Return to Tacoma Falls

County Fair

Harper POV

I was helping momma set the table for dinner when the phone rang. She answered it, "Hello? Yes, she's right here. It's for you." She held the phone out to me.

I took it and placed the receiver to my ear, "hello?"

"Hey Harper, it's Dalton." His husky voice sent shivers up my spine.

"Hi Dalton."

"I was wondering if you needed a ride to the county fair?"

I didn't say anything and put my hand over the receiver, looking at Mom.

"Well," she asked.

"He wanted to know if I needed a ride to the county fair." I spoke in hush tones hoping he didn't hear me.

"And?"

"What do I say?" I looked at her quizzically.

She smiled, "how about yes?"

I stared at her blankly. Yes? Why yes? Why not no?

"Hunny, I think he's waiting for a reply," she said nodding to the phone which was still covered by my hand. My eyes widened. I removed my hand and placed the receiver to my mouth and said, "Sawyer is already giving me a ride." Then promptly hung up leaving my mom utterly confused.

******
Dalton's POV

I waited for her to reply hoping she would say yes but all I got were muffled sounds like she was talking to someone. My family was standing around with eager anticipation to hear what she said. Finally she came back and said, "Sawyer's already giving me a ride." With that she hung up.

I looked at the phone in confusion.

"Well," asked pa.

"She said Sawyer was giving her a ride."

We looked at Sawyer, "me?!"

He was just as dumbfounded as we were. I replaced the receiver in the cradle and walked away. Maybe she liked Sawyer and I misjudged her body language.

My parents looked at Sawyer, "I swear I did not offer her a ride," he said defensively.

"She probably panicked," Cassidy shrugged.

"So, she decided to throw my name out there?"

"Well, yeah. You're what people call safe," she said simply.

"Safe? How am I safe?"

"Because you're not the type to break a girl's heart," she shrugged. He gave her a look.

Pa looked at him, "don't worry Sawyer, one day you will find the right girl. Now since Harper decided to throw you to the wolves, this is where we're going to change things a bit."

With that they discussed what was going to happen at the county fair.

I sat on my bed, fiddling with my thumbs. I thought after that day in her driveway, there was a hint of possibility she liked me. I mean was I wrong? Did I miss the signals? My family pushed me to call her and ask her only to be met with her telling me Sawyer was going to take her to the county fair. I felt like an idiot.

First Christy cheating on me and now Harper rejecting a simple request, made me feel like I didn't have any chance with a girl. I felt like I was destined to be rejected constantly.

That's fine. I'll go to the fair and ride, taking care of the horses afterwards. At least it was something I had in my life. It sure wasn't a woman.