Surfing Midland (Complete/ First draught).

Chapter 5

As soon as I was done unpacking Declan was back up the stairs to see if I wanted to take a tour, it would probably have been rude of me to say no, and as I didn't want to be around Valerie much longer, I agreed.

"So what do you know about ranch work? Have you ever seen a cow?" Declan asked, to which I shook my head as he handed me a 'cowboy' hat and ushered me out the door. Putting the cowboy hat on I winced a little at the tight fit, Declan smiled as he saw me struggle and pushed it down a bit more firmly before motioning for me to follow him.

"I don't know what a ranch is and I've never seen a cow." That wasn't the complete truth; I knew that a ranch ran stock animals and fattened them up for the market, but I had never been near a ranch or stock animal in my life. The closest thing to an animal I had been was a lemon shark and I hadn't even been in the water when it was spotted.

"Okay, this is going to be a quick lesson for you..." I stopped walking when I realised why there were so many questions. There had been no mention of my working on a ranch and getting my hands dirty; I couldn't even cook let alone chase anything!

"Hang on...you're expecting me to work? There was no mention of this when you called the other night. I'm not sticking my hands in poo or doing anything that will have me getting blisters." Like I said earlier, there was no way I was making this easy for Declan.

He hadn't been expecting what I'd said and stopped too, for a few moments he looked at a loss for words before sighing. "Listen Leah; your mom wanted you to come out here so you could learn practical skills. I've been an absent father, and hopefully, I can make up for not being around by teaching you things this summer and next year." I heard everything Declan was saying but at the same time absorbed very little of it.

"So I am staying here for longer than the summer? Just great. What am I supposed to do? I surf for a living, and the closest ocean is like a four-hour flight away...I don't want to be here as much as you don't want me here." I was clutching at straws now. I was beginning to panic at the thought of living here permanently, and I think it was starting to freak Declan out because he started pacing back and forth in front of me.

"You can't just lump all this fatherly time, love and...learning on me after years of not being around. It doesn't work like that Declan, and I don't know how to make it work." Yep, I could feel the panic attack coming on quickly as my breathing rate increased and I suddenly found it hard to breathe.

"Leah, look at me love! Look at me and focus on my voice. Relax, take deep breaths with me okay? You can do it, deep breath in and then let it out. That's it, deep breath in and then let it out." I breathed along with Declan as he coached me through the attack and after a few more breathing exercises I was breathing normally again without the panic or the negative thoughts.

It was quiet for a few moments, but when someone cleared their throat, I realised we weren't alone and looked around to see Trisha and some guy standing not too far away.

"Come on Leah; let's get you inside. Would you like a drink? Or perhaps something to eat?" Suddenly I didn't feel like my usual confident self and ignored the new guy and Declan to head inside with Trisha.

Trisha bundled me inside towards the kitchen; I wondered where everyone was but didn't ask as Trisha sat me down at a large breakfast bar and busied herself in the kitchen. I think the kitchen was the cosiest room in the entire house, the kitchen in California was sterile and cold compared to this one, and I found the atmosphere was more comforting and soothing.

"How long have you been having panic attacks?" Trisha asked as she slid a glass of lemonade my way. I took it without answering the question, trying to think of any other times something like that had happened.

"That was the first one that I can remember," I answered as I took a drink from the glass, the sourness of the drink caught me off guard, and my face puckered almost instantly. The drink was as sour as they came with just a hint of sugar and mint mixed in, whatever the liquid was supposed to be I think Trisha missed the mark.

"Oh darn it, is it sour? I knew I should have added more sugar." Sliding the glass back towards Trisha I could only nod as my mouth worked at getting rid of the tartness. Trisha handed me another drink, this time of plain water and I downed it fairly quickly while Trisha watched on with a smile on her face.

"So if you don't mind my asking, what did Declan say to set off the panic attack? You seem like a confident girl; I wouldn't have expected that." It was good to know my confidence was apparent from the outset unless Declan had been telling fibs about me to Trisha that I didn't know.

"He just said that I'd be staying here next year too...he and my mom never actually mentioned how long I would be here and I just assumed it would be for the summer. I wanted to get back into surfing when I went home, but I guess I'll be missing a few tournaments." What I said seemed to anger Trisha a little, or at least it caused her to frown as she looked at me or past me I realised when I heard the back door closing gently.

"I guess you love the ocean?" The question came from Declan, and I turned, nodding in response. How could I not love the sea? I'd grown up right next door to it; I could remember swimming more than I could remember walking. During storms, it was exciting to watch the big waves crash into the land and scatter peoples belongings or drag them out to sea.

"When you've graduated high school then I'm sure you can go back to surfing if that's what you want. I guess we can even take a week's break to the beach this summer; I think it'd do the kids some good to see the ocean once in their lifetime." I was surprised, the ocean for me was the most common thing around and anyone who hadn't seen it was weird or isolated.

Then again, Declan's earlier question about my seeing cows popped into my head, and I figured they thought the same about me. "That would be amazing," I replied as I thought about surfing in the next month or so and feeling the golden sand beneath my feet. Just thinking about the salt water rushing over me had a smile stretching across my face and cheering me a little from the previous attack.

"But, you gotta earn the trip Leah. I know you said you don't know much about ranching and I guess I expected you to leap right into it with gusto...but we'll take it a step at a time. You can even help me when I get called out." Declan offered, I don't know what his call outs were for but nodded my head anyway.

"Just as long as I don't have to touch poop or get my hands dirty." I reasoned, though knew that it was futile but still! I could try and maintain my sort of soft hands for as long as possible, the trip to the ocean couldn't come soon enough.

"Your hands will be getting dirty, but don't you worry. If you're working around mucking stalls out and the like you'll be wearing gloves and all." Looking at Declan I frowned, mucking stalls? Wearing gloves? I didn't want to know what 'and all' meant, as long as I could wear my clothes and not have to dress like Valerie that was all right with me.

"Fine, but at the first smattering of poop I get to drop whatever I'm doing and go inside." Declan looked at Trisha before giving me a little nod; I think it was Trisha who made all the decisions in this house and so far she was on my side.

"Oh, I need to text mom and let her know I made it safely." I don't know why poop reminded me that I had to text her and I didn't elaborate as I pushed the empty glass towards Trisha and stood from the breakfast bar.

"You'll have to call her on the house phone; we don't get reception out here." Stopping dead in my tracks I turned back to Declan and Trisha; both looked like they wanted to burst out laughing. But it wasn't funny, how was I supposed to keep in touch with my handful of friends back in California if I couldn't text or call?

"Don't look like you're going to have a heart attack; we do get the internet out here." I prayed that it wasn't dial-up but looking at the house and how far away from the nearest city we were I would put my money on the fact that it was a dial-up connection.