To Not Let Go

Chapter Fourteen

             Renne impatiently checked her phone for the third time in five minutes. Standing beside her truck, an exhausted Renne looked at Swayde who seemed to be taking his sweet old time making sure their load wouldn't shift or get tossed about on the way to Montana.

          "Are you about ready to leave?" She asked for the third time in a half hour. It seemed to her that Swayde was stalling leaving. Renne's voice was slightly more irritable than she had meant for it to be. Sure, she was looking forward to this trip with Swayde, she just wasn't looking forward to what could potentially happen when they got there, and the conflict that could ensue. This would be the first time that Renne would see Matt since she broke up with him.

          Letting out a heavy breath, Swayde stopped what he was doing to face his normally patient girlfriend. "Why do you keep asking me th at?" He rested a hand on the side of the truck bed.

         "Why are you getting so upset about this? If you don't want to go, then just tell me?" An exhausted Renne spread her arms out wide, standing beside her truck.

         "Don't start that with me, please. You know I want to go on this trip." He pointed a finger at her as he checked the latch on the horse trailer again. "I never said I didn't want to go, so please do not put words in my mouth."

        "Then what is it?" She followed him as he did a walk around, making sure everything was secure and ready for the long haul.

         Swayde spun around on his heels, making Renne step back. "I am exhausted. I got no sleep last night. I am nervous about leavin' my ranch behind for an unknown amount of time. And frankly, I don't feel like seein' Matt while we are there." Swayde admitted, turning back around to tying down the tarp on the back of Renne's truck.

         Renne paused, glancing at her uncharacteristically irritated boyfriend. She knew she was the one who started this and she was sure that her nagging Swayde only made it worse. "Well, I'll drive the first leg of the trip so you can rest in the truck. And don't worry about your ranch, Kyle and Bernie know what they are doin' and they will take good care of the place. And as far as seein' Matt," She walked over to him, resting a hand on his shoulder. "You don't worry about that. I'll make sure I keep you otherwise preoccupied with chores and such. Just think about how much fun we will have together, please? This will be the first trip that you and I have taken together in such a long time. Besides the time a few months ago when you drove me to Colorado to see my clients and friends Jerry, Laurie, and Grace who moved there after Jerry got a job promotion." Renne chuckled at the memory. "That was one of the nicest things that anyone had ever done for me. But anyways, before then, I think that the last time we took a long trip together was the summer of my sophomore year of high school."

         "You're right." Swayde sighed, agreeing with his girlfriend, relieving himself from his worry.

          Renne pulled back slightly. "Wait a minute, did you really just admit that I am right? Man, do you feel alright?" She teasingly lifted a hand to Swayde's forehead as if checking for a fever. 

           Swayde sputtered like a horse. "Very funny." Turning sideways, he grabbed the passenger side door of the truck for Renne. 

          Renne walked forward, but stopped to look at Swayde. "Can we please not start this trip out like this? Bickering at each other? It's goin' to be a very long ride if this is how it's going to go." 

          His eyes locked on Renne's, he turned serious. "You're right, sweetheart. I'm sorry. I was being selfish because of my exhaustion and nerves. Forgive me?" He asked, sincere.