that thought.  When Dalton was in school, he was the guy every girl liked. Kind, caring, thoughtful and gorgeous.  Sawyer was the same  way. 

The Fuller's were quite popular with everyone. They were well mannered and polite. I think a lot had to do with their parents being Payton and Ember Fallon.

They dated through high school from what I remembered and were always together when he came home on break. I was pretty surprise to not see her there. Although then again, I think it would have crushed me if I did.

I threw my head back and let out a sigh. What was I going to do?

                                     ******
Dalton's POV

I brought my bags in and tossed them onto the bed. It had been a long time since I had been home. It felt good to be home. Don't get me wrong, I love the rodeo but there were times I missed my own bed. Hotels were dragging on me. A different one every time I turned around.

I joined the circuit a few years ago right after graduation. A sponsor saw me at the fair, riding a horse and being able to hold on. Offered me a spot right then, right there. I couldn't pass it up.

Pa would come to see me at times and so would ma but they couldn't stay. They had things to take care of here. I couldn't blame them. At one point I asked for Sawyer to come along for a few weeks. It got lonely on the road.  Yeah sure I had friends on the circuit but I missed my family.

A few months into my touring, I called Christy to ask her to come see me. I would gladly pay the money just to have her there. I wanted my girl with me. Well, that was until a guy answered the phone and I could hear her in the background asking him to come back to bed.

I was crushed. I didn't bother answering the guy that answered the phone. I just hung up.  After that, whenever she did call I told them to tell her I was busy. I didn't care. I wanted nothing to do with her. She broke my heart. She's lucky I didn't break her. Yeah I have a temper.

I just focused on riding and the moment I got a chance to go home, I took it. Honestly, I haven't told my parents I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back. I know they would support me but my sponsor and manager actually didn't know I left.  I just took off.  I know it would be a matter of time before they came looking for me.

"Dalton?!"  Sawyer yelled.

"Yeah?!

"There's some guy on he phone for you!"

"Tell him I'm not here!"

"Too late!  I already told him you were!"

Shit. I didn't need this right now.  I picked up the phone in my room and heard a click signaling, Sawyer had hung up the other phone.

"Dalton?"

"Hey Mickey."

"Don't hey Mickey me.  Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?"

"I just needed to go."

"Look, I get it. You're homesick and heartbroken but Dalton if you don't return, they're going to drop you."

I took a deep breath and said, "then tell them to drop me."

"What?!"

"You heard me. I'm done.  I'm not coming back."

"Dalton!"

"Bye Mick."  I hung up the phone. I knew they would drop me but right now I didn't care.

As I stood there all I could think of what this pretty brown eyes that were so big you could get lost in them. That hair that seem to fall just right. Her petite frame which made me feel like a giant next to my six foot three frame made me want to protect her. How I never notice her was beyond me. What I did know, is seeing her today made me want to know her.

Harper Lang was a friend of my sister's. They had pal around together as kids. She wore glasses and pigtails. I never saw her as anything more than my kid sister's friend. But now, now she was something. I guess time can change someone in a blink of an eye.

Maybe coming home was a good decision.